“Most, if not all of us, were told either don’t read the scriptures, or get a priest to interpret it for us. “
Nuts!
I’m 63 and never heard such nonsense.
Nothing in Catholic Biblical School (4yr program) ever suggested your claim and Priests aren’t the one’s teaching.
Just what guarantees do you have on your interpretation of Scripture?
If you suggest it is the Holy Spirit, how do you rationalize the He has lead others to different conclusions?
You didn't go to the same catholic grade school and high school I went to. I don't care if you believe it or not. That's not my problem.
I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me. While He may lead people to some different conclusions about communion, baptism, spiritual gifts, and other issues, I have already told you several times, that I am not that interested in such things, as much as I am interested in knowing what your plan of salvation is. It is so simple, that even you could understand it, although my opinion is, that you don't. Most Catholics I know tend to shy away from the plan of salvation issue, and dying, because it scares them. I know when I was a Catholic, and I would venture to guess, that my ex Catholic friends here on FR would agree, that I was always scared of dying, because I was afraid I would go to Hell. That was unacceptable to me.
Since the priests and nuns told us not to read the Bible, without a priest's interpretation, I was always a rebellious person, and usually did the opposite of what I was told. I started reading the Bible on my own, just to torque their jaws. That is why I am an ex catholic. So, step by step, how are you going to go to Heaven? I would say there is a better than even chance, that I will disagree with your plan of salvation. It would be a shame to be religious but lost. I don't know where you fit in, but wherever it is, that's on you bro.
Maybe you think it's nonsense so it's nonsense to you, but it was a fact of life for a great many of us while we were being raised Catholic.
Then that disqualifies the *Catholic* interpretation as well.
Then which version of the Catholic church is the ONE TRUE Church?
The Roman church or the Eastern Orthodox?
And where in scripture does God demand lockstep adherence to church doctrine. or tell us that lockstep agreement to church teaching is an indicator that that teaching is from God?
Did you EVER read Romans 14?
God allows for *disputable matters*. Why doesn't the Catholic church?