Sarah Mitchell
Biblical literalism, or fundamentalism, is the belief that the Bible is without historical or scientific error and should be read literally in all its details. While the Catholic Church does not subscribe to biblical literalism, a 2007 Gallup survey found that 21% of U.S. Catholics identify as biblical literalists. This percentage is significant, especially considering the Pontifical Biblical Commission's statement in 1993 that fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide. The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible should be interpreted through proper exegesis and sound interpretation, taking into account literary genre, culture, and figures of speech. Catholics believe that the Bible is inerrant in faith and morals but not necessarily in history or science, and they are open to the findings of modern scientific study.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Catholics being literalists | 21% of U.S. Catholics identify themselves as biblical literalists |
| Catholics not being literalists | Catholics are among the most biblically illiterate Americans; Catholics are not biblical fundamentalists |
| Catholics and evangelicals | Catholics are not evangelicals; evangelicals are literalists |
| Catholics and Protestants | Catholics, as well as many Protestants, believe that the first two chapters of Genesis can be reconciled if they are not seen as a chronological and historical narrative |
| Catholics and science | The Catholic Church is open to the fruits of modern, scientific study of Scripture |
| Catholics and the Bible | Catholics do not believe in Biblical literalism; Catholics do not take the Bible literally |
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What You'll Learn
- Catholics are among the most biblically illiterate Americans
- Catholics are not biblical fundamentalists
- Catholics do not believe in biblical literalism
- Catholics believe the Bible is inerrant in faith and morals, but not in history or science
- Catholics believe in two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual
Catholics are among the most biblically illiterate Americans
Biblical illiteracy is a growing problem in the United States, with fewer than half of all adults able to name the four gospels and 60% unable to name five of the Ten Commandments. According to some studies, Catholics are among the most biblically illiterate Americans. This is a huge deficiency in Catholic circles, resulting in ignorance even on very basic doctrines of the faith.
Catholics don't read the Bible as much as evangelical Protestants, and many Protestants believe that Catholics are taught not to read the Bible. However, this is not true; Catholics are usually just not taught to read it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that there are two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. Contrary to common belief, the literal sense is to be primary, with St. Thomas Aquinas quoted as saying, "All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal." However, the literal sense is defined as "the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation." This is in contrast to biblical literalism, which seeks to read the Bible based on the "plain meaning of the words" without considering literary genre, culture, or figures of speech.
Despite this, a 2007 Gallup survey found that 21% of US Catholics identify as biblical literalists, which is not insignificant, especially considering the Pontifical Biblical Commission's statement that "fundamentalism invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide." Biblical fundamentalism is a growing concern among Catholics, and it is promoted by inadequately prepared catechists. To combat this, those teaching the Bible to Catholics of all ages must be well-qualified and trained.
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Catholics are not biblical fundamentalists
Catholicism and fundamentalism are distinct from each other. While fundamentalism is a relatively new brand of American Protestantism, Catholicism has been around for much longer. Fundamentalism, also known as fundamental Christianity or fundamentalist Christianity, is a religious movement that emphasizes biblical literalism or biblical literalism. It began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a reaction to theological liberalism and cultural modernism.
Catholics, on the other hand, do not subscribe to biblical fundamentalism or literalism. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. The literal sense of the biblical text is to be the primary one, but it is interpreted through proper exegesis of the text and sound interpretation, taking into account literary genre, culture, and figures of speech. This is in contrast to biblical literalism, which seeks to read the Bible based on the "plain meaning of the words" without considering these other factors.
The Catholic Church and fundamentalists also differ in their understanding of inspiration and inerrancy. Fundamentalists believe in the plenary-verbal inspiration of the original manuscripts of the Bible, extending to both the message and the specific words chosen. Catholics, however, accept the divinity of Christ either on the word of the authoritative and infallible Church or through a dispassionate examination of the Bible and early Christian history.
Additionally, Catholics and fundamentalists have different attitudes towards the Bible. For fundamentalists, the Bible is the keystone of their faith, and they assert that it is without historical or scientific error. Catholics, on the other hand, recognize that the Bible contains inconsistencies and inaccuracies and is not always to be read literally. They respect the different forms of literature used and do not interpret all texts in the same way.
Finally, Catholics and fundamentalists also differ in their practices and beliefs. Fundamentalists are intensely involved in their local congregations and adhere to certain key Christian tenets. They often have multiple services per week, as well as Bible studies and youth groups, and they place a strong emphasis on conformity within the congregation. Catholics, however, have more flexibility and are not required to participate in the same way. They also hold distinctively Catholic beliefs, such as the papacy, priesthood, invocation of saints, sacraments, and veneration of Mary, which are not accepted by fundamentalists.
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Catholics do not believe in biblical literalism
Biblical literalism, or biblical fundamentalism, is the belief that the Bible is without historical or scientific error and should be read literally in all its details. While many Catholics do hold this belief, it is not an inherent part of Catholic doctrine. In fact, the Catholic Church has spoken out against biblical literalism, with the Pontifical Biblical Commission stating in 1993 that "fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide".
