Scripture, Tradition, Experience And Reason

[Joolye]

Where does the Catholic church stand with reference to Scripture, Tradition, Experience and Reason?

Evangelicals tend to over-emphasise Scripture.
Pentecostals tend to over-emphasise Experience

Does Catholocism hold them in equal tension?

What is the relationship of Tradition to Scripture? Which is considered more authoritative? Or are they equal? Is experience recognised at all?

What are the differences between the Catholic church and the Orthodox church? Do you consider Orthodox believers to be "Separated Bretheren" in the same way as you consider Protestant believers to be?

[Thy Geekdom Come]

With regard to Scripture and Tradition:

[url="http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html"]http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_council...-verbum_en.html[/url]

I can't say it better than that document, although I can probably answer more precise questions.

Experience (if I understand what you mean by the word) may teach us how to address things pastorally (i.e. "this would be best, based on past experience"), but holds no weight as a source of revelation.

Private Revelation (outside Scripture and Tradition) is possible, but the Church does not mandate believe in any particular private revelations.

[quote]What are the differences between the Catholic church and the Orthodox church? Do you consider Orthodox believers to be "Separated Bretheren" in the same way as you consider Protestant believers to be?[/quote]

The Orthodox are in schism from the Catholic Church, but have valid sacraments. Protestants do not have valid sacraments.

For more on the Orthodox, I suggest asking someone else. It's one of my weakpoints.

[Katholikos]

Read Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) by John Paul II, available here:

[url="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html"]http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_pau...t-ratio_en.html[/url]

Here's the first paragraph:

Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves (cf. Ex 33:18; Ps 27:8-9; 63:2-3; Jn 14:8; 1 Jn 3:2).