I just got told by RC person that Bible study is "Protestant"

[BGorski]

I used to attend Bible study in Baptist church and really enjoyed it. Its was not about “feeling” but really studying theology.
Would have loved to find something like that in RCC but so far no local churches hold Bible studies and today I was told by one of them that Bible study is a “Protestant” thing.

I attend a Parish here in Texas (Cedar PArk), and I can tell you that if Bible Study is a Protestant thing, then Catholic Scripture Study International needs to change its name.
I’ve been facilitating Scripture Studies (Single Session to 7 month studies - both Old Testament and New Testament) for 38 years. The last 6-8 years we have been using the CSSI materials. The material is written by authors such as Dr Scott Hahn, and if you choose to use their DVDs, the presenters are speakers such as Fr Mitch Pacwa.

Their website is -
cssprogram.net/ Catholic Scripture Study International

There of course others to use at your Parish like Jeff Cavin’s Bible Timeline Series.

You can use them in a self-study mode, but they can be a little pricey, and there is so much more to be gained in a group.

Take the plunge and start one with the blessings of your Pastor at your Parish. That’s how I started (so far back we started with Scrolls!! ;o)). If you Priest doesn’t support it being done in the Church, do a small group at your home. There are some who don’t because they are concerned about conformity and continuity. A couple of the pastors we have worked for also are hesitant to spend the money…(eg. who keeps track of the DVDs etc. afterwards). So you may have to take up a collection or spend your money up front. We’ve depended on the Holy Spirit to touch those who attend to contribute ONLY WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD - sometimes a few dollars a week. We’ve never wound up in the hole!!

The key is to use only materials you are absolutely certain confirm to teachings of the Church. If you google ‘Catholic Scripture Study,’ you will be given a great list. I only recommended CSSI as the one that we have used at three different Parishes for 10 years with speakers involved from the Diocese as well. And we used Jeff Cavin’s materials as well…all endorsed by the Church.

Please continue to pursue a deeper love of the Scripture. There is so much good materials out there, great conferences (Fullness of Truth), so many books (Imprimatur protected), you need to take up the challenge of facilitating at your Parish. I guarantee you will not regret it!! Stay blest!! bob

 

[DebChris]

Tell them that Benedictine and Trappist monks sit in their cells and read the bible two hours each day.

Introduce them to Lectio Divina and explain to them that it is the original, 2000 year old Catholic way to read the Bible.

Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey OCSO.


http://bks3.books.google.com/books?id=MTMpPAAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&imgtk=AFLRE73p7pyYgL4Gx_gSGANcTZBJ-CNSHXTLmdijr71Dxk81q1Jr1F71WBpyMRN5OpBmrKBD-oqa-KhDlqv6suIbCcn2rYfAnvNr3mNs5-0Z9Qa-2U-fCYDh-b7HfyiEh1Vzj55t5S1K

-Tim-

The Church encourages bible study and reading the Bibe, but discourages people from undertaking scripture interpretation on their own or in a vacuum (which is what many other Christians do these days)…
The Church position is a wise one.
You have only to read one of the posters on this thread who did that…and decided that Catholicism was “unbiblical”.

This is because scripture requires an understanding of the language and cultural context in which it was written, not to mention translation issues. The catechism also notes that it must be read with attentiveness to its unity (as opposed to plucking out little passages…which is what you’ll see that some of our more rabid fundamentalists do to justify a particular position…including the position that Catholicism is unbiblical (!) I’ve notice they are fond of picking a line or two from St. Paul’s letters.
That’s where the assistance of a guide…someone well versed in theology or a bible scholar is helpful and recommended.

I believe one or more of the documents of Vatican II addresses this as well…Dei Verbum for one.

The Old Testament informs the New Testament and the New Testament sheds light on the Old Testament.
As the disciples were walking to Emmaus, Jesus explained everything in the Scriptures that pertained to Him.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus often referred to the Scriptures when making a point. When asked about marriage, for example, He said, “In the beginning it was not so.” Pope Paul II uses this in his book Theology of the Body to show how Jesus was explicitly pointing the pharisees to Genesis, and original innocence. This again comes back to the teaching authority of the Church (the magisterium) in action. Without this teaching, all anybody hears is “Catholics are not allowed to divorce,” The “should and should not’s” rather than the loving response of love to Love to which we are all called.

It is amazing how much flexibility we do have as Catholics when it does come to reading Scripture. Mostly I have been told not to judge the thoughts that come to mind as I read and journal, especially while reading lectio divina..

