Who are the Catholics: The Orthodox or The Romanists, or both?

Me

[the_conscience]

I just witnessed a couple of Orthodox posters get kicked off a "Catholic Caucus" thread. I thought, despite their differences, they had a mutual understanding that each sect was considered "Catholic". Are not the Orthodox considered Catholic? Why do the Romanists get to monopolize the term "Catholic"?

I consider myself to be Catholic being a part of the universal church of Christ. Why should one sect be able to use a universal concept to identify themselves in a caucus thread while other Christian denominations need to use specific qualifiers to identify themselves in a caucus thread?

[Iscool]

We have the Bible. Why the need for the catechism?

Exactly...The Catholic catechism is no more than a Catholic commentary on 'some' scripture and it's religious tradition...There is no more authority in that catechism than there is in Edgar Rice Burrows' Tarzan...

[wmfights]

John 1:12-13 But as many received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Is it free will if God knows what we are going to do?

Prov. 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

[Mad Dawg]

No I meant repute but I must be using a 16th century meaning

You're making fun of me, right?

All I find is consider, regard, reckon, OR "think well of." (17th century.)

If any of those is what you meant then I don't understand what you're saying.

But in any event, as we taught tonight in our class for converts, in Jesus the baptized are prophet, priest, and king.

[Natural Law]

"I have heard three former Muslims state unequivocally that allahu akbar is comparative linguistically."

My one pope trumps your three ex-Muslims in stating that the Muslims imperfectly worship the God of Abraham.

[MarkBsnr]

I have photocopies of all the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts along with several Torah Scrolls and a hand transcribed copy of the Great Isaiah Scroll in my basement in a hermetically sealed and environmentally controlled room, which I had constructed at great expense.

Very good. And the scrolls are of lambskin too, right? :)

One of the problems with claims to the original is that we don't have any of the originals, and we have no idea of the number of the copies that resulted in the copies that we do have. We do have a number of different copies of the same books, or allusions or fragments of them, which leads us to the understanding that there were possibly hundreds of different copies of hundreds of different books out there that the Church had to decide on. No wonder it took them a couple of hundred years. Even with the Holy Spirit guiding them.

[MarkBsnr]

Is it free will if God knows what we are going to do?

Foreknowledge is not predestination. Remember that God is outside of time. He is all; everywhere and everywhen. This time concept is a construct for us, not for Him. When people say God's plan, it is usually without the concept of the idea that God is not only the alpha (at the beginning of Time), but also the omega (at the end of Time), all at once.

[caww]

(I’m as dry as a James Bond martini.)

...Now that’s interesting..Better.

(It is frightful enough now.)

... Haiti.

[aruanan]

28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith alone apart from works of the law.

If you're reading this passage in context, the contrast is justification by faith versus works of the law. The operative words are "apart from." Paul opposed one to the other; there is no middle ground. As he said in verse 20, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." If Luther wrote "only" it only emphasized the meaning evident throughout the chapter; it didn't introduce a different or contrary meaning.

[redgolum]

And the nine circles of hell, as well. There is really no compelling theological argument to either speculation. Especially if one believes that being in the company of God is the ultimate reward and being deprived of the company of God the ultimate torture.

You are correct in that is the current sentiment is most of Western Christianity, but a quick tour of many old churches (in Europe especially) and a review of much of the works of popular piety both Catholic and Lutheran reveal that wasn't always the case. Even today there are many who because of various private revelations will take issue with your statements. My mother in law (a devout Catholic) has many books filled with various visions of saints who saw hell and heaven, and lets just say the former is not just separation

But, getting down to the basics, you are right. Even the street sweeper in Heaven is a more wonderful thing than anything down here (assuming of course Heaven needs a street sweeper). We can't really know the heights of heaven or the depths of hell in our current state. Some may have had a partial vision of either, but after the age of the Apostles, few will claim that such visions or revelations are universally binding (for instance neither the Lutheran's or Catholic's view any private revelation as capable of being binding).

[Uri’el-2012]

I have heard three former Muslims state unequivocally that allahu akbar is comparative linguistically.

My one pope trumps your three ex-Muslims in stating that the Muslims imperfectly worship the God of Abraham.

If that be the case,
you are following a false shepherd teaching a false gospel.

Flee; your very salvation is at risk.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[redgolum]

Correct. God DOES NOT exist in time. He made time. Time is a created thing. The exception is the Incarnation.

Read Augustine’s “Confessions”. He goes into this in the last few books.

[Mad Dawg]

No FAYur! I want one TOO!

[Uri’el-2012]

ping to post #2,781.

I invite your comment or criticism, and value your opinion.

Right on !

To put a finer point on it with the metaphor of the menorah.

Where the servant lamp is in the fourth position, as is the Aleph/Tov.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Iscool]

As far as what is blasphemy against the Spirit, I have yet to find a commentator that has given a clear definition.

The only thing that's indicated is calling the Holy Spirit an unclean spirit...

Mar 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:
Mar 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

Jesus said it wasn't a big deal to blaspheme the Son of Man, who is Jesus in the flesh, they will still be forgiven...But to blaspheme the Holy Spirit is unforgivable...

Other than that, all we have in conjecture...

I'm of the opinion that much of what was written in the Gospels is future prophecy for the Jews...And perhaps this fits into that category...

[Natural Law]

"If that be the case, you are following a false shepherd teaching a false gospel."

The only way the pope and I can be wrong on this is if there is more than one God. I think this is where I get to shout "Gin!".

[caww]

Hummm...I popped into the cozy corner..tsk tsk #2763 Post

[Natural Law]

"God DOES NOT exist in time."

The best analogy I have heard is that time exists for God as our memories exist for us. As we can look back in our memories and jump instantly from one moment to the another separated by decades so to can God see all time past and future.

[Iscool]

The Word of God did not “get to the pages of your Bible”(sic) - it is the Logos manifested as Scripture.

I wholeheartedly agree with that...

[Iscool]

The only way the pope and I can be wrong on this is if there is more than one God. I think this is where I get to shout "Gin!".

Nope...Apparently you and your pope don't recognize the fact that there is a counterfeit God...

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

The muzlims tell us we do not worship their God...And they are right...

[Natural Law]

"Nope...Apparently you and your pope don't recognize the fact that there is a counterfeit God..."

There is only one God. Neither the Muslims or you can change him; they by mischaracterizing Him and you by diminishing Him such that the Muslim's descriptions have any merit.