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To: Alex Murphy
If the Protestants' "fundamentalist exegesis" comes up with "one and only ONE explanation for every single verse in the Bible", why then are Protestants simultaneously accused of using the YOPIOS method, supposedly leading to 30,000 denominations who can't agree on what the Bible says?

The problem is, every Protestant denomination thinks it has the only valid interpretation. Thus, either the Holy Spirit has 30,000 truths to impart or 30,000 denominations are being fooled. The Church, again, lives by the written AND the living Word, which is revealed in the sacraments. Therein lies the difference.

The Catholic Church considers Scripture pertinent to the audience it was written for at the time it was written, as well as today, as well as the future. Revelation is the most obvious example. There's more than one interpretation of what "666" signifies. And each one is correct. There's more than one interpretation for the seven churches and the seven trumpets and so on. The Apocalyptic writing genre of the time served to assist the persecuted Christians of that day, and speaks to a wide-ranging Truth concerning the condition of humanity following the fall of Adam and the Second Coming of Christ, as well as the eternal battle over souls going on right now in Heaven. Another example, the Church does not believe that the world was created in seven, 24-hour days, but the story of Creation is still a mystery which is still being revealed to mankind, not discounting the impact of scientific thought on the matter of the origin of the universe. There are certain matters which have not been spoken of definitively by the Church. For example, "limbo", which was a supposition but never considered a concrete truth. Thus, the recent news that "limbo" was no longer being considered a valid supposition by the Church, was not very controversial for Catholics.

The root of Christianity is in the Catholic Church. All of these thousands of branches are progressively further from the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit to the bride of Christ. If ALL Protestants agreed on Biblical interpretation there wouldn't be 30,000 denominations. Since all Protestants believe they're being given the interpretation by the Holy Spirit, doesn't this strike you as grossly absurd?

The teachings are still unmoved, whether interpretation is continuing or definitive. The Creed will never change and interpretation of the Bible will never contradict it. The canon of the Bible will never change, either. Protestants changed both and expect that they have been Divinely guided. All 30,000 flavors.

76 posted on 01/12/2006 1:08:03 PM PST by Rutles4Ever
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To: Rutles4Ever
The problem is, every Protestant denomination thinks it has the only valid interpretation.

News to me. But to paraphrase one of your earlier answers, "since you're not actually attending a Protestant church, how would you know what every one believes?"

80 posted on 01/12/2006 1:16:18 PM PST by Alex Murphy (Proverbs 12:10)
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To: Rutles4Ever
>The problem is, every Protestant denomination thinks it has the only valid interpretation. Thus, either the Holy Spirit has 30,000 truths to impart or 30,000 denominations are being fooled.<

>The Catholic Church considers Scripture pertinent to the audience it was written for at the time it was written, as well as today, as well as the future. Revelation is the most obvious example. There's more than one interpretation of what "666" signifies.<

Maybe you can explain the difference in the 2 statements above other than ignorance of what Protestants believe.All major protestant denominations agree on the essentials of Christianity.Where we differ is on the non essentials such as worship practices and theological arguments such as this one for which no one including the Pope has an answer this side of heaven.

The amazing thing about scripture is it can only be interpreted correctly with the help of the Holy Spirit and it's ethicacy is timeless.(the Holy Spirit can teach numerous lessens from the same verses at different times to the same person).
84 posted on 01/12/2006 1:21:21 PM PST by Blessed
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