Catholics believe that the Bible should be interpreted in a careful and nuanced manner, taking into account the different forms of literature used by its human authors. For example, Catholics believe that the first 11 chapters of Genesis and certain other Old Testament accounts, such as Noah's ark and Daniel in the lion's den, are non-historical allegories, rather than historical narratives. This is in contrast to biblical literalism, which seeks to read the Bible based on the "plain meaning of the words" without considering literary genre, culture, or figures of speech.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that there are two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. However, this does not mean that Catholics interpret the Bible in a purely literal way. Instead, the "literal sense" refers to the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered through exegesis and sound interpretation. This interpretation takes into account the literary genre and cultural context of the text.
Catholics also believe that some parts of the Bible, such as the creation accounts in Genesis, should be interpreted differently from other parts, such as the Gospels or the Book of Revelation. This nuanced approach to interpretation is often lacking in biblical literalism, which can lead to an uncritical and inconsistent understanding of Scripture.
While Catholics do not subscribe to biblical literalism, they still hold firm to traditional Christian morals and the faith of the historic Christian Creeds. This shows that a literal interpretation of the Bible is not necessary to have a strong and unwavering faith. In fact, as quoted by Pete Enns, "Scripture is richer, deeper, and subtler than literalism allows".
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Catholics believe the Bible is inerrant in faith and morals, but not in history or science
Biblical literalism, or fundamentalism, is the belief that the Bible is without historical or scientific error and should be read literally in all its details. Biblical literalism is a growing concern among Catholics, with 21% of U.S. Catholics identifying as biblical literalists in a 2007 Gallup survey. This is despite the Pontifical Biblical Commission's statement in 1993 that "fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that there are two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, "All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal". However, the literal sense is defined as "the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation". This is in contrast to biblical literalism, which seeks to read the Bible based on the "plain meaning of the words" without considering literary genre, culture, figures of speech, etc.
The Catholic Church's view on biblical inerrancy was authoritatively expressed by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The council stated that:
> Since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred writings for the sake of salvation.
Theologians disagree on whether the phrase "for the sake of our salvation" represents a shift from complete to limited inerrancy. Some argue that inerrancy is limited to matters of faith and morals and does not extend to history or science, except when directly connected to salvation. This view is supported by the fact that in 1943, Pope Pius XII made historical criticism not only permissible but "a duty".
In conclusion, while Catholics are expected to interpret the Bible literally according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this does not mean that they take the Bible as entirely inerrant or infallible. Rather, they believe that the Bible is inerrant in matters of faith and morals, but not necessarily in history or science.
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Catholics believe in two senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual
Catholicism's relationship with biblical literalism is complex, with some Catholics identifying as biblical literalists and others rejecting this notion. According to a 2007 Gallup survey, 21% of US Catholics identify as biblical literalists. Biblical literalism, or fundamentalism, involves interpreting the Bible based on the "plain meaning of the words" without considering literary genre, culture, or figures of speech. This approach can lead to challenges when interpreting passages that seem contradictory or morally problematic when taken literally.
To address these challenges, Catholics believe in two primary senses of Scripture: the literal and the spiritual. The literal sense refers to the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture, discovered through exegesis and following the rules of sound interpretation. This means interpreting the Bible in its literary and historical context, recognising figures of speech and idioms, and understanding the author's intended meaning. For example, when the Bible refers to "the arm of the Lord," it is not implying that God has a physical arm but using an idiom to describe God's power.
The spiritual sense of Scripture is subdivided into the allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses. The allegorical sense helps us understand the significance of events in relation to Christ. For instance, the crossing of the Red Sea is interpreted as a sign of Christ's victory. The moral sense guides us on how to act, while the anagogical sense relates to our destiny. These spiritual interpretations do not contradict the literal sense but build upon it, providing a deeper understanding of the text.
While the literal sense is foundational, Catholics do not ignore the spiritual sense. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasises that "all other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal." However, it also recognises that not every article of the Christian faith can be proven from Scripture alone. This balanced approach allows Catholics to interpret the Bible in a way that respects its literary and historical context while also deriving spiritual insights.
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Frequently asked questions
Biblical literalism is a fundamentalist and evangelical hermeneutical approach to scripture used extensively by fundamentalist Christians. Biblical literalists believe that the Bible is without historical or scientific error and should be read literally in all its details.
Catholics do not believe in biblical literalism. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are two senses of Scripture, the literal and the spiritual, and it is the literal sense of the biblical text that is to be the primary one. However, a literal reading of the Scriptures as defined by the Catholic Church would include proper exegesis of the text and sound interpretation.
It is difficult to pinpoint an exact date or time period when Catholics stopped being literalists. However, it is clear that Catholics have never been strict biblical literalists. While some Catholics may lean towards a more literal interpretation of the Bible, the Catholic Church has always emphasized the importance of proper exegesis and interpretation of Scripture.
The Catholic Church encourages a nuanced and critical reading of Scripture, taking into account literary genre, culture, figures of speech, and other interpretative principles. The Church also recognizes the distinction between different books of the Bible, such as the creation accounts of Genesis, the Gospels, and the Book of Revelation, which should be interpreted differently.
One of the main challenges in combating biblical literalism among Catholics is the lack of familiarity with the Bible and its interpretation. Many Catholics are biblically illiterate, and inadequate religious educators or Bible study leaders may promote biblical literalism unintentionally. Additionally, there is a need to dispel the common misconception that Catholics do not take the Bible literally, which may lead some Catholics to adopt a more fundamentalist approach.
