Here is a new tidbit:

Catholic Church no longer swears by truth of the Bible

By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent

THE hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church has published a teaching document instructing the faithful that some parts of the Bible are not actually true.

The Catholic bishops of England, Wales and Scotland are warning their five million worshippers, as well as any others drawn to the study of scripture, that they should not expect “total accuracy” from the Bible.
“We should not expect to find in Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision,” they say in The Gift of Scripture.

The document is timely, coming as it does amid the rise of the religious Right, in particular in the US.

Some Christians want a literal interpretation of the story of creation, as told in Genesis, taught alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution in schools, believing “intelligent design” to be an equally plausible theory of how the world began.

But the first 11 chapters of Genesis, in which two different and at times conflicting stories of creation are told, are among those that this country’s Catholic bishops insist cannot be “historical”. At most, they say, they may contain “historical traces”.
The document shows how far the Catholic Church has come since the 17th century, when Galileo was condemned as a heretic for flouting a near-universal belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible by advocating the Copernican view of the solar system. Only a century ago, Pope Pius X condemned Modernist Catholic scholars who adapted historical-critical methods of analyzing ancient literature to the Bible.

In the document, the bishops acknowledge their debt to biblical scholars. They say the Bible must be approached in the knowledge that it is “God’s word expressed in human language” and that proper acknowledgement should be given both to the word of God and its human dimensions.

They say the Church must offer the gospel in ways “appropriate to changing times, intelligible and attractive to our contemporaries”.

The Bible is true in passages relating to human salvation, they say, but continue: “We should not expect total accuracy from the Bible in other, secular matters.”
They go on to condemn fundamentalism for its “intransigent intolerance” and to warn of “significant dangers” involved in a fundamentalist approach.

“Such an approach is dangerous, for example, when people of one nation or group see in the Bible a mandate for their own superiority, and even consider themselves permitted by the Bible to use violence against others.”
Of the notorious anti-Jewish curse in Matthew 27:25, “His blood be on us and on our children”, a passage used to justify centuries of anti-Semitism, the bishops say these and other words must never be used again as a pretext to treat Jewish people with contempt. Describing this passage as an example of dramatic exaggeration, the bishops say they have had “tragic consequences” in encouraging hatred and persecution. “The attitudes and language of first-century quarrels between Jews and Jewish Christians should never again be emulated in relations between Jews and Christians.”
As examples of passages not to be taken literally, the bishops cite the early chapters of Genesis, comparing them with early creation legends from other cultures, especially from the ancient East. The bishops say it is clear that the primary purpose of these chapters was to provide religious teaching and that they could not be described as historical writing.

Similarly, they refute the apocalyptic prophecies of Revelation, the last book of the Christian Bible, in which the writer describes the work of the risen Jesus, the death of the Beast and the wedding feast of Christ the Lamb.
The bishops say: “Such symbolic language must be respected for what it is, and is not to be interpreted literally. We should not expect to discover in this book details about the end of the world, about how many will be saved and about when the end will come.”

In their foreword to the teaching document, the two most senior Catholics of the land, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, and Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrew’s and Edinburgh, explain its context.

They say people today are searching for what is worthwhile, what has real value, what can be trusted and what is really true.

The new teaching has been issued as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Dei Verbum, the Second Vatican Council document explaining the place of Scripture in revelation. In the past 40 years, Catholics have learnt more than ever before to cherish the Bible. “We have rediscovered the Bible as a precious treasure, both ancient and ever new.”

A Christian charity is sending a film about the Christmas story to every primary school in Britain after hearing of a young boy who asked his teacher why Mary and Joseph had named their baby after a swear word. The Breakout Trust raised £200,000 to make the 30-minute animated film, It’s a Boy. Steve Legg, head of the charity, said: “There are over 12 million children in the UK and only 756,000 of them go to church regularly.

That leaves a staggering number who are probably not receiving basic Christian teaching.”

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

UNTRUE

Genesis ii, 21-22

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man

Genesis iii, 16

God said to the woman [after she was beguiled by the serpent]: “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”


Matthew xxvii, 25

The words of the crowd: “His blood be on us and on our children.”


Revelation xix,20

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone.”


TRUE

Exodus iii, 14

God reveals himself to Moses as: “I am who I am.”


Leviticus xxvi,12

“I will be your God, and you shall be my people.”


Exodus xx,1-17

The Ten Commandments

Matthew v,7

The Sermon on the Mount

Mark viii,29

Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ

Luke i

The Virgin Birth

John xx,28

Proof of bodily resurrection

Looks like the largest Christian denomination is starting to see what we skeptics have been pointing out for decades if not centuries. Next thing you know, they will toss out the wash water and find that there was no baby!

The Gods (Elohim) abandoned the Catholic Church long ago!

In present times its priests are planning to make a TV series on “The Return of the Living Dead”

The Creator was never "with" any religion, therefore could not abandon any! The point of the posting seems to be that finally the largest organized sect of the largest organized religion of the world is starting to see that the skeptics have been right all along! It is, however, too little too late and won't forestall the death of the religion, maybe only slow it down - if that. - the Wolf

Hi Mako,

The Bible is so open to interpretation. This is when people can use it for evil or superiority. But this is wrong. I am no greater then a gay, sexual immoral, sinful, or believers of other faiths.

We cannot believe what everyone else says about the Bible. Because we read it and apply it to our personal life.

Its nice to see that a bit of common sense is slowly percolating into their theology, but the "Roman" part of Roman-Catholicism is still all encompassing. When will they dismiss the pagan notion of elevating Mary to a mother-fertility goddess by just another name, and the host of other "Saints" taken directly from the panalopy of demi-gods that pervaded Pagan Roman theology before it overnight, by the whim of Constantine I, became Roman-Catholicism.

