Postcard to Angela

Servetus,

I did appreciate the comment and took it for exactly as you meant it.  I saw the irony there and enjoyed every minute.  Thank you.

Oh, and the Veiling the Virgins link you posted is not on my interfaith womens website. 

Ang

If I had wanted to use the �usual� rationalistic criticism against Tertullian, George, I might have brought the customary misquote: credo quia absurdum est ("I believe because it is absurd").

�The usual implication is that Tertullian believed in Christianity because it was absurd.  Tertullian thought nothing of the kind.�

Thanks.  For purposes of this discussion, I have already narrowed the focus from Christianity in general to the specific claim of the resurrection and, by implication, crucifixion of Christ (see above).  This claim Tertullian certainly does acknowledge as absurd and, because absurd, believable. 

�When Tertullian said this he was speaking of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord.�

Thanks.  Repeat.

"And the Son of God died; it is by all means to be believed, because it is absurd. And he was buried and rose again; the fact is certain because it is impossible." ([Tertullian] De Carne Christi)

Speaking of those usual implications, I can certainly see how and why some hard-core Rationalists latch onto this one.  Following Tertullian�s lead, I suppose I should believe in, say, walking, talking and seducing snakes also because, being impossible, they are therefore a fact.  Or, what�s more, develop a credo which states:  �a doctrine is believable only to the extent that it is absurd; ergo, that doctrine which is most absurd is most worthy of belief.�  Why, if one were truly given to mockery, there is no end to what one could do with a syllogism of this type!

�Have any of you had discussions with atheists or agnostics?�

When as an infant, I cut my first set of teeth in academia and then later cut my second set on Wall Street, so to speak.

�I have.�

So have I.

�They say that Christians and Muslims and members of other faiths believe in the absurd; that we believe in fairy tales and the like.�

Yes, in fact, they often do.  But then again, you guys also sometimes say that about each other as well. 

�They say that the virgin birth of Jesus is absurd, and on an on and on, but we know that nothing is impossible for God.�

Agreed.

�Do you understand?�

Yes, I do.  To a point.

�I didn't find any humor here.�

To my view, there is nothing particularly unusual about that.  Thus far, you simply fit the preponderant and characteristic pattern that I referred to above.  Thanks, in any case, for the post-card, and welcome to the discussions.

Servetus