The first college I attended was a Benedictine College. Of course Theology was required, but I never took the class before leaving the school. All Freshman received an orientation to the class. I remembered many of my non-Catholic friends saying “Read the Bible. You’ll find the answers.” The college took a completely different approach. “When you read the Bible, look for the questions.” That was such a freeing statement. Especially when my unstated response to my friends was always, “What questions?”

I had never been told not to read the Bible by my parents. What my parents had told me was never to question the Church. What the Catholic college told me was to question everything, to think, and to reason. They provided a safe place knowing that inquiry led to deeper faith.

As you rightly point out, as with any form of literature, language and cultural context must always be considered. That’s why you don’t generally find Catholics arguing with scientists about whether or not the earth was created in a literal 7 days, or if Jonah was really swallowed by a whale. God created the world and all that is in it.

 

[MacQ]

The Old Testament informs the New Testament and the New Testament sheds light on the Old Testament.
As the disciples were walking to Emmaus, Jesus explained everything in the Scriptures that pertained to Him.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus often referred to the Scriptures when making a point. When asked about marriage, for example, He said, “In the beginning it was not so.” Pope Paul II uses this in his book Theology of the Body to show how Jesus was explicitly pointing the pharisees to Genesis, and original innocence. This again comes back to the teaching authority of the Church (the magisterium) in action. Without this teaching, all anybody hears is “Catholics are not allowed to divorce,” The “should and should not’s” rather than the loving response of love to Love to which we are all called.

It is amazing how much flexibility we do have as Catholics when it does come to reading Scripture. Mostly I have been told not to judge the thoughts that come to mind as I read and journal, especially while reading lectio divina..

The first college I attended was a Benedictine College. Of course Theology was required, but I never took the class before leaving the school. All Freshman received an orientation to the class.** I remembered many of my non-Catholic friends saying “Read the Bible. You’ll find the answers.” The college took a completely different approach. “When you read the Bible, look for the questions.” That was such a freeing statement. Especially when my unstated response to my friends was always, “What questions?” **

I had never been told not to read the Bible by my parents. What my parents had told me was never to question the Church. What the Catholic college told me was to question everything, to think, and to reason. They provided a safe place knowing that inquiry led to deeper faith.

As you rightly point out, as with any form of literature, language and cultural context must always be considered. That’s why you don’t generally find Catholics arguing with scientists about whether or not the earth was created in a literal 7 days, or if Jonah was really swallowed by a whale. God created the world and all that is in it.

That’s great! (The part I bolded).
All the rest are wonderful insights as well.
Thanks

 

[hadulzo]

Gee, I just finished reading Dei Verbum , a document of the Catholic Church on studying scripture for my classes at Chicago Catholic Scripture School. Must be an alternate universe? I was just reading a book about reading the NT on how we should read the content of scipture not included in mass reading so we understand context better.

 

[Bev17243]

That’s odd. Very odd.

There are at least 4 large formal Bible studies ongoing in my parish, and a number of small bible study groups. Plus alot of ongoing adult education programs with theology themes.

The Bible Timeline is a wonderful program (catholic) done by Jeff Cavins. Might want to check it out. Maybe you should start bible studies in your parish!

I checked all the websites that were recommended to find Bible study near me. There is ONE. About an hour away.
Clearly it has to do with an area where I live. By the way, I live in Hawaii on Island of Oahu-Honolulu to be exact.
Although there are number of RCC in the area, having any activities there is whole different matter. I called like 5 churches near me and NOT one offered anything. EVER. Not just this summer. They never even have it.
its mind boggling.

 

[Bev17243]

Are they not offering anything period, or are they not offering anything currently?

I facilitate a Bible study at my parish from September to March or April but we usually take a break for the summer months.

Given that you’re still in RCIA perhaps you might want to stick with your current commitment to your Catholic formation? You should be doing “Breaking of the Word” every week after the Liturgy of the Word at Mass? Is that being done?

“Breaking the word”? Not sure what is, sorry. After Mass everyone just leaves

 

[TimothyH]

I checked all the websites that were recommended to find Bible study near me. There is ONE. About an hour away.
Clearly it has to do with an area where I live. By the way, I live in Hawaii on Island of Oahu-Honolulu to be exact.
Although there are number of RCC in the area, having any activities there is whole different matter. I called like 5 churches near me and NOT one offered anything. EVER. Not just this summer. They never even have it.
its mind boggling.

Start a Bible study at your parish.

Contact Biblestudyforcatholics.com and tell them that you would like to introduce the idea to your pastor and have the Church sponsor a study. They will work with you and your Church to make it happen.

Phone: (800) 376-0520
Email: info@biblestudyforcatholics.com

These are excellent studies - faithful to the Magisterium, references to the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, Catechism, etc. You will not be disappointed.

