Biblical Illiteracy

[Gorgias]

I know it isn’t complete allegory, but he/she cited Gen 1 and 2 so I assume they were reading the creation story through a mostly fundamentalist lens.

I agree. However, if we say “Genesis isn’t to be taken literally”, then we’ll be taken to task when we attempt to interpret parts of Genesis literally.

Allegory is only one way of looking at scripture. I’m not sure thatthe Church has made a generalization like that.

Actually, the Church does say that a variety of genres of literature exist in the Bible.

Whatever the case, I hardly remember any homily regarding the old testament.

Wow. Sad. I feel bad that you aren’t hearing good preaching. Please know that your experience isn’t the experience of all Catholics.

We have a “Pontifical Biblical Commission” but I don’t know what they do. I don’t know what they may have published in the last 25 years, for example.

Well… look them up on-line, then…

To answer the question, I think it would be great if we had bible study classes as frequently as many Protestant churches do.

So… ask your pastor to start a Bible study. Better yet, find a study that doesn’t require your pastor to teach it (for instance, the studies that Scott Hahn’s foundation sets up, or that Ascension Press offers), and offer to coordinate it for your parish! The Catholic Church isn’t a “Father does it all for us” organization!

The church should also provide catholic bibles with footnotes/commentary.

‘Provide’ as in give away for free? Or ‘provide’ as in exactly what you’re saying – that they’re available for us to buy, and the Church gives its thumbs-up to that opportunity? I would say that the Church does do the latter!

 

[Gingersnaps4]

Provide, as in individual parishes make available on site to buy at a reasonable price. I know that the church can’t “do it all” financially so I wouldn’t expect every parish to supply free ones. I think it’s amazing that my own parish does offer so much for free or low cost, as it is.

I believe that we do have classes already that touch on various biblical topics and we have classes based on other catholic books. Father doesn’t teach any of them, the Deacons usually do. I’m not sure if any of them are touted as “bible study” though. I will look into that. It just seems like it isn’t nearly as common to hear about study classes in the Catholic Church.

 

[Gorgias]

Provide, as in individual parishes make available on site to buy at a reasonable price.

I don’t know how doable that is. After all, that means that the Church has to maintain stock, find folks to sell, etc, etc. It’s hard enough to get volunteers as it is, let alone ask folks to be on permanent rotation for Bible sales!

 

[TheLittleLady]

On my wish list now! Thank you for the heads up.

I now buy Bibles on Kindle so I can carry them around, switch back and forth, make all of the notes I care to make

A few years ago I found a good discount on the “Orthodox Study Bible” for Kindle and have found it to be interesting.

Waiting for the Great Adventure Bible to be available on Kindle.

The only Kindle version I found disappointing was the Didache Bible. If I’d been designing it, I would have built it so the “hot links” to the Catechism would work WITH the Catechism for Kindle. Instead the CCC reference links go to an online version of the Catechism, so, if one is not on WiFi the references are useless.

 

[TheLittleLady]

The church should also provide catholic bibles with footnotes/commentary.

I have had cases of good Catholic Bibles. The last case I was gifted over 5 years ago. I still have two or three left. (I work for the parish, I have even offered them for free in the bulletin!).

Had two cases of nice St Joseph Edition Catholic New Testaments, large print with good helps and maps. Finally another parish took one case for an event they are hosting. The other I still have more than half a case left.

I literally cannot give Catholic Bibles away for free.

 

[Gingersnaps4]

That’s such a shame!