The doubly redundant deity
By Diogenes (articles ) | August 12, 2003 7:05 PM
Bill Murchison has some fun with the pronouncement of the Rev. Sherman Hesselgrave that "God changes God's mind."
Ah. Hmmm. Shall we ponder?
First, the linguistics -- the deliberate avoidance of the possessive "His," so as not to identify God with male patriarchal ideas. Then, the central suggestion -- God as just another head-scratching, chin-cupping water-cooler buddy, with changing viewpoints for changing times.
The article is worth reading for its deft but gentle deflation of "Hesselgravian theology." But one of Murchison's throwaway remarks caught my attention:
Who exactly finds out about God's mind changes and then reports?
This is a profoundly important theological question, and not only with respect to the current controversies over issues of sexual morality. What grounds do we have for accepting, or doubting, the Church's claim to be a reliable conduit of God's will -- her claim, in the words of St. Paul, that "We have the mind of Christ"? If Church teaching were to change, is there a way of understanding the change other than concluding that God was wrong, or the Church was wrong, or both were? In either case, who needs a Church?
Put another way, if a man has a touchstone that tells him when the Church is right and wrong, it's the touchstone that matters to him. Who needs a Church?
|
An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus: Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you! |
Easter Campaign: Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($16,519 to go):
$80,000.00
$63,481.45
21%
79%
|
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
