Non Denominational bible study?

[tapiocapudding]

Ahh I never know where to ask these general questions so forgive me if this is the wrong forum.
I’m a new Catholic, came into the church with my little boy this Easter . My parish is very small and doesn’t offer a lot in the way of adult faith formation. What they do offer I can’t attend due to lack of childcare. A friend attends a large non denominational church which offers bible study for moms with free childcare. I would love the opportunity to learn more about the bible but I understand that some protestants have many erroneous assumptions about the bible and Catholocism. I do feel like I could look at things from a critical standpoint but I am a new Catholic. I’m also a lonely new Catholic. I don’t know very many Catholics at all from my parish as we don’t have hardly any social events. I would love an opportunity to hang out with other Christian mothers who share similar values.
What do you think?

 

[1ke]

I would not recommend attending a “non denominational” bible study. I know several people who attempted this, and it always ends up the same way: Catholic on the defense, non-Catholics trying to “save” them, and “former” Catholics bashing the Church. I don’t know anyone who has successfully attended a non-denom bible study.

Get bible study materials that are Catholic. If there isn’t a mom’s bible study/mom’s group in your parish, put something in the bulletin and have a meeting to get one started.

 

[Della]

You might want to talk to your priest about starting a home Bible study program. The Knights of Columbus have an excellent Catholic Home Study Service that covers the Bible and many other Church teachings. Your group could use that. It’s often the case that those who see the need are the ones who fill the need. Don’t be afraid to ask your priest about it. It never hurts to ask.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

I second 1ke, and my best friend is Protestant! The two of us never have any trouble talking to each other, but both of us found great difficulties at one time or another if we tried attending Bible study at the ‘other’s’ church.

What I’d suggest is that you use this time to check out things in places like this forum, and to steep yourself in the Church’s teachings. Check out things like the free old Baltimore Catechism on line, read the Pope’s encyclicals on line, page through (on line) New Advent, the Catholic Encyclopedia etc. Get your faith really ‘under your belt’. (and look for socialization opportunities at the library reading programs etc. Keep socialization and study separate for a year or two until you’ve 'put on the armor of Christ". While you’re learning about the faith, write down points that ‘resonate’ with you as a young mother that you would like to talk about more with other mothers. That way in a year or two, you’ll have a list of what you’d like to see in a Bible study, and your thoughts about it, written out as a guideline, and you might be able to get this started at your own church.

 

[tapiocapudding]

thank you, I feared that might be the case.
Thanks for the suggestions on faith formation too I really want to know more and experience more Catholicism
Do you all have any recommendations on how to meet young families in my parish? I’m shy and no good at organizing things on my own but I would love to meet other Catholic Moms for faith formation or just chit chat.
I had a friend over today and she spent like the whole time making fun of my religion It sucked. I need friends who share similar values and who aren’t going to knock down my beliefs.

 

[JRKH]

Ahh I never know where to ask these general questions so forgive me if this is the wrong forum.
I’m a new Catholic, came into the church with my little boy this Easter . My parish is very small and doesn’t offer a lot in the way of adult faith formation. What they do offer I can’t attend due to lack of childcare. A friend attends a large non denominational church which offers bible study for moms with free childcare. I would love the opportunity to learn more about the bible but I understand that some protestants have many erroneous assumptions about the bible and Catholocism. I do feel like I could look at things from a critical standpoint but I am a new Catholic. I’m also a lonely new Catholic. I don’t know very many Catholics at all from my parish as we don’t have hardly any social events. I would love an opportunity to hang out with other Christian mothers who share similar values.
What do you think?

DON’T DO IT!!
My main reason for this is because you are a new catholic. Hang out here and ask Bible questions in the “Sacred Scripture section”.
As to your concerns about the small parish and no child care etc. Talk to your pastor, or deacon about your concerns. I’m sure that they will be able to put you in touch with someone who can help. Perhaps you can be the nucleus of just such a group of mothers as you seek.

Peace
James

 

[Middleman]

Ahh I never know where to ask these general questions so forgive me if this is the wrong forum.
I’m a new Catholic, came into the church with my little boy this Easter . My parish is very small and doesn’t offer a lot in the way of adult faith formation. What they do offer I can’t attend due to lack of childcare. A friend attends a large non denominational church which offers bible study for moms with free childcare. I would love the opportunity to learn more about the bible but I understand that some protestants have many erroneous assumptions about the bible and Catholocism. I do feel like I could look at things from a critical standpoint but I am a new Catholic. I’m also a lonely new Catholic. I don’t know very many Catholics at all from my parish as we don’t have hardly any social events. I would love an opportunity to hang out with other Christian mothers who share similar values.
What do you think?

I think you should do it.

