Catholic Legends And How They Get Started: An Example

Apha and Omega Ministries ^ | April 11, 2000 | James White

[Religion Moderator]

Is it possible to get a dispassionate debate on something so tied to the human emotional response as religion is?

My two cents: yes it is, as evidenced on this long-standing thread.

If you wish to carry on such a debate, IMHO AlbionGirl would be an excellent correspondent. She is a contributor on that thread as well.

[AlbionGirl]

Is it possible to get a dispassionate debate on something so tied to the human emotional response as religion is?

No, hence the Reformation.

C.S. Lewis so hated the enmity between Christians that he wrote of the Reformation, that issues which required the deliberation of Godly and fair-minded men, in order to keep the schism from occurring, was pretty much lost before it even began.

And, you can see in the early polemics of the Reformers a real sense of betrayal, and oddly enough, while that sense of betrayal was hot, unity was possible, once it cooled, unity became nearly impossible.

[AlbionGirl]

Thank you, RM.

[Ottofire]

That's the problem with anti-Catholic rhetoric. ... I hope this doesn't sound snotty; not meant that way.

I do not think you sounded snotty. My only point is I would prefer to call it Protestant rhetoric though, rather than Anti-Catholic, which is inherently Anti-Catholic, but with a bit broader than just a "Catholics-are-wrong" belief.

And as such, James White's rhetoric must be actually called Reformed Baptist, as there are many in the Protestant, as well as Southern Baptist Convention, circles that would also like to hang him by his heels and make him watch Jimmy Swaggart cry until he repents of his Calvinistic ways.

[Campion]

And to quote Mr. White here's where I think the problem lies

It's a cinch that when White blames those who act "in the service of Mother Church," he's not blaming Baptists or Presbyterians.

Nothing like a little finger-pointing to advance the cause of Christian charity.

[Ottofire]

LOL, 12K replies? Egads!

I guess that would keep me busy for a few weeks.

Shouldn't you archive that monstrosity and put in a table of contents and an index?

[Daffy]

RE: Dante. A recent translation was reviewed in the New Oxford Review, June 2004, available to read at this link:

http://www.newoxfordreview.org/reviews.jsp?did=0604-gardiner

[Alex Murphy]

Much appreciate the kind - and correct - words in our defense, Claud.

[virgil]

Yes. I read The Inferno, (Signet Classic, translated John Ciardi). I liked this one because there are notes at the end of each Canto. I found the notes very helpful and just as interesting as the literature, and it was inexpensive. The Inferno is a great book. I know of a complete copy of The Divine Comedy...Everyman's Library, translated by Allen Mandelbaum. Good quality book in hardcover. Another good book(s) is Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.