GRGR: Gospels & stuff

[David Morris]

>From: Peter Petto
>
>Not to disagree, but perhaps to make my original point more clear:
>
>David Morris wrote:
>
>>Protestantism has its roots in vesting
>>biblical text above Papal authority or church
>>tradition, a value-system promoted by Martin Luther
>>most notably.
>
>...a biblical text that was selected by Papal and church authority.

This is too simplistic a point.  The Christian "Church" before the 3rd 
Century was not your Great-Great...-Grand-Father's Roman Catholic Church 
(RCC).  It once did include in its ranks those leaders we now call Gnostics, 
who have since been uninvited to the party.  The early years might have had 
Peter as its first Pope, but Peter sure didn't know it, and he didn't have a 
successor Pope upon his death, except in the hindsight of the RCC today.

>>I think the purposeful setting of the Pope's
>>"ex-cathedra" words as higher authority than the
>>written text of the Bible is primarily for the
>>consolidation of power.
>
>But look at the Pope's encyclicals. Nearly every thought references
>scripture. That's what made me think that neither is higher.
>

This is beside the point.  The point is that all text is subject to the 
fresh new words of the Pope, no matter his footnotes.  We all know 
interpretation is key.  Unless the forum allows direct challenge of 
interpretation, the preacher on stand wins.  When one has infallibility on 
his side, interpretation rules.

>>Don't forget how many people were put to death
>>by the R.C.Church for printing and distributing Bibles
>>after the advent of the printing press.
>
>I didn't know this. How did it compare/scale to the Inquisition?
>

There is much gruesome history on the subject.  I will try to dig up some 
sources for you.

David Morris

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