Question??

[happyrain]

I was sent this by an atheist, what can I respond?

‘‘If the Bible is consistent with itself, why are there more than 1000 Christian sects in the US alone all of whom have conflicting views about what the Bible says? Each sect accepts some parts as literally true and other parts as parable or allegory and ignores other parts that contradict their views. The Bible is a random collection of books gathered together by groups of people. The only reason it is as consistent as it is (which is not very) is that they chose books that they thought made sense together.’’

 

[VociMike]

The bible isn’t “consistent with itself” if by that phrase is meant that it can only be understood one way. Which is why those who try to find their theology in the bible end up with beliefs that are all over the map.

The bible by itself does not convey without error the Christian faith. In fact it is pointed out that every heresy supports itself by quoting scripture.

That’s why “bible-alone” belief does not work, and cannot work. Only when combined with Sacred Tradition and the Church Magisterium can the Christian faith be found in total and without error.

 

[happyrain]

Thanks for responding so quickly. And How do I explain why are there are so many different Christian denominations, which all have conflicting views on how the Bible should be interpreted…etc. ?

 

[VociMike]

Thanks for responding so quickly. And How do I explain why are there are so many different Christian denominations, which all have conflicting views on how the Bible should be interpreted…etc. ?

There are so many denominations because they have separated themselves from the divine guidance and divine authority that is found in Christ’s Church, the Catholic Church. And when you set out on your own and reject sure guidance and authority, it is only a matter of time before you get further and further off the proper path. We see this very clearly in the history of Protestantism, where every generation following the Protestant Reformation has seen new errors creep in, to the point where much current Protestant theology is almost as removed from the original Protestantism as it is from Catholicism.

A useful analogy is that of groups of people leaving the Barq of Peter (a name for the Catholic Church) because they think she is on the wrong course. Each little group in its own boat heads off in what they think is the proper direction, and soon all the groups become more and more separated from each other and are scattered all over the surface of the sea.

 

[NotWorthy]

Thanks for responding so quickly. And How do I explain why are there are so many different Christian denominations, which all have conflicting views on how the Bible should be interpreted…etc. ?

When one bases their moral conscience on their own views, they tend to read and interpret the Bible in light of those moral views.

 

[MarcoPolo]

There are so many denominations because they have separated themselves from the divine guidance and divine authority that is found in Christ’s Church, the Catholic Church. And when you set out on your own and reject sure guidance and authority, it is only a matter of time before you get further and further off the proper path. We see this very clearly in the history of Protestantism, where every generation following the Protestant Reformation has seen new errors creep in, to the point where much current Protestant theology is almost as removed from the original Protestantism as it is from Catholicism.

A useful analogy is that of groups of people leaving the Barq of Peter (a name for the Catholic Church) because they think she is on the wrong course. Each little group in its own boat heads off in what they think is the proper direction, and soon all the groups become more and more separated from each other and are scattered all over the surface of the sea.

Sounds a LOT like Christ’s warning of what happens when you abandon Peter:
*Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”*Leave Peter = get sifted.

 

[WesleyF]

There are 1000s of sects because they have split from the church of Christ and are basically on their own now, not having any authoritative interpreter of the Bible.

Whenever they interpret one passage differently and cannot agree amongst themselves, they split!

I heard Patrick Madrid give an example - a simple statement.

“I never said you stole money.”

As simple as this statement sounds, it can be interpreted in several ways!!!

1. “I never said you stole money.” - you didn’t steal money.
2. “**I **never said you stole money.” - someone else said it!
3. “I never said you stole money.” - I just thought about it, but didn’t say it!
4. “I never said you stole money.” - someone else stole it!
5. “I never said you **stole **money.” - perhaps you mismanaged the money!
6. “I never said you stole money.” - perhaps you stole my watch!

If one statement can be interpreted in so many ways, how easy it is to have different interpretations of different verses in the Bible!!!

 

[Newbie2]

I was sent this by an atheist, what can I respond?

‘‘If the Bible is consistent with itself, why are there more than 1000 Christian sects in the US alone all of whom have conflicting views about what the Bible says? Each sect accepts some parts as literally true and other parts as parable or allegory and ignores other parts that contradict their views. The Bible is a random collection of books gathered together by groups of people. The only reason it is as consistent as it is (which is not very) is that they chose books that they thought made sense together.’’

One might think that if there were not a God, and all of scripture was “made up”, that whoever “made it up” would have done a better job of getting everything straight, more chapters in a big book rather than a collection of books.

Why would the early Christians take in a **random **collection of books and then try to make the Theology fit it, rather than develop the Theology through, as does the RCC, Scripture and Tradition?

 

[ICEArmy]

There are 1000s of sects because they have split from the church of Christ and are basically on their own now, not having any authoritative interpreter of the Bible.

Whenever they interpret one passage differently and cannot agree amongst themselves, they split!

I heard Patrick Madrid give an example - a simple statement.

“I never said you stole money.”

As simple as this statement sounds, it can be interpreted in several ways!!!

1. “I never said you stole money.” - you didn’t steal money.
2. “**I **never said you stole money.” - someone else said it!
3. “I never said you stole money.” - I just thought about it, but didn’t say it!
4. “I never said you stole money.” - someone else stole it!
5. “I never said you **stole **money.” - perhaps you mismanaged the money!
6. “I never said you stole money.” - perhaps you stole my watch!

If one statement can be interpreted in so many ways, how easy it is to have different interpretations of different verses in the Bible!!!

That is very true. Very good analogy to make

 

[rpp]

I was sent this by an atheist, what can I respond?

‘‘If the Bible is consistent with itself, why are there more than 1000 Christian sects in the US alone all of whom have conflicting views about what the Bible says? Each sect accepts some parts as literally true and other parts as parable or allegory and ignores other parts that contradict their views. The Bible is a random collection of books gathered together by groups of people. The only reason it is as consistent as it is (which is not very) is that they chose books that they thought made sense together.’’

The problem is that these sects often interpret the Bible in a vacuum. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has always had the proper context in which to read and understand this. Please note the excellent example that WesleyF made in his post regarding context.

 

[NotWorthy]

The problem is that these sects often interpret the Bible in a vacuum. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has always had the proper context in which to read and understand this.

Exactly!

Notice how many times the Catholic Church has split off over 2000 years (and the lack of differences in their teachings amongs the various splits) and the number of Protestants spin-offs over the last 500 years.

BIG difference.

 

[rpp]

Exactly!

Notice how many times the Catholic Church has split off over 2000 years (and the lack of differences in their teachings amongs the various splits) and the number of Protestants spin-offs over the last 500 years.

BIG difference.

One important point I failed to mention. For the first half of the history of the Church, there was, in general, overall untiy. These sects did not start cropping up until the last quarter of the Church’s history.