Link
This was an excellent presentation from an old friend since my Xanga apologetics days, Jeremiah Bannister. It is a great apologetic for why a monotheist Christian should NOT be a Protestant. I have to say, however, it is not a case against being a Catholic. In this presentation Jeremiah lumps Catholicism in the mix here and there, but I think it may do a disservice to the viewer as he very well knows that the very reason why he became a Catholic in the first place is that Protestantism does not have that mechanism by which one can determine or know for sure what is sound doctrine or at the very least, what must be believed or done for salvation.
The short answer from Catholic theology is: A person can become a Christian and leave Christianity. The person is free and Catholicism does not teach eternal security or the perseverance of the Saints. If Jeremiah believes he was a Christian then he was as far as anyone can tell. If he left, he was no less a Christian.
It would require a further step on the Catholic level to argue that that mechanism that Catholicism posits as the answer to that doctrinal division and to get that certitude for what is to be believed or done, the papacy, and then say that that answer becomes meaningless since there are also divisions within the Catholic fold as well, not to mention popes teaching strange doctrines as well albeit non-infallibly, but still gives the orthodox Catholic cause for pause. Sorry for the run on, but that's how I want it to be read.
You would have to watch the full program where I actually intervene with one of my questions. Unfortunately, the best part of his answer was given off air in a private chat on Google Hangouts.
Some reactions:
- 49:33 - This is an excellent question. The problem of evil haunts us again. I will say that it is easier giving the philosophical response when we don't have a detailed scenario in mind. This scenario is a particularly potent one. I would first say, God's ways are not our ways and we can't possibly understand his reasons or his methods at times. I realize that is not satisfactory to the inquiring mind, but it is what we have with what Christians believe. Second, the problem of evil does not disprove God, it could only disprove that he is either all-powerful, all-knowing, or all-good, or all three.
- 52:48 - This was my question. Since this broadcast I remembered in more detail that last phone call I had with Jeremiah. He was actually already back from sedevacantism. However, if I recall his family was having a difficult time making it to the local Eastern Catholic church. In any case the question I was really getting to was he and his family have been on quite an ideological and theological journey through very many camps. I'm just wondering if this will be home for the Bannisters. I appreciate that he has the intellectual honesty to admit that he could not dogmatically say that he could not be persuaded otherwise ever.
My overall reaction is this: I think it is wonderful to question. I think that's the beauty of trying to find the answer to this question. We may never feel absolutely secure in this life (even if it may be all we have) that we have reached the answer. I just hope that everyone who holds such cherished beliefs, does so passionately and sincerely and is willing to discuss the reasons for his or her faith, God, gods, goddesses, or the absence thereof.
Laurence Gonzaga
12.13.14
No comments:
Post a Comment