Jose, we might take a look at Acts 19:18, 19 and see what happened when people were truly saved. They took their paganisms and burned them. The Catholic Church admits taking paganism and "Christianizing" (sometimes they say "baptizing" them.
From: Joseph Ludovick <josephludovick@gmail.com>
To: wanabidii@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: [wanabidii] Christmas: Where are you in the Bible?
WHAT DO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES ABOUT THE BIBLE?
SUMMARY.
SUMMARY.
A) Concerning the Sacred Scriptures, the most recent
document with the highest level of authority in the
Catholic Church is called the "Dogmatic Constitution on
Divine Revelation," often referred to by its Latin title,
Dei Verbum ( DV ), which was officially promulgated on
November 18, 1965, by the bishops meeting at the
Second Vatican Council. A more recent publication
summarizing the Church's official teachings is the
Catechism of the Catholic Church ( CCC , 1994). Not only
does the Catechism clearly present the same teachings
as Dei Verbum , but the structure of this CCC chapter
closely parallels the structure of DV:
document with the highest level of authority in the
Catholic Church is called the "Dogmatic Constitution on
Divine Revelation," often referred to by its Latin title,
Dei Verbum ( DV ), which was officially promulgated on
November 18, 1965, by the bishops meeting at the
Second Vatican Council. A more recent publication
summarizing the Church's official teachings is the
Catechism of the Catholic Church ( CCC , 1994). Not only
does the Catechism clearly present the same teachings
as Dei Verbum , but the structure of this CCC chapter
closely parallels the structure of DV:
1. Article 1 of this portion of the CCC (§§51-73)
expands upon the teachings of chapter 1 of DV .
expands upon the teachings of chapter 1 of DV .
2. Article 2 of the CCC (§§74-100) further develops the
material presented in chapter 2 of DV.
material presented in chapter 2 of DV.
3. Article 3 of the CCC (§§101-141) summarizes the
main points of chapters 3-6 of DV .
main points of chapters 3-6 of DV .
B) Revelation: Official Catholic teachings about the
Bible do not deal immediately with the written
scriptures, but begin from a much broader perspective,
first presenting the Church's teachings about
"Revelation." In Catholic understanding, divine
revelation is much more than just the Bible; it is also
more than God revealing verbal messages to humanity.
Rather, it is the entire process by which God reveals or
expresses Himself in our world, what we might call
"God's self-revelation." Moreover, this process of divine
revelation can be seen in four main historical stages:
Bible do not deal immediately with the written
scriptures, but begin from a much broader perspective,
first presenting the Church's teachings about
"Revelation." In Catholic understanding, divine
revelation is much more than just the Bible; it is also
more than God revealing verbal messages to humanity.
Rather, it is the entire process by which God reveals or
expresses Himself in our world, what we might call
"God's self-revelation." Moreover, this process of divine
revelation can be seen in four main historical stages:
1. God's self-revelation in creation , in everything that
exists in the universe, from inanimate material, to
plants and animals, in what we today call "nature."
exists in the universe, from inanimate material, to
plants and animals, in what we today call "nature."
2. God's self-revelation in and to the human race ,
who are "created in God's image and likeness" (see
Gen 1:26-27), so we are endowed with reason,
which gives us the ability to know God.
who are "created in God's image and likeness" (see
Gen 1:26-27), so we are endowed with reason,
which gives us the ability to know God.
3. God's special revelation to the people of Israel , the
"chosen people," giving them more direct knowledge
about God and the world, working in and through
their history, sending them messages that were
passed down orally and eventually written down in
the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament).
"chosen people," giving them more direct knowledge
about God and the world, working in and through
their history, sending them messages that were
passed down orally and eventually written down in
the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament).
4. God's self-revelation in the person of Jesus Christ ,
"the Word made flesh" (see John 1:14), "sent from
the Father" (cf. John 5:17-37; 14:6-28), who through
his words and actions reveals even more clearly
everything we need to know about God and our
world, about life and love, about forgiveness and
salvation.
"the Word made flesh" (see John 1:14), "sent from
the Father" (cf. John 5:17-37; 14:6-28), who through
his words and actions reveals even more clearly
everything we need to know about God and our
world, about life and love, about forgiveness and
salvation.
C) Tradition: After briefly presenting this broader
concept of "Revelation," but still before addressing the
written scriptures, Catholic teachings explain "The
Transmission of Divine Revelation," that is, the process
by which God's revelation is "transmitted" or "handed
down" or "passed on" (Latin traditio) through the ages.
Again, this is a complex process involving several
different stages or steps, which one must carefully
distinguish from one another. The following stages
apply both in the OT era and in the NT era:
concept of "Revelation," but still before addressing the
written scriptures, Catholic teachings explain "The
Transmission of Divine Revelation," that is, the process
by which God's revelation is "transmitted" or "handed
down" or "passed on" (Latin traditio) through the ages.
