texts: What biblical canon do Eastern Catholic Churches use?

texts:
The Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church use slightly different biblical canons: Books of the Bible (Wikipedia).  Notably, the Orthodox Church uses 3 Maccabees and 4 Maccabees while the Roman Catholic Church does not (at least not in the Latin Rite).

However, I can’t find any information about what biblical canon the Eastern Catholic Churches use.  These are the churches like the Marionite Church, the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, etc... that are in full communion with the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, but are often considered part of Eastern Christianity.

Do these Eastern Catholic churches use the Roman Catholic canon, the Eastern Orthodox Canon, or some mix of the two?  Does it differ from Church to Church?

This is especially interesting to me because it seems like some Eastern Catholic communities were once in schism with the Roman Catholic Church but returned to full communion sometime later: Eastern Catholic Churches (Wikipedia).

Any historical perspective or info from Eastern Catholics themselves would be much appreciated!


texts: Was the dogma of the Immaculate Conception formulated in response to someone challenging Mary's ability to bear a perfect Son?

texts:
I read that dogma is the church's way of explaining supernatural events in scripture

Since I have been doing research on the question of how a perfect Jesus could be born of a descendant of Adam, it occurred to me that the Immaculate Conception dogma may have come about in this way.

Is it recorded anywhere that a challenge was made regarding Mary being imperfect, thus not able to bring forth the Savior, and the early fathers responding to this with the dogma that explains the supernatural way this could be accomplished?


texts: Why does LDS teaching say that the Priesthood returned to earth if John never left?

texts:
According to The Priesthood of God Returns to the Earth, Peter, James, and John conferred upon Joseph Smith the Melchizedek Priesthood shortly after John the Baptist had conferred upon him the Aaronic Priesthood.

However, LDS teaching also states that the Apostle John never died, but is still alive on earth today.  Since John was one of the three who conferred on Joseph Smith the Melchizedek Priesthood, it seems to indicate that John himself possessed that priesthood.  Since John was still alive on the earth, it would seem, then, that the priesthood never, in fact, left the earth and, therefore, could not be "returned."

So, what does the LDS church mean when it states that the Priesthood returned to earth when it was conferred upon Joseph Smith?


texts: In which denominations is naturism unacceptable?

texts:
A recent answer on this site made a very broad statement, that "those who live in nudist colonies are not Christians". However, a quick Google search for "Christian naturists" (other search engines are available) shows that there appear to be quite a few people who would disagree with that stance.

Do any denominations specifically stipulate that naturism/nudism is a sin? If so, which?


texts: Where did the "humans become angels" tradition come from?

texts:
I'm clear that according to scripture, humans don't become angels. I read through the question on the topic (What Bible verses suggest that humans can become angels?) and didn't find an answer to my question:

Can anyone provide references to the reason that people began to believe that loved ones become angels? I'm trying to understand how this well-established tradition evolved in Western culture.


texts: How did Elijah know he was going to be taken up to heaven?

texts:
How did Elijah know that he was about to be taken by God?
How did Elisha know this was going to happen?
I could not find anything prior to 2 Kings 2:1 when Scripture states that Elijah was going to be taken up, and 2:9 when Elijah asks what he can do for Elisha before he is taken.


texts: Why did Lot's daughters seduce their father?

texts:
According to the Genesis 19:30-38, when Lot escaped out of Zoar, he went up to the mountains and settled in a cave. While in there, his daughters seduced him while he was drunk so that they could bear children and save their family line.

Does this mean saving one's family line is/was so important that you could have sex with your own offspring? Was Lot really drunk to a point that he didn't know what he was doing? Were the daughters wrong to do it? If so, why didn't Lot take any action afterward?


texts: Will Adam and Eve be resurrected to eternal life or are they dead forever?

texts:
Ge 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (KJV)

The penalty for sin is death.

  Ge 3/19 In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Death means going back to the dust of the ground.

Ao, Will Adam and Eve be resurrected to **eternal life [1] ** and why do you answer that way?

This question  is for mainstream evangelicals.

  [1] John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)


texts: Under what circumstances is a priest supposed to deny forgiveness to a person?

texts:
As I understand it, in Roman Catholic practice, people regularly confess their sins to a priest, who then instructs them what they must do in order to be forgiven.  However, it is apparently possible for a priest to deny someone forgiveness.

So, according to Catholic doctrine or practice, what are the specific circumstances under which a priest should withhold forgiveness from someone?


texts: Is an out-of-the body-experience (OBE) possible according to the Catholic Church?

texts: If an OBE is the situation that the soul leaves the body for a while, could this be possible as the Catholic Church states that body and soul are actually one entity.


texts: How do soul sleep adherents explain Lk 23:43?

texts:
Luke 23:43 says:

  And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus told the thief on the cross beside him that he'll be in paradise with Jesus that day. Being in paradise amounts to some kind of conscious experience. And as per soul-sleep doctrine, there is no conscious experience after death until resurrection.


texts: Distributism and Subsidiarity beyond the counsel of Jethro in the Bible

texts:
In chapter 18 of Exodus, Moses' father-in-law Jethro instructs him on how to set up a fairly ordered society where Moses doesn't have to burn himself out by answering everyone's questions all the time.

