Replies

Please see the quotes from Luther and Calvin regarding Mary's perpetual virginity.

Luther and Calvin weren't popes.

You actually think Protestants recognize authority outside the Word of God as it reveals the teachings of Jesus and the early church. In general, the views of the early church fathers may inform our opinions and understanding of scripture. But it is the Word which is the authority.

You keep pretending you understand it but you keep turning again and again to the opinions of various men.

I was right earlier. You have a manmade religion, not a supernatural one. We are not discussing the same thing. You only talk about men and their opinions. I may be very fond of Calvin but take exception to many things he wrote.

Once again and in small words: John Calvin was not a pope.

Luther and Calvin weren't popes.

Thank you. You admit now that their own personal interpretation of scripture is no more authoritative than any other individual's personal interpretation of scripture. Neither is your personal interpretation of scripture authoritative. Neither is OP's personal interpretation of scripture authoritative. Neither is mine.

So there is no way for you to tell me I'm wrong with my own personal interpretation of scripture. OP's definitions of heretic and relative chances of salvation are just that, relative. OP's insistance on Calvin's predestination understanding are not authoritative. Augustine's supposed support for Calvin's predestination is not authoritative.

In short nothing is authoritative.

We must all grope around in the dark for the true meaning of scripture, never knowing who is right, who is wrong, why its OK to contracept but not abort, etc etc etc.

Unless this scripture is true after all, and Christ did indeed ordain authority somewhere somehow:

Acts 8:30-31: Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

"How can I, unless someone instructs me?"

Yet you claim that we should listen to no man.

I may be very fond of Calvin but take exception to many things he wrote. Once again and in small words: John Calvin was not a pope.

You better ping your standard bearer OP back to this thread. You've undercut so many of his fine apologetic efforts and individual debate victories, and the excellent debating points he fought so hard to win, that if you continue you will further erode the OP position credibility beyond even OPie's talents to repair.