A well stated conundrum:
“If God in Christ wills the salvation of all by calling every human being into the Catholic Church, then it seems as though God cannot will that the practice of Judaism continue permanently. If God calls every human being into the Church, therefore, it seems that God does not will the permanent election of Israel. If, conversely, God wills the permanent election of Israel, then it seems as though God does will that the practice of Judaism continue permanently. In that case, God must will that there always be human beings who remain outside the Catholic Church. If God wills (positively desires and does not simply permit) that there always be those who remain outside the Church, then God does not call every human being into the Church, or will the salvation of all in that way. The Church’s mission is not, therefore, genuinely universal.”
- Bruce Marshall, a former Lutheran and now Catholic theologian who teaches at Southern Methodist University.
And so: how do you respond? Please, no sophomore philosophy/theology/sociology. Readers of Verily Prosaic expect more.
“If God in Christ wills the salvation of all by calling every human being into the Catholic Church, then it seems as though God cannot will that the practice of Judaism continue permanently. If God calls every human being into the Church, therefore, it seems that God does not will the permanent election of Israel. If, conversely, God wills the permanent election of Israel, then it seems as though God does will that the practice of Judaism continue permanently. In that case, God must will that there always be human beings who remain outside the Catholic Church. If God wills (positively desires and does not simply permit) that there always be those who remain outside the Church, then God does not call every human being into the Church, or will the salvation of all in that way. The Church’s mission is not, therefore, genuinely universal.”
- Bruce Marshall, a former Lutheran and now Catholic theologian who teaches at Southern Methodist University.
And so: how do you respond? Please, no sophomore philosophy/theology/sociology. Readers of Verily Prosaic expect more.
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