@PaulVargas It probably is more of a "Roy" but at the same time the "be" is not separate from the R either. I'm not so much dividing syllables with the dashes as the sounds. "Beh-roy-eye-ahs" but there are not accent marks to inform emphasis. I suspect its on the "eye" since its the middle of three vowel sounds.
@Joshua Unfortunately I don't have time now to discuss... perhaps in the morning I'll have more thoughts. But I tend to think that questions directed at "Catholicism" that don't have an "official" answer can be treated like questions asked of Protestant traditions – it should be made clear that it's not the view of the Church, per se, but that it's the view of prominent Catholic theologians.
so quoting Aquinas, Calmet, and Ott can make a good answer if the Catechism simply doesn't deal with the issue.
@Ramanujan There a range of different beliefs within Christianity about other religions: from believing that they all (or mostly) include similar laudable objectives to believing that they involve the worship of demons and are leading people astray.
@Joshua Okay, but Calvin isn't in any sense "official" if the question is asking about "Reformed theology." There are of course differences between Calvin, Westminster, Dort, and Jonathan Edwards, not to mention Karl Barth. On a point where there isn't general agreement in "Reformed theology," then the best we can do is provide an overview of the different views, and that's exactly what I'd expect to see in the case of a question asked about Catholicisim where there is no official position.
I would like to know whether there are any scholars, or philosophers, or doctrines -- or really, anyone at all -- in any sect or denomination of Christianity, who address the question, "Why does God allow millions of people who earnestly seek him to be so wrong that they would go to Hell?" (I'm t...
Is there any problem with a person believing that the esoteric reasons given for not learning on "Nittelnacht" (forces of impurity becoming strengthened from the limud ha'torah) are stupidity and false ideas? I happen to think that these ideas are beyond stupid but those around me tell me that if...
@LeeWoofenden My ultimate question is, why would God allow people who really want to find him not find him.
I realize that's not an SE question, so I asked, does anyone address this particular question, in the hope of finding someone who does address it
I also realize that many people address the broader "how can a god of love be reconciled with hell" question, but I was hoping for something more specific
@GreatBigBore The general answer, from a Swedenborgian perspective, is that God doesn't allow this. And not because "everybody has a chance to be a Christian," but because "everybody has some knowledge of God, or at least some higher good, and if they follow that, they will ultimately find God."
I've heard that one from many, although I don't hear it from "true" Christians, by which I mean, Christians who go around telling others that they're not true Christians. Suspiciously, "true" Christians are the ones who also think all Muslims are going to Hell.
@LeeWoofenden Thank you very much. I will read those, and probably others
@GreatBigBore But joking aside, I think that mainstream Christianity has long since gone far off the rails doctrinally. However, anyone who actually lives by what Jesus taught is still a "true Christian," regardless of the particular doctrinal fallacies that may be banging around in his or her head.
@GreatBigBore I do go around telling people that their doctrines are not truly Christian. But as to whether the person is truly Christian, that, in my view depends not primarily on what the believe but on how they live pursuant to what they believe. Specifically, do they have "love one to another," which Jesus himself said was how we'll be able to tell if someone is his follower.
@GreatBigBore Speaking of emotions, I get both very upset and very angry when I really think about the awful things people get told while growing up and as adults by their so-called "Christian" leaders.
Really, I think that mainstream Christianity has gone so far off the rails from what Jesus, and the Bible generally, teach that they do not qualify as "Christian." But once again, that is from a doctrinal perspective. What is taught as "Christianity" in most of institutional Christianity simply is not taught in the Bible.
@GreatBigBore But the ones I linked for you earlier will be more positive and will better address the particular question you asked. I hope you find them helpful. Many blessings to you and yours in the new year!
@GreatBigBore If you find the "Vastly Void of Truth" article interesting, and want more on the doctrinal side of things, here is another article that I was also thinking of when I referred you to that one (I got the two a bit mixed up in my mind): Does Doctrine Matter? Why is it Important to Believe the Right Thing?
I have now added mutual links back and forth on those two articles.
The Upper Room
The Upper Room