God, God's "justification", and slavery.

I recently had a discussion with a guy who is not an atheist, as true atheism is impossible in my opinion, but he questions God as a contemptible being. Right in line with C.S. Lewis', et el., early life beliefs that God is not the Good omnipotence, omniscience that we Catholics know Him as, rather, God is some contemptible being who has made grave errors and thus should give us "non-existence" as an alternate to his present options; be with Him or not.

This discussion was about slavery and Christ's biblical teaching that a slave should be good to his master and a master should be good to his slave. This discussion brought up old familiar theories of mine that there are just too many differences between our society and the society Jesus preached in. I think this is one huge defining factor in why there is so much scorn against Catholicism in present times. One could not feasibly pull this off, however, I feel that much the same as a hypochondriac should not be introduced to medical texts until cured or the disease is under control, some people should not be introduced to the bible until he or she has been surrounded by good representations of the reality of the Catholic Church.

I really like this guy, much like Voltaire, he is a worthy adversary and thus I would like to continue debates with him. But, as usual, if he constantly comes in the debate with misinformation or inference from shaky evidence, there will be very distasteful debates instead of healthy discourse.

Voltaire:

A compilation I made a few years ago of some things I read about and by Voltaire. Even though he was rather in opposition to my world-view, he had singular vision:


Voltaire:
"The wicked can have only accomplices, the voluptuous have companions in debauchery, self-seekers have associates, the politic assemble the factions, the typical idler has connections, princes have courtiers. Only the virtuous have friends."

"Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men."

"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it."

"As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities."

"It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one."

"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

"If this world were what it seems it should be, it is clear that it would be impossible for one man to enslave another."

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."