Posted by Dave on December 15, 1999 at 10:35:13:
In Reply to: Re: Another heretical essay for U posted by John on December 14, 1999 at 18:29:21:
: : http://astro.temple.edu/~arcc/hick.html
: : "The Latest Vatican Statement on Christianity and Other Religions" by John Hick. Please read and give feedback, good or bad.
: Some feedback in bulleted form:
: - nothing new here really, This is just another of the essays from the non-literal, "liberal" interpretation of Christianity. There is much talk and writing in scholarly circles of this kind.
: - secondly while the Vatican , at least to my knowledge, is really trying to offer ADVICE in good faith for their parishoners in dealing with contemporary issues, what actually happens is most people read this as dogma to be accepted by good catholics, or as reason again to deny God and christianity in general as telling people what to think.
: - thirdly instead of waiting to the end of several thoughtful comments, why doesn't someone just go ahead and make a joke about farts or other crude matter now and save us all the time.
I agree it's nothing new. Hick has been arguing from the unitive pluralist position for at least 30 years. But it is new to this board.
Hick is not really addressing whether the Vatican should advise its spiritual subjects. He is addressing the commission's (especially Ratzinger's) exclusivistic view of Christianity as it relates to other religions. If Ratzinger's advice is dogmatic, then Hick is correct in designating it so.
Did you read the fart jokes, and see where they originated?