[CS-FSLUG] TD: Hello everyone! Acceptance of the Statement of Faith . . .
Eduardo Sanchez
lists at sombragris.org
Tue Sep 27 10:28:50 CDT 2005
Michael, welcome!
Eduardo
(list admin)
On Monday 26 September 2005 18:14, Michael Bradley, Jr. wrote:
> JMJ +
> OBT Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
>
> Don Parris invited me to join this list as I am a Christian
> interested in the promotion of the use Free Software in the Church.
> I thank God for this great blessing -- I didn't even know resources
> such as this list and "The Freely Project" existed before I received
> Pastor Parris' reply e-mail yesterday morning.
>
> I look forward to learning from you, and exploring the various
> Christian FOSS projects of which I've become aware through
> matheteuo.org.
>
> I live in Johnson City, Tennessee, USA; and I am a 28 year old male.
>
> I noticed, of course, that you request list-members to accept the
> Statement of Faith given on the cs.uninetsolutions.com website. I
> certainly respect that wish, and believe that I can comply!
>
> I am a Catholic Christian, and I take my faith rather seriously.
> Without intending any controversy nor attempting to spark a
> theological discussion, I think it is appropriate and important to
> briefly explain "how" I find myself able to agree with this list's
> SoF, as normally Catholics would shy away from implicitly or
> explicitly accepting a non-Catholic "creed."
>
> I hope that my reflections will help to promote better understanding
> between myself and other list-members who belong to various Christian
> churches and communities. Unity among Christians with differing
> beliefs can, in my opinion, truly be fostered only when we attempt to
> understand each others' different beliefs.
>
> I realize that ecumenism and/or ecumenical dialogue are not the
> purpose of this list, so I offer my thoughts primarily as points of
> reflection; if anyone wishes to contact me to discuss these and/or
> differing views, please feel free to do so privately (or publicly, if
> the list-manager deems it appropriate).
>
>
>
>
> * * * * * * *
>
> > I. We believe the entirety of the Bible, made up of the Old and New
> > Testaments, is the inerrant Word of God, revealed to men by the
> > Holy Spirit. This includes the literal interpretation of Biblical
> > Events such as Creation and the Great Flood. (2 Timothy 3:16)
>
> Catholics believe . . .
>
> [ Whenever I write "Catholics believe . . .", it is short-hand for
> saying, "the official teaching of the Catholic Church is . . . "; it
> is an unfortunate reality that there are today a great numbers of
> Catholic laity and clergy that do not know what the Catholic Church
> teaches (that is, they are Catholic only or mostly in a cultural
> sense), or pick-and-choose among Church teachings (that is, they are
> "cafeteria Catholics"), or have been grossly misinformed as to what
> the Church teaches. I would also note that I, personally, do accept
> whatever the Catholic Church teaches as revealed by God and what she
> proposes for belief by her members. ]
>
> . . . that the writings that make up the Holy Bible are indeed free
> from all error, the very Word of God. For a full, official Catholic
> statement-of-faith as regards God's revelation to mankind, please see
> "Dei Verbum"(1), one of the sixteen documents(2) promulgated by the
> Second Vatican Council(3). Here are some relevant links to articles
> in the freely accessible on-line 1917 edition of the "Catholic
> Encyclopedia" (CE), and also to relevant paragraphs in an on-line
> edition of the universal "Catechism of the Catholic Church" (CCC):
>
>
> CCC: Sacred Scripture
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a3.htm
>
>
> CE: Scripture
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13635b.htm
>
>
> CE: The Bible
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02543a.htm
>
>
> CE: Inspiration of the Bible
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08045a.htm
>
>
> CE: Biblical Exegesis
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05692b.htm
>
>
> I've also found the following website useful:
>
>
> A Catholic Guide to Biblical Interpretation
>
> http://www.kenrickparish.com/gresham/cbi/
>
>
> Pope Pius XII's important encyclical letter "Divino Afflante Spiritu"
> marked what one might call the "official beginning" of the modern era
> of Catholic Biblical Scholarship:
>
> http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/
> documents/hf_p-xii_enc_30091943_divino-afflante-spiritu_en.html
>
>
> The concept of "literal interpretation" raises a number of
> interesting issues. For one, very few selections from Sacred
> Scripture read like a police-report or a minute-by-minute systematic
> account of the events which they describe.
>
> Does the Catholic Church teach that the events recorded in the Bible
> truly pertain to history, i.e. that they are events which really
> occurred as opposed to being mythical stories which can only be taken
> seriously as regards their moral content? Yes! See, for example,
> paragraphs #38-39 in the encyclical letter "Humani Generis"(4).
>
> On the other hand . . . well, consider the following:
>
> Engineers who build automobiles today use, as the basis for their
> engineering, a physics which encompasses the laws of Newtonian
> (classical) mechanics, classical thermodynamics, and classical
> electrodynamics. And the cars run just as their engineering models
> predict (unless of course there were errors introduced in the
> modeling process). So the physics in question can really be
> understood as a "true description" of those cars and the environment
> in which they operate.
