[Natural Law]

"I wonder if God inspired John to write this in the closing chapter of his gospel so that the Catholic Church would have carte blanche to invent whatever else they could think up and pass off as one of those things Jesus did, or taught, or said, or...?"

I thought all you needed was Scripture and had no need of any other input, guidance or advice. At least Catholics have a teaching authority to consult.

[boatbums]

I thought all you needed was Scripture and had no need of any other input, guidance or advice. At least Catholics have a teaching authority to consult.

I can't think of anytime that I have said such a thing. Do you have an example? I DID go to a Bible college and worked my way through cramming four years into five and a half. And there were plenty of guiders, councilors, advisers, teachers and pastors. I learned quite a bit about quite a lot. So I cannot imagine why you could say I had no need of a teaching "authority". I was also taught to study the Bible and learn discernment so that what I was taught could be confirmed by the authority of God's word. Perhaps you have someone else in mind?