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Fidelis
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LOL – That’s a big IF. In my experience, most Catholics join Protestant bible studies – not because they want to share their insights, but “to learn the Bible.”
Who’s perspective of the Bible will they be learning?
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Who’s perspective of the Bible will they be learning?
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whatevergirl
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Thanks Liberian…I wonder if he ‘believes’ in Catholic doctrine then…he is such a great speaker…and speaks to the relevance of common, everyday topics. He’s not a condemner at all. I don’t particularly like John Hagee, for example…for he is rather critical of Catholics. (I just plain out feel he dislikes us altogether) But…thanks for this tidbit of info Liberian!
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whatevergirl
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I wish Father Corapi as on at the time I drive in…I have some cd’s of him speaking, and he is tremendous. But, like I said…I don’t normally listen to Stanley, just when there’s a topic on RR that I don’t of particular relevance or interest in my life.
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whatevergirl
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hmmm…i have no idea.Not two weeks ago I was listening to Dr. Stanley and --while not mentioning Catholics by name. of course --he spoke in disparaging terms of “crucifixes and rituals” – gee, I wonder who he was talking about?
I have not heard him say that…but is it wrong to listen to someone preaching on everday subjects (loving thy neighbor) if he/she is not Catholic…but a very Godly person. I suppose that is the question I have.
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whatevergirl
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ROFL wine as a top five…yikes! I mean, a nice glass is good every now and again…but c’mon. lol That is funny and not so funny…all at the same time, no?
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woodyww
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Read Steve Ray’s response to Dr. Stanley’s sermon on once saved always saved.
URL=http://www.catholicconvert.com/Portals/0/Documents/EternalSecurityStanley.doc
It’s standard southern baptist teaching. It is also comletely against Catholic teaching and is probably one of the most dangerous heresies adopted by the baptist denomination. A one time walk down an aisle to make a profession of faith does not save one for eternity.
URL=http://www.catholicconvert.com/Portals/0/Documents/EternalSecurityStanley.doc
It’s standard southern baptist teaching. It is also comletely against Catholic teaching and is probably one of the most dangerous heresies adopted by the baptist denomination. A one time walk down an aisle to make a profession of faith does not save one for eternity.
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Thal59
Guest
I used to bible study at a non-denominational church for a limited period of time. This was because I knew the pastor who held the study.
While a few useful “tid-bits” would come out, most of the time I was listening to interpretation that was either lame or a bit of a stretch.
I decided to refrain from future appearences because I would have to challenge so many assertions by the pastor that nothing would be gained. I did not go to that church for bible study to constantly challenge their preconceived notions. I had to realize that for many people in that congregation, this is the only Christianity they are familiar with and I didn’t want to “become the enemy” by making their Christianity look bad or uninformed. (That can be misconstrued as saying you do not have the spirit guiding your theological study and opinions.)
What I would like to see is a joint Catholic/Protestant bible study where each church presents its views and interpretations while allowing the “class” to debate the validity of each point. In other words, alternating sessions would be held between two churches - one Catholic, another Protestant, but the Catholic Priest and the Protestant minister would attend all sessions to represent their denominations agreement or dissent over scriptural verses and moral lessons.
In this way, the members of the study would get both sides of the argument at the same time and might be able to actually come to a conclusion in favor of one side or the other.
Thal59
While a few useful “tid-bits” would come out, most of the time I was listening to interpretation that was either lame or a bit of a stretch.
I decided to refrain from future appearences because I would have to challenge so many assertions by the pastor that nothing would be gained. I did not go to that church for bible study to constantly challenge their preconceived notions. I had to realize that for many people in that congregation, this is the only Christianity they are familiar with and I didn’t want to “become the enemy” by making their Christianity look bad or uninformed. (That can be misconstrued as saying you do not have the spirit guiding your theological study and opinions.)
