Scripture Study - BSF for Catholics?

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AELondon said:
My advice, like that of many others, is to avoid the BSF and look for a Catholic study group. These fundamental protestant groups are likely to see you as an apostate who needs saving. That said, I also think there is a tremendous opportunity here for true evangelization. If you are rock-solid in your Faith and well versed in apologetics, this might be a good opportunity to witness to others about the True Church. However, don’t make that decision lightly and don’t do it if you think you might “blow your top” when the Church, Mary, the sacraments, and the saints are insulted.
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I did BSF for a few years, and my experience leads me to believe that any discussion of uniquely Catholic teachings will be sqaushed rather quickly. You have to pretty much toe the line of evangelical theology, especially “once-saved-always-saved,” sola scriptura and sola fide. The group I attended also required everyone to use the popular NIV translation, a favorite amongst evangelical Protestants. This particular translation changes all New Testament references to tradition in the positive sense into “teachings,” and only uses the word “tradition” when the sense is negative. In fact, it is the only modern translation in which I’ve seen that bias, which seems directly aimed at the Catholic Church.
 
djrakowski said:
I did BSF for a few years, and my experience leads me to believe that any discussion of uniquely Catholic teachings will be sqaushed rather quickly. You have to pretty much toe the line of evangelical theology, especially “once-saved-always-saved,” sola scriptura and sola fide. The group I attended also required everyone to use the popular NIV translation, a favorite amongst evangelical Protestants. This particular translation changes all New Testament references to tradition in the positive sense into “teachings,” and only uses the word “tradition” when the sense is negative. In fact, it is the only modern translation in which I’ve seen that bias, which seems directly aimed at the Catholic Church.
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I agree entirely. A Catholic “mole” in a group like this would be quickly shouted down as soon as he/she initiated any sort of defense of Mary, the sacraments, etc… That type of apologetics is like herding cats. My suggestion would be to gently address the issues of Authority. Everything falls into line once the fallacy of Sola Scriptura is revealed.
 
djrakowski said:
I did BSF for a few years, and my experience leads me to believe that any discussion of uniquely Catholic teachings will be sqaushed rather quickly. You have to pretty much toe the line of evangelical theology, especially “once-saved-always-saved,” sola scriptura and sola fide. The group I attended also required everyone to use the popular NIV translation, a favorite amongst evangelical Protestants. This particular translation changes all New Testament references to tradition in the positive sense into “teachings,” and only uses the word “tradition” when the sense is negative. In fact, it is the only modern translation in which I’ve seen that bias, which seems directly aimed at the Catholic Church.
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OHMYGOSH! I did not know this! The NIV Bible is the one we use most often. I’m going to replace it with something else. Thanks for the heads up.

Satan is so subtle isn’t he? :eek:

And regarding BSF - in discussion, you are only allowed to use the Bible or the study notes that BSF provides. You would never be allowed to quote the CCC or any Church Fathers… Even if you supported our Catholic beliefs with Scripture, I am certain the discussion leader would allow five others to come after you to support why you are WRONG… and then they’d move onto another question. It would be an uphill battle all the way. BSF is huge where I live and my Priest has repeatedly said that it is not appropriate for Catholics.
 
carol_marie said:
OHMYGOSH! I did not know this! The NIV Bible is the one we use most often. I’m going to replace it with something else. Thanks for the heads up.

Satan is so subtle isn’t he? :eek:
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You’re quite welcome (and correct, too)! Besides the bias in translation, the NIV doesn’t contain all the books of the Bible (you know, the ones our Church supposedly “added” :rolleyes: )

For an example of what I’m talking about with that translation bias, compare 2 Thessalonians 2:15 from a few different Protestant translations:

NIV - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

NASB - So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

KJV - Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

NKJV - Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

ESV - So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

It is interesting to note that only the NIV displays this particular bias in this verse.
carol_marie said:
And regarding BSF - in discussion, you are only allowed to use the Bible or the study notes that BSF provides. You would never be allowed to quote the CCC or any Church Fathers… Even if you supported our Catholic beliefs with Scripture, I am certain the discussion leader would allow five others to come after you to support why you are WRONG… and then they’d move onto another question. It would be an uphill battle all the way. BSF is huge where I live and my Priest has repeatedly said that it is not appropriate for Catholics.
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Exactly. In fact, when I was studying in a BSF class as an evangelical, I wasn’t allowed to refer even to the footnotes in my Bible. The discussions had to center around the Biblical text (no problems there) and the BSF discussion notes (slanted toward evangelical Protestant beliefs). Sure, we were asked to give our interpretation of the scriptures, but if they strayed from what the discussion leaders were told was correct, we were corrected.
 
Fidelis said:
Catholic apologist, Bible teacher, and convert from Evangelicalism Steve Ray has a series of excellent articles on this issue:

Non-denominational, Ecumenical Bible Studies?
Catholics Are Welcome if they Keep Quiet!
catholic-convert.com/Portals/0/EcumenicalBibleStudy.pdf

Are All Bible Translations Created Equal?
The Protestant Bias of the NIV
catholic-convert.com/Portals/0/NIVbias.doc

How To Start a Parish Bible Study
catholic-convert.com/Portals/0/ParishBibleStudy.pdf
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Ah, thanks for reminding me about these articles from Steve Ray’s site. I need to review the one about the NIV again.

Dan
 
scriabin said:
That’s why I left the Little Rock Bible Study at my parish. After a speaker gives his slant on the passage for the night we break into discussion groups, pass around a rock, and everyone has a chance to give her opinion on what they think the Bible verse means.

I left. It was not a good experience, just like any Protestant Bible “Study.”
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I don’t know what that was, but it was definitely not the Little Rock Scripture Study meeting outline that I was taught in the leadership seminars.

They actually passed around a little rock? That’s hilarious - the name “Little Rock” actually refers to the town where the videos are made - and we weren’t allowed to show the videos until after the discussion (which was not about anybody’s “feelings” except when the participants went off-topic) had ended. We didn’t pass around any little rocks during the meetings.

Ours was always very orthodox, but that’s probably because the core group of participants were good, orthodox Catholics - we sometimes, and I mean very rarely, came across weird stuff in the Commentaries; in our case, we just skipped right over it. Everything else about it was fine.
 
scriabin said:
That’s why I left the Little Rock Bible Study at my parish. After a speaker gives his slant on the passage for the night we break into discussion groups, pass around a rock, and everyone has a chance to give her opinion on what they think the Bible verse means.

I left. It was not a good experience, just like any Protestant Bible “Study.”
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That is completely different to how Little Rock Study is done at my parish. We discuss the questions in the study guide and commentary and watch the video and discuss it. We never talk about “what a verse means to me”. And NO rock passing. The only things we pass around are the coffee and donuts.
 
I converted to the Catholic faith about 8 years ago. A few years after my conversion, I attended BSF for about 4 years. I had a strong thirst for a regular, scholarly bible study and I was having trouble finding such a program with a Catholic background.

BSF was basically good for one thing…it got me in the habit of reading scripture on a regular basis.

However, BSF is not inter-denominational…it is definitely protestant based, with a strong baptist background. Catholics are allowed to attend, but they are not truly considered on equal footing with other attendees. Catholics are not allowed to be small group leaders. When I specifically asked about this policy, I was read a set of beliefs that goes above and beyond what’s stated in a link on this topic. It also went above and beyond any Apostle’s Creed or Profession of Faith that I ever heard as a protestant. Those beliefs seemed specifically designed to prevent Catholics from being group leaders. Incidentally, they should have also prevented members of some Lutheran synods (and other denominations) from being leaders because they specifically stated that leaders had to believe that “communion” was strictly a symbolic re-enactment of the Lord’s Supper.

During the weekly lessons, I found myself being constantly confronted with doctrines that I had already assessed and rejected when I converted to the Catholic faith. “Once saved always saved” was pounded out on a weekly basis. “Sola Scriptura” was also a big doctrine that was pushed. Each weekly lesson was an exercise in separating out the wheat from the weeds.

Interestingly enough, the BSF position on faith and works was more Catholic than they care to realize. That particular topic reminded me of a point made in one of my favorite books(Catholic and Christian by Alan Shreck)…that is, that most people don’t disagree with the Catholic faith…they disagree with their misconception of the Catholic faith.

In my small groups, I was often confronted with a strong anti-Catholic bias that at times could be almost hateful. When I would choose to reveal that I was a convert to Catholicism, the group members were often flabbergasted. They couldn’t believe that 1.) A Catholic was actually choosing to spend time studying the bible. 2.) That anybody would actually convert TO the Catholic faith.

Obviously, I would not recommend attending BSF as a Catholic unless you are very strong in your faith. I would definitely not encourage any Catholic kids or teens to attend.

Two years ago I found the Jeff Cavins Great Adventure Timeline Bible Study. It is awesome, and attending a Catholic based study that focuses on the full richness of the entire faith is beyond compare…I really mean this. I can’t tell you how great it is been to see how the entire faith comes together in both scripture and tradition.

In addition, as a convert, I was not totally “into” the Catechism of the Catholic church. In the very first lesson from the bible timeline series, we were asked to study scripture along with the Catechism. And in that first week, the Catechism succinctly, completely, and beautifully addressed a question that protestants and BSF had belabored at length, without providing an adequate answer. The Catechism does this on a regular basis. I have found it to be a real personal discovery.

Scripture study with a Catechism by your side simply cannot be beat. Don’t waste your time settling for anything less.
 
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