My pastor has given the ok for this because our parish doesn’t offer it. Our children attend a non-denominational youth group and have had a very positive experience with it. Our pastor gave his okay. Our church lacks a youth group.

 

[royal_archer]

I am assuming the social interaction is as important as the actual bible study.

Talk to your priest and anyone at, or after, mass who seems to be involved. At our parrish they have various groups that have been together for years and they don’t always advertise them because they assume anyone who is interested already knows about them. It is sometimes a bit hard to get your foot into the social scene if you don’t aready know people.

Some other ideas:
Offer to host your own bible study with the parrishes help (make it a study for Moms with kids).
Do other volunteer work at the parrish.
Ask if you can bring your child to RCIA.
Ask if you can help with RCIA.
If you are married, you may want to edge your husband into the Knights of Columbus and join the womens group if there is one.

I have moved a bit and have gone through the new parrish routine several times so I know a bit about what you are experiencing. But once you get to know a few people there is a snowball effect.

As for the non denominational bible studies, I would caution against them since you do not have as much of a foundation to filter information on. Outside the Catholic church anyone can proclaim themselves to be a leader of a “Christian” church. Some of these individuals have very radical and sinful ideas that they try to associate with the bible by taking things out of context or using rewritten bibles that have significantly altered the text to a new meaning.

 

[BrokenFortress]

I would also say don’t do it. How are you going to form friendships with Catholics if you go to a non-denominational function? You’ll be putting yourself further away from the Church in my opinion.

Perhaps speak with your priest after Mass some day and see if he knows of anything like what you’re looking for? Are you in a small town, or are there other Catholic Churches in the area? If there are other Churches, you could look at their websites and see if they mention any sort of faith formation. Some churches have more programs than others.

And if nothing else, ask if you can put something in the bulletin about forming a family based Bible study, just to see if there’s an interest in it.

 

[little_one]

u should be careful with those. the church doesn’t recommend u to do that. can u find one of those scripture studies classes from your parish?

 

[4EverHis]

I used to be in a non denom Bible study, and if I can give any advice, I’d say - it’s best not to join it…

the interpretation of the Bible is very Protestant, and they see salvation differently, among other things… some have a very negative view of Catholics.

In my Bible study, there were some ex-Catholics who asked for prayers for their Catholic family members to “find a personal relationship with God”, and there were some very negative comments that upset me… I ended up leaving the group. I wasn’t even Catholic yet at the time, I was on the journey to the Church…

I think the doctrinal differences can also be confusing. Catholics and Protestants just tend to view things differently.

I’ve also heard stories of people in the Bible studies trying to “save” Catholics who join…

I hope you find an opportunity to get involved in a Catholic Bible study and that God would provide a way…

God bless!!

 

[kage_ar]

I think you should do it.

My pastor has given the ok for this because our parish doesn’t offer it. Our children attend a non-denominational youth group and have had a very positive experience with it. Our pastor gave his okay. Our church lacks a youth group.

Unless your children are experts in Scriptural Apologetics, this is a BAD idea.

 

[kage_ar]

thank you, I feared that might be the case.
Thanks for the suggestions on faith formation too I really want to know more and experience more Catholicism
Do you all have any recommendations on how to meet young families in my parish? I’m shy and no good at organizing things on my own but I would love to meet other Catholic Moms for faith formation or just chit chat.
I had a friend over today and she spent like the whole time making fun of my religion It sucked. I need friends who share similar values and who aren’t going to knock down my beliefs.

Does the Parish have a CCW (Council of Catholic Women) or similar group? If they do, join that group. In some Parishes, the younger women have not joined these groups - change that trend.

Second, make an appointment to speak to the Pastor. Explain to him you want to start a moms of young children small group.

When he gives approval, then, you call the Parish secretary and reserve the parish hall for the time you want to have the meeting.

You put a blurb in the bulletin (secretary will help with this) “Attention Mom’s of children Under Age 5: We will have a fellowship meeting on Tuesday at 1 PM in the Parish Hall. Bring your little ones and your rosary!”

Show up at the hall 30 minutes early, make coffee and bring some cookies.

When the ladies get there, thank them for coming, open with a quick prayer (an Our Father is good). Then, talk about plans for the group. Do they want to meet weekly? Do they want to do Scripture study (if they do, the ignatius study bible is a great tool)? Lunch? (plan potluck for next time).

End with a decade of the Rosary -

 

[Middleman]

Unless your children are experts in Scriptural Apologetics, this is a BAD idea.

I disagree.

Unfortunately, many Catholic churches lack fellowship opportunities, or have poor programs. The youth group our children attend provides them with fun times in a Christian setting. I’d rather them be a part of that than participate in a secular group that ignores God.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has become even worse at this in recent years. Our parish is polarized since the traditionalist movement has picked up steam. There was too much controversy and the CCD program totally fell apart a few years ago. Even before that, the classes were merely instructional and not in any way a youth group.

