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Here is a thread about intemperate and indiscreet zeal and the rest.

Here am I arguing against those who argue against the topic of the thread.

When I am not, as a Catholic, enduring slander about how seriously I take Scripture, I find my arguments from Scripture are ignored.

Not me. My Arguments. My arguments in support of the topic of the thread.

When I note this, and note the appearances, I get, not arguments, but sententious words not really defending but just sort of kind of explaining that the reason my argument in support of the thread’s topic are being ignored is that they have been heard before or other people have other things to do.

So the thread poster makes point A. People argue against it. I engage their arguments in support of Point A. They have better things to do.

It could be. But, as I was just informed, appearances are deceptive.

It’s like the river Platte is said to be: a mile wide and a foot deep. The same artillery fired from the same position, but the follow up knife work never happens.

And this confirms my view that a thoughtful Catholic reads Scripture more deeply, more comprehensively, and maybe even more comprehendingly than a thoughtful Protestant. The great Reformation principles are drawn from Paul (rightly or wrongly) of unconditional election, irresistible grace, perseverance of the saints. I go to another theme of Paul’s and suddenly it’s .... Where’d everybody go?

Well, now I have to go pay bills. Yuck.

......"my view that a thoughtful Catholic reads Scripture more deeply, more comprehensively, and maybe even more comprehending than a thoughtful Protestant."

Well your statement alone is enough for anyone to get ignored.... Arrogance of this degree generally is ignored and not taken seriously.

Let me quote just from this one post of yours here... might help you see the problem:

"Here I am"

"I am not"

"I take"

"I find"

"Not me"

"My arguements"

"I note"

"I get"

"My arguement"

"I engage"

"I was"

"I go"

"I have"

....perhaps you might avoid the I-Me-My syndrome. I addressed your post in the first paragraph with explanation in hopes you might be more understanding of those whose approach is different than others. Your response was all about you and a sort of winney flavor to it and this after you mistakenly qualified yourself above others. Doesn't exactly win friends and influence people.

maybe even more comprehendingly than a thoughtful Protestant.

Without the Holy Spirit as Teacher, you are only reading words. It is the Holy Spirit that brings life and Truth. Carnal minds cannot understand/know the things of God.

I've been on both sides. Once I heard the truth back then, I knew immediately it was right. Looking back, I realized I never went through an angrument phase and I believe it's because I didn't have my defenses up - I was, merely, listening and I was no light weight Catholic by any means.

We all have different experiences on our coming to The Truth tailored made for us. However, it doesn't happen automatically because God wants it to happen - we have our part to do. As we know He wants ALL saved, that NONE perish - we are, also, told also that will not happened.

Matt 7:13,14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

God wants ALL, Jesus died for ALL and only a FEW find it. What happened? Free will, lack of knowledge, resisting Truth are some reasons. Those of the mindset that says God's Will just comes to pass - whatever, He wants, He gets, after all He is God - are wrong! That's dictatorship. God is ALL Love, He's not a controlling God. WE must want HIM with ALL our heart, mind, soul. He gave ALL, we must give ALL. How many do that? We are told...ONLY A FEW. Not good news. And everyone thinks they are in the FEW.

We find Truth, when we seek. Not a church doing it for us - WE are to seek HIM. That's the way God designed it. He wants us as individuals to have a personal relationship with HIM. We are married to Jesus/TheBridegroom not a church - His Church are individual members of His Body. God's Word says we cannot have two masters for we will love one and hate the other. It's like having 2 children and going to one child to find out about the other child. But it's really like have two spouses - being married to one (Jesus) but giving the other spouse the say so, the direction on how to conduct that marriage, what's important to the other spouse, when you are and how you are to celebrate the other spouse on what they think.

Yet we are told.. "'Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength and with ALL your mind'.

ALL doesn't leave ANY room for anyone/thing in that marriage. It's all about Jesus. Unless one's marriage is rocky and we don't feel close enough to Jesus to heal it, one invites in a marriage counselor and gives them 'reign' over their marriage. How long will that marriage last - it wouldn't, it can't - as much as we think being religious (appearance sake) keeps it alive.

God uses pastors, ministers for order in a particular community of believers and they should be in FULL compliance with God's Word and not have their own set of beliefs in anyway shape or form. And that has not happened in the RCC as we well know.