Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible -reading?

[InThePew]

Perhaps a better way of asking the OP’s question would be: why don’t Catholics (as compared to Protestants) know their bibles? The answer, can be summed up in two words: sola scriptura - scripture alone. Catholic belief looks to both the scriptures and Tradition.

Given the Protestant view, it’s perhaps not surprising that they place considerable emphasis on reading the Bible and familiarising themselves with specific chapters and verses. Of course simply reading the Bible (or hearing portions of it read at mass) can only lead to a superficial understanding without the benefit of some understanding of the scriptures. Obviously, that’s why we have priests (and deacons) - to preach to us on the word of God and aid in our understanding. The option to go further however (where available) is one that should be taken up. Beneath the surface level of the scriptures (that is, the text itself) lies a rich and hidden meaning and understanding this provides a much greater understanding.

Being able to quote chapter and verse is all well and good - but without a fuller understanding of what the text is about (along with the context in which it was written) all it shows is a good memory and not an understanding of the scriptures. Reading the Bible (and developing an understanding of what you’re reading) can’t lead you away from the faith - it can only make your faith richer.

Yes, it’s not easy to understand and there are some bits in there that most people would prefer just to skip over but there are more than a few resources out there - bible study groups - which can help make the scriptures both accessible and understandable as well as enabling us to see how they relate to our lives today,

 

[Tommm]

Why are you comparing Catholics to Protestants. The toppic is Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible reading? If you want to compare your self to someone I think that is what Jesus is for.

 

[Goya]

Why are you comparing Catholics to Protestants. The toppic is Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible reading? If you want to compare your self to someone I think that is what Jesus is for.

The way I read the OP, it is questioning whether or not the perception of there being a ‘disconnect’ at all between Catholics and the Bible is accurate, or misleading–and if misleading, or myth, is it largely due to protestants fostering and perpetuating this myth?

That’s where the comparison to protestants comes in.

For my part–rather, from my experience–Catholics know our Bibles better than most protestants I know. Well, let me caveat: most Catholics know the New Testament better than most protestants–while protestants know the Old Testament better than most Catholics. Protestants seem to know all of the OT characers by name and relation, chapter and verse; while Catholics only know (mostly) the major stories–the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, Abraham almost sacrificing his son, Isaac…

W/r/t to the New Testament however, Protestants are usually armed with a handful of memorized verses, but get a bit confused when trying to put things into context with one another. Hence from my expereince, Catholic Faith education arms the Catholic with a synthesis, and a more thorough familiartiy with the greater narrative.

e.g.–I can engage in a conversation with most any Catholic, begin a parable, or reference a story from the Gospels, and he/she could easily finish it for me, and have the same take. In constrast, I’ve started many such a story with protestant friends…and had to finish it for them, and spell out to what I was referring.

Again, that’s been my experience anyway. The Church being as large, and world wide as it is, obviously others’ experiences are differenent.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[kkollwitz]

When Catholics are able to discuss the Bible as well as non-Catholics, nobody will be asking, “Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible-reading?”

And regardless of the reasons why it’s so, the only remedy is for Catholics to Read The Bible; not to hear it read in fragments from the Lectionary at Mass; not to find it distilled to its essence in the Catechism; but to pick up the incredible book itself and read it on its own terms.

 

[JRKH]

When Catholics are able to discuss the Bible as well as non-Catholics, nobody will be asking, “Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible-reading?”

And regardless of the reasons why it’s so, the only remedy is for Catholics to Read The Bible; not to hear it read in fragments from the Lectionary at Mass; not to find it distilled to its essence in the Catechism; but to pick up the incredible book itself and read it on its own terms.

Very true - and when this does happen, the question will change to
"Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible-comprehension?



Peace
James

 

[Regina_Love]

Reading the bible and discovering the history behind it is what eventually led me to Catholicism.