It might be a good idea to " dispense with all of the goofy "demon excorcising" stuff too, while they're at it. (Though it is great stuff for the "B-movie industry.)

I never thought I would see the day that the RCC would try to evolve!
The next step in the evolutionary ladder for Christianity is.......

Deism?

At least Deism has never made an outrageous claim like Christianity has/is.

Mako
Could you please provide a link to this story.
Thanks

Exodus iii, 14

God reveals himself to Moses as: “I am who I am.”

I thought that was Popeye?

No No, Popeye says "I yam who I yam".....

I've always believed parts of the bible to be corrupt- and this is to no disrespect of God. So this news isnt really suprising to me. The Bible is a book of many languages and has gone through many translations and im afraid has been passed on to too many men through-out the times who could have corrupted some of it. Yet i still believe a fair amount of the Bible is true when accurately translated and understood. All in all not believing the Bible is NOT disregarding God- i still have my faith in God and follow my Unitarian Christian belief and this study didn't change any opinion of mine

Good on you Mate! Would that more beleived as you do!

As per Turtles request, I finally found the link and here it is:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13...1811332,00.html

Hope that works for you - Mako

I wonder what the Pope has to say about this.

OH NO!

Taking the bible literally.
This would not be the first time I have disagreed with the catholic teachings and no doubt the last time.
One must account for the educational and intellectual level of the people that the scriptures were originally written for. There is a great fear among Christian writers as to not change the intent of the word. A fear that is instilled from the scriptures themselves.
Gal1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (PS. take note those of the Mormon faith).
It does present an oxymoron with the knowledge of today’s world. It would be much akin to you going back to those times and explaining the events of the war in Iraq for instance. How would you describe bombers, tanks, helicopters, machine guns and the like?
Or from the other perspective how would you describe tomorrow’s technological improvements to the people of today.
if I may go out on a limb for a sec, let me explain the following scripture to today’s world.
Genesis ii, 21-22

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Remember that I am only paraphrasing as a demonstration.
So God anesthetized Adam so as he would feel no pain. And removed some cells and genetic material from his chest. This material He then cloned the first woman from Adams own body to be his companion on earth. He gave this new creation of woman the ability to replicate the physical attributes of both her and Adam without intervention from Himself.
So in concluding I would say that we are able to take scripture literally if we apply reason and knowledge as to the technical abilities of the people receiving that information.
All the Best
Irish

Good point Irish, but you better watch out, you might become one of those Ancient-Aliens-Were-God types! Mako

Not much chance of that, but I do have inside information that there is beer in heaven. So I don't want to reck my chances

Spoken like a true Irishman! We Scots hold out for the fruit of the corn, the strong stuff.

The Roman Catholic Church is just a group of church people looking for followers always trying to say whats right and wrong in the "Lords eyes".

Why are people always trying to follow the Roman Catholic Church? It's cause they have the money and power and aswell government "sources" to back them up for every decision they feel is right for the world.

Politics should have nothing to do with Church. Horrible thing to mix together.

If anything most Christians such as myself feel that Politics has to do with that creature "Satan" with limited power that controls the world.

Get it - " The Roman Catholic Church is not the true Church"

IndigoBlade99 : Welcome Indie to the UM forum!

Satan (if you beleive in him) seems to be at least as strong as your God and maybe more so, so I wouldn't call his power limited.

He'd blame it on someone.. like he blaimed the Hullocaust on the pagans.

Actually Mako, if we are to believe the Old Testament scriptures, Satan has virtually no "power" at all. In the book of Job, long after he supposedly seduced Eve according to invented Christian texts, he cannot even harm a single human (Job) without the expressed permission of his master, God.

This is a far cry from Christian theology, because Christian theology is dualistic, and much an imitation of Zorastrianism. When creating their theology the early Christians required a substitute for the evil dragon Ahriman in the Zorastrian religion, so concocted their version of Satan to fit the bill, despite their obvious contradictions to the Old Testament scriptures. The authentic Satan of the Bible before Christian manipulation is little more than a reptilian servant creature of God that apparently delights in punishing wicked and sinful humans, but only with the expressed permission of his heavenly master. And his "demon minions" are just so much Platonic Greek nonsense, that of course, have no mention in the Old Testament, for they are merely another Christian invention to create a religion acceptable to the pagan Greco Roman world.

Actually DC it was God who brought evil on Job.

Yes it was a test for Job on his faith, because Satan came up to the Lord and told him Job wasnt a faithful servant.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:8)

http://www.bookstobelievein.com/Why.php

I hope this helps.

Get it - " The Roman Catholic Church is not the true Church"
[/quote]


Is there a true church?

Mathew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
This is the true Christian church. It is not a building nor an organization but a gathering of believers.

I was just told by a Catholic that the Old Testiment is not part of the Bible it is the Jewish Bible. I almost choked on my soda.
The Bible was written my men of faith not men of science I am glad at least somebody in some kind of church is waking up to this.

I think it would be fair to assume that in any Christian church, be it those who dance with snakes in Kentucky and Tennessee to the radical fundamentalists or even Mormons . . . . there would be at least three who are there to truly worship God. That being the case, we can equally assume that all churches are the true church?

great post Iaapac

Does everybody know the Catholic Church also believes in evolution! It's more of an hierarchical stance on evolution then a widespread belief in the followers

The Catholic church hasn't been a fundamentalist church for a long long time. This was a truth I learned way back in Sunday school. But, I do believe that the truths of the Catholic church, (and the Orthodox for that matter) are more on the mark than protestant belief, not that they are totally off.....