If Protestantism Is True

[pablope]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Boywonder23k

The problem we are going to have here is that you are presupposing apostolic authority and succession.

It is necessary...why do you think it is not?

As I stated, St. Paul (in Gal 1 and 2), saw fit to submit his teachings to the Apostles....and this passage states it so.....from 1John 4.....6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

So should we expect less of the authors you suggested? How would we know that what they are writing/espousing is from God?

You are presupposing infallible councils and Popes.

Did not Christ promise the guidance of the Holy Spirit for all eternity? Don't you trust Christ promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church?

He promised it to the Church...and to Peter....not individual laymen like you and me.

There is no way any sort of ecuminical dialog can take place in this manner.

Truth does not change. Truths of the faith have been defined by councils and popes....so why should a dialogue not start based on the Truths defined by councils and popes?

Let me ask you...to ponder.....do you think the HS guided those council and popes in defining those truths declared so by the Church?

If the HS guided those councils....and is the HS guiding those writers differently now that they came up with their writings?

Would the HS guide the individual and not the Church?

We must start from neutral positions and try our best to not be biased. Presuppositions must be checked at the door.

Pride is, I think...what you are talking about.

If someone is considering conversion they should hear the best possible arguments from each side.... And then after much prayer follow their conscience.

I am currently also considering conversion to catholicism. I greatly admire the ethical system and respect for history.

As anyone should.....and I heard/read conversion stories...and they go through the same travails and trials such as you describe here.

But here is one thing they realize....the need to subjugate pride...and to submit to the authority of the Church....for it is stated in 1 Samuel 15:22-23
22 But Samuel replied:
“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.”