Even a central Amazonian knows God in a way, since the Natural law is still a portion of the Divine Law. He works as He sees fit. To think that Faith cannot be had outside the Scriptures, IMHO, is limiting to grace, and not a position I'd easily ascribe to.
Yet, most Protestants profess sola scriptura as the only way.
Indeed they do. Which is why I cannot follow them.
It's not what God can or cannot do, but what is necessary for faith to appear. Frankly it sounds a bit naive to say that God chooses to "download" faith to people like Paul, Job, Lot, Abraham or Noah, while subjecting others to life-long studies of scriptures. God is not partial or changing.
I would say that God generally beat Paul over the head with faith before he would accept it, rather than a "download." But, two things: (1) is it not your experience that some people generally have a greater faith, even among children raised in the same family? Why this is, I don't really have an answer...do you? (2) I don't believe people acquire faith from "life-long studies of Scripture." In order to have the patience to conduct such a task, you must have some faith as an impetus, I imagine. However, I believe faith can *grow* through study of God - Theology. One realm of such study is through His revelation in Scripture. Would you disagree?
This thing about different means towards the same end sounds a bit like a rationalization to me although on the surface it "makes sense" in a human box. With God, rocks and rifles are not an issue. By definition, God is perfect and perfection does not come in different varieties.
God is perfect, and immutable. Absolutely. We are not, and experience shows us that we generally approach things differently. Which is more pleasing to God: joining a celibate order and dedicating your life to prayer, or marrying and bringing forth a large, loving Christian family?
He works as He sees fit
I am not sure I buy that. The Bible is clear that God is impartial and that we should be impartial. Also, by analogy, we would not treat our children differently, making some work harder than others, or teaching some more and some less.
To think that Faith cannot be had outside the Scriptures, IMHO, is limiting to grace, and not a position I'd easily ascribe to.
Even scriptures tell us that faith existed before scriptures.
is it not your experience that some people generally have a greater faith, even among children raised in the same family? Why this is, I don't really have an answer...do you?
That depends how you define faith, but as far as their differences are concerned, I don't have a clue.
I don't believe people acquire faith from "life-long studies of Scripture." In order to have the patience to conduct such a task, you must have some faith as an impetus, I imagine.
There are well known theologians who are not believers. They study theology because they are fascinated by it. In fact, some claim they became non-believers through it.
However, I believe faith can *grow* through study of God - Theology.
Theology is a study of God (Greek theos + logia), a study of what people wrote about God through their faith in him. Some people may find theological arguments compelling because they express their beliefs in greater detail and in a more scholarly, authoritative way, thereby leading to a sense of "growing" in knowledge of God.
One realm of such study is through His revelation in Scripture. Would you disagree?
I am the wrong person to ask that question.
Which is more pleasing to God: joining a celibate order and dedicating your life to prayer, or marrying and bringing forth a large, loving Christian family?
Why can both not be 'pleasing' to God, just as there may be different innumerable paths towards faith?