MDMD(3)--Just a thought

[Steven Maas (CUTR)]

In response to my:
> > So I was wondering, is, or was, there in fact a strain of Dutch Calvinist
> > thought that would lead the Cape Dutch to imagine that once Time was about
> > to end it no longer mattered what one did, that one's fate was decided and
> > would not change no matter what?  This seems to go well beyond the
> > Elect/Preterite dichotomy, where even the Elect are expected to follow
> > certain codes of conduct.

Paul Mackin wrote: 
> Don't know about time-being-about-to-end having much todo with it, 
> but predestination in some form is central to
> Christianity in general. It's sort of needed to protect
> God's omniscience. 

It may be central to many or most Protestant sects, but I didn't hear much
about it in my midwestern Catholic childhood.  Basically anyone could go
to heaven or hell--depending on how you lived (as long as you were
baptized and went to confession! a-and gave generously and had lotsa
kids!). I also don't remember any attempts to reconcile a *lack* of
predestination with the claimed omniscience of god--I guess the priests
and nuns didn't see the percentage in debating this logical problem with
their catechism class. 

> The predestination associated with
> the Synod of Dort (Reformed Church of the Netherlands) is
> called DOUBLE predestination. God has determined from all
> eternity whom He will save and whom He will damn, regardless
> of their faith, love, or merit, or lack thereof. (extreme form)

Are you saying that adherents of this sect believe that no matter what
they do in their lives it is predetermined whether they will go to heaven
or hell?  What incentive does this give them to behave any way other than
on their whims? 

	Steve Maas