how these traditions have lasted so long since they are clearly not scriptural????
2006-09-12 08:56:51 · 29 answers · asked by shawnshawn 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
+ Celibacy +
First, Judeo-Christian scripture and tradition has always held that single people be celibate. This is taught by Judaism and Christianity from before the Scriptures were written down.
The question should be: Why can't priests marry?
This idea of a celibate clergy came from the Jews, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostle Paul.
The Jews. The Talmud argues that a person whose “soul is bound up with the Torah and is constantly occupied with it” may remain celibate (Maimonides, Laws of Marriage 15.3). For example, Yahweh ordered the prophet Jeremiah not to marry (Jeremiah 16:1-4). Moreover, the Essenes was a group that was active in Jesus’ time that practiced celibacy and thought by most scholars to be the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
John the Baptist and Jesus are both believed to have been celibate for their entire lives. Some scholars believe that the example of the Essenes influenced either or both Jesus and John the Baptist in their celibacy.
The Apostle Paul is explicit about his celibacy (see 1 Cor. 7). There is also evidence in the gospel of Matthew for the practice of celibacy among at least some early Christians, in the famous passage about becoming “eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12).
The concept took many twists and turns over the years and will probably take a few more before Christ returns in glory.
+ Saints (and Mary) +
Before Jesus Christ died for our sins and opened the gates of heaven there were no saints in heaven. Therefore there are no Old Testament writings that would mention them.
Very few of the new Christians died before most of the New Testament was written. Therefore there is little in the Bible about asking saints to pray for us.
However the last book of the Bible does talk about the saints in heaven praying.
Revelation 5:8: Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones.
Revelation 8:3-4: He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.
The Holy Spirit guided the early Church in many things not explained in the Bible including how does the Body of Christ (believers) on Earth relate to the Body of Christ (saints) in heaven. We are still one Body.
Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.
The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.
Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Mother Teresa.
As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother in heaven to pray for you.
Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.
+ Call no man your father +
In context, the Scripture reads, "... And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."
This is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.
We are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.
Some leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.
+ With love in Christ.
2006-09-12 17:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic church has many very strong traditions that have lasted for centuries, like the ones you point out. They are not scriptural, but do flow out of the society from wince they came. Celibacy is a mark of devotion by the priest, following the example of Paul who said that he wised all men could be like him, fully dedicated to serving god. Most people then tend to leave off the part about celibacy being a special gift and that for most people, they need the bond of marriage. Praying to saints comes from the ancient practice of having an intercessor between the petitioner (the parishioner) and the king (God). Thus, they pray to saints and ask them to bring their petitions to God. The notion of a priest being a "father" comes from the tradition of the church being a mirror of the family, the traditional nuclear family unit. The head of the family in ancient times was the father. And so forth.
2006-09-12 09:05:23 · answer #2 · answered by Tim 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It says in Matthew 23:9 that you are not to call anyone in a religious sense father . In the Bible Jesus said ," I am the way , the truth , and the life , No one comes to the Father except through me ." I don't think He said to worship Mary . Celibacy is by choice alone . There is no command where it says that you have to be celibate . It says to not have sex outside of marraige , but it blesses it in marraige . We are not to pray to saints , we are to pray to God . Matthew 6:9-13 Says Our Father in Heaven .... not Paul or anyone else for that matter . I hope all this helps you and may God bless you and fill your heart with joy ....
2006-09-12 09:09:27 · answer #3 · answered by robinhoodcb 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Catholic Religion and all of various rituals/ceremonies and belifs have developed over the last 1500 years. They have lasted so long because the traditions of Catholocism is what maked it Catholic. The fact that they are not part of scripture was the reason behind the Protestant reformations. People like Luther said all that was need for true belief was a bible and the ability to read, the rest was unneccessary and not divine.
