[wagglebee]

The basic presumption underlying this dichotomy is that the Holy Spirit can only speak to/lead the Body of Christ through heirarchical institutional means (ie, through the institution of the Catholic Church).

Not at all. The Protestant presumption is that CORE CHRISTIAN BELIEFS (the Real Presence, Sacraments, works, etc.) believed between the Pentecost and the early 16th century was somehow wrong.

[Frumanchu]

Not at all. The Protestant presumption is that CORE CHRISTIAN BELIEFS (the Real Presence, Sacraments, works, etc.) believed between the Pentecost and the early 16th century was somehow wrong.

I'm not even going to bother addressing the convenient historical revisionism here. My point remains: you presume your institution is the sole possessor of the fullness of Christian truth in order to prove it. Self-referential arguments do not justify false dichotomies.