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  1. H

    Double Predestination

    Calvin is quite clear in book 3 chapters 21 and 23 of the Institute that God chooses equally some to be saved and some to be damned. Where they differ is that he intervenes to save people, while the damned are damned through for their own fault. But he specifically chooses people to be damned...
  2. H

    The Behavior Americans Count as Sexual Harassment

    I think things like speaking of people in a demeaning way, touching without permission, etc., need to stop. But it's important when you look at statistics to understand just what is meant by abuse and harassment. It's easy to get the impression that lots of people have been raped when they...
  3. H

    The Behavior Americans Count as Sexual Harassment

    Why shouldn't laying a hand on someone's butt be considered harassment? It's certainly not rape, but there's no reason to touch someone if they don't want it. Normally people wouldn't make an issue of it unless it's repeated. Similarly with yelling at someone. Everyone gets angry at times. But...
  4. H

    Why are Some Saved and Not Others?

    These things were all the result of long and careful theological thought, mysteries or not. You seem to be proposing that we take certain statements in Scripture and prohibit considering their implication. The Trinity and Incarnation are the result of an approach that's almost the opposite of...
  5. H

    Why are Some Saved and Not Others?

    Perhaps we don't have to say anything. But if God truly wants everyone to be saved and not everyone is, there are implications for God's omnipotence. Now it's not so clear that Scripture teaches omnipotence in the way many Christians want to present it, but it pushes us down the path to open...
  6. H

    Why are Some Saved and Not Others?

    Frankly, I don't see any way to avoid that. Calvin asserted it most explicitly. But any view that makes God omnipotent and omniscient seems to make him responsible for this. I think any reasonable ethics would say that if he creates a world in which billions will experience eternal torture, and...
  7. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    There are lots of current ethical concepts not referenced in Scripture. The biggest omission is informed consent. Sure, rape is considered a crime, but the whole complex of questions, both medical and sexual, is based on a basic concept that isn't Scriptural. Scripture also doesn't provide...
  8. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    I think increasingly people are going to be expected to treat gays the same as others. At least in the US, no one is going to require you to accept that it's OK, but they are going to require businesses to treat them equally as customers, and in schools kids will be taught to treat gays and...
  9. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    It is not clear whether the obligation to marry was universal in Paul's time. It's very clear in Rabbinic Judaism, but in the 1st Cent some Essenes were celibate, and it may be that the obligation was not universally accepted...
  10. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    You can find people who have had just about any conceivable experience, and some that aren't conceivable. More seriously, it's very easy for people to deceive themselves, particularly people who are strongly motivated by their faith to do so. For that reason, reports of people who say they were...
  11. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    This was not quite a correct statement about the official Catholic view. The Catholic Church does not consider the homosexual inclination to be sinful, only same-gender sexual activity. It acknowledges that it's not clear that it's possible for a homosexual to become heterosexual. It considers...
  12. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    Absolutely. It's a mistake to think that we'll never have to give up anything or do anything unpleasant. Christians should always understand this. But still, we shouldn't put unnecessary stumbling blocks in front of people. (Mat 18:6) Paul understands that many people are not cut out to be...
  13. H

    Homosexuals and salvation

    There are extreme views on both sides. I've looked at a number of studies. It seems that some people do manage to abstain or to have heterosexual relationships. That doesn't mean that there's a "cure" or a reliable way to "convert" people. But some level of change is possible for well-motivated...
  14. H

    that they may be one

    I'm fine with churches that have different styles of worship, and while it's not ideal, I accept that theology is going to differ as well. But as long as disagreements prevent us from gathering together at the Lord's table, I think we've got a problem. Unfortunately that's nearly an intractable...
  15. H

    The term "Roman Catholic"

    Historically the Popes never claimed that the Eastern churches should just merge into the Latin church. It was always acknowledged that there were separate churches with their own patriarchs. The claim was that the patriarch of Rome was senior and had some authority over all of them. (The nature...
  16. H

    The term "Roman Catholic"

    I assume the wording here is confused, since the Roman Catholic Church certainly does have full communion with the Eastern Catholic churches. For a more detailed review see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches. You'll note that these are churches with their own patriarchs and...
  17. H

    The term "Roman Catholic"

    There are actually several churches in communion with Rome. The others are Eastern. Technically Catholic refers either to the Christian Church as a whole, or to all of those churches. The Roman Catholic Church is thus like the Melkite Catholic Church (for example), one of several churches that...
  18. H

    Hard sayings in Hebrews

    This would be a typical response. I claim that most understandings of the passage effectively reject what the author was trying to say. That's conceivable for me. I don't believe in inerrancy. But a lot of our participants do.
  19. H

    Hard sayings in Hebrews

    The most likely original meaning was that there was no second chance for someone who committed apostasy. By apostasy I mean rejection of the faith. For that reason, this passage doesn't really bear on some of what you ask. Apostasy includes a loss of faith. So it's not a works issue. It also...
  20. H

    Does your doctor give results over the phone?

    yes
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