Recent content by Augustin56

Interesting perspective. Everyone, without exception, has a backstory that explains what they believe, how they behave, etc.

Strictly speaking, the Bible is NOT the "Word of God." The Word of God is not a book, but Somebody, namely, Jesus Christ. The Bibles we have are one of the two main methods of transmission of the Word of God to humans. More accurately, the Bibles we have are TRANSLATIONS of one of the two...

Doctrines are teachings based on Divine Revelation given the Apostles by Christ. So, the real question is, are the teachings of Christ important? I would say, without hesitation, yes.

God never forces salvation on anyone. Love is always a choice. We aren't robots or puppets. You've accepted into some false beliefs along the way. Why would St. Paul warn us to "persevere" to the end? What difference would that make if we are saved no matter what? Anyway, check out the...

By what you've wrote, you imply that we have no choice to accept or reject salvation. I would say that, absolutely, we do. And we can accept or reject the gift of salvation at any time during our lives. After death, our choice is set forever.

First, a definition of faith. Faith is a theological virtue by which believers trust in God and accept all that He has revealed, as well as what His Church proposes for belief. It involves a personal commitment to God and is seen as a gift of grace that enables individuals to know and love Him...

Yes, the 10 Commandments are for us. They are a summary of the Natural Law. They tell us how God designed us to best live our lives.

Have you read the book, "Why Only Us?" by Robert C. Berwick and Noam Chomsky? They claim that about 60 thousand years ago, mankind "suddenly" developed complex grammar (complex communication), counting (math), burying the dead (religion), etc.

There are several methods in which demonic influence can affect a person. According to Fr. Jocis Syquia—the director of the Office of Exorcism and author of Exorcism: Encounters with the Paranormal and the Occult—lists 10 demonic possession gateways. They are the following: Occult involvement...

It's okay to agree to disagree.

Satan and his demons are real. They are fallen angels. They rejected God and His plan and are doomed to eternal suffering and banishment from heaven. They want to lead us to hell and as much misery in this life as they can. They have angelic intelligence and powers, far more than us...

I've heard that before and I sometimes wonder if they are confusing "faith" with "intellectual assent" to the reality of Jesus vs. true faith which governs how we live our lives, etc.? For example, I've seen those who claim to believe, but you'd never know it by the way they live. It's just...

Hey, Matthew! There is a distinct difference between seeing them AS Satan vs seeing them as influenced by Satan. Satan and his demons certainly can influence and tempt anyone. But them giving into the demptation or influence doesn't make them Satan or a demon.

Silly.

Gotcha. We are in agreement, then. In a related theme, there is a misunderstanding by some with regard to faith and reason. True faith is never infrarational (below reason), i.e., "believe because I say so." True faith is always suprarational. Once reason has done all it can, THEN faith...