[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

there is no "de fide" definition of reprobation, however there is a general teaching of the Catholic Church that there is a conditioned positive Reprobation, that is, it occurs with consideration of foreseen future demerits (post et propter praevisa demerita).

As is the teaching of Calvinism. Reprobation conditioned on Foreseen Future DeMerits.

When I say I don't believe in reprobation, I mean I don't believe in unconditional positive reprobation. Whereas the Westminster Confession of Faith emphatically repudiates a conditional reprobation.

Here, let's play a little game: You don't make up self-serving falsehoods about the Creeds of my Church, and in return I won't make up self-serving falsehoods about the College of Cardinals and the Vienna Boys Choir having a few too many vodka shooters together on a cold winter night. Fair 'nuff?

Not only does the WCF not "emphatically repudiate a conditional reprobation", the WCF emphatically teaches a Conditional Reprobation. Ch. III, sec. 7; ch. VI sec. 6; ch. XXXIII sec. 1&2. Do you even bother to read Protestant Creeds, or just repeat something that perhaps Karl Keating may have babbled in a moment of delirium?

The only way through that tension is to seek a doctrine that balances the universal nature of the free offer, free will and predestination. I believe this is where the Catholic Church, and many other churches are today.

Unfortunately, they also deny the reality of Spiritual Death, as defined by the Bible according to the doctrine of Original Sin:
Romans 8
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

ANY Religious Theory which proposes that an unregenerate Man will choose the God-pleasing option of True Repentance unto Jesus, is Biblically illegal in its violation of the Soteriological Law of Romans 8:8 -- you cannot propose that an Unregenerate Man will make a God-pleasing Choice.

Thus, only Calvinism (which teaches that Regeneration precedes Repentance) is Biblically legitimate.

That said, I can only wish I were as smart as you and Augustine and OP. :-) So I *think* that (one of?) our doctrinal quarrels are really about conditional versus unconditional reprobation.

No, that's not it at all. Calvinism teaches Conditional Reprobation, and Unconditional Election.

If you imagine that such a belief is somehow inconsistent, you're being shallow in your thinking. You can't just assume Necessity of Equivalence between the modes of Election and Reprobation without working through the Logic.

Here's the scoop:

Reprobation

• Reprobation is conditioned upon a Man choosing to Reject God.
• Given the choice, all UnRegenerate Men choose to Reject God.
• Thus, UnRegenerate Men fulfill the Condition.

  Election
  

• Only those who Truly Repent will enter Heaven.
• Unregenerate Men will never naturally choose to Repent, thus they do not "elect themselves".
• Therefore, that some might be Saved, God unconditionally Elects to Regenerate some Men, such that they will Repent.

Reprobation unto Eternal Death is conditioned upon a Man's Choice to Sin.
Election unto Eternal Life is conditioned upon none of Man's Choices (for the unregenerated man will always choose to reject God), but is Unconditionally effected by God Alone in his choice to regenerate some unto Repentance.

[WriteOn]

Not only does the WCF not "emphatically repudiate a conditional reprobation", the WCF emphatically teaches a Conditional Reprobation. Ch. III, sec. 7; ch. VI sec. 6; ch. XXXIII sec. 1&2. Do you even bother to read Protestant Creeds, or just repeat something that perhaps Karl Keating may have babbled in a moment of delirium?

Sorry. I cut and pasted that from here: "British Reformed Journal, The Well-Meant Offer and Reprobation, Ron Hanko"

Unfortunately, they also deny the reality of Spiritual Death, as defined by the Bible according to the doctrine of Original Sin

Maybe you could tell me where they deny this?

Calvinism teaches Conditional Reprobation, and Unconditional Election. Catholic Church dogma:
GOD, BY HIS ETERNAL RESOLVE OF WILL, HAS PREDETERMINED CERTAIN MEN TO ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS (De fide)
This doctrine is proposed by the Ordinary and General Teaching of the Church as a truth of Revelation. The doctrinal definitions of the Council of Trent presuppose it . . . The reality of Predestination is clearly attested to in Rom 8:29 et seq: . . . cf. Mt 25:34, Jn 10:27 et seq., Acts 13:48, Eph 1:4 et seq. . . . Predestination is a part of the Eternal Divine Plan of Providence.

The RCC doesn't frame it's dogma in terms of eternal decrees, making it a bit difficult to compare.