What I would like to see is a joint Catholic/Protestant bible study where each church presents its views and interpretations while allowing the “class” to debate the validity of each point. In other words, alternating sessions would be held between two churches - one Catholic, another Protestant, but the Catholic Priest and the Protestant minister would attend all sessions to represent their denominations agreement or dissent over scriptural verses and moral lessons.
In this way, the members of the study would get both sides of the argument at the same time and might be able to actually come to a conclusion in favor of one side or the other.
Thal59
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Dancelittleewok
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I’ve listened to Protestant preachers so that I may know what to expect when someone might evangelize me.
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Karin
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Ok each their own I guess…the last Protestant preacher I listened to I had to get up and leave
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Dancelittleewok
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I entirely understand. I view it as more as an educational tool of how teleevangelists view the Church, even it’s entirely erroneous.
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whatevergirl
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mdgspencer
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I think that this is a parallel situation. I own over a thousand books on the Bible and in fact write myself. Some books by Protestants on Scripture are useful and admirable. I recall that Bishop Sheen said that he liked using Barclay’s commentaries on Scripture when preparing sermons. But I find a minority of them distasteful, because they denegrate Catholic beliefs, such as Catholic Marian devotion. I won’t read or buy any of these, and in fact would worry that some of what they say would rub off. Similarly, some Protestant Bible discussion groups provide an environment hostile to Catholicism. For example, my wife went to one in a Protestant Church, where some of the participants (though not the minister) made remarks denigrating Catholics. So she stopped going. And too such groups could be focused on beliefs contradictory to Catholic convictions, such as the idea that Scripture is the sole authority in religion or in being “saved.” It may be all-right to go to a group that didn’t particularly polemicize against Catholic beliefs, but on the other hand to blithely go to such a group could be a temptation against faith. Perhaps in some cases where the people aren’t hostile to Catholic convictions it going could be useful. One reason though that I wouldn’t join such a group is that it would be very difficult to speak of my Catholic beliefs, and in fact it would seem out of line to go into someone else’s Church and contradict the beliefs of its member by speaking, for example, of the Pope’s headship of the Church during a discussion of the last chapter of Saint John’s Gospel.
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Fidelis
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Forsooth. One can only imagine the fireworks that would ensue should a discussion be undertaken of John 6 or Matthew 16:18-19
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Writer
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I have got mixed feelings on this one. I have suggested against Catholics attending these kinds of Bible studies in the past, but the deciding issue for me was that the Catholic felt threatened–if I remember correctly. Catholic Bible studies need to be the first choice, but I think we should take care in flatly saying avoid them. As a guy who led them once in a while as Protestant, I think the key here is the spiritual maturity of the believer. Lately, for example, I have been studying the issue of evangelizing Protestants, based in part on the writings of our beloved Pope John Paul II.
Every time I bring up the word “ecumenical”, or something similar, you can hear people out there just sigh and sneer. I am not sure why this is, but I understand that I am still a new Catholic, so maybe I’ll understand this gut reaction at some later time. The point is, however, that we do have a responsibility to share the fullness of faith with our separated beretheren. We can’t do this unless we interact with them. Avoiding these opportunities at all costs seems to be a step towards ignoring them, as well, and focusing only on ourselves. It’s a complicated topic, though, and I don’t think that short sound bite responses are going to cut it on this one.
Every time I bring up the word “ecumenical”, or something similar, you can hear people out there just sigh and sneer. I am not sure why this is, but I understand that I am still a new Catholic, so maybe I’ll understand this gut reaction at some later time. The point is, however, that we do have a responsibility to share the fullness of faith with our separated beretheren. We can’t do this unless we interact with them. Avoiding these opportunities at all costs seems to be a step towards ignoring them, as well, and focusing only on ourselves. It’s a complicated topic, though, and I don’t think that short sound bite responses are going to cut it on this one.
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jmcrae
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Because so often, the term “ecumenical” is code for “keep quiet and smile while I either ignore or insult your Blessed Mother.”
