I am catholic?

Question

And a friend of mine cannot understand why I don't think 2 animals of each species can be brought onto an ark or how I don't believe that Jesus turned water to wine. I believe in God and Jesus, I just think that the stories in the Bible shouldn't be taken literally. I am a biologist/cancer researcher by occupation and am going to dental school and with this scientific background, I can't accept physical impossibilities. He says that this makes me un-Christian. How should I handle these conversations so he understands my POV better?

I think science and religion can both make sense... my personal belief would be along the line that God created macromolecules and he allowed the rules of science to take it from there. If not, who can explain how anything came into exist? No one knows anything FOR SURE!

Answer 1

I cannot understand how rational thinking people consider the concept of a god logically possible.

Answer 2

Jesus teaches. "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

All things being equal, you cannot profess believe God/Jesus, and - at the same time, proclaim disbelief in the Bible. While it is true, that not everything in the Bible is meant to be taken literally, it is wrong for you to assume something is impossible for God if it is impossible to us.

Education is a good thing, but it is possible to educate one's self into imbecility. Don't misconstrue me, I'm not calling you an imbecile, but I do question how you think training in biology, cancer research, and dental school helps you properly interpret the Bible????

The Bible has been around a lot longer than education as we know it. Still, millions of people have derived immeasurable amounts of wisdom from the Scriptures. The Apostles - those who knew Jesus best - were laborers, not scholars. There's a reason for that.

The problem is you are attempting to mix apples with oranges. Science is the study of 'how' things happen. And that's fine. The Bible is not a treatise on how things happen. It concerns 'why' things happen.

With God, nothing is impossible. One of the many things that makes believing Jesus is the Messiah is the many miracles He performed, such as turning water into wine. If there were natural explanations for the miracles, they wouldn't be miracles, and Jesus would not be the Messiah.

I would not go so far as to call you "unChristian". Levying such a charge on another person is, ironically, an unchristian thing to do. I will suggest the possibility that you've made a false God out of science, and it is blinding you to certain understanding of Biblical teaching.

Just as you have openned your mind to science, now you must open your heart to God. After all, there is only one POV that really matter. It's not any of our's, it's God's.

Answer 3

There are tons of arguments by those who don't believe in the miracles of Jesus. I'd ask that if someone wanted more recent accounts, look to the recorded miracles of the saints. They happen all the time. Yes, there are quite possibly scientific explanations, as far as getting down to what happened on a molecular level, but the point is that these miracles happened without any stretch of scientific reasoning able to explain them. That's what makes them miracles.

Ever read about the miracles at Fatima? Hundreds of people went in the sloppy mud and rain to witness the apparition of the Blessed Virgin. The account states that these people watched the sun move in the sky and change colors for over 12 minutes. When it was over, they looked at the ground. What had been thick mud was now solid, dry earth. Even their clothes were dry.

I ask this also: If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, than aren't you accepting the miracle of His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit? If so, wouldn't changing water into wine be a little thing compared to that?

God bless.

Answer 4

You don't think that you could fit two animals of each species on a boat that was 900 feet long? You don't think that the creator of the universe can turn water into wine? Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead? that's impossible outside of God, but if you don't believe in that, you miss the entire point of Christianity.

You have to be careful taking parts of the bible as fiction, because that means that you decide what is and isn't true. you could say, "I don't really think that God gave us the ten commandments, I just think they're guidelines."

If you only take parts of the bible, you make what's left meaningless.

Answer 5

i am sorry that your God isn't powerful enough to turn water into wine or any of the other things you don't believe really happened in the Bible. what about when the red sea parted and the children of israel walked across on dry land and the egyptians were swallowed up? if that shouldn't be taken literally then why is there evidence that this really happened? ie. charoits on the bottom of the sea at the only place where scientists could figure they could cross. seems to me that when scientists try to disprove the things in the Bible they only end up doing the opposite. seems to me that your friend has FAITH and hopefully there isn't a single thing you can say that will help him understand your POV. though for the sake of your friendship i would just say "lets just agree to disagree"and not talk about it anymore.

Answer 6

If you cannot accept that Jesus had no physical limitations--He could walk on water, turn water to wine, heal the sick, raise the dead--then you cannot claim to be a true Christian. To be a true Christian, you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and hold dear the teachings of the Bible. Granted, even scholars are confused by many Bible verses. It's a very complicated book. However, by joining a Bible study class, many of the mysteries and hard-to-understand verses will make sense. God bless you.

Answer 7

Why is it so important for him to understand you? Why don't you try to understand him?

There are many physical impossibilities that have come to pass. Miracles that science can't disprove or explain.

Just a thought, but... If you don't believe Jesus turned water into wine, then I can only imagine you don't believe in transubstantiation - the Real Presense of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Which is fundamental to calling yourself a Catholic.

To me, you sound more like a nominal Christian than a Catholic.

Answer 8

I believe in Science and religion.
But: I also believe in the miracles of Jesus! There is no Scientific explanation for that and there doesn't need to be! Its all about faith. As for being Catholic; You know people these days do too much judging and not enough loving! I mean just because someone's religion is different than yours does not mean you have to stop being there friend. Follow your heart! But I refuse to deny the miracles of Jesus! And I believe that there is a cure for every disease on the planet! So, you and I differ, but hey! Is it possible to totally agree with everyone? There is absolutely nothing wrong with your proffession! I have to disagree with your friend on that one. I just simply believe that what man cannot do; GOD CAN!!!!! I refuse to deny his ability!!!

Answer 9

Jesus revealed Himself to everyone, He was God in the flesh so theirfore He was able to do all those "miracles". If you denie what scripture teaches about Jesus able to do those miracles than its like you denie His divinity.

When reading the Bible its not just pick and chose what you want to believe out of the context of it. If we do that we are in danger of making a God that suits us. I know i have been guilty of that many times. Its Idolitry when we worship or make something other than who the one true God is. You eather take the bible (Gods inspired word) as what it says, or you reject it?

my advice is to not listen to anyone who says and presents the truth and ask God yourself (prayer) and search and read the Bible.

Usually before I start reading I pray and ask God to reveal and open His word up so that I may understand what He is speaking about.

If you are interested here is a site that has helped me www.juststopandthink.com

God Bless you

Answer 10

The turning of water into wine was Jesus' first miracle. To disbelieve in it is synonymous with disbelieving in Jesus' divinity.

If you think that Jesus was incapable of bringing about such "physical impossibilities," then it probably means you're not factoring His divinity into things, at least not strongly enough.

Also remember that when Jesus turned the water into wine, He was performing a precursor to the sacrifice of His blood at the Last Supper and at Calvary.

In other words, it wasn't just a "neat magic trick" -- it was a highly symbolic precursor for something that was much more than symbolic.

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Answer 11

I agree with your friend the way you think does make you UN-Christian.The Bible is God's Word, and it is not to be questioned.If you really believe in God and Jesus then you should believe in the Bible and what is in it.Christians live by faith.And as far as I am concerned if you can not believe in the Bible then you should not call yourself a Catholic.I am a born again Christian and I believe in the Bible it is God's Word.