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To: LiteKeeper
Why would literalism be a disadvantage.

Because it is not taking the scripture in its historical, cultural and linguistic context. Ever received that circular e-mail how those who rely on the prohibition of homosexuality in the Leviticus should also stone adulterers, etc.? That is effective against literalism; it is not effective agains tthe Catholic teaching that distinguishes between ancient Mosaic law and the law of the gospel.

absence of independent local leadership

... means that the secular authority has no one answerable to it in the Catholic clergy, which responds to Rome.

natural law

Many Protestants believe in the law that they find in the Bible, but they do not believe in the natural law outside of it. This allows the civil authority to insist that the legal constructs that they invent are universal, while the Catholic teachings only apply to Catholics, and the Biblical precepts only to those who believe in the Bible.

monastic tradition

... counters secularism because it shows a moral social model independent of it and indifferent to the secular world.

education by celibate clergy

... counters secularism insofar as introduction of sexual promiscuity to the youth is an important secularist tactic.

conditional obedience to civil laws

Every Protestant denomination that supports abortion "rights", for example, does so because it is the "law of the land". Besides, given the multiplicity of the denominations it is easy to portray any ethical tenet as optional and matter of individual preference. See the part about the natural law.

116 posted on 07/30/2008 2:43:32 PM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex
Because it is not taking the scripture in its historical, cultural and linguistic context. Ever received that circular e-mail how those who rely on the prohibition of homosexuality in the Leviticus should also stone adulterers, etc.? That is effective against literalism; it is not effective agains tthe Catholic teaching that distinguishes between ancient Mosaic law and the law of the gospel

You have completely misunderstood, and/or misrepresented, the evangelical position on the "literal" interpretation of Scripture. Evangelicals adhere to the historical-grammatical interpretation of Scripture: Scripture taken in its historical context, with attention paid specifically to the literally genre of any given passage: poetry is interpreted differently from historical narrative, etc. You have created a straw man argument that does not apply to what evangelicals actually believe. Further, dispensational theology believes you must distinguish in the way in which God rules in this world or the economy by which He mediates His rule in this world at different points in time.

156 posted on 07/30/2008 7:21:59 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: annalex
monastic tradition

... counters secularism because it shows a moral social model independent of it and indifferent to the secular world.

Except that there is nothing biblical about the monastic life...and there is no way that a "secular" society will see it as a model for themselves. It is viewed by the secular world as an aberration, and certainly of no value whatsoever to them.

157 posted on 07/30/2008 7:26:38 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: annalex
education by celibate clergy

... counters secularism insofar as introduction of sexual promiscuity to the youth is an important secularist tactic.

And the secular world says that the celibate clergy have no understanding of the non-celibate world. Again, there is no way that the celibate lifestyle is a model for them...and they will disregard it.

Having said that, the Bible clearly speaks to this subject, and a "celibate" teacher is not required to speak to the biblical standard. Again, your argument that this is the exclusive property of the Roman Catholic just doesn't follow.

161 posted on 07/30/2008 7:34:30 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: annalex
conditional obedience to civil laws

Every Protestant denomination that supports abortion "rights"

You have confused Protestant denominations with evangelicals. There is not a single evangelical denomination that I know of that is pro-abortion. And don't look now, but there are American Catholics who are pro-choice (read, pro-death of the unborn). And once again, the pro-life position is not the exclusive property of Catholicism. You have staked out exclusive territory that is just not yours alone.

162 posted on 07/30/2008 7:37:52 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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