Theology with my Irish Catholic Mother
In the car on the way home from lunch out with my mother, our conversation meandered onto me making a comment about various Christians kindly attempting to save my soul during my lifetime. This conversation followed:
Mama: What these "refried Christians" always say is that salvation is in your hands. It has nothing to do with you. The Catholics believe it's all about God. God made us. God chooses us.
Me: Now what you're saying is very Calvanist; you're talking about pre-destination, as if free will has nothing to do with it.
Mama: I don't know if that's Calvanist or not, but God has provided for our salvation; Jesus died to allow us into Heaven.
Me: Well, sure, but the Catholics believe in Hell, too. Jesus' sacrifice doesn't give every human being born an automatic free ticket into Heaven.
Mama: You were baptised when you were twelve.
Me: Charles Manson may have been baptised at some point, but that doesn't change that he's going to Hell.
Mama: You didn't murder twelve people.
Me: No... but Catholic doctrine certainly states that the sum of venial sins builds up eventually.
Mama: That's why there's Purgatory.
Me: Although I was baptised willingly, I've since spent my entire adult life denying God...
Mama: Well... stop that!
And after a hug and I Love You's and getting out of the car...
Mama: I've got go watch this murder on Court TV. Jesus didn't die on the cross for Baptist ministers who kill their wives.
Mama: What these "refried Christians" always say is that salvation is in your hands. It has nothing to do with you. The Catholics believe it's all about God. God made us. God chooses us.
Me: Now what you're saying is very Calvanist; you're talking about pre-destination, as if free will has nothing to do with it.
Mama: I don't know if that's Calvanist or not, but God has provided for our salvation; Jesus died to allow us into Heaven.
Me: Well, sure, but the Catholics believe in Hell, too. Jesus' sacrifice doesn't give every human being born an automatic free ticket into Heaven.
Mama: You were baptised when you were twelve.
Me: Charles Manson may have been baptised at some point, but that doesn't change that he's going to Hell.
Mama: You didn't murder twelve people.
Me: No... but Catholic doctrine certainly states that the sum of venial sins builds up eventually.
Mama: That's why there's Purgatory.
Me: Although I was baptised willingly, I've since spent my entire adult life denying God...
Mama: Well... stop that!
And after a hug and I Love You's and getting out of the car...
Mama: I've got go watch this murder on Court TV. Jesus didn't die on the cross for Baptist ministers who kill their wives.