Again, this is a complex process involving several
different stages or steps, which one must carefully
distinguish from one another. The following stages
apply both in the OT era and in the NT era:
1. Historical Events: the actions of the patriarchs,
prophets, kings, and all the people of Israel (in the
OT era), or the actions of Jesus, his own disciples
and apostles (in the NT era).
prophets, kings, and all the people of Israel (in the
OT era), or the actions of Jesus, his own disciples
and apostles (in the NT era).
2. Oral Traditions: the stories about what happened,
and the teachings of various people, as passed down
from one generation to the next, often by
anonymous people.
and the teachings of various people, as passed down
from one generation to the next, often by
anonymous people.
3. Written Documents: the various books of Moses,
the prophets, and teachers of Israel (in the OT); and
the recorded Gospels, letters, and other writings of
early Christian leaders (in the NT).
the prophets, and teachers of Israel (in the OT); and
the recorded Gospels, letters, and other writings of
early Christian leaders (in the NT).
4. Canonization and Interpretation: the
"transmission" of God's revelation did not end with
the writing of the individual books of the Bible, but
continues in the activity of the Church, first in
collecting and "canonizing" the collections of
scriptures we now call the Old and New Testaments,
as well as in the ongoing teaching, interpretation,
and application of God's revelation in the lives of
individuals and communities throughout the
centuries.
"transmission" of God's revelation did not end with
the writing of the individual books of the Bible, but
continues in the activity of the Church, first in
collecting and "canonizing" the collections of
scriptures we now call the Old and New Testaments,
as well as in the ongoing teaching, interpretation,
and application of God's revelation in the lives of
individuals and communities throughout the
centuries.
D) Scripture: Only after understanding the Catholic
Christian teachings about Revelation and Tradition can
we also come to a proper understanding of the
Church's teachings about the Bible, the Sacred
Scriptures. Only now can we properly see the
intertwined relationships between Revelation,
Tradition, and Scripture :
Christian teachings about Revelation and Tradition can
we also come to a proper understanding of the
Church's teachings about the Bible, the Sacred
Scriptures. Only now can we properly see the
intertwined relationships between Revelation,
Tradition, and Scripture :
1. Contrary to the polemical Reformation-era debates
(and popular misunderstandings still today!),
"Scripture" and "Tradition" are not opposed to each
other; they are not two separate entities. Rather,
"Scripture" (the written Bible) is part of the larger
reality called "Tradition" (the transmission of divine
truth), which is itself part of the larger process
called "Revelation" (or better, "God's self-
revelation"). Expressed with mathematical symbols,
one might say Revelation > Tradition > Scripture.
(and popular misunderstandings still today!),
"Scripture" and "Tradition" are not opposed to each
other; they are not two separate entities. Rather,
"Scripture" (the written Bible) is part of the larger
reality called "Tradition" (the transmission of divine
truth), which is itself part of the larger process
called "Revelation" (or better, "God's self-
revelation"). Expressed with mathematical symbols,
one might say Revelation > Tradition > Scripture.
2. Although the Bible is obviously a very old and
crucial part of the Church's Tradition, handing on
God's Revelation, it is not the only part . Much of
God's self-revelation has been and continues to be
handed on to humanity through other aspects of the
Church's Tradition (esp. the liturgy), and even more
broadly in various ways. Put differently, although
the Scriptures contain Revelation, not all of God's
self-revelation is recorded in the Bible (since God
has revealed and continues to reveal Himself in
nature, in people, and in many other ways).
crucial part of the Church's Tradition, handing on
God's Revelation, it is not the only part . Much of
God's self-revelation has been and continues to be
handed on to humanity through other aspects of the
Church's Tradition (esp. the liturgy), and even more
broadly in various ways. Put differently, although
the Scriptures contain Revelation, not all of God's
self-revelation is recorded in the Bible (since God
has revealed and continues to reveal Himself in
nature, in people, and in many other ways).
3. However, since the Bible contains the indispensible
"core" of God's Revelation, so to speak, Christians
believe that no other revelations would ever change
or contradict what God teaches us in and through
the Old and New Testaments. Moreover, as the core
of Revelation, the Bible contains all the truths
necessary for our redemption and salvation, so that
we neither seek nor need any other revelation to
supplement or complete God's revelation as found in
the Scriptures.
"core" of God's Revelation, so to speak, Christians
believe that no other revelations would ever change
or contradict what God teaches us in and through
the Old and New Testaments. Moreover, as the core
of Revelation, the Bible contains all the truths
necessary for our redemption and salvation, so that
we neither seek nor need any other revelation to
supplement or complete God's revelation as found in
the Scriptures.
