BusyTarpDuster2017 said:
Remember my response to you in an earlier comment?:
"You actually have used ad hominem, maybe in a couple of instances. But that's beside the point. I wasn't accusing you of anything, the point was that when someone starts doing that (ad hominem) instead of providing a cogent logical [response to an argument] then it usually is an indicator who is correct and who isn't."
I think you are seeing what I mean....
Honestly, what I see is you and Curtpenn bickering over something that has been sharply argued for centuries.
There's no real reason to believe anyone is going to stop and admit they are wrong on this one, and unfortunately it's gotten worse as people get more emotional.
I noted Curtpenn's claim that it's OK to pray to Mary unless God specifically prohibits it, which is a real fast way to get into trouble. I don't believe Curtpenn really believes a claim that broad, but he was trying hard to sell the idea that praying to Mary is approved by God.
You and I are close to agreement on that one; praying to a human is a really bad idea, and in some cases would be hard to distinguish from idolatry.
This is a big problem for me, because I see the same thing in the case of the Popes. I mean, sure, some have been great leaders of faith but calling any human '
your holiness' is stealing from God in my inconsequential opinion.
The thing is, for almost a thousand years if you wanted to be a Christian, the Roman church was the closest thing to what Christ wanted for the Church. I believe that a lot of RC parishes are like Protestant local churches, a mix of great people of faith with a number of wolves in their midst to watch out for.
I had hoped we could reach consensus that we all follow Christ as best we can, and while we have differences we will pray for and support fellow Christians where we have common ground. For those areas where we do not agree, we should in my opinion seek the Holy Spirit, consult Scripture, and above all try to walk as believers more than Pharisees.
And accept that none of us will do so perfectly. Among God's graces we should be thankful for, His patience is not praised enough.
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier