Catholic practices that have no biblical basis

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pai_Nosso
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Pai_Nosso

Guest
Please excuse my ignorance on this matter but why does the Catholic church bring in such things that aren’t supported by scripture?
Without a strong biblical connection isn’t the introduction of new practices simply the will of humans instead of God?

A lot of doctrines and practices have been introduced over the centuries that have little to no scriptural basis. . . . .
 
Last edited:
Catholicism is based on traditions handed down from the Apostles, who were taught by Jesus. Scripture is not in itself complete since the New Testament was written years after Christ.
Others can provide more detail if you want, but that’s the basic reason.
 
Why not list five specific things that you’re concerned aren’t supported by scripture, and we can address those, rather than saying “a lot of doctrines and practices”? It’s easier to talk about the concrete than the vague.
 
I come from a Protestant Church and am now Catholic. As a Protestant we did things I didn’t think were biblical and that other denominations practiced differently often based on different interpretations of the same scripture or based on emphasis on certain scriptures while ignoring others.
 
Most of the traditions are deeply rooted in scripture. It’s just many don’t know how. So what exact doctrines or practices are you referring too? 😀
 
Pai_Nosso said:
Please excuse my ignorance on this matter but why does the Catholic church bring in such things that aren’t supported by scripture?
Without a strong biblical connection isn’t the introduction of new practices simply the will of humans instead of God?

A lot of doctrines and practices have been introduced over the centuries that have little to no scriptural basis. And now we have a pope who is inventing his own stuff again.
Click to expand...
Please list the things that you think “have no biblical basis”.
 
Pai_Nosso said:
Please excuse my ignorance on this matter but why does the Catholic church bring in such things that aren’t supported by scripture?
Without a strong biblical connection isn’t the introduction of new practices simply the will of humans instead of God?

A lot of doctrines and practices have been introduced over the centuries that have little to no scriptural basis. And now we have a pope who is inventing his own stuff again.
Click to expand...
Like what? The canon of the Bible itself, for example? Because that list is unbiblical, and you have to turn to an authority outside of the Bible to even consider the list of books the “correct” one, whether you use the Catholic or Protestant list.

And if the Pope is “inventing” stuff (which you have to prove), then you can rest assured that those “inventions” will be consigned to the dustbin. The Church cannot issue new teachings, only revise and develop expressions of already settled doctrine.
 
Last edited:
For example this whole pachamama fiasco. Where did this come from?
If the church decides to introduce this pachamama as “Our lady of the Amazon” then Catholics will just have to accept it. How can such heresies be avoided?
 
The majority of the liturgy and all the 7 Sacraments can be traced to Scripture (OT and NT). Devotions are often based on private revelations, which in turn don’t contradict the Bible.
 
Pai_Nosso said:
Please excuse my ignorance on this matter but why does the Catholic church bring in such things that aren’t supported by scripture?
Without a strong biblical connection isn’t the introduction of new practices simply the will of humans instead of God?

A lot of doctrines and practices have been introduced over the centuries that have little to no scriptural basis. And now we have a pope who is inventing his own stuff again.
Click to expand...
Most Catholic practices ARE supported by scripture, in one sense or another. Despite this, we do not hold to the doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Christ gave his Church the responsibility to define, teach, and pass down doctrine. The entirety of revelation includes, but is not limited to, scripture.

I don’t think that Pope Francis is “inventing” stuff. Sometimes I’m frustrated by the seeming ambiguity of how he says certain things, but that is hardly inventing. I do think the Pachamama thing is a mistake, but that is something that will pass.
 
Some people donated art to the Vatican. Accepting that art was a decision that was made, some people think nothing of it, others find it to be scandalous. It is art, accepting art donations is not a “Catholic practice”, it is not something binding on all Christians.
 
Someone asked me to list 5 Catholic beliefs that have no or little biblical basis so here is 5.
  • The Communion elements become the actual body and blood of Christ
  • Prayer to the saints
  • Indulgences
  • Purgatory
  • Sacred Tradition equal to scripture
 
The first four in your list are Biblical. The last one assumes the Bible is more important than tradition, but that assertion itself is no where in the Bible.

If we’re honest, there may be individual activities without biblical basis. My question there would be: so what?

Likewise, we could make almost anything appear to be biblical, based on poor use of verse citations. How else do you explain the MANY denominations out there?
 
Communion - last supper. This is my body, this is my blood.

Bread of life discourse. Jesus emphasis the bread is his body. Some disciples. say it’s hard to accept. Jesus in effect says fine you can walk away.
 
Last edited:
The communion elements become the actual Body and Blood of Christ, John 6. In fact, this one is so Scriptural that all Christians for the first 1500 years of Christian believed it (and the Catholics and Orthodox still do, and the Lutherans and Anglicans also profess it).

Prayer to the Saints: Maccabees and Revelation.
Indulgences: St. Paul.
Purgatory: Maccabees, St. Paul “changed through fire” et. al.

Sacred Tradition equal to Scripture: That would be the same place where Scripture became defined AS Scripture. When 2 Timothy referred to "All Scripture’ it was not referring to, as written, 2 Timothy itself or to any of the New Testament writings. You get your Scripture from the Church.

So if you accept the Church’s authority to give the Scripture canon as per Scriptural sanction in Matthew 18 and in St. Paul’s “The Church, which is the pillar and bulwark of truth” for where to find authority, why do you balk at other things?
 
Purgatory. I don’t remember the exact chapter and verse but there are references to the dead going through a final purification before entering Heaven.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top