…truthfully, I find Roman Catholic exclusivity no more appealing — nor convincing — than that of Southern Baptists, Mormons, Muslims, or nondenominational Christian fundamentalists. With all due respect, y’all start to sound the same to me. Either just one of you is right about God’s exclusivity, or none of you are. Based on my own experience with God, I’m betting on the latter.
Read the rest here.
Reflections of Ryberg 
August 9, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Do you consider your rejection of Roman Catholicism a form of “exclusivity”? It could be interpreted as a form of bigotry. Why are you being “exclusive” toward the Church that compiled the New Testament (First Bible St.Jerome Vulgate) and decided which books should be included in it? Some early Christians did not want the book of Revelation in the Cannon. It’s thanks to the Catholic Church that you have the Bible in the first place. In a way, you are biting the hand that feeds you.
Do you believe in hell? Jesus did.
If you are willing to “bet” or “wager” on your own salvation; might I recommend betting on the Church that is hated the most; despised by all like Christ was despised?
August 10, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Hey, donniedarko,
If you don’t mind us putting aside the theological jousting lances for a moment, I was wondering: more personally, what things have transpired in your life so far that have lead you to your convictions? Were you always Catholic? Where/how did you grow up, etc.? If you don’t mind me asking.
Peace,
TR
August 10, 2010 at 5:18 am
Do you consider your rejection of Roman Catholicism a form of “exclusivity”?
Nope. I don’t think my categorical rejection of exclusivity is the same thing as exclusivity itself. It seems you might have missed my comment here, in which i offer a much more detailed explanation of why I’m calling the Roman Catholic church exclusive.
I do in fact trace my Christian ancestry back to those same early church fathers from whom we received the present canon of our Bible. Your Catholic forefathers are mine too – no split yet! – and indeed, was it not the Catholic church who gave us Martin Luther? I’ve never asserted that Roman Catholicism doesn’t have good roots. But I reject your leaders’ assertion that God engages with humanity through the RC church alone. (That’s not exclusion. It’s simply rejection!)
Finally, your recommendation is duly noted (again). Thanks, no. I recommend that you stop trying to imprison the will of God within the confines of your imperfect understanding.
In peace,
TR
August 11, 2010 at 4:44 am
Hi again Tom,
If you are genuinely interested, I was an apatheist for a long time then became intensely interested in religion. I spent a very long time arguing for the atheist position. After I did a lot of inter-faith dialogue…with baptists, muslims, hindus, nondenom evangelical, etc I slowly became agnostic and now Catholic. I find that I’m more “fundamentalist” than most Catholics you will meet, but that’s because I’ve been on the other side of the fence and I believe religion is an all or nothing “investment” if you want to call it that. Most Catholics seem “asleep” to our dire situation; which is the potential immediacy of death.
Just so you know, you are more civil than most protestants…who are intensely antagonistic to the RCC, and generally despise Catholics. I’ve seen everythign from “the RCC is the great whore of Babylon” to catholics aren’t “born again”…just sheer nonsense. I’ve been arguing with people for so many years…I’ve developed somewhat of a short fuse. Just so you know the “ya’ll” ,southern fire, and brimstone Christians aren’t necessarily my friends.
I now post on a lot of atheist blogs. What baffles me and continues to do so, is that you make a lot of the same arguments as atheists…except you twist scripture to do it. The reason Christians probably “all sound the same” to you is probably because the vast majority…I’d say 90% ,whatever denomination, would contend that your interpretation of scripture is in error. I really wonder if that says anything to you or not.
I hope you don’t take any of this personally, I attack beliefs not people, and I happen to do a LOT of arguing. I like it. As for your “categorical rejection” or w/e you may want to check out the law of non-contradiction. Your views are very…postmodern..and…non-christian.
There is a book called “The Intolerance of Tolerance” which may help you understand what I’m getting at a little better. I believe it’s written by Carson. He’s not Catholic but he can help you understand the point I was trying to make better than I can, I think.
Martin Luther was initially Catholic..so what. He initially had good intentions as I’m sure you do…but like St.Augustine said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I’m just trying to steer you off that road.