By your own admission, then, you can't be sure. Therefore you can't accuse me of lying.
She just didn't, so it is a lie to say that she did.
And you know this how? Who told you? Where's the documentation?
If this is so critically important, why didn't the Catholic church do a better job of writing the Bible (as Catholics claim) and clear that up? Why say *brothers* and *sisters* instead of *cousins* and leave people in confusion? That's not very responsible of them.
They could have come right out and said, "And after Mary had given birth, she and Joseph lead a celibate life as husband and wife, remaining ever virgin, having no other children but Jesus"; and called those who Catholics say were cousins, "cousins" instead of "brothers" and "sisters".
Then Matthew 13:55-56 could have read....
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren cousins, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters cousins, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?
Or in Matthew 12:46-48 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers cousins stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?"
But then, Jesus' response in verses 49 and 50 would have made no sense. Matthew 49-50 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
We are Catholics, we do what is good and avoid doing what is wrong.
Then why the need for confession? Why the uncertainty of where you (pl) end up when you (pl) die?
We are Catholics, we do what is good and avoid doing what is wrong. You should do the same.
BTW, nice finessing of the guidelines. That gets a 9.8...
I am sure because I believe in the teaching of the Church and the Church is sure. What I would admit is that the scripture makes the false notion of other children possible if it is interpreted in a certain false way. This is a good illuistration why we do not have the Bible as a sole rule of faith.
I doubt that I accused you personally of lying. I do say that Protestantism is a systematic lie about the Gospel, chiefly because of the way Protestantism spins it away from the Catholic truths of salvation being by grace alone through faith and works, the sacraments being ordinarily necessary for salvation and that the Church has the rule of faith. But I would not say that every Protestant lies all the time, especially one bamboozled since childhood by his pastors. If you show me where I accused you personally of lying -- that is saying something you know to be false in ordder to deceive -- show it to me and I will apologize.
And you know this how?
Because the Church retasined the memory of it. Religion is not a police station: documentation is not our first thought, it sure wasn't in the 1c wehn most people could not read or write.
If this is so critically important, why didn't the Catholic church do a better job of writing the Bible (as Catholics claim) and clear that up? Why say *brothers* and *sisters* instead of *cousins* and leave people in confusion?
Because the inspired author wanted to be precise. To say "cousins" when the group of people consistent of cousins, half-brothers, step-brothers, adopted children and playmates woudl be imprecise. To call such group collectively "brothers" is precisely how one is to describe it.
whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother
This is another demonstration how broad the word "brother" is used in the ancient texts.
Then why the need for confession? Why the uncertainty of where you (pl) end up when you (pl) die?
Confession gives certainty. I know that if I do what the Church asks of me I will go to Heaven. That is the promise of Christ. What we are nto certain of is our own will, which is weak. Now, therefore we need confession in order to reconnect to the communion of saints and regain strength.