“And Perpetual Virginity? And the Bodily Assumption of Mary? And the Trinity?”
Old R, much as the Protestants want to believe that everything they have a problem with has Roman roots (and I will grant you the Latins have a habit of claiming credit for just about everything) the fact of the matter that each of the dogmas you cite are Eastern in origin.
In haste as to the scriptures which were around prior to about 375; there were a multitude of inspired and spurious/evil “scriptures” floating around until even after 375-400 AD. Heck, people still get all excited about such evil garbage as the “Gospel of Thomas”. That said, many, many non-canonical writings were considered efficacious for spiritual advancement. They simply weren’t used in the Liturgies. The Shepherd is a good example. And the Fathers cite to them throughout the Patristic period. Its not as simple as you would have it or as proof texting would make it seem.
Christianity is an Eastern religion, its theology is the product of God inspired Eastern minds. It is not at all Western. When we speak of the consensus patrum, we refer to something which very few non Roman Catholic Western Christians understand or recognize. Frankly, under the influence of Protestant exegesis, I think even the Romans have a hard time recognizing the consensus; at least they are ready to discard it in an effort to justify Papal excesses in a number of ecclesiological and theological areas. In my entire life I don’t think I’ve met 20 Protestant theologians who understand it. At base I think this is explained by the Western (both Latin and Protestant) rejection of the definition of the “catholic” Church laid out by +Ignatius of Antioch, which in operation is a living example of “consensus”.
The ramifications of this Western failure to understand the Eastern Christian mindset are extensive, so extensive, Old R, that its not hyperbole to say that we “worship a different God” from you guys.
Also, ignore the Early Fathers as you do concerning "Sola Scripture" and justify them from Scripture.
"Old R, much as the Protestants..."
One more time; I am not Protestant. Got it?
In my entire life I don’t think I’ve met 20 Protestant theologians who understand it.
In all my life, I'm guessing many years more than yours, I've never met a single person as intellectually arrogant as you. What does that prove?
I am still at a loss as to how you justify Perpetual Virginity, Bodily Assumption of Mary, and the Trinity.
Would it be possible for you to refrain from telling me how superior you are and answer those simple questions?