Why is there not a single Protestant Understanding of the Bible?

[CMatt25]

Each denomination is a different group, is it not?
So why would Baptists understand the bible the same as, say, Episcopalians?
It’s like asking why don’t Baptists and Catholics agree on it?

Answer: Because they don’t; that is why they are different religions.

Someone (many?) interpreted it for the Catholic religion…and someone (many?) interpreted it for the Baptist religion…and the Episcopalians…etc, etc…so they are different.

If there was a single understanding, then there would be just one Christian religion. Period.

There exists many “Cafeteria Catholics” who, secretly or not, live and believe differently than the Church teaches…if they broke away and started their own Catholic groups formed around their slightly different beliefs, there would then be many Catholic denominations which differ in their understanding of Catholicism.

As we have seen here on this forum, there are indeed many of these Cafeteria Catholics out there, using birth control or supporting gay marriage, for example, and seeing nothing wrong with it.
But instead of forming new groups, they stay with the Church even if they disagree on official Church interpretations.
(Some Catholics agree they should stay, some, like that bishop in Ireland in a recent thread, think they should leave the Church).

So some do leave the Church and join a Protestant group.

But to answer your question from the perspective of a writer, I dare say that the difficulty is with the bible itself…those who wrote the books were unclear in their writing style or those being quoted were unclear with their words or meaning…or, perhaps, it is the result of the stories being passed around for so many decades before being written down and many details being lost.

My writing teachers would have given the bible writers an “A” for enthusiasm and a “D” for clarity
(The Ten Commandments, though, get an A-plus for lucidity!)

Exactly. It’s not rocket science. People of faith, be they Catholics, baptized, confirmed practicing, baptized, confirmed non practicing or “cafeteria”, or Baptists, Episcopalians, and so forth, have different interpretations and understandings and thus do not all agree on what they believe. That’s why it’s called faith.

 

[CMatt25]

This is true.

However, what Catholics do is often quite different from what Catholicism teaches.

Are you aware of what the Church teaches regarding artificial birth control, Luv?
(She says that it is gravely immoral.)

Now, about 80-90% of self-identified Catholics use some method of artificial birth control.

Are you really going to say that because of this statistic that the Church teaches that it’s ok?

Or are you going to grasp that sometimes what Catholics DO is different than what the Church TEACHES.

80 - 90% and they’re not even in quotation marks, PR

 

[CMatt25]

But…what about the other Christian groups that were around from the day Jesus died, up until the time of that council and bible deciding in the 4th Century?

At some point as another poster said someone decided to believe they were “heretics” I guess. But good point.

 

[Safia]

At some point as another poster said someone decided to believe they were “heretics” I guess. But good point.

They’re on the same level as all non-Catholics and Protestants – they rejected the true teaching of the Church. More than anything, it breaks my heart, that these individuals will not receive all the graces that come through the Sacraments, and they will not participate in the highest form of worship – the liturgy, and they (in certain situations) will stumble over themselves when it comes to teachings on contraception and same-sex marriage, etc., killing God’s children, destroying marriage as the holy meeting ground it is for two individuals and the Holy Spirit, etc.

It’s scary, actually, as we know that mortal sin is committed with full knowledge that something is a sin – so if these Protestant groups are aware of the CC’s teachings, and yet they reject them, and the CC turns out to be most true and infallible in its teaching (which I think any Catholic here would stake his/her life on), the consequences may not be very pleasant. Kyrie, eleison.

 

[CMatt25]

They’re on the same level as all non-Catholics and Protestants – they rejected the true teaching of the Church. More than anything, it breaks my heart, that these individuals will not receive all the graces that come through the Sacraments, and they will not participate in the highest form of worship – the liturgy, and they (in certain situations) will stumble over themselves when it comes to teachings on contraception and same-sex marriage, etc., killing God’s children, destroying marriage as the holy meeting ground it is for two individuals and the Holy Spirit, etc.

It’s scary, actually, as we know that mortal sin is committed with full knowledge that something is a sin – so if these Protestant groups are aware of the CC’s teachings, and yet they reject them, and the CC turns out to be most true and infallible in its teaching (which I think any Catholic here would stake his/her life on), the consequences may not be very pleasant. Kyrie, eleison.

