Posted on 10/05/2005 11:05:11 PM PDT by Salvation
OK First, I am not the Spanish Inquisition so be assured I won't make you sit in the comfy chair! Second, I am not a sedevacantist (those who think the Popes since Vatican II are invalid). Indeed, I am very much a supporter of our current Pope's election and, though I have problems with the decisions and actions of certain bishops, priests, and Cardinals; I am a faithful daughter of the Roman Catholic Church.
That being said, the Spanish Inquisition is a much maligned occurance of history. Thanks to current research carried out by serious historians, some of whom are not Catholic, and computer technology the thousands upon thousands of detailed documents of each case handled by the various arms of the Spanish Inquisition over hundreds of years have been compiled and analyzed. It was definately not the heinous institution claimed by 16th century propagandists. The vast majority of the cases, over 80% were handled by lay lawyers and the few hundred people who were actually executed over its almost 500 year history pale in comparison to what happened in its Northern European counterparts.
bump
Perhaps the Spirit feels now is a good time for Christianity to begin to come together. I think we will have to if we want to retain religous freedom of worship in America.
Brother in Christ
It would be nice to settle on one translation. I prefer the older translations. Most bible studies use the new ones and I think that some translators took some liberties. It would be nice to know Greek and Hebrew and read it in the original to know for sure.
In many ways, this very statement has caused much anger to Catholics when it came from other Christians.
I think the article over-reacts to the Church's view that not all parts of Scripture are to be read ONLY literally, especially the first 11 Chapters of Genesis, call Pre-History. We first take the Scriptures literally, but we realize that it is possible that our interpretations should be taken in a more spiritual sense to get the most out of Scripture.
The story of Jonah, for example, CAN be taken as a parable or a story. It may or may not be literally true. However, the truth that God meant to say THROUGH the story is inerrant. What is that truth? Certainly, that Gentiles can be saved, and can be far more repentant than the chosen people (whether you interpret that as Jews of the OT or Christians of the NT).
Brother in Christ
I like the NASB for study (almost to literal in its translation) and the new ESV for private reading (reminds of the RSV I grew up with and had to memorize so much of!).
The D-R is also good for reading, as it is in all those old English forms of speech.
"We have a weekly Bible Study group at our Orthodox parish! :)"
Do you know if it is for information and knowledge, for spirituality primarily, or a combination of both? I have seen versions of all three. Do they focus on a book, or a theme? I was considering leading one, but I don't know which would be better (of the two above questions), plus I am busy already...
Brother in Christ
I'm with Rytwyng. Not 'Sola', but 'Prima'. We also have Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium.
"No 'Sola' mia"...
I wouldn't confuse the Bishops of England, Scotland and Wales for the Church as a whole. Sadly, the Catholic Church in England is very much of the mind as the Anglican Church in England. The Catholic Church as a whole appoints Status Quo Bishops in England and then ignores them, just a few tidbits for thoughts.
I agree with Benedict. The Bible is central. Scripture is one of the two pillars upon which The Church is built. The Modernist attack on Scripture in the last sixty years as eroded that pillar in the eyes of many, causing it to crumble. When it crumbles, the other pillar of Tradition collapses as well, since it cannot stand without the other. In essence, the Modernists attacked the Bible knowing it would bring down the Church in a sense. Only a return to a proper understanding for scripture, a proper reverence for it can remedy the previous attack.
It is not that Catholics don't look to the Bible (though many do not), but the attacks of the last sixty years were so successful in many places, that many do not properly respect the Bible. They hear too often that the Miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes is about sharing or that Jesus didn't raise Lazarus from the dead, merely showed everyone the joy of the soul going to God, or something like that. Attacking the mystery and the miracle of the Bible has undermined the Church as a whole, the logical next step was the attack on the Tradition of the Church, the Magisterium. And the end result, the Catholic Church in America or England.
Don't get your hopes up folks. The Catholic Church is not going to become Protestant. A call for more biblical literacy is not equal to the Pope validating Protestantism's sola scriptura error.
The difference between literal history and history. Literal history being the history witnessed by the author, versus the Creation which was witnessed by God and the angels. Genesis of Creation was the act of God and his actions made it be, but not necessarily EXACTLY as described in Genesis. Versus, the History of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, the Judges, etc, which is literal history witnessed by humanity and the people of Israel.
From a Methodist, we have another smart pope in this world.
I just started a 24 week time line based Catholic Bible Study last night. Usually I would go to a Pentecostal Bible study but I have now found a new bible study home. It was great to be able to fellowship with other Catholics who believe in the Sacraments, and pray the Rosary. I enjoyed my old bible study but it would make me upset when people would tell me that I wasn't saved and my baptism was invalid.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.