We have to understand that the Catholic church has been around for 2000 years.They have Apostolic succession. They have Sacred Tradition to back up their claims. It doesn't matter that Marian theology is not mentioned in the bible, Catholic tradition and the early fathers are proof enough. Any honest Catholic will tell you that their tradition is on the same level as scripture. We have to understand that the Word of God is not enough, we need the traditions of man to see the whole picture. If you don't believe this they can show you quotes from people that lived 2000 years ago that agree with them. The early fathers had to be right because, well, because they heard all this before it got lost in translation, so to speak. The fact that they have been around for so long proves that the gates of hell did not prevail.
We see another place in history where these same claims have been made. The Pharisees claimed to have Abraham as their Father. The also claim to be the ones trusted to interpret the law. They also had Sacred tradition. Why shouldn't they? If they were here to uphold the law of Moses surely they had the right to interpret it..
" Mark 7:6-9 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! (NIV)
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They killed Jesus and threw Paul in jail for going against their teachings.
We only get called names. Count your blessing
This is why we have such a difficult time giving the gospel..Catholics have a hard time understanding that the Bible is the infallible word of God..they have given that word (infallible)to some men on some occassions so it has lost its meaning.They fight the words of God with the words of men and see both as equally valid.
It doesnt matter to them that there is no record of an event like the assumption of Mary.Could you imagine how people would have talked about it?.How Paul would have used it in the Letters to encourage the new church? But it is written no where,so when asked for the proof they will tell you ,"there is no body"(perhaps Chandra was actually assumed huh?..Or Hoffa)?
Because tradition and ancient writings have been placed on the same level as Scripture,there is no way for a man to correct the error.Only the Holy Spirit can do that
Not exactly. Catholics have Scripture, Tradition, and Magesterium (authoritative teachings of the Church). Of course, this is Scriptural. Sacred Tradition is supported by the passage that says that more has been revealed than has been written down. And authoritative Church teaching (the Magisterium) is supported by the passage that calls the Church "the pillar and foundation of truth."
Without authoritative teaching and Scriptural interpretation, each man is left to interpret Scripture on his own, leading to error, conflict and disunity, in opposition to Christ's Scripturally-expressed desire that his followers be one.