So would those Catholics not consider themselves Christians?

 

I think they would if asked in that way. I can't explain it or why it's something people do, just something I've noticed.

I'm not criticizing Christians for not taking it literally. I'm criticizing those that say you can't pick and choose (Because that's exactly what they really do). Catholics do not (at least none I've ever encountered) take the Bible as literal translation, and they don't claim too.

If Catholics consider the Eucharist the body and blood of Christ then yes they do, at least for this they do. Which means they pick and choose if they don't take the rest of the NT as literal translation.

I'm not criticizing Christians for not taking it literally. I'm criticizing those that say you can't pick and choose (Because that's exactly what they really do). Catholics do not (at least none I've ever encountered) take the Bible as literal translation, and they don't claim too.

 

If Catholics consider the Eucharist the body and blood of Christ then yes they do, at least for this they do. Which means they pick and choose if they don't take the rest of the NT as literal translation.

 

What do you two mean by "literal translation?"

^Woodsrider, I never said they didn't pick and choose. They've never once claimed to take everything literally. It's completely different. Non-Catholic Christians are super hypocritical because they complain that people can't pick and choose, but they themselves pick and choose. Catholics pick and choose, but they don't go around talking about how "it's all or nothing" when it comes to the literal translations of the Bible.

What do you two mean by "literal translation?"

 

An example of what I mean:

 

When the Bible says Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, a literal translation would be that he actually didn't eat or drink for 40 days.

 

I was always taught (through Catholic education) that the number 40 (much like 7) was symbolic of "enough time for a change" and was not meant to be taken literally as 40 actual days.

There is criticism from Catholics about certain Protestants who choose to take everything in the Bible literally, but Catholics certainly don't believe that they shouldn't take anything literally. Obviously, as Randy said, Jesus does not expect us to gouge out our eyes. Still, there are obviously things from the New Testament that were clearly intended for us to take as literally stated - such as Jesus' various statements about the need to forgive.

 

As to the "picking and choosing", the Catholic church does not simply pick and choose at will. There have thousands of Biblical scholars in the history of the Catholic church who have dedicated themselves to studying Biblical hermeneutics - the proper interpretation of the scripture in the Bible. There is much much study and reasoning that goes into each parcel of interpretation. As the original compilers of the Bible, the scholars and Catholic church has accepted the interpretation and defense of the scriptures in the Bible as one of its most primary functions.

An example of what I mean:

 

When the Bible says Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert, a literal translation would be that he actually didn't eat or drink for 40 days.

 

I was always taught (through Catholic education) that the number 40 (much like 7) was symbolic of "enough time for a change" and was not meant to be taken literally as 40 actual days.

 

Gotcha

Catholics are Christians.

 

Poor wording on my part. Basically I'm meaning non-Catholic Christians, as Catholics are the only ones who truly believe the bread and wine are in fact Jesus' body and blood.

Cool deal. I consider Catholics to be Christians, but with they way you said it I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

I think they would if asked in that way. I can't explain it or why it's something people do, just something I've noticed.

So to them, "Christian" is a dirty word? Kind of like "liberal"?

So to them, "Christian" is a dirty word? Kind of like "liberal"?

 

I hesitate to speak for anyone, because it's not something I say, but... yeah... that's sort of what it sounds like.

I hesitate to speak for anyone, because it's not something I say, but... yeah... that's sort of what it sounds like.

...that's what I'm hearing too.

^Woodsrider, I never said they didn't pick and choose. They've never once claimed to take everything literally. It's completely different. Non-Catholic Christians are super hypocritical because they complain that people can't pick and choose, but they themselves pick and choose. Catholics pick and choose, but they don't go around talking about how "it's all or nothing" when it comes to the literal translations of the Bible.

Gotcha. I guess I mistook your original intent. That's what I get for trying to walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

That said it's probably not fair to lump all Non-Catholic Christians into that category. There are some that do that and some that don't, just like there are some Catholics that do that and some that don't. I don't think you can make the blanket statement about any group.

Gotcha. I guess I mistook your original intent. That's what I get for trying to walk and chew gum at the same time.

 

That said it's probably not fair to lump all Non-Catholic Christians into that category. There are some that do that and some that don't, just like there are some Catholics that do that and some that don't. I don't think you can make the blanket statement about any group.

 

Fair point.

I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who takes every word of Scripture literally. I can't imagine anyone thinking the beasts of Revelation are actual beasts with ten heads & crowns on their heads, etc.

I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who takes every word of Scripture literally. I can't imagine anyone thinking the beasts of Revelation are actual beasts with ten heads & crowns on their heads, etc.

 

Alabama Larry has said numerous times that the New Testament is God's spoken word, and that people have to follow what it says and we can't just pick and choose.

 

I'm very interested to hear his explaination on this.