Posted on 03/30/2002 7:53:37 PM PST by malakhi
| Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams |
So was the resurrection a resuscitation of Jesus's body, or a tranformation/resurrection into a new, "spirit"/"resurrection" body?
What is so hard about not eating meat? If you can not resist that small temptation, when there is little real spiritual harm at stake, how weak will you be when a true temptation is presented? It's all about practicing self-denial.
If the laity "slips into a patter of disobedience over such issues" then they are in real danger. It's a warning sign.
SD
No, it doesn't.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery". You can fulfil this commandment by specifically not engaging in adulterous acts. You can take it even further by avoiding the "near occasion of sin" -- say, by not looking at a woman lustfully. In both cases, you are fulfilling the commandment. The "absolute meaning" is the commandment itself. Do this. Do not do that. As long as you fulfil this requirement, exactly how you do so is not relevant.
Let me think of a Catholic example. You are obligated to go to mass on Sunday. Now, you could go to a Saturday evening mass. You could go on Sunday morning. You could go to a Tridentine rite or a novus ordo mass. you could go to an eastern rite mass. You could even, in certain circumstances, go to an Orthodox mass. All of these are different ways of fulfilling the general requirement to attand mass on Sunday.
And those who fabricated a system of seperating fods and dishes and utensils made a mountain out of a molehill. On the other hand, if God meant that, then those who don't keep seperate dishes and utensils totally missed the idea of the prohibition.
Jesus taught in a similar vein in the sermon on the mount. Not only shouldn't you avoid murder, you should even avoid anger with your brother. As a Catholic, the concept of avoiding the near occasion of sin should not be unfamiliar. The church got this from the Pharisees.
From those evil pharisees? :-)
Do I realize how Pharisaical this all seems to whom?
Before you apply Matthew 23:4 to this discussion, I would suggest you read Matthew 23:1-3.
Or the perfidious pharisees. Sounds even more sinister that way. ;o)
We back each other up. I cover for Reggie when he's gone. Steven backs up for me. When Dave is out, IMRight picks up the load. ;o)
Ah, yes. "Fences" around the Commandments, I think you have called it. I retract my comments on the kid boiling thing.
Now recognize that the "persnickety man-made" rules we have are our way of fencing in obedience to God's Commandments, as interpreted by His Church.
SD
BTW these are the same people who, at one time, claimed the entire world was subject to them.
What commandment, specifically, does abstaining from meat on Good Friday help you avoid violating?
Before you apply Matthew 23:4 to this discussion, I would suggest you read Matthew 23:1-3.
I've read it.
Understand it, too !
It isn't? Believe that at your own peril. LOL
SD
The First.
SD
We need to have a "Boxing Day" (or "Boxing Week") where we all switch places. 'twould confuse the heck out of the lurkers.
SD
I also notice most, if not all, of your theological argument is based on the Catechism and not the Bible. Which, to you, is the most important book?
Something I have observed among traditional Jews I have known: communities and groups strictly adhere to whatever level of compliance has evolved. Obediance within the community is absolute and the community is essential to the well being of the individual. No matter how modern a young "Lubbavitcher" might seem in the workplace, they will not bend a rule even among goys they blend with < /personal experience>. This seems analogous to the establishment of rules of discipline within the RC or any other Church, it's not merely personal
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.