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To: NYer

I guess the point is:

I can’t think of an experiment that would reveal the nature of G-d. The Holy Fathers may assert something about the nature of G-d but still, that assertion would be based on revelation, facts, or reason, in some mix and combination. I have a hard time thinking of any facts that would shed light, and reason with no facts is not terribly useful. No account is provided in the Bible of any revelation on the subject.

So, did they just make it up, like the local homeowner’s association does?


45 posted on 05/19/2007 10:07:10 PM PDT by donmeaker (You may not be interested in War but War is interested in you.)
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To: donmeaker

No, the work of the Holy Spirit did not end with the death of the last Apostle.


46 posted on 05/19/2007 10:15:14 PM PDT by MHGinTN (You've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
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To: donmeaker; MHGinTN
The Holy Fathers may assert something about the nature of G-d but still, that assertion would be based on revelation, facts, or reason, in some mix and combination. I have a hard time thinking of any facts that would shed light, and reason with no facts is not terribly useful. No account is provided in the Bible of any revelation on the subject.

On the contrary .... the following passages from Scripture affirm the fact that Jesus did not leave us orphans.

In Matt. 10:20; Luke 12:12 - Jesus tells His apostles it is not they who speak, but the Spirit of their Father speaking through them. If the Spirit is the one speaking and leading the Church, the Church cannot err on matters of faith and morals.

In Matt. 16:18 - Jesus promises the gates of Hades would never prevail against the Church. This requires that the Church teach infallibly. If the Church did not have the gift of infallibility, the gates of Hades and error would prevail. Also, since the Catholic Church was the only Church that existed up until the Reformation, those who follow the Protestant reformers call Christ a liar by saying that Hades did prevail.

In Matt. 16:19 - for Jesus to give Peter and the apostles, mere human beings, the authority to bind in heaven what they bound on earth requires infallibility. This is a gift of the Holy Spirit and has nothing to do with the holiness of the person receiving the gift.

And, in Matt. 18:17-18 - the Church (not Scripture) is the final authority on questions of the faith. This demands infallibility when teaching the faith. She must be prevented from teaching error in order to lead her members to the fullness of salvation.

48 posted on 05/20/2007 12:40:33 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
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To: donmeaker
So, did they just make it up, like the local homeowner’s association does?

Great analogy!

55 posted on 05/20/2007 6:40:30 AM PDT by pjr12345 (I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100.)
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