"Christology" book question

[Hunho]

My question is, do you think that my reaction reflects a weakness in my own faith? Shouldn’t my faith be able to stand up to the “light of truth”…? On the other hand, does the research in the book qualify as the “truth”…? I can’t tell if Fitzmyer is orthodox or not, but on the surface nothing seems to contradict Church teaching…(don’t quote me on that, tho)…It just raises so, SO many questions. Has anyone else had a similar reaction?

Thanks!

To answer your basic question, no I don’t think that what you are describing, your questions and uncertainties, shows any kind of weakness of faith. It seems to me that your questions are a healthy sign of a refusal to take someone’s, anyone’s, statements on matters of The Faith with blind acceptance. If what you are reading is causing doubts and uncertainties, that
(or so it seems to me, from my own experience in studyind about The Faith) is a sign that your faith is alive and active, making you ask for things that you can accept. That doesn’t mean that you understand everything or can give a clear explanation of everything. Acceptance doesn’t necessarily require either complete understanding or explanations. That’s where faith comes in to cover the gap.
I can’t speak honestly on Joseph A. Fitzmyer’s book since I have read only a small excerpt. But I would suggest three resources that are superior sources for studying along with scripture itself. Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger, one of the most able scholars of Christianity today, long before he was elected to the papacy). His book is much clearer and more direct in his writing than most other scholars. Second, The Catechism of the Catholic Church (issued in 1992 under the approval of Pope John Paul II) which is both readable and authoritative. Third, The Navarre Bible has individual volumes for the books of the New Testament with extensive commentaries included along with the scripture text by reliable scholars and apologists. Also, if you have or can get access to Father John Corapi’s series of lectures (on CD or DVD) you will get a thorough, reliable and interesting survey of the Catechism. I got the CD set for Christmas and expect to be listening and replaying several of the tisks for a long time to come.

 

[AmbroseSJ]

This truth cannot conflict with divinely revealed truth (that would be the heretical and absurd “double truth” theory), but not everything that we know to be true by faith can be proven historically, or vice versa.

I was with you until you said vice versa. But it is the vice versa that seems to be causing the problems. If a scientist, or a historian or an exegete says such and such is absolutely the truth, but it conflicts with Faith, then many would say Faith is in error. Those claiming to be exceptionally open-minded would revel in their quick embrace of whatever new finding the scientists can bestow on them.

We should all recognize by now that if there is one truth we can reliably learn from science, it is that the latest findings will overturn the previous. Science likes to assume an air of infallibility which it has no business doing. No matter HOW SURE science is about some fact, later findings and scientists will eventually overturn them.