In Response to Selected writings by John Henry Cardinal Newman
Near the beginning of Apologia Pro Vita Sua Newman says "It is difficult, impossible, to imagine, I grant; but how is it difficult to believe." This I think cuts down to the essence of Faith, perhaps the key theme if his writings. There are many things a man can believe are true without understanding how they are possible, simply because they are stated by the word of God or someone they respect. I think that these things which are accepted on faith are essential to ones life, especially the life of a Christian. This is what the writer addresses in his famous quote from The Tamworth Reading Room, "Many a man will live and die upon a dogma: no man will be a martyr for a conclusion." However, I think that you have to be very careful with giving someone so much unchecked authority for interpreting the scriptures. This is very much like the benevolent despot feared so much by Mill. I see it as possibly even worse because......
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