:egyptian:

 

[Regina_Love]

Very true - and when this does happen, the question will change to
"Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible-comprehension?



Peace
James

 

[TimothyH]

Yeah but look at it from this perspective: if you have the catechism, if you are Churched, then reading the Bible, educating yourself about history, etc. might lead you away from the faith. If you have an eternal soul on the line, why take risks that way?

That doesn’t make sense to me.

Truth leads to Jesus through the Church. Jesus is truth.

Why would reding the Bible lead anyone away from the faith? Reading the written word of God is not “Taking a risk.” All of the many quoutes from the Church itself exhorting the faithful to read and study scripture which other’s have posted on this thread should be enough to convince you of that.

Your statement makes no sense to me.

-Tim-

 

[TimothyH]

I think we need to understand the historical and theological context of Catholicism to see why Catholics don’t approach the Bible in the same way Protestants do. All the ancient manifestations of Christianity: Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Coptic, etc. place the greatest emphasis on liturgy, the gathering act of worship, particularly for Eucharist. This has always been the ancient practice of the Church (look at what Justin Martyr says in his Apology, he doesn’t mention private Scripture reading) for obvious reasons: Christianity is a communal religion, the importance of Eucharist, the fact that most people couldn’t read, and the more important fact that the Bible wasn’t available for purchase. It has always been emphasised too that Scripture is interpreted through the teaching of the Church.

Our culture is therefore different from those of Protestant churches, who have far less emphasis on liturgy and teaching authority.

This is not to say that Catholics shun the Bible or are ignorant of it. My grandparents were illiterate but could tell you all sorts of biblical stories and events, even being able to quote a few lines. They learned these at Mass, saying the Rosary, etc. The Catholic approach to the Bible is therefore, pardon the pun, more universal than just reading it: it has in the past and still should imbue our entire life: in the architecture of our buildings, in our feasts, music, and so on.

No, this simply isn’t true. Monastics have always spent hours every day reading and meditating on the written word of God, often reading and rereading single books for months and years until it became part of their though patterns, part of who they were.

It still takes place today. The monks I know meditate on God’s word and pray it back to God two hours every day. It is an incredibly important part of their life.

You do have a point about literacy and the avaibility of Bibles, but Catholics have not universally emphasized the Mass over scripture reading. The sacraments, worship, prayer, study and meditation of God’s word - these are all part of a well rounded spiritual life.

I can’t always get to Mass but I can read the Bible anywhere.

-Tim-

 

[JRKH]

Originally Posted by VeritasLuxMea

Tim,
The sad fact is that “reading the Bible” HAS led many a Catholic away from the Church.
BUT - - - -
This generally happens when the reading is done separate from the teachings of the Church, the Catechism etc.
Often times it occurs under the influence of someone who’s Scriptural understandings are different (protestant/evangelical) and thus the person reading can be guided in wrong ways by another. However this need not always be the case. Serious error can also come about when reading the bible in isolation - Something I can attest to myself from personal experience.

Thus - I can understand VLM’s concern and would suggest that no one should fear reading the Bible, one should be well and firmly grounded in one’s faith first (“churched” as VLM says above) - recognizing that the Bible needs to be read within the understandings of the Spirit Led teachings of the Church. In this way, when one has questions on what the Bible is saying, they will look to The Church teachings for help.

Peace
James

 

[Usige]

Tim,
The sad fact is that “reading the Bible” HAS led many a Catholic away from the Church.
BUT - - - -
This generally happens when the reading is done separate from the teachings of the Church, the Catechism etc.
Often times it occurs under the influence of someone who’s Scriptural understandings are different (protestant/evangelical) and thus the person reading can be guided in wrong ways by another. However this need not always be the case. Serious error can also come about when reading the bible in isolation - Something I can attest to myself from personal experience.

