C
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This is a good question, and brings out one of the crucial aspects of Catholicism. The Church is like a 3 legged stool, with Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium. I believe most Protestants today give more credence to Tradition, recognizing authoritative documents of their denomination’s heritage, sometimes referred to as Articles, or Confessions, or something else. Some, not all, also are looking at the Early Church Fathers, not as an equal to Scripture, but as a way of understanding it. I think most Christians recognize we all are guided by Tradition, whether it’s explicit, as the RC’s, or more implicit.
But the Magisterium remains a mystery for most. One way to look at it is a teacher, using a single textbook; or a rider on a horse. The Magisterium helps sort out which ancient books fit into something it called a “New Testament” and which ones did not. You might say the Magisterium made the new testament the New Testament. It also helped frame the discussion of what is “Sacred Tradition” (like the Trinity) from the other 99.9% of Christian traditions, which might or might not be true. But Scripture and Sacred Tradition also inform (guide, limit, inspire) the Magisterium in 2015 as well.
What would Catholicism look like with no Magisterium? Well, for one thing, I think there would be 270 books in the New Testament, and counting.
But the Magisterium remains a mystery for most. One way to look at it is a teacher, using a single textbook; or a rider on a horse. The Magisterium helps sort out which ancient books fit into something it called a “New Testament” and which ones did not. You might say the Magisterium made the new testament the New Testament. It also helped frame the discussion of what is “Sacred Tradition” (like the Trinity) from the other 99.9% of Christian traditions, which might or might not be true. But Scripture and Sacred Tradition also inform (guide, limit, inspire) the Magisterium in 2015 as well.
What would Catholicism look like with no Magisterium? Well, for one thing, I think there would be 270 books in the New Testament, and counting.