What does man deserve?

Mary of Bethany said:

I thought they (the RCC) rejected that teaching?

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HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Yeah, it was the "truth" for a long, long time, now all of a sudden, it ain't the "truth" any more. Which makes me wonder which teaching is the true truth? And if they taught it as the "truth" and it ain't anymore, then what does that do to their whole claim to be "THE Church" which is the infallible "pillar and ground of the truth?"

Guess no one in Rome thought of that, eh?

(Sorry - my anti-Roman Catholic attitude needs a bit of adjusting in charity)

Sorry to pepper you with questions, but I am knee-deep in another conversation on another forum and need some answers.

The Roman Catholic position is that infants need baptism to remove "Original Sin." Without this, the infant dies and goes to hell (at least, that is what this Traddie is arguing). In the East, we do not accept the Roman definition of Original Sin, but we do understand that all are born under the influence of sin (did I say that correctly?).

If baptism is not to wash away sin and confer new life, then why bother baptizing infants? Why not wait until they can do what the Baptists say and make a "decision for Jesus?"

Oh.....wait!!! I think I just stumbled on the answer as I was typing and thinking. New life. Baptism gives the gift of new life so that the child can have the power of the indwelling Spirit to fight against sin. Without that, he/she is helpless against temptation. Also, it makes them part of the Body of Christ, outside of which they are prey for the evil spirits and not able to partake of the Sacraments.

How is that for an answer to my Traddie bud?

ArmyMatt said:

looks good to me. why do you engage Trad Caths?

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It was a general conversation over on Steve Ray's board and he kinda wandered into it. But you know, if I am going to be Eastern in my thinking (and hopefully some day Orthodox) I need to learn my apologia.