As a Catholic I get frustrated with other Christians who try to convince me that the Bible - as opposed to Sacrements, prayer and helping others - is the only right way to know God and be a good Christian. The Sacrements and many things Catholics do today are much older than when sacred writings were put together in an official list at the Council of Nicea.
The printing press wasn't invented until the sixteenth century. With it being so impractical for everyone before the printing press to have their own Bible, it seems like the Catholic ways of Sacrements, prayer, and helping others would have been the only way for people to know God. Did God intend everyone before the invention of the printing press to be damned?
2006-09-19 17:38:07 · 19 answers · asked by Vulpster03 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Catholics don't believe that praying to Mary will earn you salvation. Our views on Mary and all the saints are like how many people consider their family. We all like to have pictures of our family, partiuclarly ones that have passed. Sometime people give gifts or build/make things with their passed relative's name on it. Many Christians ask their family members or friends to pray for them. As a Catholic we view saints as real people who existed and consider them just as we consider our friends and family. We have pictures of them, we put their names on things, and we ask them to pray for us. This is a lot different than worshiping them. Do you worship the people you ask to pray for you?
2006-09-19 17:48:56 · update #1
The entire New Testament was written in the 100 years after Christ died. In other words, it predates any organized church.
The Council of Nicea was held to decide which letters and Gospels were to be included in the official canon. Remember, though, that they had been written by Paul and the Disciples while actual witnesses of Jesus' works, death, and resurrection were still alive.
There is nothing wrong with the sacraments. Christ, himself, wanted his followers to have a baptism and to observe communion. However, think about it, how would we know that Christ wanted these things if we didn't read them in the Bible? When you read the Bible you read the actual words of Jesus himself. Not words filtered through a church, or a Pope, or a priest, or a minister, but Jesus' own words! Why would you want to get all your information second hand?
You honor the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit when you read about them directly, in the book that they had written especially so people like you and me could know him personally.
2006-09-19 18:00:42 · answer #1 · answered by Ellen J 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't seen what you mention on here. The Bible is the history of the early church. It tells us about baptism and communion (sacraments). It isn't a matter of knowing God just by the written word. Early Christians were to spread the word, just as the apostles did by their travel.
That is why we are told the following:
MT 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Btw - while your loyalty to your religion is very commendable, most Christian churches that believe in the creeds and the Trinity have sacraments...They weren't invented by Catholics.
2006-09-20 00:46:22 · answer #2 · answered by chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What makes you think the sacraments is the right way, I am not sure if there is a right way, just believe and pray, as I believe bibles is just a tool to guide, so is sacrament, closeness to GOD is from within, not from any bible or sacrament, and no offence to Catholics or any religion or church, I am a Christian but do not use the different methods of worship to try and find the correct way. GOD BLESS, and will forgive your sins if you believe.
2006-09-20 00:45:06 · answer #3 · answered by Pete 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
How is the Bible the only way to know God?
No..studying HIS Word and PRAYER is the way to know The GOD.Jesus.
Jube Jube, be it ancient or newly invented impresses Man -
Not The GOD.
Most True Christians look askance at catholicism because the Vatican promotes ""Another Gospel"".
I Escaped! See ""My Story"" below
2006-09-20 00:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by whynotaskdon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to know to whom it is you are praying. And you learn about who Jesus is through the Bible. If you don't have the book, you can learn about him through others telling you what he said--so long as they know exactly what he said and they are retelling it accurately.
Helping others does not bring you into a personal relationship with the Lord. It may be a result of the relationship, but it is not a way to it. The sacraments, too, are irrelevant unless the people giving and receiving the sacraments know who Christ is.
The important thing is knowing Christ. One cannot know him unless they know him. How is one to learn of him if one doesn't read the record of who he was, what he said, and what he did?
2006-09-20 00:47:24 · answer #5 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is the only way to God and so is prayer and good deeds because it talks about God and his miricles in the Bible and if you evr have a question kneel down in prayer and he will answer. Maybe not when you want him but he'll be ther right on time
2006-09-20 00:44:25 · answer #6 · answered by jeanqueen3 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The bible is a guide to God. To have a one on one relationship with God one must pray to God and develop a relationship this way. God is my best Friend. I tell Him EVERYTHING. Use the bible as a guide to His laws, and use prayer to seek His love
2006-09-20 00:45:59 · answer #7 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has never wanted us to be damned. Look at how in the bible before there was a true bible how he spoke to man. There are lots of examples in the old testment as well as the new testment. Because of the fact that we now have the Bible it is through it that God talks to us. But you have to remember that Prayer is our path way to him. Also the Holy Spirit speeks to us but we have to be willing to listen to it.
2006-09-20 00:44:56 · answer #8 · answered by lita ozzy bear 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A personal relationship with Christ Jesus is the only way to truly know God. Christ said "If you've seen me, you have seen the Father."
And "I am the way, the truth, and the life...No man comes to the Father but by me."
That doesn't take away from the Bible, it is Gods Word after all. He communicates to us through it, however He is still speaking. If we have ears to hear, He has so much more to say.
2006-09-20 00:44:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Certainly not. People can "know" God a number of ways. From a relative, school etc... Once you've established or are leaning towards learning MORE of God, (not Catholicism) you would be inclinde towards reading the Bible.
2006-09-20 00:42:20 · answer #10 · answered by LIVINGmylife 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