The reason the Catholic Church has survived for 2,000 years, is basically because it admits its mistakes. oh, and the reason it can recognize mistakes is because it has the Truth. Oh, and the reason it has the Truth is because it was given to us by Jesus, and sustained through the intercession of the Holy Spirit.
The only reason there are branches off of the Catholic church is because people decided that something was wrong, and had to be changed. This may very well have been the case. But they then decided that not matter what, they must stick to their convictions, and never turn back. They must break away from the fold, and make their own start.
The Holy Spirit humiliates it's own child, the Church, and for a good purpose. For example, when Luther broke away, the church realized some of the errors that it was making to cause the up-rise, and then it reminded the failure, which BTW was caused by men, not the Holy Spirit. The Church is always struggling to keep in Truth, and individuals within the church sometimes step outside.
But those who have broken away, need to look back at what they have rejected, and see that some of what they rejected was truth. Holding on to the Truth is like being being a baby cradled by it's mother. When you let go of Truth and reject it, it becomes like a dust speck floating on the breeze, and as difficult to catch back up to. Of course, this is where Grace can help, but we must be open to it. Grace impels us to realize our mistakes, and it makes the Truth larger, and more tangible, and able to grasp, so that once we embrace it again, we ourselves are embraced.
This is the call of ecumenism, to bring all back to the Truth, especially those who have strayed away.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
A strange thing happened when Galileo looked through his telescope
So, He noticed that the world didn't revolve around the Earth, so at once, the heresy began. I don't know much about his trial, or how much time he spent in prison, but I do know that people who hate the Catholic Church love to loom this over our heads. In one way, I could see their point if they just had the basic outline of events. However, they are not looking at what makes their critique lasting. Basically, the fact that no where in Catholic Theology, Scripture, Tradition, Old Testament and New, is there any foundational Truth of the faith based on the alignment of the celestial bodies. I think when God said "There should be no strange God's before me," he meant it pretty literally. Everyone worshiped the stars in some, and I'm sure even some of the early "Christians" held on to some of those superstitions, but it never was taught as part of the salvific truth of Christ's passion and death for our salvation.
I think of it this way. Aristotle was greatly renowned for his understanding of Human Philosophy, and who can deny that. Oh yeah, he said some pretty defining things about how the stars worked, and the universe and stuff. The Catholic Church never looked at him as a prophet, but they recognized his wisdom of understanding human nature. Oh, and this probably was all contained on the same manuscript, so it's not like they seperated out all the copies, and chapters at this point in time.
Along comes Galileo, and makes the blanket statement that Aristotle is an idiot, dumb-ox, astrologer and philosopher. (of course this is hypothetical) The church looks at Galileo and says "your wrong", there's great wisdom in this book. Galileo looks at the book, and says "It should be burned as an offering to true wisdom, because in that tome there lies grave scientific error." The Catholic church says, please explain to us what this error is. Galileo replies, "daft Church controlling everything, you just want to look at my data and destroy it, and you won't be able head or tails out of it, because your heads are stuck in the muck of earthly humanitarianism." I know the truth of science and what's beyond. You look at Faith and what you can't see. But I see." The Church sees this guy as a threat and loose canon so they lock him up for a few months.
I don't proclaim any of this as fact, just an amusing narative that may have taken place. Please post a comment, and discuss with me. I will modify it, as the discussion factually begins to develop.
I think of it this way. Aristotle was greatly renowned for his understanding of Human Philosophy, and who can deny that. Oh yeah, he said some pretty defining things about how the stars worked, and the universe and stuff. The Catholic Church never looked at him as a prophet, but they recognized his wisdom of understanding human nature. Oh, and this probably was all contained on the same manuscript, so it's not like they seperated out all the copies, and chapters at this point in time.
Along comes Galileo, and makes the blanket statement that Aristotle is an idiot, dumb-ox, astrologer and philosopher. (of course this is hypothetical) The church looks at Galileo and says "your wrong", there's great wisdom in this book. Galileo looks at the book, and says "It should be burned as an offering to true wisdom, because in that tome there lies grave scientific error." The Catholic church says, please explain to us what this error is. Galileo replies, "daft Church controlling everything, you just want to look at my data and destroy it, and you won't be able head or tails out of it, because your heads are stuck in the muck of earthly humanitarianism." I know the truth of science and what's beyond. You look at Faith and what you can't see. But I see." The Church sees this guy as a threat and loose canon so they lock him up for a few months.
I don't proclaim any of this as fact, just an amusing narative that may have taken place. Please post a comment, and discuss with me. I will modify it, as the discussion factually begins to develop.
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