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Any one who relies solely on individual interpretation of Biblical text is more likely to fall prey to heresy. Which is one reason St. Peter warns against it. Now many Protestants do not rely only on their personal reading of the text. They have the writings of the reformers, the articles of faith of their denomination, the creeds, the teachings of their pastors. So though there is not a teaching magesterium, there is a tradition of what certain passages of scripture mean. Protestant seminaries and governing bodies of various denominations also have procedures for dealing with heresy. But the danger of heresy is that heretics can always find Biblical "proofs" for their teachings. Fortunately historical Christianity both Catholic and Protestant can counter these heresies with the creeds of the church and with access to the writings of early Christians. I often refer non Catholics to Christian Research Institute for apologetics for the Trinity and other core beliefs of Christianity. But Joe Shmoe reading is Bible at home without any grounding in church teachings ( Protestant or Catholic) is much more vulnerable to being seduced by heresy. He reads a passage about Jesus and decides based on that one passage Jesus must not be God. Oh sure there are other verses that indicate Jesus is God, but this guy knows the Holy Spirit would not steer him wrong. So 2000 years of Christian teaching go PBFFT out the window in favor of his own interpretation of the text. And lay Catholics are usually more proficient readers than your average non churched Protestant. Your average Calvinist is extremely well read and does not shy away from reading the fathers and other extra Biblical texts. They don't try to deny what these texts say. But when the texts do not support Reformed teaching they are viewed as historical anecdotes and not as having any binding authority. Which is consistent with the teaching of Sola Scriptura. I may not agree with this view but it is an honest one based on the teaching of their church. The Catholic Church also does not view all the writings of the Church Fathers as part of Church teaching. But doctrines such as Baptismal Regeneration, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, Apostolic Succession are clearly taught by the fathers and are not to be jettisoned without a dang good defense for doing so. I don't believe Protestants have given such a defense. But in a way they have no need to do this. All they have to do is say "my denomination believes the Scriptural passages on these issues means this." So Baptism does not cleanse us of our sins, the bread and wine are only a memorial of Christ's actions at the Last Supper, Mary had other children and the office of Apostle is no more. What was believed before does not matter because our church says the plain meaning of Scripture contradicts these beliefs. And yeah a lot of non churched Protestants are daft if reading the typical anti Catholic posts on Free Republic are a true indication of their ability to understand doctrines taught and believed by Catholics and even other Protestants. And no one should rely solely on some personal feeling to determine if they have the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit. They should rely on the promises of God and His grace. Christianity is meant to be practiced in a community. This community of believers whether Catholic or Protestant help bolster and enliven the grace of individual believers. It also helps the believer defend against false doctrine and to discern whether one's reading of Scripture is correct. There is no basis in either Catholicism or historical Protestant ism for the idea of just reading the Scripture on your own and attending the Church of the Holy Living Room. Without a diligent prayer life, the support of spiritual mentors, the coming together to worship and study Scripture with other Christians it becomes too easy for a person to become isolated and turn only to their own understanding. This is when heresy is most likely to find a foothold. It is the place of the churches, Protestant and Catholics to protect the believer against heresy. To help them grow spiritually and to equip them for preaching the Gospel to all nations. And Truth can never be relative so I have to ask how do Protestants reconcile the Holy Spirit telling them so many different things about the same Biblical passages? And I am not speaking about disagreements with Catholic doctrine but amongst various Protestant denominations. Is the Holy Spirit that flexible? My take is that it is not the individual believer who is given the Charism of being guided in all Truth but the community of believers. Catholicism is given this Charism in full. Protestant denominations have it in a very wide extent. But anyone who relies solely on their own understanding is easy pickings for the wolves out there.