Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How to Read the Bible as a Catholic [How? Don't take indv. verses as "literally true", says Pope]
National Catholic Register ^ | 05/05/2011 | Cindy Wooden

Posted on 05/05/2011 9:38:04 AM PDT by Alex Murphy

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While Catholics believe the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it is true, one cannot take individual biblical quotes or passages and say each one is literally true, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“It is possible to perceive the sacred Scriptures as the word of God” only by looking at the Bible as a whole, “a totality in which the individual elements enlighten each other and open the way to understanding,” the Pope wrote in a message to the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

“It is not possible to apply the criterion of inspiration or of absolute truth in a mechanical way, extrapolating a single phrase or expression,” the Pope wrote in the message released May 5 at the Vatican.

The commission of biblical scholars, an advisory body to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met at the Vatican May 2-6 to continue discussions about “Inspiration and Truth in the Bible.”

In his message, the Pope said clearer explanations about the Catholic position on the divine inspiration and truth of the Bible were important because some people seem to treat the Scriptures simply as literature, while others believe that each line was dictated by the Holy Spirit and is literally true.

Neither position is Catholic, the Pope said.

(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Theology
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 321-322 next last
To: SkyPilot

Hmmmmm.....in that case what did you call the sperm donor who sired you? You had a mother and a...armadillo?


21 posted on 05/05/2011 10:21:48 AM PDT by starlifter (Pullum sapit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: SuziQ

“The early books of
the Old Testament weren’t even written down until several thousand years after
the events occurred, so they couldn’t be truly accurate accounts.”

Why?


22 posted on 05/05/2011 10:22:18 AM PDT by papertyger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SuziQ
Inspired by God doesn’t mean DICTATED by God. The early books of the Old Testament weren’t even written down until several thousand years after the events occurred, so they couldn’t be truly accurate accounts. The Pope is simply saying that individual passages can be mis-interpreted, or twisted into something contrary to what they truly mean, when taken out of context.

By that "logic", you have created a loophole for God's word that is so large, you and the Vatican could drive a bus through it. It also means, by your own definition, that the scriptures are robbed of their power, authority, legitimacy, and truth.

And....who gets to pick up the pieces and assume that power, authority, legitimacy, and truth? Why, the Catholic Church!

Wow - what a great racket. Even the Detroit Public Unions should copy that one.

23 posted on 05/05/2011 10:22:18 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

What kind of aberrant translation are you using, to turn “all scripture” into “every scripture passage”?


24 posted on 05/05/2011 10:22:26 AM PDT by SoothingDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: starlifter

June 19th must be a real hoot around that household


25 posted on 05/05/2011 10:22:26 AM PDT by Hegewisch Dupa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: starlifter
Hmmmmm.....in that case what did you call the sperm donor who sired you? You had a mother and a...armadillo?

Well well well.....that didn't take long, did it?

ad hominem, ˈad ˈhämənəm (Latin: "to the man"): Attacking an opponent's motives or character rather than the policy or position they maintain

26 posted on 05/05/2011 10:25:38 AM PDT by SkyPilot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: starlifter

Looks like the answer is “Webster”


27 posted on 05/05/2011 10:27:36 AM PDT by Hegewisch Dupa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

How do you feel about “this is my body?


28 posted on 05/05/2011 10:28:15 AM PDT by papertyger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Alex Murphy
Don't take indv. verses as "literally true", says Pope]

Uh oh. Guess they'll have to stop quoting from John Chapter 6 now. lol.

29 posted on 05/05/2011 10:32:27 AM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

Um, that wasn’t an attack on your character or motives....


30 posted on 05/05/2011 10:32:28 AM PDT by papertyger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: SkyPilot

That’s not ad hominem. That’s asking what word you use for your male parent.


31 posted on 05/05/2011 10:32:38 AM PDT by SoothingDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: papertyger

“How do you feel about “this is my body”

That seems to be taken literally in the One of Many churches.


32 posted on 05/05/2011 10:37:20 AM PDT by Bruinator (God is Great.... God is Good....Evil is Real.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: SoothingDave

But you admit it is a question taken “to the man” - hence meeting the Latin definition. That must have been what he meant. You know these Rome-ists, always with the Latin...


33 posted on 05/05/2011 10:38:30 AM PDT by Hegewisch Dupa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Bruinator

Many Churches?


34 posted on 05/05/2011 10:45:20 AM PDT by papertyger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: logitech
“An interpretation of the sacred writings that disregards or forgets their inspiration does not take into account their most important and precious characteristic: that they come from God,” he said.

The Catholic position is that the Holy Spirit inspired the biblical writers so that “human words express the word of God,” he said.

“Through his word, God wants to communicate to us the whole truth about himself and his plan of salvation for humanity,” the Pope wrote. “A commitment to discovering ever more the truth of the sacred books, therefore, is a commitment to seeking to better know God and the mystery of his saving will.”

Discredits? I hardly think so.

35 posted on 05/05/2011 10:48:16 AM PDT by cothrige
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: papertyger

Yes, there are more than “One True Church.” Such arrogance of the catholic church on display when thrown in the face of others. Are you suggesting that Lutherans, Baptists etc. are heretical in their very existense?


36 posted on 05/05/2011 10:48:23 AM PDT by Bruinator (God is Great.... God is Good....Evil is Real.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Hegewisch Dupa

“But you admit it is a question taken “to the man” - hence meeting the Latin definition.”

No.

And it’s not a definition.


37 posted on 05/05/2011 10:48:26 AM PDT by papertyger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: papertyger

Kinda is, especially if you’re Cicero


38 posted on 05/05/2011 10:51:14 AM PDT by Hegewisch Dupa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Hegewisch Dupa

I thought we played a zone, not a man-to-man.


39 posted on 05/05/2011 10:51:24 AM PDT by SoothingDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Bruinator

Yes.

I could well make your same doctrinaire arguement about Christianity as a whole, and you would refute my accusations of “arrogance” with what?


40 posted on 05/05/2011 10:52:22 AM PDT by papertyger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 321-322 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson