How can we reconcile Catholicism and the Bible?

Question

http://www.biblereflections.com/catholics gives bible verses contradicting the Catholic faith.

How do we reconcile the two?

Answer 1

Wow thanks for the link, I actually think they are making a really good point!

I guess when the Roman Catholic church stops making up their own rules, then it will stop. The Bible is the one and only truth. it is the infallible word of God, can't be changed, can't be destroyed!

God Loves YOU
Heather :)

Answer 2

You don't really need to. Catholicism has never claimed to be purely "bible-based". Catholic beliefs are partially based on scripture, partially based on tradition, and partly based on authoritative declarations by the popes.

One interesting point is that the Catholics do not consider literal interpretation of the Bible to be a final authority on God's will while many Protestant sects do consider the Bible to be the sole authority. It seems odd that the Protestants would have decided that the Bible should be given so much weight when it was actually assembled by Catholics and the Catholics don't consider it to be an absolute authority. Its as if the Protestants believe they know how to use the scriptures better than the people that created them.

A lot of the scriptures are allegorical and figurative and require a lot of study of history, theology, and philosophy to really understand what they are saying. The ancient knowledge preserved in the Catholic church helps the priests to properly interpret the scriptures. Some of the knowledge required to understand certain parts of the Bible are actually esoteric and are reserved solely for the priesthood and not taught to lay-men, (although the Catholic priests don't tend to advertise this fact).

Many protestant sects have built elaborate belief systems based on dead-letter reckoning of the scriptures without the necessary knowledge to understand the nuances.

Answer 3

Where are the Catholics? That stuff was rubbish and belongs in a trash bin. It is too flawed to even correct on such a small space. Catholic DO read the Bible. Stop saying that. Did you know Catholics also go to Bible study? Did you know students in Catholic elementary school, high school and universities read the Bible, study the Word, research doctrine and search out the meaning of customs? Come on. Those who do not practice their religion do not do half of that. That is not the fault of Catholicism.

Answer 4

Reconciling the catholic church is like reconciling Hell. It can't be done. If you read the new Testament carefully, the catholics are doing things that Jesus said are no-no. Repititious prayer, idol worship, placing man before God-the Bible is a solid rock, catholicism isn't. Try any so-called Protestant church and you will gain a fresh perspective. May I suggest a Lutheran or Methodist -- do be Baptized. God bless!.

Answer 5

I beleive that the only way one can reconcile Catholicism with the Bible is if Catholicism got rid of Mariology altogether. Other Roman Catholic doctrines may be loosely defended from Scripture, but not the cult around the Mother Mary. Don't get me wrong - I love and admire Mary, the mother of Jesus when He was on earth. She is a saint and in heaven, where I am certain she is crying about all this stuff Catholics have made up about her. She is not "Queen of Heaven;" she is not the Mediator between God and man; and she was not born sinless. If you look in the Gospels, Mary's last recorded words were: "Whatever He says, do it..." In other words, Mary herself is saying to all of us: Listen to Him (Jesus). She is pointng us to Jesus, not herself. She is a true saint - but that's all.

Answer 6

Catholics don't read the Bible. It's obviously a source document and the new testament is a big feature in the Mass, but as a group, they don't obsessively read and study every nuance. Which, given how the Bible has been so horribly translated and so manipulated over the years, is problematic at best if you are seeking some great unshakeable truth.

Answer 7

What exactly is your purpose in trying to reconcile two things that you clearly do not think are reconcilable?

If you're a Catholic who needs to confirm the truth of your beliefs, that's one thing.

If you're a non-Catholic who needs to prove Catholocism wrong, that's another.

Believing is manifested in how you live your life and treat other people. Not necessarily by dissecting the words of the bible and thereby making one group's faith more or less pertinent than your own.

What I'm saying is that if you're looking for discrepancies in the bible, you're going to find them. Lots of them. If you're looking for a way to live your life with self-respect, integrity and morality, you can find that in there too.

Answer 8

As long as Catholics aren't encouraged to read the Bible more, as I remember being the case while I was growing up Catholic, they won't know the truth. I think Catholics think of the Bible as esoteric in nature and as a result, don't really get into it beyond what is read in the sermons. A little too much trust in man and not in God's leading and the Holy Spirit's guidance if you ask me...

Answer 9

The bible contradicts itself, much less any given faith. You've got bigger issues than justifying catholicism. But the Catholics fix that. The pope is infallible, and therefore his interpretation of any "contradiction" is final.

Answer 10

You quote thew Chick pamlets? That is a joke. I am one Catholic who know more about the Bible then you do. Hewre are some articles for you and other Catholic haters need to read.http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/apolog.htm#ANSWERS
And read the book by Dr. Scott Hahn "Rome Sweet Rome"

Answer 11

The Catholic church places tradition of the church and will of the clergy over Scripture as authority. If they could fix that one thing-there would be hope for the church. As it stands they will not. To do so will require the pope to lose his infallibility. That ain't gonna happen. They are stuck in the ditch with no way out.