I'm in a discussion with a Protestant friend; can you help?

[Terrapin97]

He and I got into a discussion about various religious topics. One of those topics was abortion and I told him that you can’t pick and choose what your belief of God is based on convenience or personal preference. All you would be doing is building a false image of God that satisfies your wishes. The foundation for all catholic beliefs is the bible and scholars and church doctors have facilitated this interpretation for us today so we can truly abide by God’s Law through Jesus Christ. My conclusion is the church believes in the sanctity of all human life and therefore abortion is bad no matter what rationale you put on it.

His counter argument is that the bible as we know it today was composed and translated by religious readers In the 1500’s and they decided what they wanted to include and dismiss. As a result a lot of what is commonly believed is a misinterpretation of what the original authors intended to communicate. Then to my sad surprise he used Mary being a virgin as an example of this. I’ve heard in random instances people saying scholars and translators of Bible have left out pieces here and there. What is a thoughtful response to him? I am not trying to plan a debate versus trying to educate him on why his thinking should be reevaluated. Also looking to educate myself on the matter more deeply. Thanks In advance

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Your friend needs to read some history. Protestantism began in the fifteen hundreds. Christianity, in the form of Catholicism, had been around since it was founded by Jesus Christ at the beginning of the first century. Here is a link to the book, “Where We Got the Bible,” by HENRY G. GRAHAM.

catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/wbible.htm

This should set out the facts for him.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.