CONTRA FATUM

"Those who elect themselves to draw up modern creeds, devise new litur- gies and experiments or proposals for Christian living when there is no crisis of the church's struggle for its authentic witness in the world against invasion from the world turn out to be at best plunderers and looters or at worst petty pilferers of the Christian tradition. These efforts are often only exercises in translation, efforts to communicate better in contemporary idiom. This is not apt to prove generative." (Paul Ramsey, “Liturgy and Ethics” in The Journal of Religious Ethics, Vol. 7, No. 2 (Fall 1979), pp. 139-171, p. 140

”He is in no respect whatever the 'cause of evil. For all things are arranged with a view to the salvation of the universe by the Lord of the universe, both generally and particularly. It is then the function of the righteousness of salvation to improve everything as far as practicable. For even minor matters are arranged with a view to the salvation of that which is better, and for an abode suitable for people’s character. Now everything that is virtuous changes for the better; having as the proper cause of change the free choice of knowledge, which the soul has in its own power. But necessary corrections, through the goodness of the great overseeing Judge, both by the attendant angels, and by various acts of anticipative judgment, and by the perfect judgment, compel egregious sinners to repent.” (Str. VII 12.2-5) "κακίας δ' αὖ πάντῃ πάντως ἀναίτιος. πρὸς γὰρ τὴν τοῦ ὅλου σωτηρίαν τῷ τῶν ὅλων κυρίῳ πάντα ἐστὶ διατεταγμένα καὶ καθόλου 7.2.12.3 καὶ ἐπὶ μέρους. ἔργον οὖν τῆς