Thank you, i fully expected my post to be removed. i appreciate your patience.
Wayne:
temporal1 wrote: i understood Wayne's subject line question to be a rhetorical one. i don't believe anyone is confused about this? .. (Plain Catholics are not Anabaptists) or, trying to be confusing about it. it seems Max has left this discussion
.
The title of this thread might be considered rhetorical, but the questions I raised are not: ..
right. i attempted to point out the difference (i saw.) you know for certain your intent.
i see this thread as 2 parts, the subject line question, then, the questions to (Max.)
Wayne:
What are the goals for this question? Well, to get answers!
good response. understood.
Wayne:
Max, you often suggest that there are real similarities between Plain Catholics and Anabaptists, even a working relationship between Amish and some of your group. In a recent discussion you said:
Both the Schleitheim and Dordrecht confessions share common theological ground with our theology. Both are excellent.
My question is not about kaps and cape dresses and shoo-fly pies.
It is about your statement that plain Catholics or perhaps Catholics in general (You weren't clear on whose theology you were referring to in your statement) share common ground with Dortrecht and Schleitheim.
I simply want to discuss this with someone familiar with your movement.
I would be fascinated to know what parts of these fundamental confessions of faith of the Anabaptists your movement/church is grounded in.
right.
Wayne:
I had hoped Max might answer the questions I raised, and that we MennoNetters could then have a discussion on the commonality of Plain Catholic beliefs to the beliefs expressed in these early Anabaptist confessions of faith. I also suggested that Max could invite other Plain Catholics to join in the discussion.
right.
Wayne:
me:
i do not believe Max is a liar or imposter, at least, no more than any of the rest of us.
he may be more romantic and optimistic than some of us.
By posting this topic in response to a statement Max made, I was giving him the benefit of the doubt that Plain Catholics actually exist and that he is one of them - though I have doubted that any such thing as "Plain Catholics" exist based on some of the evidenced Boot has presented at various times.
In the very least I was interested in hearing what Max understood of the theological roots of Anabaptism and what the theological affinity is that he has with Mennonites, Amish and Hutterites rather than focusing on head coverings, beards and rural living (which are peripheral to Anabaptism).
No matter what one would like to discuss in this thread, it is tainted by Max's evasiveness and by the serious doubts we rightfully have about the authenticity of "Plain Catholics" ant the movement's promoter(s) and apologist(s).
i am interested in your questions, too.
attempting to force him to discuss is not working, force is not a real effective way to promote discussion. and, it does not change hearts, even when it changes words. that's why i was interested in your thread, your approach, your wording. you invited discussion. i looked forward to reading it.
you seem to agree with boot in principle, but, the first response came from boot, who is not PC, stating outright your questions would not get anywhere (to paraphrase.) in his zeal to lead his campaign, boot sabotaged the discussion (in my view) .. leading Max to bow out. i don't blame him.
who wants to try to engage with anyone who has stated over+over they have no trust or respect for you? in my experience, not many.
i don't believe it's always underhanded for anyone to (be honest) and simply state they do not want discussion with others. often, time and/or distance helps heal wounds, open doors, etc. unlike forcing, which really doesn't have a good history, in words, or actions. i don't see Max as a hero for his requested choice, neither a villain.
Paul and Barnabas had a hard time. it happens to "the best of us."
still, there are numbers of worthwhile posts here from others.
maybe at another time .. these questions can be revisited.
i will still be interested.
thank you again for your patience with me. i enjoy your perspective.
i hope not to be too stupid, or too offensive.