God Did Not Write the Bible

Devils' Advocate said:
So, what? Catholic.com is not a reliable source for information on Catholic doctrine?
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Don't know. Haven't checked it.

But I will back-track a bit.

The issue was I couldn't, and still can't, find the link you posted after a brief first read. I queried the term 'Catholic' from memory because today that means the Roman Catholic Church as distinct from (or is it to?) the Orthodox Patriarchates. As you know, saying Catholicism to some people today and it's a red rag to a bull.

The Christian Community was called Catholic from very early on, but it's a term I would refrain from using because of its contemporary connotations. I assumed that the statement that 'Catholic' bishops decided the canon implied the 'Greek Orthodox' hadn't a say in the matter ... whereas, really, 90+% of our theology and dogma is founded in the Fathers, who were largely Greek. Augustine, possibly the greatest Latin Father, was a North African of Berber stock! And, so was Tertullian! Thank God for Hilary of Poitiers, he was born in France. (A contemporary of Athanasius and 'The Hammer of the Arians'.)
 
Lux said:
I touched upon the reason why in this post.

Why is everyone's life valuable?

I actually have more thoughts I want to add to the above thread. I'll do so as soon as I can find time. Then I'll explain what was the deciding factor for me in becoming a believer. :)
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"Before the cock crows you will deny me thrice."

Have I got the right passage?
 
RJM Corbet said:
"Before the cock crows you will deny me thrice."

Have I got the right passage?
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It's this one.

Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
 
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Lux said:

It's this one.

Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
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Oh!
Sorry ...
:)
 
Lux said:
Why is everyone's life valuable?
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Your post and question touches upon one of my favourite Biblical quotes:

Allow me the heresy of rewriting scripture. It's John 21:15-18:
"When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs...

And Peter, who had no time for the weak and the lily-livered replied, Lord, don't ask me to do that ...

He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

And Peter, who liked to travel fast and light and unencumbered, and preferred nothing more than bouncing rocks off Roman skulls, ground his teeth and said, Lord, you know I love you, but really, look at them, I mean, ...

He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

And Peter set his face in that stone-like expression for which he was famous, and glowered at the Lord ...

"Amen, amen I say to thee, when thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself, and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."
V18 above I think applies to all, everywhere. Anyone who thinks they're 'doing their thing' and following Jesus, probably isn't. The last thing Peter wanted to be was a shepherd.
 
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wil said:
Chop wood, carry water?
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Umm ... not sure ... I always read that to inform the wannabe that 'Enlightenment' is not navel gazing nor floating on a cloud utterly blissed out. The Christian Tradition has a similar epithet: 'The monks life is toil, that's what a monk is'.

The way I read it is Christ is asking us to go the extra mile, to step out beyond our comfort zones and put the other before ourselves in all things.
 
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Thomas said:
Your post and question touches upon one of my favourite Biblical quotes:

Allow me the heresy of rewriting scripture. It's John 21:15-18:
"When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs...

And Peter, who had no time for the weak and the lily-livered replied, Lord, don't ask me to do that ...

He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

And Peter, who liked to travel fast and light and unencumbered, and preferred nothing more than bouncing rocks off Roman skulls, ground his teeth and said, Lord, you know I love you, but really, look at them, I mean, ...

He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

And Peter set his face in that stone-like expression for which he was famous, and glowered at the Lord ...

"Amen, amen I say to thee, when thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself, and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not."
V18 above I think applies to all, everywhere. Anyone who thinks they're 'doing their thing' and following Jesus, probably isn't. The last thing Peter wanted to be was a shepherd.
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This reminds me of another great passage, Matthew 25:37-40.

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Jesus constantly talks about taking care of "others", especially the underprivileged ... often calls to sacrifice oneself in doing so.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." — John 15:13


In the movie Karol: A Man Who Became Pope, there's this simple line from the pope that struck me ...

"I shall begin by giving my definition of a priest ... A man for others."

I don't know if this is what Pope John Paul actually said, or the creator of the movie took a bit of artistic license ... But I was expecting the definition be with much more majestic wording ...

"A man for others"

... such beauty of simplicity ... these four words say it all ...
 
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Lux said:
Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Jesus constantly talks about taking care of "others", especially the underprivileged ... often calls to sacrifice oneself in doing so.
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Yuppers, when he finishes this discussion using the negative.
 
wil said:
Matt 23:41-45
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Well, if you have a problem with everlasting fire in hell, you're not alone. I'm still working to understand what the hell "the hell" is.
 
Perhaps all our natural senses and perceptions are not able to operate very well beyond the natural (time/space) dimension, to see what's happening in the spirit -- which is the full reality? Perhaps being able to directly perceive what's happening in spirit/angelic reality would kind of burn out our natural brain.

So perhaps that's why those who teach from spirit need to use natural images, like parables?
 
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