tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146798156042880101.post3839979392767309234..comments2024-03-27T22:36:56.492+00:00Comments on Occasional Scribbles: Thomist vision of natural law is not acceptableMichael Commanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06566080738649812206noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146798156042880101.post-65089135804224647742015-07-02T09:11:26.942+01:002015-07-02T09:11:26.942+01:00@ Tom: Simple identification with any ideology or ...@ Tom: Simple identification with any ideology or faith, without an open exploration of the deeper roots of the faith/ideals- system, will always tend to lead to some kind of ignorant fundamentalism. Simple slogans, platitudes and solutions are taken on board and argued, without any conceptual foundation backing them up.<br /><br />For me, as someone who would describe himself as having a secularist, non-theistic view of the world, discussions with many conservative Christians (particularly of the Catholic, scholastic variety) are often frustrating as they tend to take an idea of a basic 'natural law' as given. More, they are quite prepared to make all sort of assertions about specific consequences of that natural law - above all in the area of sexuality. It is difficult to rationally discuss with them, because their view of existence as being fundamentally defined by a (God-given) natural law - which is (for them) <i>obviously</i> reasonable - allows them no other level to find a common ground for discourse with someone who does not adhere to their basic position on natural law.<br /><br />It must be nice to know you have such a direct line to absolute truth ... Personally (even as an Irishman!) I've always found Oliver Cromwell's appeal to the synod of the Church of Scotland in 1650 more attractive: "I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible that you may be mistaken." :-)Francis Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00422476000328664994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146798156042880101.post-48124215548760683532015-07-01T15:56:09.852+01:002015-07-01T15:56:09.852+01:00There is a further insightful point too in this co...There is a further insightful point too in this conversation between Olivier Roy and The Tablet. Tom Heneghan notes that Roy, in Holy Ignorance, argued that 'secularism fostered the emergence of shallow fundamentalisms in reaction to societies seen as pagan'. In my life as a Catholic preacher I have known clear-cut examples of this trend.Thomas G McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11439138805291933651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146798156042880101.post-9824163501381092642015-07-01T11:37:17.530+01:002015-07-01T11:37:17.530+01:00In reality, bishops have always acted as though cu...In reality, bishops have always acted as though culture should be rooted in faith!<br /><br />BTW, have you read the sour grapes edition of the Alive tabloid this month?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10279757092068031213noreply@blogger.com