 

[FrancisB]

I think you should do it.

My pastor has given the ok for this because our parish doesn’t offer it. Our children attend a non-denominational youth group and have had a very positive experience with it. Our pastor gave his okay. Our church lacks a youth group.

I find this troubling. They don’t believe the same thing that we do about the Bible. They don’t even use the same Bible we do (they removed a bunch of books). As dubious as studying with Lutherans or other mainstream Protestants might be, I have never had them try to convert me when I was at their church or youth group (when I was younger) or other events. Non-denominational churches, on the other hand, despite the name that suggests not having an agenda, seem to feel that it is their solemn duty to convert Catholics and save them from what they say is Satan’s church. I would stay clear of non-denominational churches and pray for the sanity of the people trapped in them, who are in a state of perpetual heresy. Would you suggest someone study the Bible with heretics? That is, essentially, what you are doing. Remember, all of Protestantism was condemned as heresy. It isn’t like going to the local Orthodox church. You might as well study with gnostics.

As we’ve seen in the past, the best way to fix the problems in the church is to start a movement. If you desire to study the Bible with your fellow Catholics, talk to your priest and ask him what he can do to help start a program. If childcare is an issue, perhaps someone in the church will help by babysitting for you, or else you can find a way to bring your children along. I know, for instance, when I was younger there were a group of us whose parents were in the choir. Choir rehearsal was the hour between when Sunday school got out and when mass began, so we went and listened to them rehearse, and eventually the choir director got us to sing. That’s actually how I ended up becoming a professional musician, and it was just because we had no place else to go. I’m sure other young families in the church would be interested in family Bible study. Even if your child(ren) are too young to actually study the Bible, there’s nothing wrong with them being there. Everyone that has children of their own will understand if children get fussy.

 

[kage_ar]

I disagree.

Unfortunately, many Catholic churches lack fellowship opportunities, or have poor programs. The youth group our children attend provides them with fun times in a Christian setting. I’d rather them be a part of that than participate in a secular group that ignores God.

The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has become even worse at this in recent years. Our parish is polarized since the traditionalist movement has picked up steam. There was too much controversy and the CCD program totally fell apart a few years ago. Even before that, the classes were merely instructional and not in any way a youth group.

If your parish does not have a youth group, start one.

Your children WILL be targets for conversion at the other Church, I promise you.

 

[Middleman]

If your parish does not have a youth group, start one.

Your children WILL be targets for conversion at the other Church, I promise you.

It was tried and our pastor has told us that the kids are too busy with secular activities.

We’ll just stick with what we’re doing. We don’t fear Protestants like so many here do. I worry more about the secular world that denies God entirely.

 

[BrokenFortress]

Well, I for one don’t fear Protestants, heck, I was one! But I still hold to my thinking that it isn’t a good idea to go to non-denominational Bible studies and groups.

If everyone runs away because their parish doesn’t offer something they think it needs, then the Church would be in a world of hurt. The children are the future. If you’re not setting them up with a good Catholic base, they’re not going to understand the importance of the Church over other denominations.

Even if you asked the priest about it, and he said that he didn’t see the need, don’t give up on it. Make him see that there* is* a need.

I realize not everyone lives in a large town or city, but if you live in a semi-large town, sometimes there are other parishes that have what you need.

 

[kage_ar]

Ditto, I was one, and all my family is Protestant - we know EXACTLY how they work.

Do your kids a favor, teach them Scriptural Apologetics.

 

[JRKH]

Well, I for one don’t fear Protestants, heck, I was one! But I still hold to my thinking that it isn’t a good idea to go to non-denominational Bible studies and groups.

If everyone runs away because their parish doesn’t offer something they think it needs, then the Church would be in a world of hurt. The children are the future. If you’re not setting them up with a good Catholic base, they’re not going to understand the importance of the Church over other denominations.

Even if you asked the priest about it, and he said that he didn’t see the need, don’t give up on it. Make him see that there is** a need.

I realize not everyone lives in a large town or city, but if you live in a semi-large town, sometimes there are other parishes that have what you need.

This is well Put.

I’ve heard this same thing put forth about the EF form of the mass becoming more used. many people are quick to say “No one wants it”, or " there is no need". Yet, when one scratches teh surface a bit, there is more interest than previously thought.
I don’t bring this up to derail the thread, but just as an example from my own experience.

If your Parish does not offer Bible study, see it another nearby does. If there is not one nearby, it seems God may be calling you to start one. Move forward boldly. Ask questions, and see how much interest there might really be. And even if only one or two or three respond, start with them - In your homes - around your kids etc. God will handle the rest.

Peace
James