RevSRE
Supporter
In good faith there wasn't a 'white paper' to address in our first post, other reactions notwithstanding.
I do understand that if anyone has invested a lot of their theology time only engaging in a pet position without critical examination of that position, or other alternatives, they aren't nearly as much fun to converse with. Looking at everything is somewhat enjoyable for me, and I will glance at the white paper link, but if it's a shill job without critical examinations of the premises put forth it will be a short read.
Postscript: Read it. It was a short read. Obviously written without much discipline and a lot of unsubstantiated assertions right out the gate. I had to stop when the author claimed that Augustine was a hard determinist. Just the scholarly opinions on the Augustine form of (soft) determinism could probably keep me reading on that subject the remainder of my life. Augustine would have a hard time even getting in the league of scholarly hard determinism. The RCC has a freewill posture so I hardly think one of their chief theologians was in the hard determinist camp to any significant degree. When I got to this point, "Christians are not sinners" I couldn't take it as scripturally credible anymore. There were so many points of circular logic whoever wrote it needs some serious scriptural hand holding. No offense. It happens. Challenge your views. It's healthy!
I was not going to even answer this. But I feel this is so important that I must. This review is not close to what I said nor the content of the paper. Yes, we disagree. But I am right in every point and I do not care how many views you can find there is only ONE TRUTH and we need to be trying to explain and describe that TRUTH.
There is no reference to determinism in the discussion I SAID Augustine "From his past" made a choice to include in his teaching Gnostic ideas that ARE errors.
There is also no circular argument . That would be an unknown point defended by making other points that try to prove the starting point. I started with GOD and His authority, said man made a choice that lead him back to GOD. that is a known to a known not circular.
THE point is there are two roads, two paths and God gave us a free will to select where we will go. you may not agree, or like the idea, it is still what the bible says. Look for TRUTH not ways the discredit what you do not understand or believe.
I researched and compiled this paper it is the TRUTH. We all need to understand there are two ways GOD"S WAY and Satan's counterfeit.
The data no Satan's counterfeit is worth reading the paper. Satan is active in the world today trying to use your free will to deceive you .
TWO ROADS one to GOD the other to destruction a counterfeit. Prayerfully read the Truth 'Two Roads" it is well worth your time.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zZR_LknVD7WGaiobl_3RahoeYtV4bCzaWrB-UNbaTSo/edit?usp=sharing