Things you believe, yes. But keywords are if the CC turns out to be true and infallible, the consequences may not be pleasant.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Exactly. It’s not rocket science. People of faith, be they Catholics, baptized, confirmed practicing, baptized, confirmed non practicing or “cafeteria”, or Baptists, Episcopalians, and so forth, have different interpretations and understandings and thus do not all agree on what they believe. That’s why it’s called faith.

No, that is why its called “protestant” as in to protest the true Apostolic Faith. Here the “faith” has fragmented into what is not even recognized anymore.

Actually in most regards below Lutherans and Anglicans, Episcopalians a Mass/Liturgy isn’t performed. Total break from 2000 years of history. At some point we arrive at what is not even recognized anymore. I suppose at this point we could call ChristIam faith also?

 

[GaryTaylor]

80 - 90% and they’re not even in quotation marks, PR

Thank God the Catholic Church is the “only” church who has never waivered in its Pro-Life belief sines the 1st century. Christ said he would “knock,” in other words you can lead one to water, in their own free-will they will have to drink.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Things you believe, yes. But keywords are if the CC turns out to be true and infallible, the consequences may not be pleasant.

The consequences are already not pleasant. but who’s paying attention anyway? The Holy Land is in exile and has fewer Christians than any other period in History, and the surrounding areas of Israel are basically lost. But hey, the consequence may not be pleasant as you state. No worry we have Obama here!

 

[GaryTaylor]

Define what you consider “early”.

Rome, which btw Latin is still the official language. However, Christ spoke in vernacular, and this is why we use native languages instead of Latin. Not really of issue IMHO.

 

[GaryTaylor]

At some point as another poster said someone decided to believe they were “heretics” I guess. But good point.

You guess? Well as you say, its not Rocket Science, the One Holy Apostolic Church was there to define what was heresy. Is Christlam heresy? Or would you say there are many paths to Christ? So who is it that makes this choice? Ah, here in history we find once again all roads lead back to Rome and the Apostle’s. The One Holy Apostolic Church.

 

[Luvtosew]

Well, Luv, without the Church to direct and guide us you now have people reading the Scriptures and concluding that there is no such thing as the Trinity.

And there are some people who read the Scriptures and conclude that Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead.

And there are some people who read the Scriptures and conclude that all you need to do is accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you’re in.

And, there are some people who read the very same Scriptures and conclude that you can lose your salvation.

So your paradigm has given birth to the obscenity of tens of thousands of different denominations, each proclaiming that their particular interpretation is the truth. That’s exactly what the Devil ordered, IMHO. Confusion and chaos, all thanks to the belief that you don’t need the Church to provide guidance. :bigyikes:

PR,

I’m just going to leave it at that, its become apparent to me it maybe the area of the US I was raised in, non metro area of the UP, I’m sure different areas and different families had different education.

I’m also sure your girls (all girls right) are doing just fine with the knowledge you are giving them. Apparently much has to do with the family also, one can only teach what they were taught.

PS: I wonder how many bathrooms you have! It must be a busy time getting ready for school at your house.

 

[Luvtosew]

Heres an interesting read about Catholic education:

calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=8fb2bb89-34e8-4cec-ad03-7a019fe9a8d1

 

[CMatt25]

I suppose at this point we could call ChristIam faith also?

Sure why not? Christians must place faith in God which atheists don’t do. Then they must place faith in the NT story of Christ Lord and Savior which those of the Jewish faith and others do not do. And those most faithful to the Catholic faith place faith in ECF writings for instance and in how the Catholic Church interprets Herself to be. There are all sorts of faiths. The Christian which includes the Catholic faith along with other Christians who profess Christ Lord and Savior. And Jewish, Islam. Buddhism… the list goes on and on and on.

 

[CMatt25]

You guess? Well as you say, its not Rocket Science, the One Holy Apostolic Church was there to define what was heresy. Is Christlam heresy? Or would you say there are many paths to Christ? So who is it that makes this choice? Ah, here in history we find once again all roads lead back to Rome and the Apostle’s. The One Holy Apostolic Church.

Actually I believe Christ will make that choice. But that is what I believe. He Himself said He even has sheep not of this fold. (John 10:16) So I believe when you get to heaven you might find more than a single Protestant there who has had a different understanding of the Bible than you’ve had. Peace and God bless us all along our faith journeys.

 

[Newsy]

Sure why not? Christians must place faith in God which atheists don’t do. Then they must place faith in the NT story of Christ Lord and Savior which those of the Jewish faith and others do not do. And those most faithful to the Catholic faith place faith in ECF writings for instance and in how the Catholic Church interprets Herself to be. There are all sorts of faiths. **The Christian which includes the Catholic faith along with other Christians who profess Christ Lord and Savior. And Jewish, Islam. Buddhism… the list goes on and on and on. **

What do you mean by the bolded statement? It confuses me, I would like a clarification, please.

 

[rom422]

I’m happy for you, you obviously didn’t live in the same area or have the same teaching as I did. And I do think most Catholics back then did not read the scriptures and not due to their laziness, but I"m sure there were some that did, did you have the chruch teaching to help you understand them or did you understand on your own.

Yes, I obviously did not live in the same area as you did, which is why it is just as obvious not to generalize and think, for instance, that because the Eucharist was not properly explained in your school, then it wasn’t being taught properly in all Catholic schools.

I started reading a simplified Bible when I was in the grade school. In High School I had the opportunity of using a more advanced Bible History book with an end chapter on Church History. It was not until I was in college that I started reading the real Bible book by book. I went to a Catholic University where I learned most of what the Church teaches. In college I was reading the Holy Scripture on my own, but I was reading the texts with the Mind of the Church because I already knew the Church teachings from classroom instructions. Honestly, I do not think that I would have benefited much from my own personal Bible reading if I did not have my religion classes to guide me all along. How do you think would I have interpreted the opening lines of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John1:1)? Could I, on my own, have guessed that the “Word” was referring to our Lord, Jesus? If I did not have my religion courses to guide me, I surely would not be able to interpret that. So, praised be our Lord that He founded a Church to teach us.

 

[CMatt25]

What do you mean by the bolded statement? It confuses me, I would like a clarification, please.

Gary said “I suppose at this point we could call ChristIam faith also?” Assuming a typo and that he meant Christian, I said yes Christianity is a faith and I explained why it is so.

Then what I meant by what you bolded is that the Christian faith includes the Catholic faith along with other Christians who profess Christ Lord and Savior. Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, members of the United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Baptists, and many others are Christians. And then I meant that there are many other non Christian faiths as well… Jewish, Islam, Buddhism… the list there goes on and on too. All I really meant is there are all sorts of faiths.

 

[PRmerger]

Exactly. It’s not rocket science. People of faith, be they Catholics, baptized, confirmed practicing, baptized, confirmed non practicing or “cafeteria”, or Baptists, Episcopalians, and so forth, have different interpretations and understandings and thus do not all agree on what they believe. That’s why it’s called faith.

Hiya, Friend!

Is *anything *we believe okay, as long as it’s called “faith”?

 

[PRmerger]

PR,

I’m just going to leave it at that, its become apparent to me it maybe the area of the US I was raised in, non metro area of the UP, I’m sure different areas and different families had different education.

And atheists, too? Are they included in this group of “different areas and different families and different education”? If someone was educated to be an atheist is that an equally valid truth as well, Luv?

I’m also sure your girls (all girls right) are doing just fine with the knowledge you are giving them. Apparently much has to do with the family also, one can only teach what they were taught.

PS: I wonder how many bathrooms you have! It must be a busy time getting ready for school at your house.

We have lots of bathrooms and lots of sinks, and 1 DD is away at college, so that leaves room for lots more hair products and accessories in the bathrooms.

 

[PRmerger]

What would you say to someone who reads the Scriptures, Luv, and comes to the conclusion that Jesus is not God.

Do you think that’s ok?

She says that she read the Bible from cover to cover, and doesn’t need a Church to tell her what it means, and she thinks that it says quite clearly that Jesus is NOT God.

You could probably help her with that.

You know, upon re-reading this, a funny thought occurred to me.

You don’t even realize that in your answer that’s trying to say you don’t need the Church, you are advocating doing exactly what the Church does that you’re so against!. The Church “helps us with that”, just like you said we should do to help some poor misunderstood soul who’s read the Bible and concludes that Jesus is not God.

Funny, no?

Why do you get to help someone with their misunderstandings and misinterpretations of Scripture, but the Church can’t do this as well?