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As a Catholic, I accept the teaching of my Church regardless of any other interpretation of scripture that can be found. I am not bothered by the fact that the Church blended the classic philosophy and Christianity; I think it was a good thing to do so.

I understand completely. I was once a Catholic (36 years). It was reading the Bible that led me to research all religious beliefs of Chrisianity. Philosophy is a process that is actually man trying to find God, while according to the Bible, it is God seeking man. I am anti-philosophy because their methods of making simple things difficult and the self-worthiness of intellectual powers.

I'm curious why you would say that blending pagan beliefs with Christianity was a good thing. Could you add to that a little?

I meant no disrepect to you or Ken Fortier; somehow I thought of him as a doctor of divinity.

I imagine he would laugh a lot at someone thinking him to be a Doctor of Divinity. I'll forward this to him and find out.

PS: I may just start a thread or two on some of what I gleaned from the Scriptures on the end-time destiny of man. So far, no one has been able to refute much of what I have written or preached.

One book of the Bible I recommend is not part of the Protestant Canon, Wisdom. Two things are remarkable about it: it speaks of wisdom as a universal good that exists outside of the nation of Israel, yet it contrasts Israel to the Gentile idolaters. If I remember right, that book had a profound influence on the Church Fathers who struggled to understand how the apparent good of ancient philosophy could dwell among the pagans. This book provided the answer, and it was that Christ Who preexisted all things must have guided the pagans as Wisdom.

Interetingly, Ken Fortier must be on to something because the larger quote form chapter five, below, seems to also hint at the utter detruction of the wicked.

Here is a collection of quotes that underline the Catholic outlook on wisdom and nature of man.

wisdom will not enter into a malicious soul (Wis 1:4)
God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world (Wis 2:23f)
we also being born, forthwith ceased to be: and have been able to show no mark of virtue: but are consumed in our wickedness. 14 Such things as these the sinners said in hell: 15 For the hope of the wicked is as dust, which is blown away with the wind, and as a thin froth which is dispersed by the storm: and a smoke that is scattered abroad by the wind: and as the remembrance of a guest of one day that passeth by. 16 But the just shall live for evermore: and their reward is with the Lord, and the care of them with the most High (Wis 5:13f)
the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the whole world (Wis 6:26)
Wisdom