Thus - I can understand VLM’s concern and would suggest that no one should fear reading the Bible, one should be well and firmly grounded in one’s faith first (“churched” as VLM says above) - recognizing that the Bible needs to be read within the understandings of the Spirit Led teachings of the Church. In this way, when one has questions on what the Bible is saying, they will look to The Church teachings for help.

Peace
James

Exactly. The issue is not reading the Bible, but rather reading it and relying solely on our personal interpretation. It’s the “what does the Bible speak to me” approach that can lead people astray. The Bible should always be read in light of tradition and the magisterial teachings of the Church.

-Dustin

 

[TimothyH]

Tim,
The sad fact is that “reading the Bible” HAS led many a Catholic away from the Church.
BUT - - - -
This generally happens when the reading is done separate from the teachings of the Church, the Catechism etc.
Often times it occurs under the influence of someone who’s Scriptural understandings are different (protestant/evangelical) and thus the person reading can be guided in wrong ways by another. However this need not always be the case. Serious error can also come about when reading the bible in isolation - Something I can attest to myself from personal experience.

Thus - I can understand VLM’s concern and would suggest that no one should fear reading the Bible, one should be well and firmly grounded in one’s faith first (“churched” as VLM says above) - recognizing that the Bible needs to be read within the understandings of the Spirit Led teachings of the Church. In this way, when one has questions on what the Bible is saying, they will look to The Church teachings for help.

Peace
James

OK, I see the point. Fair enough. I actually teach “Reading Scripture with the Heart and Mind of the Church” for RCIA at my parish. Point well taken.

But the Bible can “Speak to me.” That’s a big mistake many Catholics make, thinking that they don’t need to read the Bible, or that they can never open the Bible and take something away unless what they take away has been specifically approved by the Church in some sort of magesterial way beforehand. That’s simply nonsense.

The Church provides a ***framework ***for interpreting Scripture. The Church does not interpret Scripture for us, but guides us in our own interpretation so that we don’t fall into error.

The Bible can and does speak to millions of Catholics every day in their private reading. Lectio Divina is a perfect example.

-Tim-

 

[Goya]

When Catholics are able to discuss the Bible as well as non-Catholics, nobody will be asking, "Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible-reading?"

And regardless of the reasons why it’s so, the only remedy is for Catholics to Read The Bible; not to hear it read in fragments from the Lectionary at Mass; not to find it distilled to its essence in the Catechism; but to pick up the incredible book itself and read it on its own terms.

Catholics will stop asking such questions, when we stop comparing the average pew sitting Catholic, to protestant pastors, apologists, missioneries, and evengelists. I’d bet dollars to doughnuts, that if you took a random sampling of 100 attendees from Catholic churches, and pitted thjem against 100 attendees from most any protestant denomination, the Catholics would have a better grasp of the New Testament, than their protestant counterparts.

To begin with, at any Catholic Mass, the entire congregation recites, in unison, and mostly without need for assistance, the entire Nicene Creed. Every single mass. This is THE framework, for of the entire salvation narrative, from creation, to the Kingdom. This gives us context. Additionally, the liturgical year, follows the significant events of Christ’s earthly life–from the announciation, through the Pentacost–brings the context to life.

As for the Catechism, and ‘lectionery’–again, I disagree, as this gives Catholics the context within which scripture is given its greatest clarity and meaning.

Now, that said…I do concur that it is always good for Catholics to read more scripture.

…but that has nothing to do with the myth that protestants know the bible better than Catholics.

I don’t accept the premise. Apples to apples comparison, would prove me right. I’ve just known way too many protestants that run their yaps about the bible, but don’t know it from squat. They only know what their pastors told them about it.

“…the Bible say X”, or “…the bible says Y”.

“Really? Where?”

“…I don’t know…it’s just in there…pastor said so”.

(basically what Catholics believe, about themselves, and what protestants want the everyone to think, about Catholics).

What I will concede however, is that most protestant churches have a more vocal, more overt evangelizing mechanism, through which there are many more highly trained students of the bible–and if you compare the average Catholic to these, then you are correct.