>
> BUT, we know that classical physics doesn't take into account the
> quantum effects and behaviors that dominate reality at a microscopic
> level; nor does Newtonian mechanics take into account the
> relativistic effects which are also important for understanding
> nature on large scales and at "high speeds." And yet, cars and trains
> and other such things have been built and have operated properly long
> before the theories of Quantum Mechanics and Special/General
> Relativity were formulated, even before those aspects of the physical
> universe were even recognized.
>
> So how can we understand this apparent contradiction? It's a
> philosophical problem to some extent, and I'm no expert in addressing
> it, but for the purpose of relating it to Sacred Scripture, I think
> it's enough to state that is is possible to give a true description
> of events and reality as one experiences or understands them (i.e.
> "phenomenologically") without having to "fully describe" (if that is
> even possible) every aspect of those events and their surrounding
> environment.
>
> For example, I can speak of the Sun as "rising and setting," and so
> describe the phenomenon of night and day in a completely accurate
> manner without having to mention the rotation of our planet, gravity,
> the structure of the solar system, etc.
>
> In the same way, is Sacred Scripture not completely true even if it
> does not provide, say, a mathematically rigorous treatment of Atomic
> Theory? If indeed the origin of the visible universe is tied to a
> physical event such as the "big bang," or if the bodies of Adam and
> Eve evolved prior to God creating for this original pair -- the true
> biological ancestors of every human person, properly speaking, that
> has ever lived on this earth -- their human souls, can it not be
> confidently asserted that the book of Genesis is free from all error
> even if the Holy Spirit, working through the human author, did not
> describe the Creation-events after the manner of modern scientific
> theories?
>
>
> (1) http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/
> documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
> (2) http://www.ewtn.com/library/COUNCILS/V2ALL.HTM
> (3) http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/
> (4) http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/
> hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html
>
> > II. We believe in the one, true, eternal, omniscient God, creator
> > of all things, Who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as revealed
> > in the Bible. (Genesis 17:1, Matthew 28:18-20, John 1:1, John 16:7)
>
> Yes, and yes-yes-yes, I accept this proposition. :-)
>
> The revealed truth of the Holy Trinity permeates every aspect of
> Catholic theology, liturgy, and popular piety.
>
>
> CCC: The Revelation of God as Trinity
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p2.htm
>
>
> CE: The Blessed Trinity
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15047a.htm
>
> > III. We believe that mankind was created in the image of God but
> > through original sin is fallen, and condemned. (Genesis 3:1-5,
> > Colossians 2:13)
>
> Yes, I accept this proposition.
>
> Catholic theology concerning Original Sin does differ from that of
> Luther and that of Calvin, and their theological "cousins" and
> "descendants," as to how and to what extent human nature is affected
> by Original Sin. The Catholic teaching on the Fall, for example, does
> not propose the "T" we find in Calvin's "TULIP" -- total depravity.
> It definitely does encompass something similar, which might be
> labeled "T" -- total inability to please God without His grace.
>
>
> CCC: The Fall
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p7.htm
>
>
> CE: Original Sin
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11312a.htm
>
> > IV. We believe that Jesus' death and bodily resurrection are the
> > only means of fallen man to receive salvation, and that anyone who
> > receives Him and believes in His name will be saved. (John 1:12,
> > John 3:16, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 5:4)
>
> Yes, I accept this proposition. The Catholic Church teaches that any
> human person who has ever lived -- before the time of Christ or
> afterwards -- has received the Grace of God only insofar as God
> chooses to look upon men in view of His Son Jesus' human life, death,
> resurrection and ascension into Heaven.
>
> Here is a beautiful summary statement which comes right at the
> beginning of the CCC:
>
>
> "FATHER, . . . this is eternal life, that they may know
> you, the only true God,
> and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."(1) "God our Savior
> desires all men to be
> saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."(2) "There
> is no other name
> under heaven given among men by which we must be saved"(3)
> - than the name of JESUS."
>
>
> (1) Jn 17:3.
> (2) 1 Tim 2:3-4.
> (3) Acts 4:12.
>
> ( taken from the top of the following page: http://
> www.scborromeo.org/ccc/prologue.htm )
>
>
> My acceptance does include the caveat that a Christian may, of his
> own free will, separate himself from God and a living relationship
> with Him by post-conversion commitment of serious sins. God will
> always make the graces of repentance available to such Christians,
> though the possibility remains that if they die unrepentant they will
> suffer eternal damnation.
>
>
> Scripture Catholic.com: Salvation
>
> http://www.scripturecatholic.com/salvation.html#salvation-V
>
>
> CCC: #1861 - Mortal Sin
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm#1861
>
>
> See the CCC's index for additional for paragraphs which
> reference the concept
> of mortal sin -- look for "Sin" and then the subheading
> "mortal sin":
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/index/s.htm
>
>
> CE: Sin
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm
>
> > V. We believe that it is important for all professing Christians to
> > make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond
> > of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)
>
> Yes, I accept this proposition.
