Little Rock Scripture Study: What's it like?

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I plan to sign up for the Little Rock Scripture Study at my parish. The only thing is, I don’t know much about it. So, I was wondering if anyone here knows a whole lot about it. Is the study of Scripture very organized? Does it focus more on subjective response to passages, or does it focus more on the theological meaning of passages and how they relate to the Church’s teachings?

Also, what Bible version is used, if there is a standard version used for this Scripture study program? What makes this Scripture study program unique from any old study of Scriptures? 🙂
 
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Madaglan:
I plan to sign up for the Little Rock Scripture Study at my parish. The only thing is, I don’t know much about it
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I’ve never heard of this, but the mere fact that it’s called “Little Rock” gives me pause (per the common anti-Catholic “little” vs “big” Rock debate regarding “Peter” (Rock) that Keating et al have debunked in many forums). Why call it “Little Rock” unless it either originates from a particular city in Arkansas (which I doubt is the case here) OR it attempts to use various specious premises to undermine or discredit Papal (and thus, Church) authority (which I think is more probable)? The very first question I would ask the organizer is exactly why this program was called “Little Rock” Scripture Study. Subsequent dialogue is left as an exercise to the Reader.
 
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Madaglan:
I plan to sign up for the Little Rock Scripture Study at my parish. The only thing is, I don’t know much about it. So, I was wondering if anyone here knows a whole lot about it. Is the study of Scripture very organized? Does it focus more on subjective response to passages, or does it focus more on the theological meaning of passages and how they relate to the Church’s teachings?

Also, what Bible version is used, if there is a standard version used for this Scripture study program? What makes this Scripture study program unique from any old study of Scriptures? 🙂
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Little Rock actuallt stands for the Diocese of Little Rock that developed the series.

I have attended several Scripture studies that uses this series and have enjoyed them. However, for a person who is more advanced in thier studies of the Bible, they might find the question lacking. Many of them tend to be on the personal nature (This was especially true with the one on the Psalms).

Basically, the format consists of three question on a section of the Book being studied (Usually a Chapter or two) to be answered each day between the weekly sessions. During the sessions, the questions are discussed for about an hour and then there is a 20 minute video at the end discussing the past week’s readings and questions. For each study, there is a question booklet and a study guide (many of them are taken directly from the Collegeville Bible Commentary)

The one I was just in was the Gospel Accoring to Matthew. The study guide was developed by Jerome Kodell, OSB. He is the abbot of Subaco Abbey in Little Rock, AK.

I hope this helps

PF
 
Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers has reservations about the programme.
 
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 Originally Quoted by yinekka:
 
Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers has reservations about the programme.
Can you please expand on that?
 
I have been participating in this study programme since 1999 when I started with the Book of Revelation. I am now parish co-ordinator of the Little Rock Scripture Study.

As a result of undertaking this study I have a better understanding of the Scripture. The audience for the study is someone who has a basic understanding of the Bible, so for anyone who is more advanced it might be disappointing if they are looking for something with more theology.

I will try to list some of the things for and against the Little Rock Scripture study:
  1. The questions can be very personal and I recommend that if you are not the type who is willing to share such personal things then this might not be the right programme for you. As a side note, if there is a question that I do not want to answer then I give a 🙂 response. Of course, when I am with a group that knows the programme and how the answers are given in the booklet then “Answers will vary” is an acceptable alternative.
  2. The commentaries tend to take the modernist point of view. This is not always bad, but for people who do not know either Church history or have no sound background in theology then this can be a problem. For example the commentary for the Gospel of Matthew took the point of view that Matthew used the “Q” document even though this “Q” source does not exist.
  3. One of the features of the program is learning conversational prayer, and teaching others to express openly their prayers for others needs. Personally, I have found learning conversational prayer to be helpful in opening me up to prayer in a new way.
  4. There are ways to deal with the commentaries that are used when they tend to be weak or vary from other commentaries. I prefer to use the Navarre commentary as a back up and support, I also use the commentary in the Christian Community Bible as another source of information.
  5. Sometimes the questions miss the mark, or at least the point of particular verses, but that also depends upon one’s personal point of view. For example in the Gospel of Matthew there was not a lot of study around Simon being named “Rock”.
  6. The Little Rock series teaches us to seek the other Scripture sources that support what we are reading. Quite often the question being asked requires that we look up other passages of Scripture. This means that we do get a better understanding of how the Scripture hangs together and how the Old Testament and the New Testament Scriptures complement each other.
  7. The videos are very good. However there are some that have been a little “iffy”. It is a good idea to have a priest present who can give a wrap up talk and answer any awkward questions that have arisen. If you are watching the videos of “The Gospel of John” and “Exodus” beware of the woman with the large red glasses. She really cracked me up.
  8. This study programme is a good way for people to come together in a discussion group and to learn to focus on Scripture for at least a short time. It is good to be able to focus on Scripture in light of today’s experiences.
I hope this helps.

