In my previous post, I think I was unclear. I am not attempting to say that productive argument is impossible, but that it is difficult, and that the fallen state of human beings must be taken into account. I take it as a given that humans do not follow what their minds determine, as Aristotle knew, as Plato knew, as St. Paul and St. Augustine knew. No one ever becomes good simply by reading a book! If you are already good, the book might help you be better, but if you aren't, the book won't do anything for you. As Aristotle says, it is like going to the doctor, listening to the healthy advice, and then ignoring it.
I know this to be the case in my own life: I know what is good, and choose the opposite. Perhaps I am being presumptuous in assuming it is the case for others? So, arguments do me no good. In fact, I know them all.
What is needed is metanoia, a change of heart (literally a change of mind). We pray "Create a new heart in me, O God/ put a steadfast Spirit within me." (Psalm 51). Look at the example of the apostles, who constantly misunderstood Jesus, despite living with him for three years. Two betrayed him, and nine abandoned him. Even after the resurrection, they weren't able to understand. It wasn't until Pentecost and the reception of the Holy Spirit that they were able. The steadfast Spirit that we pray for is the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things.
Let me do it in math:
argument + listener = 0
argument + listener + grace = infinity
Thus the question becomes not "how do we convince," but "how do we help the Spirit?" How do we present God to the world?
2 comments:
Perhaps the question would have been better posed as "Are we too proud . . .?"
Acknowledging that we actually need divine assistance for things would probably be the first step that you are looking for.
We are far too advanced/enlightened/smart, though. Examining the initial justifications for the invitation, wasn't Jenkins's whole point that he and his canon lawyers simply knew better?
Reason doesn't just operate when aided by grace. There is really a large sphere of thought (including moral reasoning) in which reason does not absolutely need divine assistance -- although it may very well be hampered by a sin, for which divine grace is needed before it can be overcome.
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