Apparently, for Catholics the assertion of the Bible that they lived that long doesn't constitute proof.
Personal anecdote: the point at which I left the Catholic Church was when a seminarian told me he couldn't prove a man named Noah ever existed, but neither could he prove he didn't. I walked away that minute after six years of cognitive dissonance.
G-d's assertion that something happened isn't good enough for Catholics.
G-d's assertion that something happened isn't good enough for Catholics.
You left the Church because you weren't well taught. Now, you think you can speak for all Catholics from your limited experience. It's nothing more than sowing seeds of discord.
He's actually correct. What proof do we have, other than The Bible, that Noah existed? And other than belief in the inerrancy of the Bible, how does that book prove that Noah existed any more than the Hindu vedas prove the existence of the invulnerable king Ravana?
Belief and faith do not require proof, and much of what we believe simply cannot be proven (which, inherently means, having evidence that cannot be disputed and would change the mind of a skeptic). It just is.
Sounds like the seminarian was being brutally honest, which is really a very important step towards full faith and belief, IMHO. It's a willingness to put trust in that which cannot be proven, that which cannot be shown to be 100% real. It is the admitting of real faith - faith that does not need concrete, irrefutable facts for its existence.
All I know, ZC, is that faith is a gift. Mysteries exist, and I am glad the Church does not presume to know all that holy mysteries contain.
For me to know every jot and tittle of many holy things spoken of in sacred scripture would tend to place these holy things into my human understanding and finite human mind where they do not belong. *Yet*.
Could we agree that God gives us each a measure of knowledge, Wisdom and understanding that is perfect for us at any given moment, and in His perfect timing He lovingly and generously adds to it, as we step out to seek Him?
I have come to separate the faithlessness that struck the Western Catholic churches, and then manifested in the 60’s, from the universal holy Church. Because that is my humble opinion, it makes me wonder if you were a victim of that faithlessness, when you described your personal anecdote, your experience with a seminarian, who probably didn’t pass his exams. lol.
The Church in the USA has been in trouble for a long time coming. We have possibly more wolves than Shepherds serving as priests. That condition is grave but it is a separate suffering from the true Church in Heaven and the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.
After all, there shall be but a Remnant left upon our Lord’s return. Right?
” a seminarian told me he couldn’t prove a man named Noah ever existed, but neither could he prove he didn’t.”
But the seminarian is correct. I believe Noah existed. I can’t prove he existed. Scripture speaks of him. That’s enough for me. That is not proof for others who lack faith. A little over a century ago people many times did not believe the Hittites existed millennia ago. Once archaeological evidence of the Hittites was found that ended any doubts. That has not happened - in a definitive sense - in archaeology with Noah and probably won’t. God apparently doesn’t want it that easy for us. We have to trust Him and His Word - especially His Word made flesh.
Very sad that you allowed the weakness of man (and only one in particular in your case) influence your faith.
Are you your own pope now?
Do you claim for yourself the understanding of “the plain meaning” of every verse in scripture?
If not for doctrine and tradition, what was the basis of faith prior to the canon being decided in the 4th century?