Sure was intentional in Constantine's Day when the non-Christians were allowed to be as they were but now under Christian names.Its very mysterious................... Most people seem to get it wrong, but maybe that is intentional.
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Sure was intentional in Constantine's Day when the non-Christians were allowed to be as they were but now under Christian names.Its very mysterious................... Most people seem to get it wrong, but maybe that is intentional.
Central doctrine especially since Constantine and his mother's day.As far as I know the Trinity remains the central doctrine of the Catholic Church, not just as 'a' doctrine, but the central doctrine from which all other doctrines are formed.
Unity as in all three being equal or __________
The Father is greater than all - Jesus is part of the 'all ' - John 10:29
God is a Spirit Person and God sends forth His spirit - Psalms 104:30
So, God as a Spirit Person is not the same as God sending forth His spirit.
Also, pre-human heavenly Jesus did Not send himself to Earth, but his God sent heavenly Jesus to Earth for us.
I would not worry about it. Some suggest there must be a pure version of Christianity without any doctrinal errors and which excludes trinity, but I hope they do not use their knowledge in a way which is forceful. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy peace patience and other many good things. Whoever has the fruits must also have the spirit which produces them I think. That and many other arguments tend to make me put this discussion about trinity on a lower pedestal than I used to do. I think of it as a tool that some people can use to help themselves, neither as central nor as unchristian.Sure was intentional in Constantine's Day when the non-Christians were allowed to be as they were but now under Christian names.
"Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, good will towards men." seems like the earliest trinitarian statement in scripture, but it does not use the term. Also the term 'Glory' is difficult. I think of it as a power which transforms this world into another world. 'Glory to God' in the highest seems a related statement to 'God will be all and in all'. It is thus related to trinity, and the prayer may be an early statement of it or may be considered an early emanation of trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. It does not clinch anything, nor can it be used as a forceful argument. It is perfect in that regard.It is the unity of the Trinity that is God's self gift, a model for how to live our lives, unity in families, among others.
Is your question about global unity, or Catholicism?1. Is Catholicism true and
2. Once enough people find a thing to be not true, can it unite humans sufficiently to bring about global unity?
It's been a while since I looked into Catholicism, and I seem to recall (though my memory is not a particularly good one) coming to the personal conclusion (in my opinion) that most of its central claims fall into the category of highly improbable to be true.
I also believe that if enough people discover a religion to be untrue it loses its power to unite those people and that reaching global unity will become improbable without some means of eliminating the dissenters.
Inspired by the thread;
Will empire return?.
In my opinion.
Certainly that is a good point. But if the majority of the world's religions cannot even unite their own members within each sect, how can they unite people with disparate viewpoints throughout the world in the various religions?If religions are not helpful to all then can they be expected to unite people on the global level?
I'm Catholic so of course I think Catholicism is true. But the point of Catholicism isn't global unity. It exists to administer the means of salvation, the Sacraments, and to gather souls for the Kingdom of God. It's not about a numbers game or politics, although we seek to spread the message of the Gospel. There will never be "global unity" (what is that, an NWO stereotype?) or peace as people are individuals with their own prerogative. However, the Revelation of St. John says that God will eventually make the truth evident to all at the end of days, so we'll at least all know what's the real deal eventually, in my belief.1. Is Catholicism true and
2. Once enough people find a thing to be not true, can it unite humans sufficiently to bring about global unity?
It's been a while since I looked into Catholicism, and I seem to recall (though my memory is not a particularly good one) coming to the personal conclusion (in my opinion) that most of its central claims fall into the category of highly improbable to be true.
I also believe that if enough people discover a religion to be untrue it loses its power to unite those people and that reaching global unity will become improbable without some means of eliminating the dissenters.
Inspired by the thread;
Will empire return?.
In my opinion.
I was raised Catholic. I used to think there must be a true religion somewhere and kept searching only to be disappointed and see the faults. Then I was saved by a Person, the Savior Jesus Christ.If religions are not helpful to all then can they be expected to unite people on the global level?
Word coercion per son.I was raised Catholic. I used to think there must be a true religion somewhere and kept searching only to be disappointed and see the faults. Then I was saved by a Person, the Savior Jesus Christ.
My perspective now is that religion is a distraction from the reality that truth is found in Christ Alone. The Prince of Peace is the only hope for this world.
I'd say its more of an assumption that falsehood divides than that truth unites.The background assumption of the opening post of "truth unites humans" is an interesting one.
It also seems assumed that "truth can be determined" and possibly "truth is singular." Is there also an assumption "unity is good or desirable" in there?
As far as I know the Trinity remains the central doctrine of the Catholic Church, not just as 'a' doctrine, but the central doctrine from which all other doctrines are formed.
1. Is Catholicism true and
2. Once enough people find a thing to be not true, can it unite humans sufficiently to bring about global unity?
It's been a while since I looked into Catholicism, and I seem to recall (though my memory is not a particularly good one) coming to the personal conclusion (in my opinion) that most of its central claims fall into the category of highly improbable to be true.
I also believe that if enough people discover a religion to be untrue it loses its power to unite those people and that reaching global unity will become improbable without some means of eliminating the dissenters.
Inspired by the thread;
Will empire return?.
In my opinion.
We are talking about Catholicism here though. As I understand it Catholicism wants you to return that love to the church and to Jesus or risk being at the very least thrown into purgatory I believe. As such I fail to see how this supposed love is anything other than self-centred love which seeks return - especially when you consider that according to Catholicism as I understand it Jesus is sort of God's self.In chapter 4, verse 8 and again in verse 16,, 1JN we read that "God is love," but a very particular kind of love, for the word chosen in the Greek text is agape. Agape is a purely other-directed love, a love that seeks no response and demands no return, a love centered totally on the beloved.
The original post according to my understanding makes no connection between whether or not Catholicism is true and how many accept or reject it. Rather it questions whether it is possible for the Catholic Roman empire to be resurected and spread on a global level given that too many have discovered or at least considered Catholicism to be false in my opinion.I don't think the original post makes any sense to be honest. Whether or not Catholicism is true and how many accept or reject it have no intrinsic connection. Truth is concord with reality and if Catholicism concords with reality then it doesn't matter how many reject it because its true regardless of what anyone thinks or wishes. Christianity is universal in that it claims to be binding on all. But no where does Christianity stake its claims on whether or not it is embraced by the world.