Oh, I know. Having been a Catholic all my life, I've had more than a little acquaintance with the idea of my heresies being a blot on my soul, and hurdle; insurmountable, to my salvation.
I've been lectured to on airplanes, buses, streetcorners, in libraries and outside classrooms.
Usually I can give as good as I get (or better, I did, after all, consider becoming a Jesuit, so not only did I familiarise myself with the books, I had more than a little exposure to the doctrines of the Church).
It has, on occasion, allowed me to piss the crap out of those trying to "save" me. On others it has just confused them (the one I said was engaging in hubris, because he "knew" he was saved; well he never got it, and told me I was doomed, because I said I didn't, and none of us could).
The Church doesn't believe that works alone will save one. But faith without works is not going to do it either (well, no, there are exceptions, but perfect contrition at death seems risky, not least because to depend on that smacks of either pride, or a supreme contempt for God).
Jesus demanded both faith, and works. The Church doesn't see how it can contravene His word.
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Date: 2005-03-23 03:27 am (UTC)I've been lectured to on airplanes, buses, streetcorners, in libraries and outside classrooms.
Usually I can give as good as I get (or better, I did, after all, consider becoming a Jesuit, so not only did I familiarise myself with the books, I had more than a little exposure to the doctrines of the Church).
It has, on occasion, allowed me to piss the crap out of those trying to "save" me. On others it has just confused them (the one I said was engaging in hubris, because he "knew" he was saved; well he never got it, and told me I was doomed, because I said I didn't, and none of us could).
The Church doesn't believe that works alone will save one. But faith without works is not going to do it either (well, no, there are exceptions, but perfect contrition at death seems risky, not least because to depend on that smacks of either pride, or a supreme contempt for God).
Jesus demanded both faith, and works. The Church doesn't see how it can contravene His word.
TK