‎[Greek] σοφίζω (sophizō), [Latin] instruere, [Latin] intellectus

[Greek] σοφίζω (sophizō), [Latin] instrurere, [Latin] intellectus: to make wise, to render wise, to give wisdom, to know how to contrive cleverly, to devise cleverly; 2Tim.3:15, 2Pet.1:16

Protagoras of Abdera: Painting by Jose de Ribera (1637). Considered the greatest of the Sophists of ancient Greece, Protagoras originally developed the philosophy of relativism. The Modernists (Synodalists) also use sophistry to create a new synodal Church in the image of man and his lived experiences.

Background Information

Sophist:

1. This was a specific kind of teacher who used the tools of philosophy and rhetoric. A sophist is one who “does wisdom”.
2. These sophists focused on general wisdom, human affairs, and the betterment of life. The sophists held relativist views of knowledge, authority, and truth.
3. The Sophists were criticized for charging money, seeking power, speaking in specious and deceptive ways, and emphasizing rhetoric.
4. Lucian of Samosate (born 125 AD), a Syrian satirist and rhetorician, referred to Jesus as a “crucified Sophist” who taught that His followers would attain immortality.
5. Sophistry is the art of blurring the line between true and false using language to make true/false and good/evil on an equal playing field.

Protagoras the Sophist:

1. Subjectivism states that the interpretation of reality is relative to the individual.
2. Protagoras made his living by coaching the wealthy youth in rhetoric.
3. In relativism, there is no objective truth. Protagoras is best known for the claim, “Of all thing the measure is man” (everything is relative and man decides).
4. Protagoras even questioned the existence of the gods.
5. Protagoras’ philosophy of relativism continues to resonate and intrigue people in the present day.

Greek Hellenism: This term means to become clever, to be skilled, to be wise, to speculate, to deal craftily, to be subtle, to meddle, and to deceive.

Xenophon’s On Hunting 13.6: “Many other besides myself blame the sophists of our generation. Because the wisdom they profess consists of words and not of thoughts.”

Demosthenes’ On the Crown 18.227: “He resorts to sophistry and tells you that you must ignore any opinion of himself and me.”

Old Testament: This term essentially means to make someone wise, to understand something, to distinguish, to understand, to be intelligent, to be skillful, and to teach wisdom. The Wisdom books play a predominant role regarding the use of this term. However, there are several cautious references to the overusing, flaunting, and the lacking of wisdom. This term relates to overriding theme that knowledge of the Law makes men wise.

New Testament: This term means to make wise and to cleverly devise. The Jewish adage in seeking wisdom from the Law continues in the New Testament. This idea is adopted for Christian instruction for seeking salvation in faith through Christ.

Scripture:

2Tim.3:15: “And that from infancy you have known the sacred scripture, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

1. Paul praises his followers for following his teachings, way of life, purpose, faith, patience, endurance, persecutions, and sufferings.
2. Paul points out that wicked people and charlatans, becoming deceivers and deceived, have appeared.
3. Paul praises his followers for remaining faithful to what you have learned and believed. Because you know from whom you have learned it.

2Pet.1:16: “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of His majesty.” (The apostles calls for one to witness to the truth. Christians are called be watchful against myths and false doctrines.)

Current crisis of relativism:

1. Our Christian and secular culture is having a crisis in understanding objective moral truths. Now we have situational moralities.
2. It is a sad state when one has great difficulty in defining what a woman is (for fear of offending others).
3. Many also think that they can become any sex and gender they want. Therefore, one may become offended when one feels being “mis-gendered.” In some situations, this may result in result in criminal charges.

Quotes by Archbishop Fulton Sheen:

“[Objective] moral truths do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right.”

“Obedience to Truth is obedience to Love.”

“It is easy to find truth, though it is hard to face it. And harder still to follow it.”

 Supplicans: a document of sophistry, ignorance, and intellectual dishonesty about bestowing “non-liturgical blessings on “irregular couples”

1. “Fiducia Supplicans reeks of sulfur and sophistry.” Peter Kwasniewski (same-sex unions are now called “irregular couples”)
2. “Despite its claim to the contrary, Fiducia Supplicans contradicts perennial Church teaching concerning irregular marriages and the sexual activity of same-sex couples.” Father Weinandy
3. “While couples in irregular marriages and same-sex couples can be blessed, what cannot be blessed, and so validated is the sin in which they are engaged in.” (How can you distinguish a couple from a union? They are one and the same. This is sophistry and verbal gymnastics!)
4. The Vatican continues to state Church teachings against homosexuality. Yet, the Vatican continues to increase its LGBTQ “outreach”!  In principle, outreach is an appropriate aspect of Church. Yet, the Vatican continues to ignore and downplay Church teachings. The Vatican also continues to destigmatize and normalize homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. (Saying one thing and doing another. Sounds like paying lip service to Church teachings.)

Increasing public requests for kneelers upon receiving the Eucharist

1. Cardinal Dolan states that there is no need for them because it would suggest a different posture from the current norm. (Is Cardinal Dolan afraid of the Vatican’s response to this?)
2. Cardinal Dolan makes this statement in light of increasing public support for kneelers.0 (It seems that Cardinal Dolan is not reading the room for what the people want.)
3. In this time of the Eucharistic revival in the Church, Cardinal Dolan is extremely “tone-deaf” regarding efforts to encourage increased belief and devotion in the Eucharist.
4. The desire to receive the Eucharist on the tongue to use kneelers also faces great opposition to the Modernists (and Synodalists) who seek to downplay Tradition and reverence.

