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Originally posted by uberarcanist
Speaker, if you have evidence to the contrary, I'd like to see it.
Source
In reality, it is not possible to discuss what the Bible says about itself since it was written by many different authors over a very long period of time. It must also be remembered that our present standard Protestant Bible of sixty-six canonical books was not settled upon until a few centuries ago. Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians accept into their canons several so-called "apocryphal" books which are excluded in the Protestant Bible. And, there is no doubt that the early Christian canon went beyond the Protestant canon.
The Bible neither teaches nor logically implies the doctrine of scriptural inerrancy. In fact, as many scholars have noted, just the opposite is the case. Indeed, the biblical authors certainly did not view scripture as perfect and unchangeable.
In 2 Timothy 3:16, the apostle Paul wrote:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
Strangely enough, fundamentalists cite this verse to support the idea of biblical inerrancy. However, this passage merely says that "all scripture" is "profitable" for doctrine, reproof, etc. It says nothing about scripture being "perfect," or "inerrant," or "infallible," or "all-sufficient." If anything, Paul's words constitute a refutation of the idea of scriptural inerrancy, as Oxford University's James Barr has pointed out:
Need I go on?
No Original Manuscripts
We do not possess the original manuscript for a single book in the Bible. What we have are copies of copies of copies many times over—and in several different languages.
The oldest manuscript support for the Old Testament is the Qumran material, i.e., the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls date to between the end of the third century B.C. and A.D. 70. Therefore, they were written a bare minimum of three hundred years after the last old Testament book was composed.
Next to the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest extant text of the Old Testament is the Septuagint (also known as the LXX), preserved in codices from the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. (Achtemeier 1985:1040-1041). The oldest of the remaining Old Testament manuscripts date to no earlier than the ninth century A.D.
Originally posted by Shadowflux
We're not all as brilliant and enlightened as you, some people still like to believe in something other than this crap material world.
Originally posted by Deus_Brandon
I love it when people say all sorts of tidbits of information ... And try to connect them together through Idiocracy ... and then when you ask for proof or some sort of supporting details; They up and POOF !!!! (DISAPEAR)
Originally posted by Echo3Foxtrot
The Popeolopolis is supposed to be the closest person to God on earth according to the catholics, yes? Tell me if I'm wrong. He's the leader, so to say, of the catholic church, correct?
Originally posted by Shadowflux
Originally posted by FlyersFan
Have we ever known Jesus to be exclusive?
The Catholic faith welcomes everyone who believes what the faith preaches.
Unless of course you happen to be gay, an unmarried mother, a couple "living in sin", suicidal, use condoms, are pro-choice etc etc etc
Originally posted by Shadowflux
Hence, you need no church, Pope or priest to save you.
Originally posted by budski
What surprises me is the arrogance inherent in the popes statement - "we're the only real ones, the rest of you just copied us" - he'll be sticking out his tongue and going nah nah nah nah nah next.
Originally posted by spencerjohnstone
As a prodestant I find his remarks offensive.
He has no right to say weither the Prodestant Church is a church or not,
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
Most people couldn't care less what God wants or what the truth is. All most are concerned about is having their own personal beliefs validated.
Originally posted by Shadowflux
Also, Jesus did not create a church, ... suggest you do more research.
Originally posted by KilgoreTrout
The most unspeakable evil has been committed in the name of Roman Catholicism - how do followers reconcile themselves to that?
Originally posted by uberarcanist
Even as a member of the fundamentalist Church of Christ, I don't think Catholics are going to hell. Why isn't the feeling mutual?
Originally posted by budski
look at the gospel of judas iscariot.
Originally posted by undo
There's no catechism in the bible
There's no need for a priest to absolve your sins.
There's no idol statues.
There's no worship of Mary.
There's no praying to dead saints.
Saying Hail Marys doesn't absolve anyone's sins.
Originally posted by timeless test
Mad as a bucket of frogs the lot of them...