>
> I would also combine it with the instruction in 1 Pet 3:15 in my
> attempts to find balance and maintain charity in my personal efforts
> to explain, defend, and spread the Catholic Faith.
>
>
> CCC: Wounds to unity
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#817
>
>
> See also the Second Vatican Council's "Decree on
> Ecumenism" ("Unitatis Redintegratio"):
>
> http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/
> ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-
> redintegratio_en.html
>
>
> And Pope John Paul II's landmark encyclical letter "Ut Unum
> Sint":
>
> http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/
> documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25051995_ut-unum-sint_en.html
>
> > VI. We believe that Baptism and Holy Communion are to be observed
> > during the present age. These should not be regarded as a method of
> > salvation in themselves. (Luke 22:19-20, Acts 2:38)
>
> Yes, I can accept this proposition.
>
> As to the second half of it, it is important for Catholics and non-
> Catholics to recognize that the Catholic Church herself teaches that
> such rites do not in and of themselves have spiritual power -- it is
> the living action of the Holy Spirit working in and through such
> visible instruments, or sacraments, which makes them to convey God's
> grace.
>
>
> CCC: The Paschal Mystery in the Church's Sacraments
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1c1a2.htm
>
>
> CE: Sacraments
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13295a.htm
>
>
> Scripture Catholic.com: Baptism and the Eucharist
>
> http://www.scripturecatholic.com/baptism.html
>
> http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html
>
> (and see the additional sections on the above website
> which treat the remaining five sacraments)
>
> > VII. We believe in the imminent return of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
> > and the judgment of both believers and unbelievers. (Matthew 12:36,
> > Matthew 26:64, II Corinthians 5:10)
>
> Yes, I accept this proposition, as the Catholic Church teaches the
> same thing.
>
>
> CCC: From thence He will come again to judge the living
> and the dead
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c2a7.htm
>
>
> CE: The Last Judgment
>
> http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08552a.htm
>
> > VIII. We believe in the eternal joy of all followers of Jesus, and
> > eternal conscious punishment of non-followers. (Revelation 14:9-11,
> > Revelation 22:1-5)
>
> Yes, I accept this proposition; what I wrote under IV applies here
> too.
>
> The Catholic Church has developed formal concepts for treating the
> question of whether non-Christians and non-Catholics may be saved:
>
>
> CCC: Outside the Church there is no salvation
>
> http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#847
>
>
> Catholic Answers: Salvation outside the Church
>
> http://www.catholic.com/library/
> Salvation_Outside_the_Church.asp
>
>
> From EWTN.com's document library: "Is There Savlation
> Outside the Church" by the late Fr. William Most
>
> http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/OUTSID.TXT
>
>
> * * * * * * *
>
>
>
>
> Finally, let me quote from the Catholic teaching document "Dominus
> Iesus," which points to the "Nicene-Constantinopolitan
> Creed" ("Symbolum Constantinopolitanum") as a fundamental profession
> of the Christian Faith:
>
>
> The Church's universal mission is born from the command of
> Jesus Christ and is
> fulfilled in the course of the centuries in the
> proclamation of the mystery of
> God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the mystery of the
> incarnation of the Son,
> as [the] saving event for all humanity. The fundamental
> contents of the
> profession of the Christian faith are expressed thus: "I
> believe in one God, the
> Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that
> is, seen and unseen. I
> believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
> eternally begotten of the
> Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true
> God, begotten, not
> made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things
> were made. For us men
> and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the
> power of the Holy Spirit
> he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For
> our sake he was
> crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was
> buried. On the third
> day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he
> ascended into heaven
> and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come
> again in glory to
> judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no
> end. I believe in the
> Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from
> the Father. With the
> Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has
> spoken through the
> prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic
> Church. I acknowledge one
> baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the
> resurrection of the dead,
> and the life of the world to come".
>
>
> ( taken from the full text of "Dominus Iesus" on the Vatican's
> website:
> http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/
> rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html )
>
>
>
>
> May Our Lord bless you all. I look forward to getting to know you
> and benefiting from your insights in the realm of Christian and FOSS-
> related thought.
>
> In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
>
> Michael Bradley, Jr.
>
> --
> [Jesus said] Tell aching mankind to snuggle close
> to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.
> + Diary of Saint Faustina #1074 +
>
> My home on the Net ::
> http://homepage.mac.com/michaelsbradleyjr/
>
> IC XC NIKA
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Christiansource at ofb.biz
> http://cs.uninetsolutions.com
--
Prof. Eduardo Sanchez
Asuncion, Paraguay, South America
http://shadow.sombragris.org
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ah, fill the Cup:--what boots it to repeat
How Time is slipping underneath our Feet:
Unborn TO-MORROW and dead YESTERDAY,
Why fret about them if TO-DAY be sweet!
-- The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
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