Below-copied by ap first published at comments,
https://bellofchurch.blogspot.com/20...80697083908953
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Christianity (New Test.) ought best be understood as rationalist literary dialectic to preceding Pharisaic anti-thesis, esp. regarding "midrash" and "Oral Law Tradition" subjectivism, hence satanism. Thus New Test. and Christ restates and clarifies Old Test.
So Christianity, in New Test., presented a perfectly rational philosophy embedded within the story-line text which Paine failed to entirely grasp, but probably most accurately understood was mis-represented by so many false Christians to being merely a sort/version of the same old Pharisaic MYSTICISM/subjectivism.
So Paine was quite justified to denouncing mysticism, including the Christian-styled sort. And his argument is quite good, far as it goes.
For in reason and logic, one cannot prove a universal negative, that there is no God.
Hence the great achievement of Christianity, beginning w. the literature (New Test.) is (a) it demonstrates the Godly quality of TRUTH (Gosp. JOHN 14:6), worthy of worship, the greatest value and virtue, this (b) against satanism and lies, in general (JOHN 8:44), and (c) specifically singling out and identifying Jews ("Jew" defined as followers of Pharisees/Talmud, distinct fm Judean, an error made by the author of this article) as foremost satanists, demonstrated by history and reality. (d) Dear Christianity further demonstrates a rational, practical, understandable ETHIC, following in perfect reason, by which to live and conduct one's life, far superior to the perpetual warfare and enmity of humanity of Pharisaism.
So in his striving to be rational and properly respectful of TRUTH, Paine actually follows Christian ideal and ethic; Paine just doesn't fully understand the Christian literary and philosophic dialectic as regarding Pharisaism, satanism, and objective nature of reality.
https://bellofchurch.blogspot.com/20...80697083908953
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Paine Overlooked Full Literary/Philosophic
Significance/Appreciation Of Dear Christianity
(Apollonian, 30 Nov 16)
(Apollonian, 30 Nov 16)
Christianity (New Test.) ought best be understood as rationalist literary dialectic to preceding Pharisaic anti-thesis, esp. regarding "midrash" and "Oral Law Tradition" subjectivism, hence satanism. Thus New Test. and Christ restates and clarifies Old Test.
So Christianity, in New Test., presented a perfectly rational philosophy embedded within the story-line text which Paine failed to entirely grasp, but probably most accurately understood was mis-represented by so many false Christians to being merely a sort/version of the same old Pharisaic MYSTICISM/subjectivism.
So Paine was quite justified to denouncing mysticism, including the Christian-styled sort. And his argument is quite good, far as it goes.
For in reason and logic, one cannot prove a universal negative, that there is no God.
Hence the great achievement of Christianity, beginning w. the literature (New Test.) is (a) it demonstrates the Godly quality of TRUTH (Gosp. JOHN 14:6), worthy of worship, the greatest value and virtue, this (b) against satanism and lies, in general (JOHN 8:44), and (c) specifically singling out and identifying Jews ("Jew" defined as followers of Pharisees/Talmud, distinct fm Judean, an error made by the author of this article) as foremost satanists, demonstrated by history and reality. (d) Dear Christianity further demonstrates a rational, practical, understandable ETHIC, following in perfect reason, by which to live and conduct one's life, far superior to the perpetual warfare and enmity of humanity of Pharisaism.
So in his striving to be rational and properly respectful of TRUTH, Paine actually follows Christian ideal and ethic; Paine just doesn't fully understand the Christian literary and philosophic dialectic as regarding Pharisaism, satanism, and objective nature of reality.