I just read the bible for myself and did not let other MEN influence me. Something that we NEVER did in 12 yrs of catholic education. What we studied in school was non-inspired stuff like the catechism. Yes I know you are going to say men do influence me because of bible translation, history, etc. But you know we have to have faith in God completly about some things. I have faith that what the bible tells me is exactly what God wants me to know, and that He has the power to keep it exactly the way he wants it.
Becky
Oh, sure you did. Its all about interpretation. I followed the interpretation of scripture of the earliest Christians. You followed a later interpretation of men who came along 1500 years later.
Neither of us simply read scripture and decided its proper interpretation ourselves. We both had guides, whether we admit it or not. Mine were early Christians. Yours were reformers (whose interpretations were in large part antithetical to the interpretations of early Christians.)
No one is so naive as to think the way they interpret scripture is based only on their reading of scripture alone. It is always colored by the interpretations of those they trust for guidance.
I don't trust the reformers, you do. That is fine, but don't try to tell me your interpretation doesn't come out of the protestant reformation, because prior to it your interpretation simply did not exist.
I read the bible with the aid of the Catholic Church and I am glad that God gave me the grace to trust in his Church and the Holy Spirit who guides it. I WANT and welcome the influence of the Catholic Church and I need it.