2006-09-12 09:03:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
see the man standing on a stage opposite a man with a rifle pointed at a bullseye and a pretty lass with a cigar in her mouth; the first man hollars "fire " and the audience jumps up and runs out! Oops, the audience was all firemen! Up until Guggenhiem printed a Bible most non-nobles could not read! They were told what to believe! Were they to vocalize their disatisfaction they would be jailed,tortured, and put to death as heretics or infidels!Be very glad that you can read and write!
2006-09-12 09:14:08 · answer #5 · answered by K9 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity wasn't based on scripture for the first 1500 years or so. Most people were illiterate. It was largely traditions handed down, the scriptures had their place but they were not the soul foundation of the relgion. Today some religions follow only the Bible, whatever version they like the best, some follow a mixture of scriptural and spiritual traditions. They do it probably because they like it on some level and if you don't you don't have to.
2006-09-12 09:00:11 · answer #6 · answered by tenaciousd 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
catholics....that is the answer...God refers to the catholic church as the great whore in revelations in the Bible. He says that they will believe a lie and be damned. In reference to that he is saying that they will believe the anti-christ to be the messiah and will worship him and then they will finally know the truth when he makes a statue come to life. They think it is OK to do anything during the week that is wrong but then at mass they go and repent of their sins commited. ...Hello...something is not right. When you repent with a true heart for anything, you lay that sin down at God's feet and walk away and never to do it again...go figure...and the worshipping of Mary, yes she is great and all but God also stated that you shall have no God's before me nor should you idolize anything. They idolize Mary because she was a virgin and gave birth. Well, who do you think made her that way..the holy spirit (God) and after searching the Bible for mention of her..It only mentions her name in the birth and death of Jesus. No other time. Even the Bible stated that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father.....IT NEVER MENTIONS MARY SITTING ANYWHERE. My sister-in-law is catholic and it is just crazy/scary like!! Calling the Pope...well, they also say if you kiss his big toe, you will be healed...NOT! The pope is not holy. God states that we all fall short of the glory of God..that means that we all sin. Celibacy..well God wants all of us to abstain until we marry and then we are to become one with our spouse. It is all in the Bible....help yourself and God Bless
2006-09-12 09:07:24 · answer #7 · answered by T&E 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There was a rooky monk once in a monestary. He went to the head office looking for the head monk. The second in command said "He's doing some research in the archives and doesn't want to be disturbed."
The rooky monk came back the next day and was told the same again.
This happened for a week when he asked the second in command "Aren't you concerned that our Elder monk has been missing so long?"
At this the other monk said "Yes you are right. We should go and check on him."
The two of them then went into the deepest darkest caverns of the monestary archives and eventually found the missing monk hunched in a corner and clutching a manuscript, tears streaming down his face.
The two other monks ran to him and asked what was wrong. To which he replied "The word is CELEBRATE............."
2006-09-12 09:04:24 · answer #8 · answered by jp 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
1. Vows to God? Pay it. (Ecc. 5:4) 2. Idolatry-flee from it (1 Cor. 10:14)
3. Matt. 29:3--Holy Father?--do no call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father--the Heavenly One.
4. Idolatry--It is Yahweh(Jehovah) your Father you must worship, Luke 4:8.
5. I hope this sheds light on you--The world of false religion started way back in the day and will continue until Armaggedon---I pray to the Holy Father in Heaven for you.
Prayer to anyone other than our Holy Creator,the Divine One, is prayer not heard---and, it is detestable to God.(Sovereign Yahweh, merciful God)
2006-09-12 09:21:06 · answer #9 · answered by avaddohn-Apollyon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Celibacy is a choice. There is nothing wrong with sex, we are animals and it's an instinct.
Praying to Saints is invoking them to pray to GOD in your behalf and is beneficial.
Calling the pope Holy Father... I have only 1 HOLY FATHER and that is GOD.
Worshiping Mary, well again we invoke her to help us pray.
2006-09-12 09:04:13 · answer #10 · answered by wonderwoman 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