Do you believe that God still talks to us now, or are the heavens closed to further revelation?
2007-10-15 08:39:52 · 6 answers · asked by odd duck 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I wasn't asking what the Catholics do wrong, or if they are Christian. I'm asking if they believe this one thing. If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all please.
2007-10-15 08:46:01 · update #1
The heavens are not closed. God still teaches us via revelations through the Catholic Church. If it were possible to know everything about God, we would not need revelation.
Indeed, if we did know everything there was to know about God, there would be no revelations because there would be no God.
2007-10-16 05:11:33 · answer #1 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kind of.
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.
2007-10-16 01:33:56 · answer #2 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics believe that public revelation stopped with the death of the last apostle, but that people can still receive private revelation, which is not binding upon the individual Catholic's conscience.
2007-10-15 15:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
The Holy Spirit reveals all to us.
2007-10-15 15:45:21 · answer #4 · answered by Midge 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The heavens are closed by the health department until further notice
2007-10-15 15:43:46 · answer #5 · answered by 2 5 · 1⤊ 6⤋
God talks to the individual, not to the society. Thus there are no more prophets after Jesus.
2007-10-15 15:45:14 · answer #6 · answered by Marcus R. 6 · 3⤊ 4⤋