Hey, a friend told me that ya'll do not believe the bible to be "literal". I am not catholic, but my dad was, and i dont think thats true. So is it true that catholics dont take the bible literal?
Please explain if so.
thanks
2007-09-20 11:14:49 · 23 answers · asked by Dan The Man 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is a touchy issue in the Church today. Many, if not most, Catholics have disregarded traditional Church teaching on this point. But, as you can see here, the Church in her official teaching insists that we must believe the literal sense *unless* it is impossible to do so: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a3.htm#116
Really, the Catholic Church has a history of being very literal in her understanding of Scripture, far more so than Protestants. That's why we believe that Communion is really the body and blood of Jesus, that Christ appointed men to forgive sins in His name (John 20:21-23) and that baptism saves us (1st Peter 3:21).
E-mail me if you want more detail; this issue was one that was central in the studies that eventually led me to embrace Catholicism.
2007-09-20 11:26:33 · answer #1 · answered by delsydebothom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's an interesting question. Actually, I don't believe there is any group out there that truly believes everything written in the Bible is literal. One of the main disagreements between Catholics and non-Catholics is over the understanding of John 6-71. This is the most significant discourses on the Eucharist. Non-Catholics refuse to take it literally, even though it plainly is. They typically point to verse 63 "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." Thus they reason, that since it is spiritual, it cannot be literal. That just doesn't hold water.
2007-09-20 18:48:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Catholic, and many Catholics I know (including my priest) don't take the Bible literally, as the Protestant Fundamentalists do. It's understood by many people that some of the stories in the Bible are allegorical. However, I've also met a few Catholics who claim to be literalists, so it may depend upon the individual Catholic you're asking.
2007-09-20 18:17:34 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
biblical passages have different levels of truth, i'm going to use the story of Jonah and the whale to prove this...
1) the literal meaning, its basically the obvious stuff you see...this guy Jonah got swallowed by a whale and survived 3 days (quite unrealistic, dont u think?)
2) the spiritual meaning, its a little deeper meaning, you cant take the bible literally to find this meaning because its not so obvious...it shows us that we cannot run away from God and that God loves us dearly
3) the catholic meaning, a deeper meaning that relates to christianity, specifically catholocism...Jonah's 3 days in the whale forshadows Jesus' 3 days in the tomb
although the bible does have a literal message, most of the time the more important message is the not so literal one
2007-09-20 18:38:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually the Catholic Church follows more of the requirements for salvation set forth in the Bible than any other denomination. Most other denominations based their salvation on faith and grace, but the Bible clearly points out other requirements, such as eating and drinking the body and blood of Christ. (John 6:51-58), keeping God's commandments (I John 2:4), confessing your sins (James 5:16), following both Scripture and tradition (II Thessalonians 2:14)
2007-09-20 18:31:40 · answer #5 · answered by Robin Runesinger 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can only speak for myself. I am a practicing Catholic and I personally do not take the bible literally. The Bible is by all means sacred to me, but it was written by humans and we all know human make mistakes. We all know, that there are contradictions in the bible as well. I would be very leary of anyone or any church that took the bible literally.( IMHO)
2007-09-20 18:23:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Roman Catholic Church is trying to get back their congregation by "staying up" with the times. And polls say that most find miracles and the Genesis explanation on how humankind was created hard to believe. (b/c of the evolution theory and science disproving Creationism) We, as a society, have become more analytical. You no longer "wow" the public by magic...ppl want to know the who, what, where and why...not just "b/c i said so" answers. So the Catholic Church has jumped on the band wagon to still hold power.
lol it was a good run for the Roman's (3000 yr reign)...talk about adaption and evolution the Roman Empire is the a living breathing experiment success. First they were a Republic,ruled for 500 yrs, then the ppl wanted a dictator/emperor nominated Augustus (1st Emperor of Rome), ruled for another 500 yrs, then Christ came forth and his Christrian followers reaked havok on the Empire threatening it's down fall...if you can't beat them join them (hehe they did come up with the say "when in Rome do as the Romans")the ppl rule ultimately..gotta keep them happy...so they wanted a Holy Father "emperor" which was its best and longest standing campaign of 1000 yrs. So now i'm dying to see what they come up with next! :)
2007-09-20 18:37:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's not about taking the bible literally or not, it's about understanding the context and style of writing of the author. If you know that, then it becomes much easier to understand the message of the text. Taking everything literally will cause you to run into trouble, and I imagine doing the opposite would do the same.
2007-09-20 18:19:47 · answer #8 · answered by Thom 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Very few Catholics take the Bible literally. Many do see it as a conceptual guide from God on various ways of life and how to deal with some of the problems that life brings. Things like faith, hope,love,charity,justice,forgiveness,power,hatred,etc.are shown to mankind as how we can have peace with each other and with God!
2007-09-20 18:41:27 · answer #9 · answered by THE Cupid HATER 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Im not a strong Catholic but i am catholic...i definatly believe in the bible cause thats how i was brought up. It all depends on the church you go to i guess
2007-09-20 18:20:03 · answer #10 · answered by katie marie 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