I've heard that this is the basis for a form of government and economics known as subsidiarity and distributism respectively.  Is this the only place in the Bible where these ideas come up, or do other books build on or recapitulate Jethro's scheme.


texts: What is the Biblical basis that it was was the second person of the Trinity that walked in the garden of Eden?

texts:
Genesis 3:8 tells us:

  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was
  walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the
  Lord God among the trees of the garden

And Exodus 33:20 reads

  But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and
  live.”

What is the Biblical evidence that this theophany was the second person of the trinity?


texts: A priest I requested kindly to bless salt and oil did not use the prescribed prayer but used his own, is the blessing valid?  The prayer for exorcising the salt and blessing the oil was available, the vision however of the elderly priest was poor and he could not read the prayer to bless/exorcise the salt and bless the oil.  The priest then said that , his own prayer is still valid and efficacious to bless the salt and oil.  Is his blessing on the salt and oil as valid or efficacious as the prescribed prayers for these items?


texts: What is the Scriptural basis for Modalism?

texts: We hear a lot at times about the godhead, so that got me wondering: what is the Scriptural basis for the Christian doctrine of Modalism?


texts: Are adult converts to Eastern Orthodoxy required to use their baptismal names outside of church?

texts: There seems to be various opinions on this topic. Some say that it is absolutely necessary to completely adopt this new name while others say that it is recommended to use it outside of church but it is not required. Is there any kind of consensus on this in the various branches?


texts: In Theistic Evolution, when did the alleged evolutionary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins?

texts:
One answer to this previous question asks,

  One of the problems I have with theistic evolution is: when did this alleged evolutinary animal/ape/man become accountable for his sins? [sic]

It would seem that this is a fundamental problem with TE - it denies the legitimacy of Adam's Fall as being representative for the entire human race (as Paul explains in Romans 5).

How does TE understand\explain awareness of and responsibility for sin?


texts: What is a "spirtual circle" in Ignatian Spirituality?

texts:
I'm writing a speech on Ven. Jaques Sevin for a presentation, reading about him here which is not a broken link, but a bad PDF that you have to hack apart in notepad and resave as a PDF to read.  It says that

He conducts a spiritual Circle, the fruit of a long maturing process of the work of the Holy Spirit within himself and the Ignatius obedience

Can someone tell me, in layman's terms, what this looks like?  Do all Jesuits, who live long enough, do this? Is it the culmination of something?


texts: Does Numbers 5:11-22 describe sanctioned abortion?

texts:
Numbers 5:11-22 NIV

  11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to
  them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 so that
  another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her
  husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness
  against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if
  feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife
  and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she
  is not impure— 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must
  also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah[a] of barley flour on her
  behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because
  it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder-offering to draw
  attention to wrongdoing.

  16 “‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. 17
  Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust
  from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had
  the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair and place in
  her hands the reminder-offering, the grain offering for jealousy,
  while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse. 19 Then
  the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other
  man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray and
  become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water
  that brings a curse not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray while
  married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having
  sexual relations with a man other than your husband”— 21 here the
  priest is to put the woman under this curse—“may the Lord cause you to
  become a curse[b] among your people when he makes your womb miscarry
  and your abdomen swell. 22 May this water that brings a curse enter
  your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”

  “‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.”

I recently saw this post by an atheist claiming this passage describes bible-sanctioned abortion in the case of a cheating wife. I had read this passage previously, but it never screamed out abortion to me; however, on a second reading it's not so clear. Is he correct in that this is abortion? If not, then what is this passage talking about?


texts: What is the Catholic response to the Eastern Orthodox view that the Immaculate Conception remove Jesus' ability to redeem all of humanity?

texts:
I am discussing and debating the various subtle doctrinal differences between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy with a very close friend of mine. One question I've asked is, "How do Orthodox Christians view the Immaculate Conception."

His exact answer was:

  Orthodoxy believes the Immaculate Conception to be superfluous. Saint
  Gregory the Theologian (4th c.) writes regarding the Incarnation,
  "That  which has not been assumed has not be saved." To make the
  Virgin Mary free of the taint of original sin pulls her out of the
  human chain, robbing Jesus of the Father's will for him to assume all
  of our fallen humanity in order to redeem and save it. (2 Cor. 5:21;
  Gal. 3:13a)

I think this is a pretty solid argument.

Especially the part that says:

  To make the Virgin Mary free of the taint of original sin pulls her out of the
  human chain, robbing Jesus of the Father's will for him to assume all
  of our fallen humanity in order to redeem and save it.

What explanation does the Catholic Church put forth to refute the statement above?

I think my question above differs from this question because I'm not necessarily asking for a scriptural argument (although it would definitely be welcomed).

To be clear, I am only interested in answers that are aimed at defending the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.


texts: Are there equal numbers of male and female Christians?

texts:
I've heard it suggested the male/female ratio of Christians is such that there are significantly more female Christians than male Christians.

Is this true? I don't seem to be able to find an answer online, but presumably statistics must exist, e.g. census or church registers (although of course there are potentially biases within such records).


texts: What is the difference, if any, between the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives vs. the apostles lives?

texts:
I think all Christian denominations will agree as fundamental doctrine that the Holy Spirit was sent to us (the invisible church) after Christ's death on the cross (John 14:16). However, it seems like there might be a difference in the way the Holy Spirit was meant to work in the apostles' lives as opposed to ours.

For example: The gospel of John says:

  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. -John 14:26

How can the Holy Spirit remind us of things we've never heard before? It seems that this statement in particular was specifically addressing the disciples who were there in the room with Jesus at the time. This "reminder" then helped the disciples write the New Testament. We, on the other hand, aren't blessed with this specific gift, as we aren't called to write the Bible. Instead it seems the job of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to help us bear good spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Is this a correct conclusion? What do you all think? Are there any other differences you can think of or do you think the giving of the Holy Spirit was functionally the same in both cases?

God Bless!


texts: How is Union with Christ understood across Christianity?

texts:
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV): It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Union with Christ is an important Biblical theme: it concerns the Biblical idea that we are in some way united to Jesus Christ, and is expressed in the New Testament through the phrases "in Christ" and "into Christ". These phrases occur over 200 times just in Paul's letters, and is a major theme of John's Gospel, let alone the rest of the NT.

Union with Christ is fundamental to the Reformed doctrine of salvation, our union with Christ being what applies Christ's redeeming work to us as individuals. But I suspect that in other denominations and theological traditions Union with Christ plays a different role.

What is an overview of the understanding and role of Union with Christ across Christianity? Some denominations/theological schools may not use the term "Union with Christ", but due to the high occurrence of "in Christ" they will surely have some explanation of what these phrases mean.

Note that this is an overview question: answers must summarise the positions of all major Christian branches, and if possible some of the smaller ones as well.


texts: When, how and why did Mary start to be called "Queen of heaven"?

texts:
I have four closely related questions on this topic (if overall this is considered too broad, I'm happy to receive advice as to which questions—if any—would be better off in a separate post):

What is the earliest documented use of the term "Queen of Heaven" being applied to Mary, the mother of Jesus? (cf. Wikipedia on the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven - there seems to be a contradiction between the first and second paragraphs in this section).
Given that the only Biblical references to this title are regarding a false goddess being worshipped in the nation of Judah during Jeremiah's time (cf. Wikipedia's Queen of heaven (antiquity)), is there evidence of any discussion or dissent (over whether such a title was in any way appropriate) in evidence in the wider church when this title was being adopted and disseminated (prior to the Reformation)?
Are there any arguments from Church Fathers or other historical records of why such a title would have been adopted in the first place?
It seems on the surface (at least to some) that this might be an example of Syncretism, but perhaps there are convincing arguments that can exclude that possibility - if so what would be the outline of such arguments? Or otherwise, what additional evidence (ie not covered in 2. or 3.) would support the idea that this is an example of Syncretism?

*Please note: I'm looking for answers that are supported by quotes from Church fathers and Church historians, not doctrinal expositions from denominational perspectives. I'm only looking for a very brief outline of an argument (one way or the other) to question 4 (one or two paragraphs maximum) - if there are the seeds of a worthwhile further question to be developed from such responses, I will ask a separate question to elicit a more detailed answer."


texts:
What is meant by "the first will be the last and the last will be the first"?

In Matthew 19:30 it tells us about the rich young man who asked Jesus on what good things he must do to receive eternal life.  Later Peter said, (19:27) "we have left everything and follow you. What will we have?. Jesus said to them " you can be sure that when the son of man sits on his glorious throne in the new age, then you 12 followers of mine also sit on thrones, to rule the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or mother or fathers or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life. But many who now are first will be the last, and many who now are last will be the first."

