BenevolentM
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Joined: 11/15/2006
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This is something of a summation.
Can salvation, which is related to morals, be obtained by the lesser road? The question is vexing. I believe it is possible, but on the face of it, it would appear that Salvation under such circumstances would appear to be unlikely. My encounters with the supernatural suggest that events of extraordinary moral perpetuity are significant, that they complete the Holy contract. Those who traverse the lesser road are less likely to engage in such activities, however. Consequently, they must be encouraged. I do not believe Heaven to be a place of equality. Salvation is distinct from riches.
I believe that heroes, more specifically Saints, enable those who traverse a lesser path to achieve Salvation. I have referred to Saints in the past as signal boosters. In other words, events of extraordinary moral perpetuity complete the Holy contract in a direct way whereas those who traverse a lesser path must achieve it indirectly via appeal, that is intercession. The intercession of Christ, God-Hero, or the intercession of a Saint I do not feel are theologically distinct. A Saint can be a living Saint much like Christ. A Saint need not die in order to be a Saint much as was the case for Saint Joan of Arc. Saint Joan of Arc was a living Saint. Belief in a Saint can save you much as belief in Christ can save you. Intercession of a Saint is appropriate for those who will achieve Salvation indirectly since the standard set by Christ is too great. It is thorough the heroism of a Saint that makes it possible for those who live by lesser standards to achieve Salvation. All is fair since Salvation and riches are distinct. Salvation does not imply a place of honor within Heaven. It implies only entry into Heaven.
Think of it as a grading system such as you have in school with A B C D, but with no F. Grading is instead carried out in two parts. The first part is a pass fail test. If you pass you have won Salvation. If you fail, you are damned. Provided that you pass, the second part is where you are assigned your position in the Divine pecking order.
Why is it that the emphasis is on Salvation and not your position in the Divine pecking order? The answer is three fold. Unless you are saved, the Divine pecking order is immaterial. The significance of merely qualifying for entry into Heaven should not be belittled. It is possible to get caught up in ambition where you fail to qualify for entry into Heaven. This was the Sin that was committed by the fallen angel Lucifer. Wealth does not imply Salvation. Wealth does not imply that you will not qualify, but it can and often is a distraction.
Because direct Salvation involves at least one extraordinary event of moral perpetuity, moral perfection is strictly speaking unnecessary. Moral perfection, however, is needed by those who follow the lesser path. The conundrum is those who follow the lesser path are less likely to seek moral perfection. Moral perfection can only be achieved by God. Though moral perfection is desirable, it is a fool's quest. It cannot be pursued in a manner that is puritanical. It must be valued. It is to be given respect. Its achievement is immaterial. It is God who will forgive your Sins and breach the gap. As you can see, technically speaking, moral perfection is in fact needed. Though needed it is also a technicality.
This is the reason why the faithful should forgive the Catholic Church for its transgressions. It was never about being pure. It is about communicating to you the importance of purity. This is why the Church should have granted King Henry VIII a divorce even though the divorce was wrong. The way through the conundrum was to have said though we grant the divorce, the path chosen is not the path of honor and his wife who is now his former wife may remarry within the Church for she has committed no wrong. In fact his first wife, Queen Catharine of Aragon, may be qualified in my opinion for canonization for her efforts to uphold what was right.
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RE: A Guide for Dominant Men: How to Preserve Yourself - 
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