Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Non Sequitur Illustrated

Here is a classic non sequitur: "The biggest reason I think that Protestantism lies at the heart of relativism is this. Protestants are in the awkward position of saving, 'All of Christendom c. 1516 and before, you all misunderstand Christianity!'" (Joe Heschmeyer at Shameless Popery) Leaving aside the ridiculous claim that Protestantism has to make such an assertion, there is simply no connection between that assertion and relativism. Quite to the contrary, claims that we understand correctly and someone else understands incorrectly is an absolutist claim, not a relativist claim. The blog is aptly titled, no doubt, and despite the link for those wishing to verify the accuracy of the quotation, I don't endorse his post or blog in any way.

-TurretinFan

3 comments:

Joe Heschmeyer said...

I think that there's a connection between the two, but I'll readily grant that it's something I'm sort of thinking out in rough draft form on the blog -- I definitely haven't proven my case yet (and indeed, almost didn't publish that post, for that reason). It's something I'm sort of hashing out bit by bit over the course of a few days. I think that by Thursday morning, I'll have something which more clearly and concretely presents my views on the issue. Do you want me to let you know when that posts?

Turretinfan said...

Yours is one of the blogs I read, so I'm sure I'll notice when you post it.

Anonymous said...

I will post the comments here and see where they go?

Joe, I can call you Joe, right? :)

I find this comment about as good as it gets when trying to pen the tail on the donkey blindfolded:::>

Joe at his blog, wrote: "....that there was no authentic Christianity prior to 1517 A.D. - that it had simply disappeared in a "Great Apostasy" that eliminated 100% of Christians; ...".

Huh? Ah, huh, huh? Ah, ah, aahuh!

For starters, it is indeed ironic the blog is titled "shameless popery".

When I put that quote next to these Sacred Scriptures, for me, at least, it highlights the perjorative nature anyone of any sense of Spiritual revelation easily bends too:::>

Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Eph 1:8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
Eph 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
Eph 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

And equally mezmorizing is the reality being missed, that is, that one has to ask, in light of those Sacred Scriptures, presumably read by the patriarchs of the Faith down through the ages and epochs and generations from the days after the destruction of Jerusalem around 70 a.d. "isn't God's plan good enough for you"?

What is wrong with God's plan, I ask?

Isn't that what got the German's ball rolling down hill? Didn't Calvin and others of his era pick up many of the pieces too, the efforts of mankind?

One has to accept the doctrine of predestination in light of such "shameless popery" and conclude with the Elect of God, He has a plan that is "fit for His King" so that from the nature of mankind, a Kingdom comes and His Will is done on earth as it is in Heaven itself, has been done, is being done and when it is done, will still be done, without such shameless popery, I add! :)