But that’s not ‘apples to apples’–that’s comparing the evangelical arm of their churches, with our laity. And sadly, due to the tactics they engage in, and the manner in which they engage those tactics, we must seek to prepare our laity to be able to defend against such tactics–which in essence, means seeking to prepare them to engage such–which entails making them much more biblically fluent than they currently are.

But we can develop that point, without fostering and perpetuating the myth, that most protestants are walking, talking enclopeadic Bible scholars–when they’re mostly worse off in their knowledge of the Bible, than most Catholics.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.

 

[TEPO]

I’ve already read the bible, why should I read it again? Really, I think prayer is more important because it directs my mind towards worshipping God… The Bible is meant to teach.

…so if I’ve already learned about Jesus, then I think the next step as a Christian is to apply what I’ve learned through prayer and actions.

 

[Della]

I’ve already read the bible, why should I read it again? Really, I think prayer is more important because it directs my mind towards worshipping God… The Bible is meant to teach.

…so if I’ve already learned about Jesus, then I think the next step as a Christian is to apply what I’ve learned through prayer and actions.

What I think is a good idea, and something I’ve found helpful to my spiritual life and practice of my faith, is to read the daily Mass readings along with a good commentary source. For me that’s Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary because it quotes many of the Fathers of the Church. It has to be read carefully, though because it can be a little too zealous in its condemnation of non-Catholics, but all in all it’s a good resource. I also use the online website Daily Gospel because they provide short commentary by saints, popes, and other reliable sources.

When we read passages of the Bible we shouldn’t be trying to reinvent doctrine/dogma, of course, but we can be challenged by being reminded of certain aspects of our faith that we may easily overlook or push aside through neligence or self-interest. And we see what Jesus actually said and did, which can jolt us out of lethargy of self-satisfaction. I believe the Church has this in mind, along with other such things, when it exhorts us to read the Bible.

 

[Michael_Allen]

I don’t know if it’s some conspiracy by Protestants to put catholics down on the internet about how Catholics don’t believe in the Bible and how they don’t consider Bible-reading to be important?

What is going on?

But I can’t help thinking it’s partially true:
Even when speaking to catholics I know, they will tell me about catechism type rules, but they don’t sound spiritual in how they explain it e.g. They don’t mention how it relates to scripture, they just expound it like a rule, and not like a personalized belief. They say something like ‘You’re not supposed to such and such’ and ‘You’re supposed to go to confession’ etc. Like I can’t imagine having a conversation with a catholic about the life of Jesus or his teachings, because I suspect they either don’t believe it or haven’t read about it for themselves.

I think it’s very mixed Strontium. We have a lovely bible study group in our church, but I have also come across Catholics who will almost always go to Church documents before sacred scripture.

Mind you, quite a lot of non-Catholics are pretty ignorant of scripture as well.

I can’t imagine not reading scripture as the most important voice of God in my life, but I appreciate others may think differently.

 

[InThePew]

I’ve already read the bible, why should I read it again? Really, I think prayer is more important because it directs my mind towards worshipping God… The Bible is meant to teach.

…so if I’ve already learned about Jesus, then I think the next step as a Christian is to apply what I’ve learned through prayer and actions.

Absolutely; but in answer to your question, you should read it again because you’ll most likely discover something new - a meaning, insight or understanding which you had never noticed before. This is the purpose behind the practise of lectio divina which has four steps: read, meditate, pray and contemplate. First a passage of Scripture is read, then its meaning is reflected upon. This is followed by prayer and contemplation on the Word of God

Granted the Bible can be difficult to understand - particularly the Old Testament - and at time even challenging. This is where learning more about scripture comes into its own - through study groups, and private study with the help of a commentary or guide (and not to mention a good bible). While it’s true that while protestants can quote Bible verses that’s not the same as knowing the context in which they appear or in which they were written - let alone knowing what is actually meant!

