Bruce S Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Now we come to a VERY interesting question. Latin. It is a totally dead language, no one uses it, no one. Yet ALL the official documents are produced in Latin. Why not let it go? Is this not another man made vestige of confusion that could and should be dumped now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Latin. It is a totally dead language, no one uses it, no one. Yet ALL the official documents are produced in Latin. Why not let it go? Is this not another man made vestige of confusion that could and should be dumped now? In case you really care to know and aren't just trying to start a fight, there are reasons why the Church retains the use of Latin. Besides the fact that it's been a part of the Roman Church's tradition for ages. That the Western Fathers of the Chuch wrote in Latin and the Medieval's wrote in Latin and that Latin is essential for studying Theology, Canon Law, Philosophy, etc. and so it is a part of the heritage of the Church. There are practical reasons why it's still used in official documents. The development of the Latin language within the context of the Church's doctrinal and disciplinary practices make it the most well suited for these things since it has a complex and precise vocabulary for articulating truths on these topics. It should be clear also that since the Church is an international community with members representing every language and culture you can think of, Latin would provide the best standard for writing official, precise, culturally independence documents that could be used as the master copy from which translations into the vernacular are made. So the use of Latin in documents is for the sake of precision and clarity, hardly as a "vestige of confusion" as you put it. Latin is not a doctrinal issue so I fail to see why you would even bring it up, it's just a part of the Church's practice and heritage that makes sense and is practical. Not to mention the fact that their is a beauty to it and it is connected with the Church's past and the Church's worship in kind of a similar way as Hebrew for the Jews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce S Posted January 25, 2004 Author Share Posted January 25, 2004 I understand the rationaile. The UN faces the same problem. Latin isn't the answer. Just a tidbit tossed for some pleasant discussion, not really a "red meat" thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confessionator741 Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 In case you really care to know and aren't just trying to start a fight, there are reasons why the Church retains the use of Latin. Besides the fact that it's been a part of the Roman Church's tradition for ages. That the Western Fathers of the Chuch wrote in Latin and the Medieval's wrote in Latin and that Latin is essential for studying Theology, Canon Law, Philosophy, etc. and so it is a part of the heritage of the Church. There are practical reasons why it's still used in official documents. The development of the Latin language within the context of the Church's doctrinal and disciplinary practices make it the most well suited for these things since it has a complex and precise vocabulary for articulating truths on these topics. It should be clear also that since the Church is an international community with members representing every language and culture you can think of, Latin would provide the best standard for writing official, precise, culturally independence documents that could be used as the master copy from which translations into the vernacular are made. So the use of Latin in documents is for the sake of precision and clarity, hardly as a "vestige of confusion" as you put it. Latin is not a doctrinal issue so I fail to see why you would even bring it up, it's just a part of the Church's practice and heritage that makes sense and is practical. Not to mention the fact that their is a beauty to it and it is connected with the Church's past and the Church's worship in kind of a similar way as Hebrew for the Jews. great response...... B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloysius Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 (edited) simple reason we use Latin, we're the Latin Rite of the Church all the other languages we use basically derived from Latin... so since we all use these languages Latin is our common root and therefore symbolically used by the Church. in a perfect world, we'd all speak Latin as a second language so when we went to preach Holy Apostolic Truth in another country we could be understood. it's a practical type of tongues, not supernatural but a natural way to imitate our God whose language communicates to all people. :cool: Edited January 25, 2004 by Aloysius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sista2b Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 It is a totally dead language, no one uses it, no one. actually for it to be dead there would be no new words, there is a new latin word something for internet. i'm not sure what it is for sure, but a theology professer i know told me about it. and someone does use it the Bride of Christ, the Church, and her children and thats good enough for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Semper ubi sub ubi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin D Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Latin is such an amesome language, why let it go? That's like saying... "Well, since that rock formation in the UK is old... why don't we just knock them down?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Latin is a pure language. No slangs, no jargon, no jive, no it-could-mean-this-or-it could-mean-that. It's nice to have all our documents written in Latin, because then translation doesn't become the nightmare that it would if, say, we recorded our documents in English... Why just a few years ago, "gay" meant "happy," right? Perhaps this is another reason why the legal and medical professions also still learn and use Latin. It's precise, not wishy washy. Pax Christi. <>< Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sista2b Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Semper ubi sub ubi. yeah i think that'd be a good :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellenita Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 We don't like it....it's not relevant.....don't want to study it.....what's the point of it...why don't we change it for something more suited to us....... ....hmmmmm.....haven't we heard that arguement used somewhere else? Oh, that's right, the same argument was used about those books that were removed.......! :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circle_Master Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 odd statement ellenita. not sure what you are referring to. if you are referring to the apocryphal books, you have about the clue of a dead leech as to why protestants have removed the books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjtina Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Then WHY don't you tell us instead of making ugly comments? We can debate from there. Martin Luther removed them. Who gave him the authority to do so? And don't start calling ppl names again. It'll only turn worse and not amount to a thing. you should know that by now. "We are compelled to concede to the Papists that they have the Word of God, that we received it from them, and that without them we should have no knowledge of it at all." ~ Martin Luther, Commentary on St. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Circle_Master Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 are you really insulted that I said ellenita had the clue of a dead leech? . Haha, you need to relax a bit there, I used a very odd expression on purpose. And I've already presented different arguments on why those books were dropped. I'll give you a challenge though - give me one, just one church father who agreed with the synod's of carthage's results before it happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironmonk Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Then WHY don't you tell us instead of making ugly comments? We can debate from there. Martin Luther removed them. Who gave him the authority to do so? And don't start calling ppl names again. It'll only turn worse and not amount to a thing. you should know that by now. Luther wanted to take out the book of James.... It was the Jews in 90 AD that removed them*. They took the Septuagint**, took out some very Christian books, and translated the Septuagint for the Massorah. 57 years after Christ took away the Jewish authority and gave it to the New Church. It was King James hand appointed "scholors" that decided to use the Massorah for their OT. Until 1611 AD, all Christians used the Septuagint for their OT. What right did the jews have to take books out 57 years after Christ gave the keys to Peter? - None. To deny these historical facts is to deny truth. Those who love Christ, will love the Truth and seek the Truth. non-Catholics do not claim to be infallible, yet they claim that the Septuagint has books that don't belong???? On what authority? - The same group of Jews that denied Christ?! The facts are overwhelming, whoever uses the Massorah for their OT only has part of the Bible. Those who wish to follow the Church that Christ built, must use the Septuagint. Your Servant in Christ, ironmonk * "Biblical Literature." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 25 Jan. 2004 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=119705>. ** "Septuagint." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 25 Jan. 2004 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=68531>. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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