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Steven Barrett
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| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 812 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 12:03 am |
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 Just when all our evangelical buddies, especially the Fundies, were crowing about popery's demise in the land of their Protestant colonists forefathers, Southern Baptists apparently forgot to look at their own numbers. Ooops. Looks like the Bible Belt had to pull in its buckle notch a little tighter.
"So. Baptists Now a 'Declining Denomination"By Lillian Kwon Christian Post ReporterThu, Apr. 24 2008 02:42 PM ET
For all you former So. Baptists, or ex-So. Baptists want-to-be's, I'm sure you'll find some of the observations, particularly about constant in-fighting a bit on the "been there, seen and heard all that before" side.
And oh, our good buddy, no less than the Rev. Al Mohler has a ready explanation about Benedict's visit as well. Saith the Rev. Al, In Michelle Vu's story [url=http://Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit]Evangelicals Give Mixed Reactions to Pope's Visit[/url] I'll 'fess up to putting a "slant" on the Rev. Al's remarks.
"... Prominent theologian Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.," president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, reminded people that the pope is a staunch defender of the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, and that it is not likely that evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church will bridge differences.
In particular, Mohler pointed to Benedict’s speech at Regensburg, Germany, in 2006; his baptism of a prominent Muslim convert; and the Vatican’s release of the document reasserting that the Roman Catholic Church is the only true church as examples that the pope is not “primarily concerned with ecumenical relations.”
“The Roman Catholic Church believes that evangelicals are in spiritual danger for obstinately and disobediently excluding ourselves from submission to its universal claims and its papacy,” the well-known theologian wrote.
The Reverend Al's one of America's best experts in obstinancy. Believe me, he's one of our very best!
Meanwhile, he added, “Evangelicals are concerned that Catholics are in spiritual danger for their submission to these very claims.”
Will somebody, please (!)   help keep me from shaking!
“We both understand what is at stake,” Mohler wrote. Michelle A. Vu Christian Post Reporter Tue, Apr. 22 2008 08:52 AM ET)
Yessir, indeed we both do ..
Ms. Vu also quoted Richard Cizik, whose more commonsensical perspectives I thought wouldn't pack as much--should I say--"interest" for Forum readers.
As far as Mohler's worries go, I can't help wondering what he must be really thinking deep inside. Perhaps to get more Tums or Rolaids? 
Have fun! (When I saw this, I had to share it!)
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For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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EMarshallBuckles
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 19th, 2007 |
| Location: | Rockville (Near Richmond), Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 584 |
| First Name: | Marshall | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Christian Church,Episcopal Church,Baptist denomination,learning about RCC |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 04:00 am |
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Although Al Mohler is - well, let's be generous and gracious - a very intelligent young man, he is still fairly young. In fact, I have never been sure why he was given the Presidency of such a large and influential seminary (well, in the Baptist world anyway) at such a young age as that occurred for him. Frankly, while there have been times when Dr. Mohler has said things, publicly, to defend the faith (of all Christians), there are also times when he has, um, uh, well, said things I would not choose to say or might have at least, um, uh, phrased them a bit differently. I think that in some ways he um, probably needs to still do some "growing up", however, perhaps that will come with time. As the saying goes, "the Lord isn't through with him yet", so to speak. I do think that perhaps Roman Catholics need to establish some dialogue with him, sorta, have a little chat with him. Of course, the reader will realize, I hope, that Southern Baptists do NOT have a Pope or Bishops and, well, nobody can entirely speak for anyone else, sometimes trying to speak for Southern Baptists can be a "hit or miss" matter with more misses than hits. To humorously use a popular saying, "it's a Baptist thing, you wouldn't understand", ha, ha!
As for the Southern Baptists, let us realize that even at it's greatest membership, the Southern Baptists have looked kind of like a marble rolling down a six lane highway when compared to Catholics both in our nation and world wide. Also, while it has been "prettied up", sort of like putting lipstick and make up on Mike, the LSU Tiger or on the Uga, the Georgia Bulldog, the Southern Baptist administration has experienced what has been, to all intents and purposes except for name, a major schism. You have the Southern Baptists and the defacto, in my opinion, denomination of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (which I feel is a kind of ironic name, they don't seem very cooperative to me - I also feel that they have a very hazy theology, in my opinion, people aren't quite sure exactly what they believe in some areas of their theology). Some people have left both of them in disappointment or evern disgust. In fact, that is part of the reason why I am here, studying the Roman Catholic demomination. I'm just not sure where the Baptists are going, on either side, and not sure I wanna go with them!
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 812 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 11:49 pm |
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My impression of Mohler is that he wants to be the Southern Baptist Pope and use his university (bully or just plain BULL) pulpit as his own private Magisterium. It's a bit redundant, for a baptist of any kind since each one is his or her private and personal (of course) magisterium.
On the other hand, he's never let his ego get in the way of getting him into the habit of standing back, taking a deep breath and wondering what task he's setting himself up for: being a one-man version of what Joseph Ratzinger ran for a quarter century, with the help of many priests. Worrying about such trivial concerns as redundancy in the midst of clerical empire-building never seemed to trouble the Al Mohlers of any denomination. But in fairness to the new Protestant Pope, he's not being called to the Imperial Curia's carpet by Sen. Grassley. Mohler only suffers from theological overreach, not the more venal kind that's long been a staple of unwatched private and personal clericalism.
But don't worry folks, Mohler has his own private and personal university to be his magisterium, notwithstanding what his denomination or the university's trustees, faculty and students might think.
Imagine the (now) Most Holy and Powerful Protestant Pope Al I in all white? Hmmm; there might be a problem there. He might be confused with another boss, Hogg.
New show: "Heretics of Hazzard?" And his "popemobile," the General Lee?
 (Psssst, we'll tell Mohler it was Bill Maher's idea. Given Maher's stellar reputation in Catholic bashing, not to mention Mohler's as well, who knows, those knuckleheads might be dumb enough to try and pull it off.)
Last edited on Sat Apr 26th, 2008 12:09 am by Steven Barrett
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For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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Pani Rose
Member
| Joined: | Fri Oct 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Irondale, Alabama USA |
| Posts: | 408 |
| First Name: | Rose | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Ruthenian Byzantine in a Melkite Greek Catholic Parish, raised ... |
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 11:58 pm |
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Maybe he needs to talk with Dr. Francis Beckwith. Dr. Beckwith, was the president of the Evangelical Theological Society, and became Catholic while in that postition. We were blessed to have him come to a conference we had here last summer just after his returning to the Church.
http://www.francisbeckwith.com/
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Steven Barrett
Member
| Joined: | Tue Nov 14th, 2006 |
| Location: | Hadley, Massachusetts USA |
| Posts: | 812 |
| First Name: | Steven | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Episcopal communicant, Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Sat Apr 26th, 2008 05:30 am |
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 Rose, I vaguely recalled the name before clicking the link then all of a sudden I remembered seeing Dr. Beckwith's home page before.
Hmm, just seeing Mohler share the stage with Beckwith ... now that'd be a sight to behold! 
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For anybody interested in reading commentary from a Catholic's socially conservative/fiscally liberal viewpoint, go to my new blog at http://www.politicsramble.com/ .
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