Core Message Of Christianity Isn't One Of Love

[Thumpalumpacus]

Why is taking someone else's word on such an important matter a good thing?

I see it this way, PT, if my doctor gave me specific orders on a health related issue, I would feel comfortable taking his word for it because I know he is much wiser than I am and knows much more than I do. Of course, if he said something that sounded completely ridiculous to me, or made no sense to me, or went against every fiber of my being, lol, I'd be very reluctant. But if it made sense to me, and if I did my research on the doctor and my findings pointed me to believe he is legit, I would confidently take his word. 

I think the important thing to remember here is that I believe Church Doctrine (official matters of faith and morals) is led by the Holy Spirit itself, so it's not even so much a matter of it just being "someone else." If I believe it comes from God, I will feel confident with it.

I disagree with confidence in a doctor's education being equated to confidence in a priest's "knowledge". On the one hand, you have thousands of years of exploration of the matter, in hands-on detail; on the other, you have someone who cannot know the matter any better than you can yourself, given its remove from mortal concerns.

What makes a priest an authority on your god's will? What makes the Pope an authority? Cannot popes or priests make mistakes? What makes their pronouncements authoritative?

If a person has undergone eight years of specialized schooling, and another four of practical internship, studying the human body up close, that lends weight to their opinions. But who has dissected god? And what have they found?

If "I feel that's wrong" is the guide-marker, well, that's just another way of you saying that you will exercise your own judgement ... which of course brings out its own questions.