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Writer
Guest
Well, if that were taking place within a Protestant Bible study, we’re in agreement that the Catholic would want to steer clear of any involvement. (I would not avoid contact with Protestants, however, simply out of fear that they may say something foolish.) When I say “ecumenical”, I am thinking of how Pope John Paul II describes it in his little masterpiece called *Crossing the Threshold of Hope. *As far as I am concerned, if that pope said this was an important area for the Church, that’s good enough for our new Catholic family.Because so often, the term “ecumenical” is code for “keep quiet and smile while I either ignore or insult your Blessed Mother.”
I don’t want to veer this thread into a different direction than was intended, but I’d just say if the Bible study is respectful to different backgrounds, the prospective Catholic attendee is mature in his faith, and he wants to join in the fellowship, I don’t see a problem in cautiously proceeding. I still think, however, that parish Bible studies should usually be considered first. My wife and I host an infomal discussion group on the Catechism at our parish, for instance. We ended-up drawing back a Catholic who had previously been attending one of these Protestant Bible studies–at least until she disappeared again. So, I guess the definite, clear cut, and black and white answer is…it depends.
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Writer
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Just wanted to make a final note of clarification on this thread. Steve Ray and I exchanged e-mails on this interesting topic, and we’re both on the same page. He wasn’t making a blanket statement concerning Catholics who are educated in their faith–especially us former Protestants who understand how the other traditions misunderstand us–but he was making a more general statement concerning Catholics who perhaps could have a stronger knowledge of their faith and traditions. So, as far as I am concerned, I agree with this take on it, too. Enjoyed the lively discussion!
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Pacbox
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Having participated in a Bible study with a Calvary Chapel pastor and several members of that church, the only thing I got out of it was I came to Catholic Answers
. I knew my faith, I just could not ARTICULATE it very well. I can be pretty socially inept and I said some pretty stupid things (like Prove It in regards to the book of Daniel (we were studying Daniel) and some twisted interpretation the pastor had).
Mostly I went because an old college roommate and her husband invited me (and I had been homeless and sleeping on their couch at the time) and to scope out what non-Catholics thought of Catholics. Like I said earlier, the only good thing that came from it was I came to CAF to learn to articulate my faith better. And I was well aware that the pastor was trying to “convert” me but considering I determined at a pretty young age that I could never not be Catholic and I knew that Catholicism had the fullness of truth and that I had the fullness of truth, it was a pointless move on his part.
. I knew my faith, I just could not ARTICULATE it very well. I can be pretty socially inept and I said some pretty stupid things (like Prove It in regards to the book of Daniel (we were studying Daniel) and some twisted interpretation the pastor had).Mostly I went because an old college roommate and her husband invited me (and I had been homeless and sleeping on their couch at the time) and to scope out what non-Catholics thought of Catholics. Like I said earlier, the only good thing that came from it was I came to CAF to learn to articulate my faith better. And I was well aware that the pastor was trying to “convert” me but considering I determined at a pretty young age that I could never not be Catholic and I knew that Catholicism had the fullness of truth and that I had the fullness of truth, it was a pointless move on his part.
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KathleenElsie
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Are the willing to include all the books of the Bible. Or do they use the abridged form only?
Most will exclude some of the books as not being part of the Bible.
The Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra , Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Baruch, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah (Zechariah), and Malachi.
The New Testament: the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters of St. Paul to the Romans 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, the Letter to the Hebrews, the Letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, Jude, and Revelations.
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Maureen_Fiore
Guest
I actual joined a Catholic Bible study that was offered in my parish. Tonight will be my first one and I am wondering what it will be like. I hope it is not a charismatic type otherwise I don’t think I will go back. I am trying to understand my faith better and I thought this bible study maybe a start. I still watch EWTN and I get a lot of information from this channel but I want to make sure this bible study is on the same page as EWTN.
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