Traditiones Custodes: The Modernist (Synodalist) efforts to suppress and delegitimize the Traditional Latin Mass

1. “You know, the theology [ecclesiology] of the Church has changed.” Cardinal Roche (In his arrogance, he claims that the Traditional Latin Mass must go away.)
2. Removing or delegitimizing the sacrificial nature of the TLM.
3. The Novus Order Mass seeks to highlight the communal meal aspect of the Mass. (The question remains what is more important? Sacrifice or meal)
4. Pope Francis truly believes that he is just continuing the results and efforts of Vatican II. The new Synodal Church moving with the world is just the natural consequences of these efforts.
5. In his misguided efforts to seek “unity” with only on liturgical celebration (NOM), Pope Francis has instead created further division in the Church.
6. Synodality seeks to have clergy share decision-making authority with the laity, to decentralize doctrinal authority and power, to introduce potential deaconesses and women priests.
7. Pope Francis continues to criticize, demean, and insult the clergy and laity who support the TLM. (Unable to curtail the organic movement toward Tradition and the TLM, Pope Francis resorts to insults.)

Synodality (we must walk together): remaking Jesus’ Church into a Church made in the image of man (and his lived experiences):

1. Redefining religion INSIDE ONESELF (lived experiences, religious sentiment, and perceptions) ==> subjective opinions.
2. Human subjective opinions ==> arrogance ==> errors ==> heresies.
3. Material atheism: paying lip service to Jesus and Church doctrine (teachings).
4. This creates a synodal Church moving with the world. This synodal Church absorbs secularism, worldly values, relativism, situational moralities, normalization and de-stigmatization of sin, and refusal to acknowledge sin.
5. Tradition is reviewed as rigid, moralistic, and backward-looking. Tradition is diminished and marginalized. Traditional (conservative) Catholics also be marginalized.

Quotes by Pope Benedict XVI:

“A dictatorship of relativism is taking shape, which accepts nothing as definitive and leaves only the ego and its desires as the ultimate measure.“ (Sounds like remaking the Church INSIDE oneself!)

“Relativism allows oneself to be carried here and there by every wind of doctrine, seeming to be the only attitude in keeping with the times.” (Sounds a synodal Church moving with the world!)

Etymology: In the 1680’s a student in the second year of study would undertake rhetorical exercises (sophom). This student would become a sophumer. Interestingly, sophos means wise. Moros means foolish (dull). A sophomore may be likened to one intellectually pretentious but immature. Sounds like many sophomores.

Conclusion:

Sophisticated, sophistry, sophomore, sophomoric, instruction, intellect

Protagoras has become one of history’s original “wise guys”. Protagoras unfortunately has become a very important precursor to the occurrence of relativism in our current culture.

The Old Testament develops the important idea that wisdom comes from learning the Law.

This ideas becomes very important for the Christian in learning from scripture in attaining salvation. It is important to note that scriptures referred only to the Old Testament. The New Testament canon was not yet developed. Therefore, oral tradition was very important for early Christians. 1^st Peter makes reference to cleverly devised myths (Sophist and Gnostic influences).

Update: There is an increasing belief that there are many more genders than the genders (male and female) created by God. One can now decide which ever gender what one wants. This is a by-product of relativism. (“I know better. I can be any gender I want!”)

Synod of Synodalities: Pope Francis and his fellow Synodalists have used the term “Holy Spirit of Surprises”: a clever way to rationalize or justify anything they want to ratify. This is dangerous and deceitful. The Holy Spirit can only stand for Truth!!!

Parents are now fighting back against teachers who encourage their own children to transition. There are now legal disputes about this in the courts. What a concept: for the parents to have the right to instruct and guide their children!

Fiducia Supplicans provides the innovation (novelty) of providing blessings to same-sex couples. This document confusingly affirms the Church teachings on marriage. Then this document undermines this teaching by providing blessings on same-sex unions.

Every Democrat in the Senate voted against a bill that would require doctors to provide treatment to infants born alive after a failed abortion. This is infanticide! Do the Democrats still believe that the infant is a “reproductive right”? This secular “wisdom” will ultimately result in dire consequences for both infants and abortion rights supporters.

Fiducia Supplicans also intentionally muddles the meanings of individuals, union, and couple. This is word salad.

In light of President Trump’s election, many US bishops, often using “pro-life” terminolgy, are now clamoring for the stopping the removal of illegal aliens. These same bishops lose credibility when they remain silent on the violence by illegal aliens.

If the US Catholic bishops had the same energy and enthusiasm with pro-life issues as with immigration, perhaps there would be fewer abortions in the United States. 

Unfortunately many people, including clergy, often do not seek wisdom from scripture. Many ignore or do not follow Jn.8:11-12: [Jesus]: “Sin no more. I am the light of the world. If you do not follow Me, you will walk in darkness. These clergy, by their position in the Church, will be held more accountable for their actions before God.

Many clergy do not call out the sin of homosexuality. And you wonder why the Vatican has a huge LGBTQ “outreach”. But what about the Church’s mission to save souls?

Quotes by Clement of Alexandria:

“The art of sophistry is a fantastic power, which makes false opinions like truth by the means of words.”

“When lies have accepted for some time, the truth always always astound with an air of novelty.”