Pope Francis: overcome temptation to be "Christians without Jesus" (Daily Mass)

Radio Vaticana ^ | 9/7/2013

[metmom]

What I can’t figure out is why you believe the Bible is the word of God. And why you’re not muslim or Morman.

BECAUSE I believe the Bible is the word of God.

Knowing it protects you from falling into that kind of error.

[metmom]

And Catholics put their faith in the traditions of man on just those guy’s say so.

And that’s better than believing the God breathed, Holy Spirit inspired Word of God?

Why?

[metmom]

Any Jew or muslim could say that. Where does your Christian faith come from?

What do you mean, *Where does your faith come from*?

Everyone has faith. It's simply a matter of what it's put in.

I'm pretty sure observant Jews revere the Word of God, what we call the Old Testament.

So, if the Bible is to be dismissed, where else do you propose that we learn about God? What other special revelation is there to give us those details?

[metmom]

It does say know Christians must keep a faith that was orally delivered. How do you even know what that faith is?

OK, back to my questions then....

Just what are those traditions Paul was referring to that he handed down that we are to keep that were not included in Scripture?

How do you know?

How do you know they have been passed down faithfully?

What is your source for verifying all of the above?

[metmom]

God’s Word is a person — his Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity, who is head of a mystical body that he animates with his Spirit. I am a single small member of this Body. My faith is communicated to me from other members of this body (whose head is Christ). Christ is spouse of his Church, to whom he is joined in one mystical Body, in a sacramental union. So — I get my faith as a living member of a Body whose head is Christ.

And how did you learn all that and where?

[Romulus]

You believe because you believe. Turtles all the way down...

[Romulus]

What other special revelation is there to give us those details?

You mean like...I don't know...the pillar and bulwark of the truth?

[Romulus]

How did the Corinthians and Galatians and Phillipians and Romans learn it?

[Romulus]

What is your source for verifying all of the above?

Jesus Christ. Who speaks through his apostles.

Thanks for asking.

[metmom]

And that is different from anyone else just how?

[metmom]

Paul wrote it down in the letters he sent them.

[metmom]

And who are His apostles and which ones are still alive today?

[Romulus]

This is not about dismissing the Bible. This is about the weirdness of a faith in a Bible that rests on itself.

Go out and find for me an orthodox Jew who believes his faith because he read all about it in the Torah. Go on. I’ll wait.

[Romulus]

"be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you"

You can't do it.

If the Mormons had got to you first you'd be wearing special underwear right now. If the muslims...a burqa. You believe a text justifies itself. Say -- why not write one of your own?

[Romulus]

Nope, sorry. They were already Christians when those letters were written. How did they get that way without a book?

Hmm.

Hmmm...

[Romulus]

And who are His apostles and which ones are still alive today?

psst...for a hint, look in your B-I-B-L-E.

[BipolarBob]

You believe a text justifies itself. Say -- why not write one of your own?

When God speaks, people should listen and not bray.

[Romulus]

Or say, “shut up; can’t you see I’m reading?”

[BipolarBob]

I’m leaving this to you. Fonzie has jumped the shark for me.

[metmom]

psst...for a hint, look in your B-I-B-L-E.

Wait.. what????

You mean that *just a book* that you dismissed back in post 138?