BG Knocc Out said:
Dies Irae said:
Seriously how does anyone reconcile "Jesus would be very much in favor of freedom of religion" with "God desires all men to be saved".
Jesus says he's the Way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him, and desires that all men will be saved; but he's a fierce proponent of people not believing in him and going to hell?
Well, when did he ever make statements advocating for government control over religion? When did he get political at all? He was fine with laws of the land at the time and freedom of religion, but you think he would have flip flopped by now and demanded that Catholicism be forced on everyone?
I think he would have had a very real problem with the Catholic Church (and other denominations) if we're being honest. I don't think he'd have a problem with a society giving people "free will", which is what God gives us.
I recognize that you edited out your statement, but...
I'd like to point out that it is a common argument by people opposed to Catholicism to conflate what clergy may do in error or sin with the doctrines of the Church. The Church recognizes that all men are flawed, even up to the Pope. Which means that all men will fail in living up to the full tenants of the faith by degrees. Just because men fail, it does not invalidate the faith. Find for me in the Catechism where it says that it is permissible for clergy to abuse or to force conversion by the sword. (Rhetorical, I don't want to further derail)
Quote:
Seriously how does anyone reconcile "Jesus would be very much in favor of freedom of religion" with "God desires all men to be saved".
Jesus says he's the Way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him, and desires that all men will be saved; but he's a fierce proponent of people not believing in him and going to hell?
On the topic, why would God give us freewill if not to choose Him? And in order to exercise the freewill that He gave us, there must be an alternative or freewill is pointless. Therefore, God not only allows for people to not believe in Him, he requires it as an inherent trait of His gift of freewill. To deny someone the freewill to not choose Him would actually be an affront to His gift and plan.