Originally Posted by Frownland (Post 1701700)

Man is inherently sinful for not being like God, because humans exist.

Originally Posted by Some Old Bearded Commie

This contradiction lies here: they wish God, and they wish humanity. They persist in connecting two terms which, once separated, can come together again only to destroy each other. They say in a single breath: "God and the liberty of man," "God and the dignity, justice, equality, fraternity, prosperity of men" — regardless of the fatal logic by virtue of which, if God exists, all these things are condemned to non-existence. For, if God is, he is necessarily the eternal, supreme, absolute master, and, if such a master exists, man is a slave; now, if he is a slave, neither justice, nor equality, nor fraternity, nor prosperity are possible for him. In vain, flying in the face of good sense and all the teachings of history, do they represent their God as animated by the tenderest love of human liberty: a master, whoever he may be and however liberal he may desire to show himself, remains none the less always a master. His existence necessarily implies the slavery of all that is beneath him. Therefore, if God existed, only in one way could he serve human liberty — by ceasing to exist.

Originally Posted by Neapolitan (Post 1701691)

That sounds interesting. Who did the reading, family or church? I think the book was written nun who had the visions, Sister Mary of Jesus of Ágreda, 1602-1666. I am not quite sure what to make of books from visions. I'm not knocking it, I just like reads that are more historical, more philosophical in nature.

Originally Posted by mordwyr (Post 1701696)

Only my wife and I, together, in our room.



It is highly philosophical.



Yes, indeed! We should all strive to be more like Him. He is perfection, and He has called all of us to be perfect (which, of course, we cannot attain on our own strength). It is the struggle--the journey--that forms our character. Let us be benevolent; let us be merciful; let us forever learn, for, since the Divinity is infinite, there is always more to know of It. We can never reach the end of knowledge because we can never reach the end of the Divinity.

When the infant Jesus was born, He was temporarily transfigured (meaning He appeared to His Mother in a glorified, non-terrestrial form), and Sts. Michael and Gabriel held their God before Her. Jesus said, "Be like me." And that was it; then He didn't talk again until normal human children start to talk.

That story blew me away. "Be like me." He said that to His Mother, who was and still is, by the grace of God, perfect. How much more, then, do His words apply to me, who is grievously imperfect!

Originally Posted by Neapolitan (Post 1701910)

Everything about Christianity is philosophal, in the true since of the word. It is the love of wisdom.

Originally Posted by mordwyr (Post 1701915)

"Wisdom cries out in the streets and no man regards it."
--Henry IV Part 1, Act I, Scene ii (a paraphrasing of Proverbs 1:20-33)

.