Non-sola scriptura Protestant

[discipulus]

I have an irking feeling that there is a rise of a new breed of Protestant.

Behold: the Non-sola scriptura Protestant! No longer restricted to any form of belief, they disconnect themselves from the last thing that tied them to any sort of orthodox Christianity - the BIBLE!

They come in, make debates and arguments which not only do not require any scriptural or philosophical basis, but have the added bonus to defy logic as well!

How do we Catholics deal with this?

 

[Tonks40]

We go…

HUH???

 

[Milliardo]

They no longer use the Bible; what basis do they use for their arguments then?

 

[Flopfoot]

Yea exactly. I reckon this new kind of Protestant is not as much of a threat, as the bible has always been their main tool for evangelisation.

Basically these people seem to be liberal or possibly even ‘new-age’ Christians who come up with their own ideas, put together a very soft theology and tell people what they want to hear. No one who is actually serious about religion would go that way. Only ‘hippy’ type people who are into the ‘free love’ thing (eg, free love of Jesus without actually having to do anything He says…)

 

[mozart-250]

Where have you been all of these years?

It’s called modernism; the scourge of the mainline Protestant Denominations. It has been around for decades.

That is why the mainline denominations are being torn apart on the gay marriage issue; they have thrown out the Bible and are now absolutely rudderless.

And it is why these churches are dying. Christ has long left, and without Jesus there is absolutely nothing attractive about them.

 

[deb1]

Protestants are as alarmed by them as Catholics. Haven’t you ever heard of the JEsus seminar? A group of men-including Bishop Sponge-decided that most of the Gospels weren’t true. They are the ‘experts’ that mainline news programs often use to disprove Christianity.

I am uncertain why these individuals don’t simply begin their own religion.

 

[FCEGM]

Flopfoot:

Yea exactly. I reckon this new kind of Protestant is not as much of a threat, as the bible has always been their main tool for evangelisation.

Basically these people seem to be liberal or possibly even ‘new-age’ Christians who come up with their own ideas, put together a very soft theology and tell people what they want to hear. No one who is actually serious about religion would go that way. Only ‘hippy’ type people who are into the ‘free love’ thing (eg, free love of Jesus without actually having to do anything He says…)

I’ve also encountered some Messianic Jews who, though quite conservative in their form of Protestantism, had a strong aversion to St. Paul’s writings, considering him “not Jewish enough”. Go figure.

 

[IanS]

discipulus:

I have an irking feeling that there is a rise of a new breed of Protestant.

Behold: the Non-sola scriptura Protestant! No longer restricted to any form of belief, they disconnect themselves from the last thing that tied them to any sort of orthodox Christianity - the BIBLE!

They come in, make debates and arguments which not only do not require any scriptural or philosophical basis, but have the added bonus to defy logic as well!

How do we Catholics deal with this?

Your feeling happens to be a fact. May I direct your attention to exhibit A:

herchurch.org

 

[Oregon_Artist]

This has been happening to a lot of the Protestant churches. The problem is that they don’t have the Pope and the Catholic heirarchy, (or what Scott Hahn would say as “government”) behind them. (as well as tradition) If you believe in Sola Scriptura you don’t have any ONE interpretation to guide you through the tough times. They all believe or read the scripture differently. I do believe that their are a lot of concervative christians in these churches fighting for what is right, but I think that is a main part of why I became Catholic. I grew tierd and weary of fighting for what was right when no one seemed to be listening and everything around me grew worse. I thank God that he has kept the Catholic church where it is, and pray that he continues to protect it and give us guidance. It is a nice place to come and rest.

 

[Contarini]

How about those of us who don’t hold to a strict version of “sola scriptura” not because we disbelieve the Bible but because we think we need tradition (though tradition is not infallible) to help us understand the Bible?

Sola Scriptura has never been a single unified concept. I don’t think it’s a helpful concept at all, actually. The classical Protestant view is far better expressed by some term such as “the final authority of Scripture.”

Edwin

 

[deb1]

Contarini:

How about those of us who don’t hold to a strict version of “sola scriptura” not because we disbelieve the Bible but because we think we need tradition (though tradition is not infallible) to help us understand the Bible?

Sola Scriptura has never been a single unified concept. I don’t think it’s a helpful concept at all, actually. The classical Protestant view is far better expressed by some term such as “the final authority of Scripture.”

Edwin

I learn something new every single time I am on this forum. I assumed that all Protestants were Sola Scriptura or if not, then they were extreme liberals who were throwing out ever piece of scripture that they disliked. That is very interesting that some Protestants are not either Sola Scriptura or very, very liberal.