T
Tonks40
Guest
Reading the Bible, both personally and through the guidance of the Magisterium, has only strengthened my faith in the Church. I find when I don’t read it is when I start getting into some spiritual trouble! 
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J
jmcrae
Guest
I’ve been studying St. Paul ever since I was seven years old - more than forty years now. He’s a Catholic Bishop, through and through - no, “Well, you know, whatever the Holy Spirit speaks in your heart must be what it means, don’t ask me to tell you what to do,” coming from that one - he’s a teacher, and he’s dogmatic, and he’s a stickler for Christian morality - no corner-cutting with that guy.Keep studying St. Paul, you may have a revelation.
I
Ignatius
Guest
Gotta’ bump it.
C
Cluny
Guest
When I really looked in the Scriptures, I got saved and stopped being a Baptist.
S
Soutane
Guest
When Dr Scott Hahn decided to write a definitive paper eviscerating the Catholic Church AND it’s sacraments,AND the mass,AND devotion to the Blessed Mother,AND all of it’s “bogus” claims using Holy Scripture,a funny thing happened-he became a Catholic.
J
JRKH
Guest
Given that you are not a fan of the Catholci Church yourself, I am assuming that you might have had some discussions with these people while they were reading the Bible. Maybe??
If that is the case then perhaps there was more than just “reading Scripture” at work.
I might be wrong about that but…
I note that you say:
I have known many Catholics who have at one point or another made the decision to truly apply themselves to reading the Holy Scriptures. In a few of them, it caused them to question their faith and to actively pursue answers from their parish priest or other clergy. In most of them (that is, most of the few), they ended up leaving the Catholic church.
This is a wonderful application of making a mouse look huge.
let’s look at this number from the other direction.
How many Read Scripture? = Many
How many questioned? = Few
How many of the few left? Most
So from where I am sitting, Most of those Catholics who made the decision to truly apply themselves to reading the Holy Scriptures, remained Catholic.
So
If the inspired Word of God when studied and meditated upon ultimately casues Most to remain in The Catholic Church that they are already attending what does that say about your premise?
Reading the Bible is a benefit for a true Catholic. Only those of weak faith and poor foundation would leave just because they read the Bible.
If reading and meditating on the Bible alone was all that was needed then we’d all be in the same Church. There wouldn’t be many different denominations all claiming the Bible and all teaching something different.
Peace
James
W
Walden
Guest
The funny thing about the op’s assertion is that more scripture is read at a daily mass than any protestant service I ever attended before I chose to convert. (and that’s a lot)
You’ve got to have something stuffed in your ears not to hear it.
You’ve got to have something stuffed in your ears not to hear it.
J
JRKH
Guest
R
rtconstant
Guest
Interesting. I was raised as a Southern Baptist and read the Bible daily. My father was a pastor, I was deacon and went to seminary to become a preacher myself. It was when I began to seriously and openly approached the scriptures that I realized something was wrong, and eventually came to realize that the Bible was a Catholic book, not only in its origins, but in its message.
C
Cluny
Guest
Where do you get the notion that only the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic church can properly interpret Scripture?
Where did you get the idea it wasn’t?
Just WHO has the ultimate authority to interpret Scripture?
Do you claim that YOU do, SIA? In this regard, then how do you become different from Pio Nono, who claimed the same thing?
Where did you get the idea it wasn’t?
Just WHO has the ultimate authority to interpret Scripture?
Do you claim that YOU do, SIA? In this regard, then how do you become different from Pio Nono, who claimed the same thing?
L
Lux_Caelum
Guest
I notice to original poster is banned. What does it take for someone to get banned on CA?
J
JRKH
Guest
The Church is not a “who” it is a "What as in:
tell it to **the church **(Singular); and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Matthew 18:17
The Church is the Final Arbiter in matters of Despute.
Just read Acts, Council in Jerusalem, if you think that the Church is a “who”. Waht happened.
Despute in the Church in Antioch.
Paul and others attempted to settle it but couldn’t
Paul was sent to Jerusalem to bring the Matter before the Apostles. (Magisterium)
The Magisterium (Apostles in Jerusalem) made a ruling.
This Ruling Stands to this day in Holy Mother Church.
I realize that you believe that the Bible is the Final Rule of faith and that is fine, If you truly follow what the Bible teaches, - but do you? The Bible points directly TO the Church and her authority as given by Christ. Those great Saints and Leaders of the Early Church, Paul, Ignatius, Clement All Saw The Church as the final Authority. Even Paul Himself wrote, as recorded in 2Tim, “The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth”.
Peace
James
J
JRKH
Guest
Well Let’s see - ummmm From the Bible??
Actually it would be from a combination of the Bible and from Sacred Tradition.
In truth, there is a delicate balancing act between the Bible, the individual and the Church.
It is The Church which has the “Teaching Authority” Christ Clearly gave this to the apostles and through them to their successors. Christ did not give it to “a book”. Thus Paul says that The Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth. Christ also promised the Holy Spirit, to both the Church and to the individual. Thus the Spirit works on two levels.
The Bible, a volume compiled and standardized (canonized) by The Church in the 390’s, contains within it those writings of the earliest Church - By those who were closest to the actual events and recorded Our Lors own Words. So the Bible, compiled as it was BY the Church, supports the Church.
The individual, through prayerful study of the scripture as well as devout participation in the Life of the Church may discern many things and grow closer to God.
The Magisterium, with 2000 years of experience in leading and teaching Christ’s Church, is a huge resource that we would be simply foolish to ignore.
Peace
James
J
JRKH
Guest
My guess is it would take repeatedly violating forum rules even after warnings.
SIA has a great Many posts here, I was surprised to see that he got banned.
H
Hisalone
Guest
The church is a who not a what.
Eklessia means Gods assembly or the Congregation of God which is people not an institution.
H
Hisalone
Guest
Or folks around here got tired of him.My guess is it would take repeatedly violating forum rules even after warnings.
SIA has a great Many posts here, I was surprised to see that he got banned.
If you look up his last posts before he was banned, is there anything offensive?
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LeroyCRHP
Guest
I would say 100%!
americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0889.asp
mycatholictradition.com/catholic-mass.html
It was reading of the Bible that 100% made my faith real. You do have to watch because there are misunderstandings of scripture and many people are lead astray from that. However I think a church with a 2000 year history that has been in existence since Jesus was here and commits so many clergy to study has it right. I read through the NT for lent last year, was a great blessing.
americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0889.asp
mycatholictradition.com/catholic-mass.html
It was reading of the Bible that 100% made my faith real. You do have to watch because there are misunderstandings of scripture and many people are lead astray from that. However I think a church with a 2000 year history that has been in existence since Jesus was here and commits so many clergy to study has it right. I read through the NT for lent last year, was a great blessing.
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