During a retreat last year, the spiritual director in our seminary gave me a series of Bible references to mediate and reflect on. One of these was only about one or two verses long and I remember thinking at the time that I wasn’t likely to get much, if anything, from that one. As it turned out, I was completely wrong - that short passage easily occupied all of the time I had allowed for it and I could easily have spent much longer. lectio divinia and studying scripture can reveal the depth which underlies a single passage but which is hidden below the surface of the text.

 

[D_Martin]

I don’t know if it’s some conspiracy by Protestants to put catholics down on the internet about how Catholics don’t believe in the Bible and how they don’t consider Bible-reading to be important?

What is going on?

But I can’t help thinking it’s partially true:
Even when speaking to catholics I know, they will tell me about catechism type rules, but they don’t sound spiritual in how they explain it e.g. They don’t mention how it relates to scripture, they just expound it like a rule, and not like a personalized belief. They say something like ‘You’re not supposed to such and such’ and ‘You’re supposed to go to confession’ etc. Like I can’t imagine having a conversation with a catholic about the life of Jesus or his teachings, because I suspect they either don’t believe it or haven’t read about it for themselves.

Your suspicions are valid I was rased a Catholic and I know where of you speak. Catholics don’t have time to know God, that’s what they have priests for. Hence they trust what the church says more then what the Bible says, and the protestant view is quite the opposite.

You are responsible for knowing what the Lord God says in the Bible and you are to read it for your self so no one can deceive you so easily. Adam and Eve trusted what some one else said about what the Lord God said about eating the fruit of the tree, and you know how that turned out. That is how dangerous it is to intrust one’s own relationship with the Lord unto another.

 

[Seeker1961]

When I first moved to FL, I attended a non-denominational Church. I liked it a lot-the music was great, and the sermons were like theology classes. We studied books of the Bible in their entirety-and this is what led me back to the Catholic Church. We started the Gospel of John and got to the section on the Bread of Life…and I knew I had to go back to the Eucharist.

There are things I miss from those days-I loved the in-depth, scholarly approach to scripture study. It was something I hadn’t experienced in years. It wasn’t an extra Bible study, it was the regular Sunday service. I still wonder why we can’t have that kind of exegesis on the readings at Mass on Sundays. We know that most of our folks aren’t coming to extra Bible studies that are offered, why not reach them with good Scripture study when we know they ARE there?

 

[JRKH]

Your suspicions are valid I was raised a Catholic and I know where of you speak. Catholics don’t have time to know God, that’s what they have priests for.

WOW - If it weren’t for you being so new here I would be tempted to be insulted by such a sweeping indictment of my fellow Catholics. I suspect that the longer you are here and interact with members of this board you will discover that your sweeping indictment will need to be amended to:
“Some Catholics seem to not have time to know God…”

Hence they trust what the church says more then what the Bible says, and the protestant view is quite the opposite.

I agree much more with this statement…but then trusting the Church is very much in line with Scripture whereas the opposite view is much less so.

I too was raised Catholic - left for 35 years - but then Christ and the Bible led me home to the Church.

You are responsible for knowing what the Lord God says in the Bible and you are to read it for your self so no one can deceive you so easily. Adam and Eve trusted what some one else said about what the Lord God said about eating the fruit of the tree, and you know how that turned out. That is how dangerous it is to intrust one’s own relationship with the Lord unto another.

Agree very much with this…But would also add that there is danger in becoming too isolated. Nowhere in Scripture do we find a “me and Jesus” theology. Rather we see Jesus founding a community that we are to be a part of, tell things to and listen to(Mt 18:15-18 - A community through which, “the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places”. (Eph 3:8-12) And a community in which we can have confidence as being the pillar and ground of Truth (1 Tim3:15)
This is not to downplay our personal responsibility for growing in Christ. The personal journey goes on even within the larger ekklesial community. Both are necessary.

Peace
James