Fr. Greg of the ACCA writes: You equate the Pope speaking “on behalf of the whole Church” with his speaking, as Vatican I states, “in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians”. Your argument seems to turn on this equation. However, this would imply that Papal infallibility is purely a… Continue reading Is the Pope’s Authority Dependent Upon the Church?
Tag: Church
Dispensationalism and the Jews
Dispensationalism has a number of troubles. For starters, it’s an infant on the world stage – the first dispensationalist was John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), and prior to him, there’s no notion of a “secret rapture” that would take the elect and leave the world without a Church. It also has been the source of a… Continue reading Dispensationalism and the Jews
In Essentials, Unity…
Someone* famously said, “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity,” a phrase so famous it’s become known as the Friedensspruch. This mantra has been used by a variety of Christian denominations, most famously with the so-called Christian Irenics after the worst of the Reformation. These people, looking on the relative insignificance of… Continue reading In Essentials, Unity…
Which Traditions Are Authentic?
First things first, if you haven’t read Fr. Andrew’s latest post, or heard his recent homily, they’re very much worth your time. There’s a tag at the bottom of his posts that says “Fr. Andrew,” so if you ever want to skip my stuff and get right to his, I won’t be offended! A blogger… Continue reading Which Traditions Are Authentic?
Say What???
The follow-up on TurretinFan’s post about this blog has been … interesting. I’m going to respond as best I can, but I’ll admit at the outset I have next to no idea what this guy is saying. natamllc said…I will post the comments here and see where they go? That’s your warning. Stream of consciousness… Continue reading Say What???
Protestantism and Relativism: the Conclusion
Addressing the remainder of TurretinFan’s post about this blog, he says that the claim ‘All of Christendom c. 1516 and before, you all misunderstand Christianity!’ is an absolutist claim, and hence, not relativistic. And indeed, he’s right on that. But that’s why I said that the seeds of relativism are found in the Reformation, not… Continue reading Protestantism and Relativism: the Conclusion
Are the Early Church Fathers Calvinist or Catholic?
In a post entitled “Non Sequitur Illustrated,” TurretinFan (who I don’t know from Adam), has this to say about part one of my multi-part post on the roots of relativism in Protestantism: Here is a classic non sequitur: “The biggest reason I think that Protestantism lies at the heart of relativism is this. Protestants are… Continue reading Are the Early Church Fathers Calvinist or Catholic?
Good Enough Christianity?
Protestant View #3: Good Enough Christianity?The first view is directly contrary to Scripture, while the second one is directly contrary to history (and less obviously, contrary to Scripture as well). As cooler heads have prevailed after the Reformation, it seems that many Protestants are admitting the break with Rome occurred over some pretty unimportant stuff,… Continue reading Good Enough Christianity?
The (Invisible) Remnant Theory of Church History
Protestant View #2: The (Invisible) Remnant Theory(2) runs into almost the exact same problems as (1). Because the problems with Protestant View #1 are so severe, and because even the verses cited for the notion of an end-times apostasy (like Matthew 24:10-14) suggest a general falling-away from the Faith, rather than a global abandonment [the… Continue reading The (Invisible) Remnant Theory of Church History
Protestantism and Moral Relativism: The Trilemma
The biggest reason I think that Protestantism lies at the heart of relativism is this. Protestants are in the awkward position of saying, “All of Christendom c. 1516 and before, you all misunderstand Christianity!” This means that they necessarily have to come to one of three unfortunate conclusions: either (1) that there was no authentic… Continue reading Protestantism and Moral Relativism: The Trilemma