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.
Except what Galileo stated did not refute the Bible, just what many theologians (and virtually all natural scientists) believed. R.C. Sproul actually talked about this a couple days ago. If the Bible claimed that the earth was not stationary but revolved around the sun, virtually everyone would have rejected it because the scientific consensus for thousands of years was that the universe was geocentric. What Fools!!! you say, but be reasonable. The basic observational evidence was that the earth was stationary (do you feel any motion?!?). In fact, as historians have pointed out:
If Copernicus had any genuine fear of publication, it was the reaction of scientists, not clerics, that worried him. Other churchmen before him — Nicole Oresme (a French bishop) in the fourteenth century and Nicolaus Cusanus (a German cardinal) in the fifteenth — had freely discussed the possible motion of the earth, and there was no reason to suppose that the reappearance of this idea in the sixteenth century would cause a religious stir.
And since the Bible does not make claims either way, it is irrelevant. When it does mention the motions of celestial objects it obviously describes them in a way that we observe them (as we still today refer to the sun rising and the sun setting while also knowing that we only mean that it appears to rise and set), why would we expect the Bible to do otherwise? People always get this wrong when they try to cite geocentrism as proof that the Bible is inaccurate. It's not the Bible, it's the church.
They say the Church must offer the gospel in ways "appropriate to changing times, intelligible and attractive to our contemporaries".
Wow, if that's not pandering, I don't know what is. The Bible claims to be true and it points out that most people hate the truth and love the darkness, therefore we shouldn't darken the truth in order to appeal to people. Embracing false doctrine won't save anyone.
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."
The Bible leaves no room for secular matters. Romans 1 points out that God reveals Himself through nature and that anyone who sees creation and studies nature sees the works of God and is without excuse for rejecting His lordship.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
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 Bible does not create false testimony in historical narrative for "dramatic" or any other effect. They actually said this. They, of course, had no idea that they were crucifying God and that people would hold them to their words for thousands of years. Of course we shouldn't use it as a pretext for antisemitism but they DID say it.
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.
Someone point out when creation legend ends and historical narrative begins because God hasn't sent me a memo pointing it out. . . anyone? Bueller?
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."
The prophecies are true, we just don't know what the symbols are. Everything is completely true in that what it stands for will happen in the way described. They are emblematic. Technically it is not literal because it is apocalyptic writing just like the parables did not literally happen (but what they describe explains the objective reality that we live in), but the prophecies are true and the details are true. It is important to always remember that the Bible is always true (since it is inspired by an infinite-personal God who is omniscient, it cannot be un-true ever). It can be misunderstood as the Roman Church misunderstood it, but it cannot be false. It is also important to remember that the Bible, while it IS true truth, it is not exhaustive truth. God did not take the space or have the need to reveal all truth. The truth of the Bible is all the truth and knowledge necessary unto salvation and holy living. He didn't need to reveal to us why the protons in the nucleus of an atom are held together despite polar opposition (what would nuclear physicists have to do all day if He did?).
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."
Wow, you're only 1900 years late boys, welcome to the party. . . pitiful.
"There are over 12 million children in the UK and only 756,000 of them go to church regularly."
All their parents must have stopped attending church because they were interpreting The Bible literally as we all know that that leads to unbelief and spiritual apathy. . .
I wouldn't care what these fools think if it wasn't showing up in the media where ignorant people will read it and think these fools know what they are talking about. God help us.
