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 ...
Hmmmmm.....in that case what did you call the sperm donor who sired you? You had a mother and a...armadillo?
“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?
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.
What kind of aberrant translation are you using, to turn “all scripture” into “every scripture passage”?
June 19th must be a real hoot around that household
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
Looks like the answer is “Webster”
How do you feel about “this is my body?
Uh oh. Guess they'll have to stop quoting from John Chapter 6 now. lol.
Um, that wasn’t an attack on your character or motives....
That’s not ad hominem. That’s asking what word you use for your male parent.
“How do you feel about “this is my body”
That seems to be taken literally in the One of Many churches.
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...
Many Churches?
“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.
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?
“But you admit it is a question taken “to the man” - hence meeting the Latin definition.”
No.
And it’s not a definition.
Kinda is, especially if you’re Cicero
I thought we played a zone, not a man-to-man.
Yes.
I could well make your same doctrinaire arguement about Christianity as a whole, and you would refute my accusations of “arrogance” with what?
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.