Solas of the Protestant Reformation

[MagicKirk]

What is the central theme of Roman Catholicism?

I heard Cardinal Francis George say on the radio today that the Eucharist gave birth to the church.

The Eucharist is central to the mass, so I guess that you can say it is a central theme.

I know different protestant denominations believe different things about the Real Presence, and I honestly don’t know what Reformed groups believe (Is that the same as Dutch Reform?), however, a book crossed my desk a couple weeks ago. It was written by a protestant minister about Communion. The dustjacket summary said that sometimes it’s hard for Christians to find relevance today in Communion.

For anyone who shares that sentiment, they are missing something very special.

 

[PerryJ]

Do you have any information on this?

I, personally, love much of what the deuterocanonical books have to say and think they should be included with every Bible translation. Did you see the English Standard Version published by Oxford Press will have the DC included next year? I think outside of the KJV it will be the first English translation from non-Catholic sources to do so.

By the way… The Augsburg Confession of Faith, which is our main doctrinal statement refers to the DC as Scripture. I, personally, do not believe they should ever have been removed. The more I study them the greater I become convinced of this. However, I think there is much there that we can safely say is uninspired… such as portions that contradict the Hebrew books (I’ve only found one example of this, regarding who the ruler of Ninevah was).

Generically the Ben Sira scroll that predate Christ by 100 years and the Dead Sea Scrolls. For more detail I would review “Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger” by Gary Michuta. Also concerning the lines used in the New Testament concerning the DCs he covers this verse by verse.

Concerning contradiction such as rulers there are examples of this outside the DCs. The impact of accepting the DC does impact theology significantly. Calvin stated that if the DCs are included in the Bible purgatory and indulgences would have to be considered as part of God’s inspired word. (I am paraphrasing)

I am still not sure Protestant and Catholics really differ on purgatory very much. It seems Protestant believe one has to have some form of regeneration to go into heaven. Catholics believe in the same concept. The thought that we believe it is number of years etc is not true. I do not believe our faith defines exactly how purgatory works. It could be instaneous since God is outside of time.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Concerning contradiction such as rulers there are examples of this outside the DCs. The impact of accepting the DC does impact theology significantly. Calvin stated that if the DCs are included in the Bible purgatory and indulgences would have to be considered as part of God’s inspired word. (I am paraphrasing)

I think Calvin was mistaken then. It wouldn’t establish any form of purgatory or indulgences. If you’re referring to Judas making atonement for the dead soldiers; it wasn’t commanded by God for him to do, nor did God approve of the action. It is a historical narrative of events and nothing more. There are many such statements of actions taken by biblical figures that we wouldn’t consider to be doctrine. Frankly, it isn’t mentioned or affirmed in any other text.

I am still not sure Protestant and Catholics really differ on purgatory very much. It seems Protestant believe one has to have some form of regeneration to go into heaven. Catholics believe in the same concept. The thought that we believe it is number of years etc is not true. I do not believe our faith defines exactly how purgatory works. It could be instaneous since God is outside of time.

As mentioned on another thread discussing purgatory; our main objection is that Christ’s suffering is already sufficient enough to atone for every action done in this life. Therefore, it’s an unnecessary doctrine (not to mention the scriptural problems). I won’t go into it other than that though since I am sure there are enough threads discussing it lol