Friday, May 19, 2006

Middle doctrine

'Many were tempted by the idea,' [St.] Mark [of Ephesus] continued, 'that one can find a medium between two doctrines. True: one can find such expressions which, having a double meaning, could at the same time express something between the two doctrines. But a doctrine midway between two contrary doctrines on the same subject is impossible; for in this case it must be something between truth and falsehood, between an affirmation and a negation. Thus, if the Latin doctrine of the Spirit’s procession from the Son is just, then ours is false. What middle doctrine can there be here?'

6 comments:

Ochlophobist said...

Yes, and one so tires of hearing "third way" nonsense today. There is no middle ground when you are dagger to dagger. May the best man win at that point.

Anastasia said...

in conclusion, OH SNAP.

Jacob Aleksander said...

You know I've been wondering for a few years, since a few years ago was the first time I heard such a phrase, what the origin of the term "snap" or "oh snap" is?

Anastasia said...

i have no idea. let me see if i can dig anything up. i do after all, consider myself an amateur etymologist (not really).

Mr. G. Z. T. said...

when somebody corrected me, saying that the phrase is "oh snaps!", i pointed out that in biz markie's "just a friend" it is "oh snap", but then i heard somewhere - this hasn't been exhaustively researched - that he had in fact coined the term in that song. oh snap! so i seemed doubly-correct and as if i had some sort of knowledge of hip-hop.

Jacob Aleksander said...

I'm not familiar with said rap artiste so I will take your word for it.