4. It is also crucial to understand that the Word of
God, in Catholic understanding, is not primarily the
Bible (the written text), but is Jesus Christ (the
incarnate Word). The most important part of
Christian faith is not the Bible, but Jesus himself.
Jesus came before the Bible (before the NT books
were written, and before the complete scriptures
were canonized).
God, in Catholic understanding, is not primarily the
Bible (the written text), but is Jesus Christ (the
incarnate Word). The most important part of
Christian faith is not the Bible, but Jesus himself.
Jesus came before the Bible (before the NT books
were written, and before the complete scriptures
were canonized).
5. Moreover, the Church also came before the Bible!
That is, not only did the oral preaching of the
apostles precede the writing of the NT books (by
several decades), but it was the early Church that
determined the Canon of the Bible (not until several
centuries after Jesus' life).
That is, not only did the oral preaching of the
apostles precede the writing of the NT books (by
several decades), but it was the early Church that
determined the Canon of the Bible (not until several
centuries after Jesus' life).
E) Chapter 3 of DV (and the corresponding paragraphs
of CCC), also summarize the Catholic Christian
teachings about the "divine inspiration" of the
Scriptures and their proper interpretation. In contrast
to a naïve fundamentalist view of biblical authorship,
which sometimes reduces the role of the biblical
writers to little more than dictation machines, the
Catholic understanding of the "divine inspiration" of
the Bible is a good example of the Church's overall
BOTH/AND approach to theology:
of CCC), also summarize the Catholic Christian
teachings about the "divine inspiration" of the
Scriptures and their proper interpretation. In contrast
to a naïve fundamentalist view of biblical authorship,
which sometimes reduces the role of the biblical
writers to little more than dictation machines, the
Catholic understanding of the "divine inspiration" of
the Bible is a good example of the Church's overall
BOTH/AND approach to theology:
1. The Bible is both the Word of God and written in
human languages. On can properly say both that
God is the author of the scriptures and that the
human writers acted as real authors. They did not
merely record the exact words whispered into their
ears by the Holy Spirit (as graphically portrayed in
much medieval art), but rather made use of their
own human abilities in writing their texts (under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, of course).
human languages. On can properly say both that
God is the author of the scriptures and that the
human writers acted as real authors. They did not
merely record the exact words whispered into their
ears by the Holy Spirit (as graphically portrayed in
much medieval art), but rather made use of their
own human abilities in writing their texts (under
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, of course).
2. Because the Bible is written in human languages
(indeed, ancient languages very different from our
own!), the proper interpretation of the Scriptures
requires not only that we are aware of the
limitations of all human language (and the
difficulties of translation from one language to
another), but also that we pay attention to the
various literary forms and modes of expression used
by the ancient authors ( see the relevant excerpts
highlighted below ).
(indeed, ancient languages very different from our
own!), the proper interpretation of the Scriptures
requires not only that we are aware of the
limitations of all human language (and the
difficulties of translation from one language to
another), but also that we pay attention to the
various literary forms and modes of expression used
by the ancient authors ( see the relevant excerpts
highlighted below ).
3. The "inspiration" of the Holy Spirit applies not only
to one stage, but to all stages in the long process of
the transmission of divine revelation. Not only were
Moses, the prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and other
biblical characters inspired by the Holy Spirit in
their words and actions; not only were the biblical
authors inspired by God's Spirit as they were busy
writing; not only was the Church leaders inspired by
the Spirit when they selected which books to include
in the biblical canon. Rather, the Holy Spirit was
active at all these stages of the process.
to one stage, but to all stages in the long process of
the transmission of divine revelation. Not only were
Moses, the prophets, Jesus, the apostles, and other
biblical characters inspired by the Holy Spirit in
their words and actions; not only were the biblical
authors inspired by God's Spirit as they were busy
writing; not only was the Church leaders inspired by
the Spirit when they selected which books to include
in the biblical canon. Rather, the Holy Spirit was
active at all these stages of the process.
4. Finally, the Holy Spirit continues to guide the
Christian Church in the correct understanding and
proper application of the scriptures for our own
lives in community and as individuals. Although this
goes beyond the traditional doctrine of the "divine
inspiration of sacred scripture," one can properly
say that the Holy Spirit still actively guides the
Church in its use of the scriptures in many ways: in
liturgical prayer, in small-group discussions, in
personal prayer and study, and in many other facets
of our individual and communal lives.
Christian Church in the correct understanding and
proper application of the scriptures for our own
lives in community and as individuals. Although this
goes beyond the traditional doctrine of the "divine
inspiration of sacred scripture," one can properly
say that the Holy Spirit still actively guides the
Church in its use of the scriptures in many ways: in
liturgical prayer, in small-group discussions, in
personal prayer and study, and in many other facets
of our individual and communal lives.
On Dec 23, 2014 6:21 PM, "Joseph Ludovick" <josephludovick@gmail.com> wrote:
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