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Nice try... let me be more specific: I want to know how these core doctrines (called out earlier) can be justified by oral traditions that (a) apparently didn't exist prior to Christ; and (b) overtly contradict the plain meaning of scripture. Traditions must be based on a foundation, and that foundation must be the scriptures in the absence of the voices of the Apostles or Christ Himself. But in the case of these Catholic doctrines, scripture is actually contradicted. How does one explain this away? (Don't bother - I'm seen the arguments, which boil down to 'the scripture doesn't mean what it says.')

Yes, of course the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached. But it's preached from the scriptures. Why is this such a hard concept?? As as we learned from Paul, it is a good thing to check your preacher once he's done:

"The people in Berea were much nicer than those in Thessalonica, and they gladly accepted the message. Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things [that Paul preached to them during the day] were true." (Acts 17:11)

What is it that they checked? Cassette tapes of oral traditions? Nope. The Written Word of God.

One more thing:

"Mark 13:31 - heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus' Word will not pass away. But Jesus never says anything about His Word being entirely committed to a book. Also, it took 400 years to compile the Bible, and another 1,000 years to invent the printing press. How was the Word of God communicated? Orally, by the bishops of the Church, with the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit."

Utter BALDERDASH. The scriptures have been written throughout the ages. Moses wrote it down. God Himself wrote the ten commandments. The scriptures were read before Kings. Jesus almost got stoned after reading the scriptures in his own home town. Christ cited scripture repeatedly. Jesus got into arguments with the SCRIBES and the Pharisees... but it wasn't an argument about their work (as those who wrote down and maintained the scriptures), it was over their own Oral Traditions. In fact, I personally refer to that incident as the First Reformation.

The WRITTEN Word of God has been with us through the history of man on earth, and to pretend otherwise suggests that was made up from nothing.

Hmmmm.... you know, it would have made sense to add in all of these extra-Biblical doctrines at the time that the printing press became possible... except,... oh that's right: the Protestants were the ones who spread the Bible to the masses and showed everyone that the RCC had been making it all up all along.

So, what did the first apostles teach from? There was no New Testament Bible when Jesus died. They taught what they had learned from Christ, Christ's Traditions. The Bible as we know it today wasn't formalized until 400 AD. What did they use?

Where in the Bible does it say "scripture only?"

Do you believe in the Trinity? It doesn't say Trinity any where in the bible, so how can you believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Martin Luther wanted everyone to interpretate scripture for themselves. How does 25,000 different Christian denominations rationalize Christian unity?

There can only be one truth, which one is right? Let me guess, yours.

You can believe what ever you want, but make no mistake, the Catholic Church is the trunk and all other Christian denominations are branches. I'll stay with the trunk.