MDMD(3)--Just a thought

[Paul Mackin]

Steven Maas (CUTR) wrote: (concerning the centrality of predestination
I alleged)

 
> 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 Catholic form is the toned down version I alluded to.Avoidance of sin and remaining in the state of grace are important
to salvation. It's just that God knows in advance who will and
who won't. Things are predestined in THAT sense. It don't make a
whole lotta sense of course.

 

 
> Are you saying that adherents of [Reformed Dutch] 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? 
>>>>It's a very extreme doctrine but roughly what theSynod of Dort decided. The elect and the preterite have
no control of their respective destinies. St. Augustine (ODDLY)
is associated to some degree with this position, the exception
that proves the rule.

Devine Grace, a gift of God, is more important than anything else.
No view of human action can be allowed to undermine THAT.

Not a true believer myself,

				P.