Posted on 05/11/2010 11:38:04 PM PDT by Salvation
This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries.
This is a set of lecture notes used since 1985 to teach the basis for key doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. The objectives of the course were, and are:
The course grew out of the need for the authors to continually answer questions about their faith tradition and their work. (Both authors are active members of Catholic parish communities in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Robert Schihl was a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Paul Flanagan is a consultant specializing in preparing people for technology based changes.) At the time these notes were first prepared, the authors were spending time in their faith community answering questions about their Protestant Evangelical workplaces (Mr. Flanagan was then a senior executive at the Christian Broadcasting Network), and time in their workplaces answering similar questions about their Roman Catholic faith community. These notes are the result of more than a decade of facilitating dialogue among those who wish to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and why.
For Roman Catholic Christians, the belief in the Assumption of Mary flows immediately from the belief in her Immaculate Conception. Catholic Christians believe that if Mary was preserved from sin by the free gift of God, she would not be bound to experience the consequences of sin--death--in the same way we do. Mary's assumption shows the result of this freedom from sin--the immediate union of her whole being with her Son Jesus Christ with God at the end of her life.
Catholic Christians believe that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was assumed both body and soul into heavenly glory.
Since sin and death are the fruits of Satan, the freedom of Mary from the original sin of Adam also frees her from the consequences of sin also. Then Mary best fulfills the scripture of Genesis.
The constant faith (paradosis) of the Church affirms the belief in the Assumption of Mary.
That helped alot ... thanks.
Is it possible that she was sinless without her recognizing that she was?
I’ve heard it explained this way: There’s two ways to save a person from a pit. You can pull them out after they’ve fallen in, or you can keep them from falling in in the first place.
Mary needed a savior just like the rest of us. Only, she was saved at conception, before sin even had a chance to contaminate her soul. She is perfect not because she didn’t need a savior, but because she was already saved.
About being sinless and not recognizing it, I’m not sure. My theological education isn’t deep enough to ponder questions like that. Maybe someone else on here knows?
I just read what’s in the Bible.
But I don't think that being sinless necessarily means being unusually insightful.
To be precise, I think that PART, maybe even a big part, of the reason we sinners are so lacking in self-understanding is that we are afraid of what we might see, and don't want it to be true.
I'm guessing Mary would not have had that problem. But if she was sinless, she was probably humble. And I think C.S. Lewis is probably right about humility, in that humble folks tend to find other people more interesting than themselves.
So I can readily understand Mary's just not thinking about being sinless, but thinking about her family, her community, her friends, and her God.
I see. Wouldn’t you like to get more out of religion than just learning it like you learn math or science? You know, the people that wrote the new testament had the same holy spirit that you have within you.
Wasn’t that all discussed in yesterdays’s thread on the Immaculate Conception. Maybe you can read through that with your son.
The Blessed Virgin Mary knew at the very announcement of the Angel Gabriel that her son would be born for a special purpoose. She was even more aware of it at the prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation of the Infant Jesus in the temple.
May knew that Christ was God. She knew that she was human. Like all humans, we WORSHIP God. And soo did Mary.
Am I allowed to ask why Roman Catholicism is taking over Free Republic?
This is not a Roman Catholic forum.
Seriously, “Salvation,” maybe you could talk about Jesus once in a while, rather than these peculiar Roman Catholic doctrines. That would promote unity within Christ’s Church — the body of those who believe in Him and who’ve been adopted into His family — rather than division because of these biblically unsubstantiated doctrines.
Of course. I am, you know, Catholic. I get eternal life from it.
Members of any confession are free to make posts of interest to them as well.
Some unity you Protestant mariophobes have.
But you need to live the bright spirit now to gain entrance to the Kingdom..and that cannot come from your mind.
2 Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord: 3 As all things of his divine power which appertain to life and godliness, are given us, through the knowledge of him who hath called us by his own proper glory and virtue. 4 By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that concupiscence which is in the world. 5 And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue, knowledge;6 And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience, godliness; 7 And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity. 8 For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you to be neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore, brethren, labour the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any time.
(2 Peter 1)
Yes, but the knowledge must come from the holy spirit and is NOT to be remembered and learned because it is everpresent. Big mistake to learn and memorize the truth, sorry!
Um ... “mariophobes”? I’m not afraid of Jesus’ mother. I am grateful that she said “yes” to God, and all humanity is blessed because of her obedience.
All knowledge of God comes from God, but I don’t understand your hostility to “learn and memorize the truth”.
these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14)
No, I am sorry but you do not understand the mechanisms of evil. It came as a good originally to Eve and it was the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil that God said to not eat of! The holy spirit teaches us naturally in a flash, if you would be still and know. Fhu.com...if you have the courage to get out of your thoughts. And I am not hostile in the least.
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