-Tim-

 

[Amandil]

“Breaking the word”? Not sure what is, sorry. After Mass everyone just leaves

Every Sunday after the readings and the homily someone from the RCIA program ought to be taking you and your group and leading a mini-Bible discussion for the remainder of the hour based upon the readings you just heard.

I’m sorry, but it seems that your formation is being neglected. For nothing else the person in charge of the parish RCIA should be leading it if not another catechist who has been competently trained in Scripture and theology.

I don’t know what parish you are a member of, and I can’t assume that the priest is being negligent because any priest has plenty of things on his plate to be concerned about and often delegates things to lay ministers while overseeing them from a distance.

Nor can I assume that the RCIA coordinator(s) are being negligent in their duties, but it is a concern. “Breaking the word” is, AFAIK, a common formation practice in RCIA Church-wide and I can’t think of many, if any, good reasons that it cannot be done.

Maybe you should bring this up privately with your RCIA coordinator and ask why you guys don’t do it. He/she may not be aware or may have other reasons.

If you can’t get an answer from he/she/them, I would bring it to the attention to the priest(if your parish has more than one priest there should be an associate priest in charge of the RCIA program who you spoke with during the preliminary discernment stage before you entered RCIA). Don’t be accusatory, but just express your concerns, that you have a hunger for scripture and that you heard about “breaking the word” after your dismissal at Mass. That should get the ball rolling.

I can’t imagine that you would have to bring this to the attention of the local Bishop. But given that RCIA is regulated at the diocesan level in order to maintain normative Catholic formation, I can’t necessarily count it out either.

I only say this because in my view not only you, but everyone in your group, are lacking in a very basic and fundamental part of your formation. You have made a commitment to Christ and “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Breaking the word not only is helpful and informative for your own spiritual well-being but it also forms bonds with those whom you are journeying with in faith.

I will keep you in my prayers and pray to God that this is remedied for you.

 

[DebChris]

I checked all the websites that were recommended to find Bible study near me. There is ONE. About an hour away.
Clearly it has to do with an area where I live. By the way, I live in Hawaii on Island of Oahu-Honolulu to be exact.
Although there are number of RCC in the area, having any activities there is whole different matter. I called like 5 churches near me and NOT one offered anything. EVER. Not just this summer. They never even have it.
its mind boggling.

If there is a Bible study program it might be on base. If you’re not in the military that won’t help.
There are different programs in different areas. Not every diocese offers “Breaking the bread” for various reasons. I lived in a parish years ago in which the DRE from time to time would offer different faith topics in order for the adults. The parish priest tried to interest parishioners to learn more about the Bible. It was slow getting the parish motivated.
My current diocese is encouraging small faith groups. I can’t remember the name of the program since I’ve been away overseas.
What my overseas parish in the Middle East provided was a monthly Deepening the Faith session. Anybody who acted as EMCH or lector was required to attend. EMCH’s also went through a full year of formation and lectors attend monthly meetings.
The Franciscan priest from India who teaches Tuesday night Bible study is phenomenal. During a Deepening the Faith session, he gave a completely new insight into John the Baptist’s question when he was in the dungeon. We know that John leapt in his womb when Mary visited Elizabeth. John recognized Jesus as the Messiah when He came to be baptized. John’s question and Christ’s answer was for John’s disciples.
I have never been in a parish as large or as active as the to which I belonged in the Middle East, and now a new cathedral is being built on land deeded by the Muslim king.

 

[Amandil]

I agree with Tim. That perhaps might be your best option otherwise.

 

[Catie59]

What??? I guess the Catholic Church I attend must really be Protestant since we have about 7 different Bible studies going on at any given time of the year.
Whoever you spoke to needs to study up on the Catholic faith.

:dts:

 

[johnnyc176]

It must be something they are getting from their parents, because it certainly is NOT true.

Or perhaps the teacher misunderstood and the students were actually attuned to Church teaching and I know you are aware of this but as Catholics we just don’t ‘read the Bible’ (and not just any Bible but the full canon of Scripture)…

113 2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (". . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church").

 

[Dorothy]

Or perhaps the teacher misunderstood and the students were actually attuned to Church teaching and I know you are aware of this but as Catholics we just don’t ‘read the Bible’ (and not just any Bible but the full canon of Scripture)…

113 2. Read the Scripture within “the living Tradition of the whole Church”. According to a saying of the Fathers, Sacred Scripture is written principally in the Church’s heart rather than in documents and records, for the Church carries in her Tradition the living memorial of God’s Word, and it is the Holy Spirit who gives her the spiritual interpretation of the Scripture (". . . according to the spiritual meaning which the Spirit grants to the Church").

