(June 21, 2015 at 9:05 pm)Jenny A Wrote:(June 21, 2015 at 1:30 pm)Randy Carson Wrote: In case you haven't held one in your own hands, the Catechism is a big book, and we're all learning all the time.
I have actually done that, but only because our youth pastor wanted to let us know that memorizing the Lutheran and much smaller version was not such a very big project. Though actually we not required to memorize it. He had been though. It was one of those walking to school uphill both ways stories.
That's pretty funny. And one more reason to be Protestant, I suppose!
Quote:(June 21, 2015 at 1:30 pm)Randy Carson Wrote: I can't speak for CL here, but if I am shown something in the Catechism that contradicts something that I think, I recognize that the error lies within my thinking...not that of the Church.
That, right there is what I have against religion in general and Catholic church in big capital particulars. If my thinking contradicts a recognized authority of some kind, or the opinion of someone I respect, I will listen to them and reexamine my thinking. But I would never presume that anyone, anywhere, or any institution anywhere is always right. If there is a god he gave us brains to use them. And if as I think vastly more probable there isn't one of the many things that distinguishes humans is our ability to think critically. Either way, it's a gift everyone should exercise regularly.
Let me put this in different terms to see if it makes more sense. Suppose you were a student at a major university, and you were studying some topic under a truly brilliant professor. In fact, the entire department is internationally recognized as being the best of the best. So, one day, your professor is chatting with you and a group of students about some research he has been doing, and he makes a statement that surprises you because it's counter to what you have been assuming about the topic.
Do you think, "Wow...Dr. Brightlight is the world's leading expert on this. But I can't trust what he says without verifying it for myself...even though I have no lab, no funding, no real expertise..."?
Or do you adjust your own thinking?