Maggie
 
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MaggieOH:
I have been participating in this study programme since 1999 when I started with the Book of Revelation. I am now parish co-ordinator of the Little Rock Scripture Study.

As a result of undertaking this study I have a better understanding of the Scripture. The audience for the study is someone who has a basic understanding of the Bible, so for anyone who is more advanced it might be disappointing if they are looking for something with more theology.

I will try to list some of the things for and against the Little Rock Scripture study:
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Thanks for your well-balanced and thoughtful evaluation of this program. I have heard of and seen this program, but have avoided going through it because I have heard about it’s modernist tendencies and it’s reliance on the Collegeville commentaries. I AM very familiar with the Collegeville material and definitely would not recommend a program based on it to those who do not have the background to distinguish in the the difference between the opinions of modern scholars and the Magisterium and the constant Tradition of the Church
 
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Madaglan:
I plan to sign up for the Little Rock Scripture Study at my parish. The only thing is, I don’t know much about it. So, I was wondering if anyone here knows a whole lot about it. Is the study of Scripture very organized? Does it focus more on subjective response to passages, or does it focus more on the theological meaning of passages and how they relate to the Church’s teachings?

Also, what Bible version is used, if there is a standard version used for this Scripture study program? What makes this Scripture study program unique from any old study of Scriptures? 🙂
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Her is a link to it…someone suggested it to me just last week…I too have reservations since the person is heavy into ecuminism…
 
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Fidelis:
Thanks for your well-balanced and thoughtful evaluation of this program. I have heard of and seen this program, but have avoided going through it because I have heard about it’s modernist tendencies and it’s reliance on the Collegeville commentaries. I AM very familiar with the Collegeville material and definitely would not recommend a program based on it to those who do not have the background to distinguish in the the difference between the opinions of modern scholars and the Magisterium and the constant Tradition of the Church
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I am the point now where there is starting to be a dimished return on investment on attending the Scripture studies based on the Little Rock series. This is due to both my increased familiarity with Scripture and the possible change in career that I may take in about a year or so.

I have many of the Bible Study guides published by Ignatius Press that I am going to start using one I get settled in Scranton next week. In addition, my personal studies are going to start including various theological and philosophical topics. One good thing is that were I will be working is within walking distance of the University of Scranton and there is a Catholic bookstore equal distance in the other direction (there goes much of my paycheck :banghead: just kidding :whacky: ).

PF
 
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Annunciata:
Her is a link to it…someone suggested it to me just last week…I too have reservations since the person is heavy into ecuminism…
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I am not sure that you give a good reason to have reservations about Little Rock if you are basing it upon what another person thinks. Any reservations should be based upon the quality (or lack of) of the Little Rock Scripture study program.

I believe that people should give it a go, and if you think that it is not satisfactory for some reason, then suggest changes or even suggest that someone puts forward a new program for consideration.

At the moment this is the only program that is available to Catholics so that we get a Catholic view of Scripture.

Maggie
 
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MaggieOH:
I am not sure that you give a good reason to have reservations about Little Rock if you are basing it upon what another person thinks. Any reservations should be based upon the quality (or lack of) of the Little Rock Scripture study program.

I believe that people should give it a go, and if you think that it is not satisfactory for some reason, then suggest changes or even suggest that someone puts forward a new program for consideration.

At the moment this is the only program that is available to Catholics so that we get a Catholic view of Scripture.

Maggie
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I’m always cautious about Bible studies, Maggie… I’ve been burned in the past by Protestant studies…sooo…I’m a little ‘gun shy’ . The person who recommended it isn’t very credible…
I guess I’ve rash judged it …mea culpa…I’ll give it a 2nd look as I do regard your opinion.
God Bless,
Annunciata:)
 
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Annunciata:
I’m always cautious about Bible studies, Maggie… I’ve been burned in the past by Protestant studies…sooo…I’m a little ‘gun shy’ . The person who recommended it isn’t very credible…
I guess I’ve rash judged it …mea culpa…I’ll give it a 2nd look as I do regard your opinion.
God Bless,
Annunciata:)
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Annunciata,

I do understand about the comment about being burned in the past. There are some groups who are a bit coy about stating up front who they are so that they can hook the unwary.

