Hello,
On a Yahoo! group, a non-Christian woman recently wrote that the Bible is: “a book manipulated for political purposes by the Roman Catholic Church - including what they wanted and leaving out what they didn’t want.” I would like to defend our beautiful faith to this misguided soul. I could use some guidance regarding what to say to this woman.
Thank you! 
Tell her to show you the proof of her claim, with evidence.
Most people tend to believe in themselves, or believe their feelings, and so, believe things without actually varifying the claims - like the belief that ancient people didn’t know the difference between demonic possession and illnesses. This belief is shattered by the gospels:
Mark 1:34
He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Did they present any actual evidence?
The NT manuscripts are attested by 1000s of copies
Compare the Byzantine Luke to the Alexandrian luke for example and there are no major differences
Even some important secular historical works don’t have as much support in manuscripts etc as the NT
The supposed other gospels fall the historical test
Books were chosen for inclusion in the Bible that matched up with the oral tradition handed down Christ > Apostles > the Church.
If I’m writing a biography on somone do I included corrupted, false things etc. Of course not. So why when compiling the Bible.
Hope this make sense.
Good like in defending our holy faith. Peace.
Hi, there’s a crucial question, to me anyway, that is not answered in your quote. Does this person accept the Protestant canon of Scripture? If they don’t then it sounds like they are the one who is manipulating Scripture to include what they want and exclude what they don’t want. If that’s the case then, to be honest, I wouldn’t waste my time. But if they accept the Protestant canon then the first thing you could point out is that Protestants accept the Catholic canon for the New Testament. Then you could point out that the Jews included the Deuterocanonicals in the (Greek) Septuagint and in the Dead Sea Scrolls. The most important point is do they trust that God can and has made sure that His people have His Word.
Here’s an article that will give you much more info from the Bible and the early Church on the books that separate Protestants from Catholics (and Orthodox):
One would think that if the Church felt free to manipulate Scripture for political purposes, it would clean up any material which might be used to damn the Church itself, especially the papacy.
And yet the gospels are absolutely brutal about the first pope.
Just a few verses after his appointment as first pope, Matthew’s gospel has this to say about Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me…” Matthew 16:23.
And when Peter goes to walk on water like Jesus, this happens: 30 But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:30-31.
And after the first pope boasts that he would never betray Christ, and Christ predicts to the first pope that he will, that very night, three times, how does the first pope handle this chance to not fail God?: 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”
70 But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!”
71 As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.”
72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!”
73 A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.”
74 At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed.
75 Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. Matthew 26:69-75.
It’s so embarrassing about "Catholic No. One!!!
Does that look like the text has been manipulated?
Tell her to show you the proof of her claim, with evidence.
Thanks for your reply. I wrote to her, and asked her to explain herself. I kind of doubt she’ll reply. All we can do is try!
“Does this person accept the Protestant canon of Scripture?”
I doubt it. She seems very hostile to all Christians.
“If that’s the case then, to be honest, I wouldn’t waste my time.”
I replied to her, with a brief explanation of how the Bible was “put together”, so to speak. I need to defend the Church. Perhaps my words will reach someone on that Yahoo group. (It’s a parenting group!)
“scripturecatholic.com/deuterocanon.html”
This link was very helpful. Thanks!
By the way, I’m sorry if I’m not replying to these posts properly. I can’t figure it out. I’m pretty new to these forums. I’m pregnant, nauseated, and have little kids to care for. I hope you understand.
Yikes! A parenting group? Well, I’m sure there will be people there who will probably be happy to have someone challenge her. Put on the armor of truth!
This link was very helpful. Thanks!
Sure, that’s John Salza’s website. It was a great idea and he did great work on it!
By the way, I’m sorry if I’m not replying to these posts properly. I can’t figure it out. I’m pretty new to these forums. I’m pregnant, nauseated, and have little kids to care for. I hope you understand.
No problem, if you want to respond to someone’s post, just click on the “Quote” button in their post, and type your response after it. And it’s pretty easy to edit them so you can respond to one part at a time like you just saw. You just have to learn all the icons and stuff. But don’t worry about that, one click on the Quote button is the easiest way to go. Good luck!
It’s her assertion. Make her prove it. Don’t let her put you on the defensive.