Yet another reason not to be a CATHOLIC! …………..

Started by 21CIconoclast, July 09, 2016, 10:29:29 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

reasonist

Quote from: Jack89 on September 19, 2016, 01:19:28 PM
That's the problem with Sola Scriptura and why there are 30,000 plus Protestant Christian denominations.

The Catholic Church has the Magisterium, which consists of the Pope and Bishops, as the authority to clarify such matters.  If you want clarification they'll help square you away.  It keeps Catholics on the same sheet of music, so to speak. 
It's still an arbitrary decision by simple mammals like the rest of us. Neither the Pope nor Bishops know more than we do.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities
Voltaire

Jack89

Quote from: reasonist on September 19, 2016, 06:34:03 PM
It's still an arbitrary decision by simple mammals like the rest of us. Neither the Pope nor Bishops know more than we do.

I would argue they do know more about this particular subject, just as a Shakespearean scholar knows more about Shakespearean literature than you or me.  Unless of course you're also a Shakespearean Scholar.  I also don't think it's arbitrary if you consider the overall theme of Christianity and incorporate that into your interpretation.  Knowing the tradition and studying the views of those who've tackled the subject before you will make it anything but arbitrary. 

Baruch

The Pope does know more about Catholicism than I do ... but I don't care.  No person, including the Pope, knows more about G-d than any other ape man.
Ha’át’íísh baa naniná?
Azee’ Å,a’ish nanídį́į́h?
Táadoo ánít’iní.
What are you doing?
Are you taking any medications?
Don't do that.

Jack89

Quote from: Baruch on September 19, 2016, 07:25:54 PM
The Pope does know more about Catholicism than I do ... but I don't care.  No person, including the Pope, knows more about G-d than any other ape man.
Since God is ultimately unknowable, I can't really argue with you. But I think there are people who know more about being good and living a fulfilling life than others, which is the objective of Catholicism, and many other religions.  And knowing what is good isn't as always easy as it seems.  That's where trial and error, and ultimately tradition come into play.  Those who study and understand that tradition, what works and what doesn't, should probably be listened to, even if their understanding isn't complete.  While I think Catholicism works the best, I still recognize that there are Rabbis, Buddhist Monks and other folks who know more about it than I do.

reasonist

Quote from: Jack89 on September 19, 2016, 07:11:57 PM
I would argue they do know more about this particular subject, just as a Shakespearean scholar knows more about Shakespearean literature than you or me.  Unless of course you're also a Shakespearean Scholar.  I also don't think it's arbitrary if you consider the overall theme of Christianity and incorporate that into your interpretation.  Knowing the tradition and studying the views of those who've tackled the subject before you will make it anything but arbitrary. 
That's not a very good analogy. Shakespeare never intended his poetry being anything else but fiction. And so is the Bible. Some know more about fiction than others but it still doesn't make it true. The Christian dogma is a man made construct, a work of fiction, a combination of plagiarisms from Sumerian, Egyptian, Zoroastrian and many other Pagan cults. Jesus, if he ever existed as told in the Bible, was a illiterate Jewish preacher, preaching Mosaic law to Jews. And the only eye witnesses to A Jesus, the Sanhedrin, declared him to be a fraud and denied any divinity. Other than that, all the Bible stories were written decades after the death of Jesus and relied on hear say only, and no other book would get such a free pass with all it's contradictions and cruelties.
And concerning morals, if the objective of Catholicism is being good and living a fulfilling life, then let's not forget what this very church did when it had the power to get away with it. From the crusades, to the inquisition, witch burning to running a child porn ring for decades, the Catholic church was anything BUT good.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities
Voltaire

Cavebear

Well, suppose the was no deity.  How different would the word look exactly?
Atheist born, atheist bred.  And when I die, atheist dead!