Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Bill Clinton Scandal - SANITY CHECK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (63236)	12/8/1999 5:44:00 PM
From: Johannes Pilch	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

>There are disagreements about faith and practice. Where does the ordinary believer turn to find their resolution? I would say, to an easily discernible authority, not to a remnant.< Indeed, but he obviously should not turn to a mere human who sets himself up as a central authority for all. The ordinary believer should turn to his leaders for solutions, but not at the expense of his own God given ability to reason and, more importantly, pray. The veil has been removed, and we all have The Book. For the humble, Christ is the easily discernible authority, and unlike the Bishop of Rome, there is no doubt about His authority. Turn to Him. No pope required. >This has nothing to do with discerning the state of anyone's soul, but with discerning the repository of faith. This is not beyond argument, clearly, but I think it is pretty logical....< Not as logical as you think. In fact it is highly illogical. To whom must we turn to do all this "discerning" of yours? Cognitively discerning the repository of faith is a remarkably difficult, if not impossible, thing to do. Not everyone can do the research to make an informed decision, and even encyclicals and the commands of priests must be interpreted and compared with the past. The problem is, despite the claims of Rome we all by default are cut off from the past. No. Catholics must eventually trust something mindlessly-- illogically. They turn to the Vatican and its multifarious personages and rituals (which I think is patently ridiculous, as it is illogical to rely upon Christ's one arcane statement to Peter to support the entire monstrosity that is the papacy). It is more logical to simply turn directly to Christ, since the Scriptures tell us plainly and far more explicitly than any Scriptural text supporting Rome's position that it is by no other name but His that salvation can be found. Nevertheless I suppose it will all work out in the end, for perhaps it is possible to mindlessly trust Christ through Rome. But I think it best to simply cut out the flawed middle and trust Christ. >The best argument that you have against following authority is the situation of the Jew at the time of Christ (assuming, for the argument, that he should follow Christ).< And this is not even the half of it. But I do not claim one should not follow Church authority. The Scriptures make it clear we ought to follow our human authorities. We simply ought not do it mindlessly. But every man must ultimately go into the ground alone. If one is too afraid to trust God directly, to cast oneself directly at His mercy, and therefore into His arms-- then one should run elsewhere, perhaps to Rome.

To: Neocon who wrote (63236)	12/8/1999 9:48:00 PM
From: C Kahn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 67261

Neocon, I realize that you don't like to be involved in debates about religion. Where does the ordinary believer turn to find their resolution? But to answer your question, I would say that each person has to look inward. Be sensitive to their own spirit, regardless of what anyone else says or thinks. This is a good starting point. A million books and articles may tell you who you should and shouldn't love. But when you find the person that you love with all your heart and soul, and you know in your spirit that "This is the one", a large percentage of what you have read on the subject becomes irrelevant. Because you are now at a higher level of consciousness. And I feel our religious beliefs are on this same level. You know in your heart, soul and spirit that this is right. And there aren't enough books in the universe to convince your spirit that it is wrong. Colleen