TOPIC

APPROACH TO SCRIPTURE

NORM OF
AUTHORITY

 REVELATION

 
INSPIRATION

 
INERRANCY

 
BIBLE

 
CHURCH

SPIRITUALITY

 

CONVERSION

 
SALVATION

CREATION

ESCHATOLOGY

POPULAR BELIEFS

One, plain, literal meaning, requires no method of interpretation

Bible has exclusive authority: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)

Found only in the Bible

The Holy Spirit dictated each word to the biblical authors

Bible contains no errors, not even in history or science

Bible is the sole source of Church life. Bible is a private prayer book

Individuals who connect primarily for worship

Individualistic "God and Me"

A one-time experience of being "born again"

Based on Faith Alone (Sola Fide); only for Christians

Either Genesis is true or scien-tific evolution is right, not both

Book of Revelation predicts the end of the world, probably within our own days

CATHOLIC TEACHING

Several layers of meaning, requires various critical methods of interpretation

Interaction between Scripture, Tradition, and Church teaching (Magisterium)

Found in the living Tradition, which includes the Bible

Holy Spirit guided the whole process of biblical formation

Bible contains ?truth for the sake of our salvation?

Bible as part of Church life, worship, mission. Bible as shared story of a people

People who share life together on many levels

Sharing in a sacramental community of believers

A lifelong process of coming to "believe" and "live" in God

Based on Faith and Works; possible for non-Christians

Sees no contradiction between creation and evolution

Bible reflects ongoing struggle between good and evil, but no one knows when the end will be