Amen!

 

[bmonk]

I used to attend Bible study in Baptist church and really enjoyed it. Its was not about “feeling” but really studying theology.
Would have loved to find something like that in RCC but so far no local churches hold Bible studies and today I was told by one of them that Bible study is a “Protestant” thing.

As others have noted, Bible Study is a Catholic value, and encouraged.

Prior to Vatican Council II, many in the Church were suspicious of Bible Study, because it was seen as a “Protestant” thing, and as dangerous–“Look how those Protestants went astray; we should avoid that”–but it was a throwing out the baby with the bath water response.

Perhaps you are being called to start something in your local parish!

 

[phil19034]

As I’ve pointed out on some other threads, I’ve had Catholic students show up to my classes as recently as last semester telling me that personal Bible reading (which they interpret as reading the Bible apart from hearing the readings at Mass) is prohibited by the Catholic Church. I don’t feel it’s really my place to tell them that they’re misinformed, but they must be hearing this somewhere–I’m assuming from their parents?

This happens a LOT. When these students take a university class on the Bible, some of them feel like they’re doing something subversive

Tell them to visit Catholic.com!

You should feel free to tell that they can receive an indulgence for reading the Bible. Also tell them that it’s not wrong for Catholics to read the Bible. It’s wrong to Catholic to personally interpret the Bible in a way that does not agree with Church teaching. That’s the difference.

 

[phil19034]

As others have noted, Bible Study is a Catholic value, and encouraged.

Prior to Vatican Council II, many in the Church were suspicious of Bible Study, because it was seen as a “Protestant” thing, and as dangerous–“Look how those Protestants went astray; we should avoid that”–but it was a throwing out the baby with the bath water response.

Perhaps you are being called to start something in your local parish!

NOTE: The so called “many in the Church” we the laity, not the Priests or Bishops. And perhaps also some nuns/sisters, who didn’t always receive solid theological training.

 

[MacQ]

I checked all the websites that were recommended to find Bible study near me. There is ONE. About an hour away.
Clearly it has to do with an area where I live. By the way, I live in Hawaii on Island of Oahu-Honolulu to be exact.
Although there are number of RCC in the area, having any activities there is whole different matter. I called like 5 churches near me and NOT one offered anything. EVER. Not just this summer. They never even have it.
its mind boggling.

That’s too bad…altho you are in a paradise Iguess.

Here’s an idea…the Bible Timeline can be done as a self study. It’s wonderful (complete with guided study workbooks, video lectures…and includes references to the Catholic Catechism.)
We do it in large groups, with discussion tables. BUT It could be done solo…or even better, if you could find a few other interested people, you could do it together.
Maybe one of the pastors of a parish would sponsor it if you volunteered to help.
I wish you the best.

 

[MacQ]

“Breaking the word”? Not sure what is, sorry. After Mass everyone just leaves

Bev: Typically, RCIA enquirers are dismissed from Mass after the Liturgy of the Word …usually right after the Homily, and before the second part of Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist) begins…they typically go to another room to “break open the word” together…to discuss the readings (scripture) they’ve just heard.
Sounds like that is not being done in your RCIA…
It is, I believe, a standard part of the RCIA rubrics and is very valuable.
It’s not a full-on Bible study…it’s a half hour discussion.

 

[mexolic]

My parish church does have bible study once a week lead by sister. As usually there’s a small turnout, no more than 10 people perhaps. Then for a while, our associate priest would have a bible study. It was held in the large hall. His bible study had a much larger turnout. He would use the chalk board to illustrate more clearly the topics discussed. Sadly he was transferred to another parish. I think the other priest became seriously ill. I think bible study helps us Catholics better understand our faith more.

 

[Musikero31]

I used to attend Bible study in Baptist church and really enjoyed it. Its was not about “feeling” but really studying theology.
Would have loved to find something like that in RCC but so far no local churches hold Bible studies and today I was told by one of them that Bible study is a “Protestant” thing.

I think the reason why he said that is because of the church where you are taking your bible study. Although the Catholic Church encourages everyone to attend bible studies and know more about Christ through the Bible, we must understand that there are some terms or teachings which are not in-line or not connected to the Catholic Teachings, and thus will eventually lead you astray from the Catholic Church.

Here are some suggestions which you can do for your Bible Study:

• Purchase Jeff Cavin’s video series “The Great Bible Adventure 2”
• Join the Singles for Christ or Couples for Christ (I believe they have bible study sessions which are also in-line with the teachings of the Catholic Church)
• Ask your nearby parishes or have a priest friend to teach you.

God bless you!