I am also a bit shy of certain studies and will not involve myself in certain programs. A person that I know has gotten herself involved in some courses that I would consider suspect, since they do not come from a Catholic or reputable source, yet she was of the view that I must have heard of some of the courses that she has done, when the truth is … not on your life…

Maggie
 
HI,

as a native of Little Rock, and one who has grown up and lived most of her adult life in the Diocese of Little Rock, and has looked at the LR Scripture study indepth, I don’t like it much.

It is mostly subjective, and does not lead one to find out the meaning of a passage as decided by tradition, church fathers, or the magisterium. You have to do your own homework on that part. How much good it does one could depend on the orthodoxy of the leader as well as your own knowlege base.

I much prefer using the Navarre Bible, Scott Hahn’s studies, and Emmanus Road bible studies, and Jeff Cavins bible study timeline.

We finally have an “actively orthodox” bishop for the first time since I was 8 (I am now 43) and I have seen very few good programs come from the Diocese of LR in my time. Thank goodness times are changing. Perhaps they will revise the series some day. A friend, and former Baptist minister who went through Marcus Grodi’s Coming Home Network and went through the LR scripture study in our parish did not like the program much either. In his words: “It was not bad, but it wasn’t that good either.”
 
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yinekka:
Jimmy Akin of Catholic Answers has reservations about the programme.
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**I took the course and found some of it to be much to liberal for my **Puritan Catholic tastes. But not much else around. It was all on video when I went.
 
I highly recommend any Bible study by Jeff Cavins. He is member at my parish and we are doing a new Bible study on the book of Matthew. I feel so lucky to be here at this time.

savedbygrace
 
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SandraHarrison:
HI,

as a native of Little Rock, and one who has grown up and lived most of her adult life in the Diocese of Little Rock, and has looked at the LR Scripture study indepth, I don’t like it much.

It is mostly subjective, and does not lead one to find out the meaning of a passage as decided by tradition, church fathers, or the magisterium. You have to do your own homework on that part. How much good it does one could depend on the orthodoxy of the leader as well as your own knowlege base.

I much prefer using the Navarre Bible, Scott Hahn’s studies, and Emmanus Road bible studies, and Jeff Cavins bible study timeline.

We finally have an “actively orthodox” bishop for the first time since I was 8 (I am now 43) and I have seen very few good programs come from the Diocese of LR in my time. Thank goodness times are changing. Perhaps they will revise the series some day. A friend, and former Baptist minister who went through Marcus Grodi’s Coming Home Network and went through the LR scripture study in our parish did not like the program much either. In his words: “It was not bad, but it wasn’t that good either.”
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I put it in the category of a basic start for beginners, or for beginning to read the Scripture.

From what I understand the purpose of the course was to start a process that would undercut the desire of Catholics to study the Scripture with other groups. I think that it has adequately achieved this purpose.

The intention does not seem to have been to give us the greater in depth knowledge that both you and I seek. That is why I see it more as a beginning rather than the only course.

From my own personal standpoint I have invested in other material that gives me a better depth of understanding of the Scripture, including the Navarre series and as they become available the Scott Hahn/Curtis Mitch series. This series also has questions to answer and in the future could be a good substitute for Little Rock. Unfortunately they do not offer the video lectures.

Also I do not like the modernist stance that is taken but there is so much extra good material in the videos that I do find the course worth doing as an intial course.

Maggie
 
Madaglan, Sorry I have taken so long to reply to your question; I have just seen it. I was listening to Qand A on Catholic Answers one day and someone asked about the Little Rock programme. Jimmy said that he couldn’t recommend it.
 
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Maggie:
At the moment this is the only program that is available to Catholics so that we get a Catholic view of Scripture.
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There is another program which we used in our parish for lent a couple years ago called the DeSales Series. The video collection was excellent for someone wanting background for studying the New Testament. Father had found the entire set in the parish library when he became our pastor and suggested we give it a try. Since a former pastor had made the purchase, it may be dated and/or unavailable - I don’t know.

Some of the people who attended were so pleased that they wanted us to continue after lent ended. At the suggestion of one attendee, the leadership reviewed a borrowed tape from the Little Rock series to see how it compared. After spending many weeks with the DeSales series, our team was really disappointed with the format of Little Rock, and also with the booklet that accompanied it. We decided to stay with DeSales.

The film we had borrowed was mostly a dry lecture-type, unlike the DeSales which was presented by a priest, and the array of charts and pictures he used in the presentation was excellent. It opened our understanding and kept our interest much more than what we observed with L.R. Of course, we only saw that one tape, but it was enough of a comparison to make a good decision.
 
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