Put it this way: BSF has an unwritten rule that no active Catholics can be in any sort of leadership positions, no small groups, nothing. They encourage you to attend, but their hope is that you will cease being Catholic.I was invited to join a Bible Study this fall through BSF International. I went to the informational meeting this morning at a local Lutheran church. Being Catholic I felt like a fish out of water. They talked about how it is was a non denominational study and how it is a study of what the bible says to you as an individual. The whole thing didn’t sit well with me. Can anyone tell me their thoughts?
Unless you are firmly rooted in your Roman Catholic Faith; my suggestion is to skip it.I was invited to join a Bible Study this fall through BSF International. I went to the informational meeting this morning at a local Lutheran church. Being Catholic I felt like a fish out of water. They talked about how it is was a non denominational study and how it is a study of what the bible says to you as an individual. The whole thing didn’t sit well with me. Can anyone tell me their thoughts?
You are 100% correct Cari. At work (teen-agers) we are only allowed to take them to a “non-denominational” church for a religious service. The one time I took them within five minutes they insulted Catholicism. I’ll never take them personally again. Needless to say the boys now see me praying the rosary and reading my bible during study hour. That gets thier curosity up.My 4 year old daughter attends the children’s version. She goes out of respect to my non-Catholic MIL. This is the last year she’ll be going. I find that I’m having to “unteach” her Protestant doctrine- at FOUR!
“Non-denominational” simply means “Protestant”. There will be no mention of the primacy of Peter, the role of the papacy in the early church, Sacred Tradition, Marian doctrines, etc. etc.
My advice? Steer clear. Attend (or start up) a Bible study in your parish.
I have taken a couple of the classes at www.salvationhistory.com and absolutely LOVE it. I am also doing an individual study of the Gospel of John (book by Stephen Ray). It is also an excellent way to learn and grow in our faith.
Yeeeaaah…I’d be more open to believing the advice about not “worrying about the denomination issue” if Catholics were allowed to take leadership positions in the program, which they’re not.
Those things DO focus on God’s teaching. But then again, I’m Catholic, so I know that God has given us the Magisterium, and Sacred Tradition, and not only the Sacred Scripture.First, as Feedmysheep says: If the denomination issue is no big deal, why can’t Catholic’s lead? This is overt bigotry.
I wonder how many of us have been so misinformed??? And I mean many of us.
Sounds to me like people in this thread were relating their personal experiences just as you have related yours. You can’t belittle their experience any more than anyone can belittle yours.
Nonsense. You come together and leave with different faith traditions. No one I encountered was in the business of converting wayward Catholics.
The precise thing a non-denominational bible study endeavors to avoid. I would have been put-off if someone would have attempted to convert me to their Protestant “truth”. Such proselytizing has no place in an ecumenical program of study.
False
Not at all likely. These are uniquely Catholic teachings. BSF does not present itself as a Catholic-oriented study.
Using notated bibles IS discouraged for the simple reason that point of the BSF study is to read, reflect and then discuss your interpretation of the reading, not regurgitate the thoughts of someone else contained in a footnote.
BSF does not forbid or discourage any individual from considering the Bible reading in the context of his/her faith tradition. It does request you do not present your or your denominational interpretation as the only way to interpret a passage. Consider that this was particularly helpful when Jews and other non-Christians were part of the study and discussion.
This experience has nothing to do with BSF.
If you find yourself offended by a Bible study which is not strictly Catholic in its approach or orientation, then you probably should avoid BSF. “Non-denominational” suggests neither Catholicism or any other creed is preferred over another.
It’s common and accurate to distinguish Catholics from non-Catholic Christians. There are significant differences. Recognizing the existence of difference is not bigotry. Treating people unjustly because of differences is.
No…but pointing out inaccuracy is distinct from belittling.
Defensive?! I’d have to have some skin in the game to work up to defensive. Abusive?!?!?!
Surely you jest.Island, you have had a different experience than many. You should be grateful that your experience has been as it has been. However, the experience of many on this thread and of my personal friend (who has a real call to be ecumenical) is just as real.Nonsense. You come together and leave with different faith traditions. No one I encountered was in the business of converting wayward Catholics.
The precise thing a non-denominational bible study endeavors to avoid. I would have been put-off if someone would have attempted to convert me to their Protestant “truth”. Such proselytizing has no place in an ecumenical program of study.
False
Not at all likely. These are uniquely Catholic teachings. BSF does not present itself as a Catholic-oriented study.
Using notated bibles IS discouraged for the simple reason that point of the BSF study is to read, reflect and then discuss your interpretation of the reading, not regurgitate the thoughts of someone else contained in a footnote.
BSF does not forbid or discourage any individual from considering the Bible reading in the context of his/her faith tradition. It does request you do not present your or your denominational interpretation as the only way to interpret a passage. Consider that this was particularly helpful when Jews and other non-Christians were part of the study and discussion.
This experience has nothing to do with BSF.
If you find yourself offended by a Bible study which is not strictly Catholic in its approach or orientation, then you probably should avoid BSF. “Non-denominational” suggests neither Catholicism or any other creed is preferred over another.
It’s common and accurate to distinguish Catholics from non-Catholic Christians. There are significant differences. Recognizing the existence of difference is not bigotry. Treating people unjustly because of differences is.
No…but pointing out inaccuracy is distinct from belittling.
Defensive?! I’d have to have some skin in the game to work up to defensive. Abusive?!?!?!