Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Fitz009 · 05-13-2004, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

This admonition by Paul has been brought out in the controversy over whether the Catholic Church should bar Catholic politicans who do not follow the Vatican's instructions from mass (for their own good):

1 Corinthians 11:27-30

27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

If this were true, we would expect to see liberal Democratic Catholic politicans getting ill and dying off at an alarming rate. But Kerry seems pretty healthy (for his age anyway.)

I cant believe this thread has gone on as long as it has. This passage is dealing with a spiritual state of rightness with God, not physical or actual sin. It is an admonition against nonbelievers taking communion and believers who take communion lightly. Believers (at least fundamental) are admonished before taking communion to truly understand what it means and to take it in a spirit of contriteness, that communion is sacred to God because of what it represents. The weak, sick, and falling asleep are spiritual states that mean a believer is not right with God for whatever reason. Regardless of whether John Kerry takes communion with the right perspective, he would not necessarily fall over dead or get ill as you are stating. Paul's point is that taking communion lightly is a serious offense to God because it is a slander on the sacrifice of His son.

Toto · 05-13-2004, 10:41 PM

Do you have some concrete evidence that Paul meant "weak, sick, or asleep" [i.e. dead] to refer to a spiritual state and not a physical state - I mean, other than you want to it mean that, and you don't want the Scriptures to look silly?

I know that Paul is often thought to speak in metaphor, but I don't think this is it.

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05-13-2004, 10:41 PM	#12
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Do you have some concrete evidence that Paul meant "weak, sick, or asleep" [i.e. dead] to refer to a spiritual state and not a physical state - I mean, other than you want to it mean that, and you don't want the Scriptures to look silly? I know that Paul is often thought to speak in metaphor, but I don't think this is it.

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