Johnny Skeptic

Since hundreds of millions of people have died without ever having heard the Gospel message, why does it matter that anyone has ever heard the Gospel message?

Chili

It doesn't. It is just a protestant way to seek relief for those who are on fire for Jesus.

In John 20:21 Jesus tells us different: "As the father send me so I am sending you" while showing his wounds to indicate that we must convert our own world and not the world of others.

Thomas II

Chili,
what denomination do you follow?

Chili

Catholic but never was a 'follower,' really. I/we are all Catholic who did things what Catholics do (eg. I was 21 when I met 'my' first protestant). It is not until now that I am learning what Catholicism is all about in its deeper level of understanding where it is very explosive if it needs to be. ie. the sky is the limit.

Harry Bosch

Why didn't Jesus tell his followers that there were "undiscovered" countries in the Americas just full of heathen savages waiting to hear the good word? Why only preach his message to the Jews?

Chili

I don't know. Do you think maybe because they were not know as the America's at that time?

Thomas II

Are you saying that there are "deeper" levels of being a Catholic or understanding it? I thought that it was all related to Rome and what Rome says...Are you saying that your personal understanding of the teachings attributed to Jesus,or even your mystical experiences, take precedence over obedience to Rome?

Harry Bosch

Good evasive answer. I may be wrong, but I think that I have read posts from you where you have stated: the only way to the father is through the son. In other words, the only way to avoid hell is to follow the son. If true, what happens to the people who have never heard of god before? I've always wondered this question, but never gotten a good answer.

Toto

No BCH material here. Moving to GRD

Chili

Rome has 3 levels: The Church Militant, the Church Suffering and the Church Triumphant.

Only the Church Militant is asked to show obedience so as to provide a steam of consciousness against which sinners can be convicted. That is what the Law is all about to which the Church has added some of her own for good measure.

The Church Suffering are those in Purgatory which is the equivalent of Galilee in the Gospels. It was Jesus' detour to Israel and it is our detour to heaven. This would be for those who have been chosen and called by name etc. In this sense are they the genuine Jesuits just as Jesus was a genuine Nazorean Accordingly, the teachings of Jesus mean nothing beyond a foreshadow of things to come when we arrive 'there' to work out our own salvation.

The Gospels, then, is where religion ends and we must rely on entropy to get us back into heaven (notice that Catholics are "basically good" for this reason). This would be why Catholicism is not bible based but they are 'treated' much like the poor man in the Rich Man and Lazarus parable. Ie. they are sinners and are not encouraged to feast on bible passages.

The Church Triumphant is for those in heaven where they can exist in many different levels. Some will return to Rome while others just enjoy life without having much to say about it.