I'm not complaining, not here, anyway. I'm talking about what you might call the "theology of conversation" or of disputation or something along those lines.
Yeah, miscommunication happens, (as in right now) but what else we got but words? If we're patient and approach this with good will I think a lot of miscues can be worked through.
What I'm trying to convey and think about is the question of what end does such a post serve? It's a declaration that there's no point in talking to Catholics because our pride prevents us from acknowledging our, well, heresy, I guess.
So the question naturally follows: why post a remark like that on a thread about a Catholic writing? If there's no point in talking to Catholics, the post is either pointless or not addressed to Catholics. If it's pointless, we're done.
But if it's not addressed to Catholics, then can we assume it (along with all the other posts made by somebody with this POV) is addressed to Protestants?
And that's where the high-five comment I made came from. The posts are not made to portray a point of view in a comprehensible and persuasive way, it would seem, but rather just to plant the flag of Protestant truth in the presence of prideful Catholics.
And that's why I said that I wasn't interested in such, ah, communication. It's not that I was going off to sulk. It's that my aims involve understanding and having my POV understood, and then sharing in the examination of each, for the purpose of a shared quest of deepening our understanding of one another and of God. But if the role required of me by such posts as I describe is to represent the benighted Papist falling back in awe before the flag of the conquerors, well, naturally, that doesn't serve any needs or wants I'm aware of having.
Is that more comprehensible (or just reprehensible?)
Love can come in many forms.
Indeed. Is one Protestant telling another that Catholics cannot "throw away" the Council of Trent because of their pride a form of Love's coming?
You have to remember, Protestants (true Protestants) think that Catholics are steeped in deep heresy. That's OK because Catholics think Protestants are lost outside the Church (Vatican I) or, at best, in great heresy (Vatican II).
Some people simply have different ways of communicating this message. I'll give you two biblical examples on techniques.
Neh 13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair. And I made them swear by the name of God, saying, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters to your sons, or for yourselves.