I've started reading Nick Needham's book on the Renaissance and the Reformation. From what I gather the Reformers sided with the humanists taking Plato's view, while those loyal to RCC sided with the scholastics taking an Aristotle view. What is the difference between Plato and Aristotle in those debates?

Dr. Paul Elliott has recently posted the first article in an upcoming series on the decay of the Church (visible). I was personally amused, in a good way, to read through this short introductory article for it echoes what I have been suggesting... okay, insisting for years that there is an uncanny and sad similarity between modern government and the modern visible church, both of which are corrupt and are barely recognizable when compared to their respective beginnings. I'm thinking particularly, as might be expected, of the United States of America and to a lesser degree Canada as well.

Anyway, here's a link to the first article in this new series which I am looking forward to reading, D.v. Perhaps you will find it as potentially provocative but a needed breath of fresh air as well.

Clicky here: Baltimore: A City's Decay as a Metaphor of the Church.

A certain German duke was accustomed to call upon his servant to read a chapter of the Bible to him every morning. When anything did not square with his judgment he would sternly cry, "Hans, strike that out." At length Hans was a long time before he began to read. He fumbled over the Book, till his master called out, "Hans, why do you not read?" Then Hans answered, "Sir, there is hardly anything left. It is all struck out!" One day his master's objections had run one way, and another day they had taken another turn, and another set of passages had been blotted, till nothing was left to instruct or comfort him. Let us not, by carping criticism, destroy our own mercies. We may yet need those promises which appear needless; and those portions of Holy Writ which have been most assailed by skeptics may yet prove essential to our very life: wherefore let us guard the priceless treasure of the Bible, and determine never to resign a single line of it.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Pactum Salutis
Recently while studying the Reformed doctrine of the Trinity, I came across some words I don’t remember hearing before; “pactum salutis”. It is very possible, that I may have seen these words used, but just don’t remember. However, the reason I bring this issue up is it brought a memory from a frustrating discussion I had years ago regarding the heretical novel called ‘The Shack’. In defence of the book an Arminian theologian from the SBC, told me that the only reason I disagree with the portrayal of the Trinity in the book, was because I am a Calvinist and Calvinists are not Trinitarians, they are Tritheists.
I was quite shocked that he said this at the time, mainly because I had never heard an accusation like that before. I was also taken back a bit, because I had not even told him or anyone else I was a Calvinist. Even before I became a Calvinist, although my knowledge of such matters has grown, my understanding of the Trinity was basically the same as it is now. I bowed out of that conversation; but I did make enquiries about this accusation with fellow Reformed Christians. If memory serves me properly, everybody said the accusation was silly. However nobody brought up the words “pactum salutis”.
From what I am reading now; it appears that the particular Arminian theologian, may have made that claim because in his view “pactum salutis” amounted to the belief in “Tritheism”?
I plan on studying more on this matter; however I found that John Owen spoke a fair amount about this issue in his book ‘The Gospel Defended’. Which I don’t have, but I have read quotes out of it.
Any thoughts on this issue would be appreciated. I need to admit this stuff stretches the grey matter between my ears. lol
Thanks
Tom

For those who might be interested I am providing a link concerning the clash of world views that is happening in our world today, as it pertains to the law.
This particular link is pertaining to the law in Canada, however from what I am reading/hearing from the USA, is not much different.

http://www.christianlegalfellowship.org/blog

It is meant for information purposes, however I thought it might spark some discussion.

Tom