Is the Bible complete historical; if not, then what isn't necessary?

[rwoehmke]

Where I’ve developed with all this is to keep in mind that the Church says these writings are inspired. Leo XIII in his great encyclical Providentissimus Deus pointed out that scripture is DIFFERENT from all other human literature in that it is inspired.

So, even when you talk about scripture being “fiction” you are subtly arguing against the canonicity of scripture, that is, that it is inspired, by saying that you’re comparing it to human literature called fiction.

There is no rule that says fiction cannot be inspired. Works of fiction can be merely entertaining, a way to pass time, or in the case of “great fiction” both entertaining and informative of the human condition, the relationship that exists between God and man, morality and much more. One can learn much from the fiction of some of the great writers both Catholic and of other faiths. It takes a little discernment to sort out the good fiction from the trash fiction.

 

[Crumpy]

In a way, the first chapter of genesis reminds in a way of the account of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane.

Think. Peter, James, and John were there, but sleeping, while Jesus was praying. That’s the general picture. But, who is the narrator of this event? If they were asleep, how does anybody know what Jesus was doing?

That is mysterious like the first several days of creation that are recounted in Genesis, but there weren’t any people around to witness the events described.

In the instance of the annunciation of Mary, there was just the angel and Mary. It is assumed that the account of it in Luke’s gospel is Marian in origin. If not Mary, then who else?

In all cases, there is no apology for the logical inconsistency or an attempt by the writer to say “well, you see, I was hiding in the bushes when I saw this happen.”

 

[Contarini]

T
So, even when you talk about scripture being “fiction” you are subtly arguing against the canonicity of scripture, that is, that it is inspired, by saying that you’re comparing it to human literature called fiction.

That makes no sense at all. Are you suggesting that historical and scientific writing are not also human literature?

Anything written by humans is human literature, whatever the genre. The Bible differs from all *other *human literature (note that the Bible is still human literature, as you implicitly admit) in being divinely inspired–again, regardless of genre.

If you think that fiction is a genre unworthy of divine inspiration, you need to make an argument to that effect instead of simply assuming it.

Edwin

 

[juliamajor]

Please read more modern document that expand and expound on Leo’s Encyclical- Pius XII Divino spiritu afflante& PaulVI Dei verbum

 

[jmcrae]

That makes no sense at all. Are you suggesting that historical and scientific writing are not also human literature?

No, I don’t think that’s what he meant. He was talking about the genre of human literature that is called “fiction.” Which is a long way around of saying “the genre of fiction.”

He was not saying that all literature is fiction; he was just specifying that he was referring to fiction.

If you think that fiction is a genre unworthy of divine inspiration, you need to make an argument to that effect instead of simply assuming it.

I don’t think that’s what he was trying to say.

 

[Contarini]

No, I don’t think that’s what he meant. He was talking about the genre of human literature that is called “fiction.” Which is a long way around of saying “the genre of fiction.”

He was not saying that all literature is fiction; he was just specifying that he was referring to fiction.

I don’t think that’s what he was trying to say.

Then what’s his argument?

Why single out one particular genre?

Edwin

 

[jmcrae]

Then what’s his argument?

Why single out one particular genre?

Edwin

I thought he was trying to say that even those parts of the Bible that are fiction, are also divinely inspired for the good of our souls.

That just because it is fiction does not mean that God didn’t intend for it to be in the Bible. (Which is to say, God intended for there to be fiction in the Bible, too, and it is not “less Biblical” than the other forms of literature that we find in there.)