wsionynw said:Assuming God exists, how do you know what 'he' prefers?
I know because I can rely on the doctrines and customs of the universal Church known and visible to all, The Roman Catholic, which, as an authoritative body of cardinals and the Pope, and in its mystical character, cannot deceive nor be decieved.
God is not cruel. Christ would not have left his Apostles without an anchor of certitude concerning the Truth, and true doctrines, and the means for discerning them.
Christ is the divinity of Mercy, his only hope being for the welfare of all souls. Why would he ascend to Heavan and just leave humans without a sure and constant source of grace?
If Christ had just died and left without beginning a one true Church, would you not consider him ignorant of human nature? Human nature, corrupted by sin, is fallible and, unable to determin the truth by itself, easily falls into schism and heresy.
The Creator above all knows human nature, (since He created it) so he revealed to Mankind a singular and fitting religion, and since there is only one human nature then there can only be one fitting religion appropriate for that human nature. All other religions fall short.
Those others who make claim to be the religion of the true God are in error.
This is not to say that we do not tolerate or even appreciate other religions according to their merits, but we cannot accept them as the singular true religion which is revealed from God. The other religions have too much of human design in them. Perhaps we have too much human sinfulness in our Church, but we are confident that our faith is the one given by Christ.
Our faith, because it is revealed, often seems absurd to those outside of it, and many call us intolerant, but we are not.
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