Reply #74: Far be it from me to avoid an interesting conversation

[kanrok]

Your questions, although interesting, are in no way "tough."

Not if you analyze them appropriately.

So let me give it a whirl.

Your "No True Scotsman" fallacy does not apply to my comment.

The major problem with that line of argument is the lack of authority defining what constitutes a "true Scotsman."

I'm not Scottish, so I cannot say unequivocally that there isn't a Department of Determining What A True Scot Is, replete with instruction books and classes. But I'm fairly sure none exists.

But I am Roman Catholic, and I know that there are two documents (at least) I can look to for instruction as to what constitutes a good Catholic.

That would be the Bible, and the Catholic Catechism.

The Ten Commandments are not the "Ten Suggestions."

They provide me with a basic understanding about what is required of me.

The Catechism teaches me, explicitly, what is required of me.

(BTW, I cannot speak for any other Christian religion. I' don't know what they teach specifically, but I'm sure that it is generally similar).

No Scot is taught what constitutes a "True Scot", therefore, it is open to interpretation.

Catholic Doctrine is NOT open to interpretation, and any well-taught Catholic would agree with that concept.

But not every Catholic follows Doctrine consistently.

I know Catholics who disagree with the Church's stance on abortion, contraception and transubstantiation, among others.

Heck, there are priests that don't agree that Satan exists.

There are some who follow Doctrine to the comma.

The Church has a name for them.

We call them "saints."

I am not one.

I know of none, but some come close.

The bottom line is that there is no universal agreement among one billion Catholics about their individual beliefs.

But the rules they are to follow are pretty clear.

That's why my "cute little story" about the Rabbi and the soap maker is more apropos than your use of the "No True Scot" fallacy.

While we all know how to use soap, we were all once taught how to use it.

It's up to us to use it properly, in order to make it work for us.

The same is true for religion.

We have the template, all we have to do is follow it.

So Christians can disagree about abortion, but that doesn't mean they are following what they are taught.

We have a name for those who pick and choose what they believe.

They are called "Cafeteria Catholics."

Hope that helps clear things up for you.

Cheers.