Yes, but Fundamentalists accept hyperbole and "literary genres" (ie, the Psalms, the Song of Solomon) and Catholics know this. All this hoo-haw about "mechanical inspiration" is a tirade against the historical facticity of Genesis 1-11. Everyone on this thread knows that's what this is actually about, however much Catholics split hairs about "the cattle on a thousand hills."
Why are Catholic FReepers reluctant to admit this? They usually celebrate their evolutionism/higher crticism.
Personally, I consider the entire Bible inspired, but I don't know if that inspiration means that every number in every instance is identical exactly to the literal truth. I can tell you that it would be strange indeed if reality always happened in neat rounded numbers. That doesn't reflect my experience of literal truth. Therefore, my understanding of inerrant and inspired would likely be somewhat different than yours.
Why does a Catholic even have a "personal opinion" on this issue? Aren't you supposed to agree to Catholic dogma?
My "experience" is that an omnipotent being by definition is quite capable of creating a fully functional world in a few days a few thousand years ago, and that G-d does not lie. I will be glad to listen to whatever "experience" of yours goes contrary to this.
All this hoo-haw about "mechanical inspiration" is a tirade against the historical facticity of Genesis 1-11. Everyone on this thread knows that's what this is actually about, however much Catholics split hairs about "the cattle on a thousand hills."
Clearly you are more aware of what "everyone on this thread knows" than I am. What I have been reading is a lot of argumentation that the pope is telling people that the bible is false, or not to read it. You seem to be the only person talking about Genesis.
Why does a Catholic even have a "personal opinion" on this issue? Aren't you supposed to agree to Catholic dogma?
Are you arguing that there is a Catholic dogma on everything for which opinions might exist? What, pray tell, is the Catholic dogma on which is better, asparagus or broccoli?
My "experience" is that an omnipotent being by definition is quite capable of creating a fully functional world in a few days a few thousand years ago, and that G-d does not lie. I will be glad to listen to whatever "experience" of yours goes contrary to this.
Yes, and he is likewise able to dictate exact numbers if we are to accept them as literal and absolute truth. It seems highly unlikely that events throughout biblical history constantly happened in neatly rounded figures. Therefore, the question is not what God could do, but rather what he did do. So, we have to ask, did exactly 100,000 footmen die that day? Can we say, as a matter of faith, that we know without a doubt that it couldn't have been 99,999? Or 100,001? Either it is so, or it isn't.
Because God created free will?
Because God created free will.