Catholics : What do you think about this quote about those who ONLY follow scripture and reject other sources?

Question

The Catholics have a Pope. Protestants laugh at them, and yet the Pope is capable of intellectual advancement. In addition to this, the Pope is mortal, and the church cannot be afflicted with the same idiot forever. The Protestants have a book for their Pope. The book cannot advance. Year after year, and century after century, the book remains as ignorant as ever. --Robert Ingersoll

Answer 1

The big difference is Holy Tradition, not the Papacy.

I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. (John 16:12-13)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 C.E.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 80 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The Protestants have the Word. Catholics laugh at them, and yet the Word is capable of speaking God's truth. In addition to this, the Word is eternal, and the church cannot be separated from it's eternal truth. The Catholics have a man for their Word. The Pope can not be perfect. Year after year, and century after century, man remains as ignorant as ever.


There, wasn't that fun?


Now, let's put this ridiculous sectarian nature behind us. Please.

In Love,

~ S

Answer 3

Oh, we Catholics do maintain that the full Word of God is sufficient but that that full Word is not the Bible (or more likely, a set of favorite verses with others ignored)Alone but rather the Bible in the context of the teaching of Jesus passed down by the Holy Spirit( Apostolic Tradition) in the authoritative Church founded by Christ Check this out in the Catechism of the catholic Church Nobody, including you,i'll wager, actually goes by the Bible alone but the interpretations done through whatever lens one or many does his traditions of men ( rather than the tradition of God alone)or what he picks and chooses out of the Apostolic Tradition Why do all the Bible Alone groups ( some 30,000 +groups in the wide spectrum of the varied and conflicting Protesatant interpretaive families)find themselves incapable of coming to a consensusabout what the Bible actually says?

Answer 4

That's nice. But you left out the real Christians, who are neither Catholic nor Protestant (a late branch of Catholicism).

The more I read the Bible the more I find myself advancing intellectually to catch up to it. I don't think we have to worry about the pope surpassing it.

Answer 5

If that were true then the Holy Spirit of God would not influence a Catholic believer's life except through their clergy. That's complete ignorance of the Holy Spirit of God among men.

Answer 6

That's nice, but "The Book" of both the Catholic church and the Protestant church are works of fiction.

Answer 7

I think you need to start reading OTHER books. Almost all your questions and answers are pasted quotes from some guy who hates the Bible and Christians...just like you ;)

Answer 8

God was very specific in his book, the bible.

Catholics believe in a written as well as spoken word/. Which means man can alter belief.

Answer: God versus man? I take God every time.