The Simple Truth

[Katholikos]

Someone asked about whether my Bible College taught about history. Yes they do. I have done history of missions. There is a subject, "Church History" but I haven't done it yet.

My question was, "did your 'Bible college' teach the history of the Bible? The history of Christianity?"

I took the "New Testament" from a Disciples of Christ minister with a Ph.D. who was an adjunct professor at Arizona State University. Even though he taught the accurate (but brief) history of its origins, he didn't understand the implications. Another student (who was a member of the professor's church) asked: "This [Catholic] Church had to have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to separate the writings that were Scripture from those that were not scripture, so why do we believe that the Holy Spirit abandoned that Church and that we had to start another one?" Someone else asked: "How can we believe in Sola Scriptura when the first Bible didn't exist until the beginning of the fifth century?" His answer to both Qs: "I dunno. Never thought about it."

I hope you will think about the implications of Bible history. It raises many questions. For example, what did Christians believe when there was no Bible? How and from whom did they learn? What's the evidence for the "apostasy"? Did Jesus really mean it when he said "and the powers of death shall not prevail against it [His Church]?" And many more.

If the course your college offers in "Church History" does not follow the history documented by trained, objective, accredited historians from major universities whose work is scrutinized by their peers -- but teaches invented, "wishful thinking" history -- beware.

Is history simple or complex? Christianity is historical. Catholicism and Christianity are synonomous.

Are you still enrolled in Bible college? What denomination is it?

Peace be to you and to all.

Oremus pro invicem, Katholikos

[cmotherofpirl]

Someone asked about whether my Bible College taught about history. Yes they do. I have done history of missions. There is a subject, "Church History" but I haven't done it yet.

I liked the example with the table by Cmom.

I think the basic idea is from CS Lewis in Mere Christianity.

[marielapin]

I actually learned a great deal about the history of Christianity and the early Church - Catholic Christianity - from an atheist. He was an art history teacher who actually had a question on one of his tests about who the first Pope was. It was amazing.

[M.SIGGA]

"did your 'Bible college' teach the history of the Bible? The history of Christianity?"

Jooley,

I'm sure you probably did, but how creditable were the sources at your Bible College. I attended a Catholic high school with a few liberal religion teachers who loved to talk about the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition and this was the only view of the Inquisition I ever had, so when people were speaking about the Inquisition I was the first to talk smack about it. I was taught that it was an evil far worse than any other during the Reformation. Why should I not question the validity, afterall it was at a Catholic school (and I'm Catholic) that I recieved most of my religious training?

It wasn't until my sophomore year in college with an unbiased atheist history professor of Western Civilization did I realize the teachings on the Inquisition that I recieved were Bias. While lecturing on the English Refrmation, the professor revealed surprising stats that showed Queen Elizabeth I killed/persecuted/tortured more Catholics in the First year of her reign than all years of the 'evil' Spanish Inquisition - today she is only remembered for England's Golden Age. I learned this was from the mouth of someone who hated the Church, but who respected the TRUTH.

It's up to you to do the same - the people at your Bible College might have been of your same denomination, but are you sure they were unbias and not leading you in the wrong direction? You might not trust Catholic Church on faith and morals, but HISTORY is something factual that cannot be altered. I believe the Catholic Church gives the best and fairest record of history and they have the books and official documents to prove it - as proof they even document the times when some Churchmen were not very holy. Baptists claim they have existed sice Christ's time, but i have yet to see one document or historical occurance that validates there assertion.

It's up to you yourself to seek the TRUTH and find it b/c the TRUTH will set you free!!!

God Bless :D

[Joolye]

If the course your college offers in "Church History" does not follow the history documented by trained, objective, accredited historians from major universities whose work is scrutinized by their peers -- but teaches invented, "wishful thinking" history --  beware. 

I am sure it would follow documented history.

Are you still enrolled in Bible college?  What denomination is it? 

I am still enrolled, but I am not studying anything at the moment. I am too busy.

It is multi-denominational, but it is known to be Pentecostal/Charismatic.

how creditable were the sources at your Bible College.

Pretty creditable. I made sure I went to what I considered to be the best Bible College in my area. I had heard that certain other ones taught some false teachings.