From what I can tell, this survey suggests that 39% of evangelicals and nearly 70% of Catholics believe that non-Christians will be in Heaven.
Might I suggest that there are significantly more "nominal" Catholics than there are "nominal" evangelicals? That's been my observation, at least up in my neck of the woods. I've always thought of Catholicism as being MORE "restrictive" as to who gets to Heaven than Protestants. As in, Catholics believed that ONLY Catholics were going to Heaven, but Protestants at least extended a little grace back to their Catholic and Orthodox friends. I guess it's not quite that simple.
I've been thinking a lot about your comments regarding your reading of Kreeft, a Catholic apologist. And then I found myself thinking about your gift to me at the Wedding - a copy of Thomas Merton's writings. And I found myself wondering: is this a trend or just two random examples.
Actually, random examples. For one, I would call Kreeft a Christian apologist rather than a Catholic apologist. Although he is Catholic, his apologetics stuff argues for the broad umbrella of "mere Christianity". (Might I recommend in particular Christianity for Modern Pagans, Making Sense Out of Suffering, Fundamentals of the Faith, and Three Philosophies of Life.) As for Merton... I actually haven't read that much of him (is that bad?), but he is respected highly by people I respect highly (even while disagreeing with him frequently), and the things that I have read by, and about, him made me think that you would enjoy him.
Anyway, while there are aspects of Catholicism that I like, I don't see myself being dragged all the way there. The few times I have heard Kreeft argue for Catholicism have rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, he is of the "Rome has decreed it, so that's that" variety, which... I don't know, I just can't trust fallen human beings to speak for God "unfilteredly". He also talked once about how when the priest serves you communion, it is not only Jesus' actual body and blood, but His actual voice you hear saying "this is my body, broken for you." Kinda creeps me out--which doesn't make it wrong. Just creepy.
I wondered whether you have found much of Evangelical thinking to be too simplistic?
Evangelical thinking? Yes. (Can you say oxymoron?) Protestant thinking is another matter.
Meow.
Might I suggest that there are significantly more "nominal" Catholics than there are "nominal" evangelicals? That's been my observation, at least up in my neck of the woods. I've always thought of Catholicism as being MORE "restrictive" as to who gets to Heaven than Protestants. As in, Catholics believed that ONLY Catholics were going to Heaven, but Protestants at least extended a little grace back to their Catholic and Orthodox friends. I guess it's not quite that simple.
I've been thinking a lot about your comments regarding your reading of Kreeft, a Catholic apologist. And then I found myself thinking about your gift to me at the Wedding - a copy of Thomas Merton's writings. And I found myself wondering: is this a trend or just two random examples.
Actually, random examples. For one, I would call Kreeft a Christian apologist rather than a Catholic apologist. Although he is Catholic, his apologetics stuff argues for the broad umbrella of "mere Christianity". (Might I recommend in particular Christianity for Modern Pagans, Making Sense Out of Suffering, Fundamentals of the Faith, and Three Philosophies of Life.) As for Merton... I actually haven't read that much of him (is that bad?), but he is respected highly by people I respect highly (even while disagreeing with him frequently), and the things that I have read by, and about, him made me think that you would enjoy him.
Anyway, while there are aspects of Catholicism that I like, I don't see myself being dragged all the way there. The few times I have heard Kreeft argue for Catholicism have rubbed me the wrong way. I mean, he is of the "Rome has decreed it, so that's that" variety, which... I don't know, I just can't trust fallen human beings to speak for God "unfilteredly". He also talked once about how when the priest serves you communion, it is not only Jesus' actual body and blood, but His actual voice you hear saying "this is my body, broken for you." Kinda creeps me out--which doesn't make it wrong. Just creepy.
I wondered whether you have found much of Evangelical thinking to be too simplistic?
Evangelical thinking? Yes. (Can you say oxymoron?) Protestant thinking is another matter.
Meow.
posted by Matt | 2:20 PM
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