Does the work of the Jesus Seminar prove bibles are largely not to be believed? Is this the Catholic view?

Question

Catholics , I think, do NOT read bibles as literally true or correct.

Answer 1

Of the learned, I would venture to guess that Catholic scholars are most like to apostatize and even turn atheist or agnostic.

Answer 2

Catholics interpret the Bible with a Contextual approach. As with any piece of literature, we have to consider the intended meaning of the author(s) of given Bible Books. Virtually every literary device is employed in the Bible. You cannot interpret different forms of literature with the same technique.

Take a newspaper for example: If a news headline reads "bank robber gunned down by police on sidewalk", you will interpret that literally - and rightly so.

But if you flip the paper over and read a sports headline that says, "runner gunned down at home plate by throw from shortstop", you are so obviously going to interpret that figuratively - because the meaning of a literal translation would be nonsensical.

Just because some Bible books are meant to be intepretted literally doesn't mean they all are.

You would do well to make sure you are interpretting the Bible properly rather than opine about how Catholics interpret the bible.

Answer 3

You think some secular seminar would convince the Holy Catholic Church that a book of its own writings, compiled by its own bishops 1600 years ago, and approved by its own Pope, is not to be believed?? The Bible belongs to the Catholic Church. Other churches which have "borrowed" it have consistently demonstrated their inability to properly interpret it, as they fragment into more and more conflicting denominations over contradictory biblical interpretations. The so-called "Jesus Seminar" is a pitiful exercise in heresy and secular humanism, and virtually everything it presents is not to be believed. The Holy Bible, PROPERLY AND AUTHORITATIVELY INTERPRETED, will always play the central role it has played in the Catholic Church since the Catholic Church first compiled it at the end of the 4th Century.

Answer 4

Catholics affirm, as they have from the earliest days, that all scripture is of divine origin, totally without error, inspired by the Holy Spirit and set down by the sacred writers according to the express will of God.

The Jesus seminar is simply a bunch of liberals and atheists run amock in the name of Christainity.

About the only people they truly represent are Dan Brown, the various Muslim clerics, and the all rest of apostate humanity.

Answer 5

The bible is Christianity's Authoritative source on earth!

It is their authoritative source be cause they believe that the original bible was written under the control of GODS spirit. Therefore, what is written in the bible is true. Other wise GOD lied, the book is a lie, meaning there is no grounds for authority!

With all of the different religions out there, why do you reference only Catholics? Seems like you have some issues of your own!

As to the Bible, your question is irrelevant if you do not believe in it.

Answer 6

No, it is not the Catholic view. Restricting bible interpretation to the literal, or the literal/historical only, does violence to the bible and its teachings. That is why literalists get caught defying reason in the light of scientific discoveries.

How Catholics view the bible is fully described by this official document: (scroll around, its kinda long)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

And Catholics read the bible as the infallible Word of God, though taking all of the bible literally does grave injustices to SOME of the verses.

Answer 7

From what I have been reading about the Jesus Seminar on this site, it sounds like so much bull sh!t. Either an atheist dump site, or a Muslim propaganda machine. Roman and Orthodox Catholics BELIEVE that Jesus is God incarnate. Those who do not believe in anything, will swallow anything. I hope you don't choke on it.

Answer 8

Pick up a copy of the book "Misquoting Jesus" by Bart D. Ehrman. He did a research on the scripture parchments.

Or, if you want a view from way out in left field, I suggest "101 Myths of the Bible" by Gary Greenberg.

Answer 9

Yeah I think the Catholic Church admits that there are certain numerical and historical contradictions/innacuracies which show that the Bible should be used to teach morality and values rather than being used as an encyclopedia of facts. Damn them for being so honest and realisitic! =P

Answer 10

There are only two important things to learn from your bible.

1. Jesus Loves You
2. If you don't believe in Jesus he will Torture you for all eternity.

Sure there are mistakes in the bible, but that is because some of the authors were possessed by satanic demons.