W
water
Guest
In your opinion (especialy Non-Catholics) believe that it is sinful to believe in something that is not mentioned in the Bible although that belief does not hold anything against God?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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R
rr1213
Guest
I think that you are going to have to be a bit more specific about your question.
M
Marsha_Adams
Guest
No, I believe in airplanes and in vitamins and in field hockey and none of them are specifically mentioned in the Bible. Protestants (and I used to be one) are fond of jumping up and saying “That’s not in the Bible!” about any Catholic teaching not plainly mentioned in the Scripture. The problem is that Sola Scriptura is not Biblical either, but they cling to it like a drowning man to an oar.
W
water
Guest
sure, for instance - the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
C
Contarini
Guest
No. Anglicans (as a whole) do not dogmatize about things that they do not find either explicitly or implicitly in the Bible. Frankly it is hard enough to get us to be dogmatic about the things that are clearly stated in the Bible!
Edwin
R
rr1213
Guest
Truth.
R
rr1213
Guest
It depends on what branch of Protestants you are talking about. I think that it would be fair to say that most Protestants would contend that if a particular doctrine is not found in the Bible, or at least does not logically spring from Biblical teachings (I know, this can be problematic), then it is not necessary for belief. As for the Assumption, I doubt that you could find any Protestants who believe that belief in the Assumption is necessary for salvation–because it clearly is not found within Scripture. On the other hand, some Protestants may believe in the Assumption even though they do not believe that assent to the doctrine is necessary for salvation. Finally, in any event, most of us do not believe in the Assumption.
Personally, I am on the fence. Since it is not to be found in Scripture, I don’t think concurrence to the doctrine is necessary to salvation. On the other hand, I don’t think that it is necessarily opposed by Scripture either…there is nothing in Scripture of which I am aware that would preclude the Assumption and likewise there is nothing in Scripture that would prove the doctrine.
R
Revelation13_16
Guest
The answer: Possibly.
Even something as seemingly innocuous as the assumption of the Virgin Mary or the Nephilim teaching man Metalurgy (Book of Enoch) can influence the way you read the scriptures and taint your view of God and the message of the Bible.
Someone has a great signature on here that says something like “be careful what you allow yourself to believe because once it’s in you’ll never get it out”.
It’s very true.
Even if you disprove something you believed, it will always remain in the back of your mind as a ‘maybe?’.
The thing about the assumption is that it seems innocuous but when you put it in context it might not be so.
You have to ask yourself scripturally, how many people have ascended without dying?
The answer biblically is two: Enoch & Elijah.
How many ascended into heaven after dying?
The answer biblically is one: Jesus.
So what implications is there if you add Mary into the mix?
If you say she ascended pre-death, then you rank her amongst two very great prophets.
If you say she ascended post-death, then you rank her with the Son of God.
The former is less problematic than the latter, even though the latter will make more sense to Catholics I believe. (since she was His mother)
The Gospel of John quotes Jesus as saying that none have gone to heaven other than the Son of Man (Jesus Himself).
So if you believe in post-death assumption of Mary, you’re putting her on equal footing with Christ in one way.
The risk is over-valueing Mary.
While you can make a logical claim for her virtues and whatnot, one should endevour to see things as God sees them, no more, no less.
Any depature from God’s P.O.V with our flawed wisdom is potentially dangerous.
Extend too much and you’re adding, don’t agree enough and you’re allowing women priests and homosexual priests.
It’s a tricky line to walk, and on a surface level, seemingly innocuous extra-biblical beliefs can appear insignificant theologically, but get enough of them and you may find yourself using a little too much eisegesis on scripture and thus skewing it’s intention.
Love,
Rev
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