A recent experience got me thinking about “folk” versus theological views. I stated that Christianity believes in good people living forever in heaven and evil people living forever in hell. Someone told me that I lack a “subtly nuanced” understanding of heaven and hell, meaning, I suppose, that I lacked a theologian’s understanding.
I lack a theologian’s understanding of heaven and hell. — Art48
What all that being said, it may seem surprising that I have a deep interest in theology. — Art48
I lack a theologian’s understanding of heaven and hell.
So what? — Art48
Do you know of any Catholic theologian who accepts those teachings? Any theologian who says “Yes, poor Johnny Smith skipped Mass last Sunday and suddenly died. Poor kid is now in hell begin torture, forever.” Or, “Mr. Jones was a decent enough person. But he only went to Mass on Christmas and Easter. Now he’s suffering incredible torments with little Johnny Smith.” — Art48
In my experience, theologians often teach something quite different that what I learned in Catholic school, not merely a more nuanced version.
The latter (heteropraxy ~ ethos) always predates and gradually subverts 'systems of control' imposed by the former (orthodoxy ~ telos).Which version of a religion is the right one: The one that is codified in its foundational religious texts, or the one espoused by the people who claim to be members of said religion? — baker
gradually subverts 'systems of control' imposed by the former (orthodoxy ~ telos). — 180 Proof
Someone told me that I lack a “subtly nuanced” understanding of heaven and hell, meaning, I suppose, that I lacked a theologian’s understanding. — Art48
Baker: Ordinary Roman Catholics are usually not fluent in the Catechism of the RCC; they have their own folk beliefs.
You ignore the beginning of my post.
IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL, I was taught 1) if you died with an unforgiven mortal sin, you went to hell forever, 2) a child over the age of reason (i.e., 7 years old) could commit a mortal sin, 3) intentionally missing Mass on Sunday was a mortal sin. — Art48
I didn’t learn the above from kids on the street. I learned it from nuns and priests. If fact, most Catholics do not believe intentionally missing mass, using contraception, etc. are mortal sins that could send them to hell.
Baker: I asked you which Roman Catholicism you think is the right one. I think this is the question you need to answer in order to address the OP.
They are simply two different views. That catechism view is the minority view.
That catechism view is the minority view. — Art48
I stated that Christianity believes in good people living forever in heaven and evil people living forever in hell....I was describing the view of the great majority of Christians. — Art48
The clergy think highly of themselves.Certainly, the clergy think highly of themselves. — Art48
But you seem to be confirming the OP's view about "folk" versus theological views.
So, what is your point?
You said
and I began to address that.I lack a theologian’s understanding of heaven and hell. — Art48
Good people living forever in heaven and evil people living forever in hell is a common, widely held belief in Christianity. It’s fair, I think, to judge Christianity on its common beliefs, not the beliefs of a relatively small group of scholars. (Two billion Christians versus how many Christian theologians?)
It would be unfair to do otherwise.
What about that, if anything, do you disagree with?
I lack a theologian’s understanding of heaven and hell.
So what?
I was describing the view of the great majority of Christians. Why should the “subtly nuanced” understanding of the theologians matter?
Why should the “subtly nuanced” understanding of the theologians matter? — Art48
It’s fair, I think, to judge Christianity on its common beliefs, not the beliefs of a relatively small group of scholars — Art48
Religious people are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are religious. — paraphrase of J.S. Mills (re: conservatives)
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