Is there any connection between Matthew 20:16 about the workers in the vineyard and in Mark 9:35?


texts: There is more to know than that which is written

texts: I have heard it said many times in religious/spiritual and/or typical conversation that "there is more to know than that which is written [in the bible]." Is this comment scripturally inspired? If so where can the comment or its inspiration be found in scripture?


texts: How do you know you are perceiving the same God?

texts:
Is there a unique concept of God (within Christianity)?
If so, since different people probably have their own interpretation on Bible/Christianity/God (albeit the differences between different interpretations could be subtle), how can you (i.e. the Christian community) know that the God you have in mind are the same?


texts: What did Thomas Merton mean by cartesian when it comes to modern christianity?

texts:
Wikipedia article on Thomas Merton states:

  He believed that for the most part, Christianity had forsaken its
  mystical tradition in favor of Cartesian emphasis on "the reification
  of concepts, idolization of the reflexive consciousness, flight from
  being into verbalism, mathematics, and rationalization.

What did he mean by Cartesian? Why did he use this word?


texts:
What is a practical Catholic definition of conscience?
I have never found one.


texts:
What are the main differences between Messianic Judaism and Christianity?  How does the idea of the Trinity differ?

Hopefully this can be answered by someone who considers themselves to be Messianic Jewish.


texts: Where did Catholics and Catholicism come from?

texts:
Catholicism seems to have begun so quickly after the dispersion of the Apostles that I'm wondering where even it even came from.

I'm especially curious to know when Christians began calling themselves Catholics instead of...Christians:

  Acts 11:25-26 ESV So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Assuming we know when it happened...I'm equally curious as to why it happened.


texts: At what point did the Eastern Church start self-identifying as the Orthodox Church?

texts:
The Great (East-West) Schism was a massive trainwreck centuries in the making and centuries in its outworking. At what point in the process did the Eastern Church start identifying itself as the Orthodox Church in exclusion to the Roman See?

I'm not interested in what event caused this to theoretically happen, but when the Orthodox Church started using this particular terminology to refer exclusively to itself.

This is one of a number of related questions I intend to ask regarding the Great (East-West) Schism, terminology and self-identication of the resulting Churches.

The others so far:

How do the Eastern Orthodox view using the term 'catholic', particularly in regard to Roman Catholicism?
What is the Roman Catholic view on using the term 'orthodox', particularly in regard to Eastern Orthodoxy?
At what point did the Roman see start self-identifying as the Catholic Church?


texts: How do proponents of the Prosperity Gospel interpret Matthew 6:19-21 and Luke 6:20-26?

texts:
There is already this decent post: What is the argument *for* prosperity gospel? But more specifically how do prosperity theologians square what must be regular 'clobber' passages for their interpretation?

For example:

  Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

And:

  Looking at his disciples, he said:

  “Blessed are you who are poor,
      for yours is the kingdom of God.
  Blessed are you who hunger now,
      for you will be satisfied.
  Blessed are you who weep now,
      for you will laugh.
  Blessed are you when people hate you,
      when they exclude you and insult you
      and reject your name as evil,
          because of the Son of Man.

  “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

  “But woe to you who are rich,
      for you have already received your comfort.
  Woe to you who are well fed now,
      for you will go hungry.
  Woe to you who laugh now,
      for you will mourn and weep.
  Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
      for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
  Luke 6:20-26 (NIV)


texts:
One thing that is consistently odd, yet consistent among most English translations is that the name of the mother of Our Lord, Mary, and Our Lord Himself, Jesus, are translated that way (as well as the author of Sirach, Jesus ben Sirach) while the sister of Moses, Miriam, and his chief, Joshua, are translated that way.

Is there a subtle distinction between the two ways of saying the name or is it just an easier way of referring to characters in the Bible?  Do other languages have similar distinctions in their translations or is this an English only thing?


texts: What is the Biblical basis for infant baptism?

texts:
I've studied the Bible and am a fundamental independent Bible believing Baptist who believes what the scripture says about Baptism is clear.

It is an ordinance after salvation, i.e. believers baptism.
It is not part of salvation but a public profession of the inward change.
It is a picture of Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection.

I refer Acts 8:35-38, Romans 6:3-4.

If infant Baptism were supported by scripture, where are the verses? How can that be reconciled with Acts 8:35-38, Romans 6:3-4? Seeing how an infant cannot place his/her faith in Christ as they don't understand their need for Christ...


texts: How should Christians participate in a democracy?

texts:
There is currently a debate in my country, Australia, about gay marriage. Amongst those who believe homosexual sex is wrong, there is a split with regards the correct approach. Some say that Christians should not seek to legislate their values onto non-Christians. Others say that Christians, as members of a democracy, have every right to seek to have their values legislated.

Which approach is correct?


texts: How many Catholics are excommunicated in an average year?

texts:
Giving the strict nature of so many Catholic  teachings it would seem that their would be a lot of folks who find abiding by the rules just to difficult.
Pre marital extramarital sex contraception use etc...
Are there significant numbers who are excommunicated and who makes the decision to do so?


texts: Would reading "The Street Bible" help me understand the KJV Bible?

texts: I've not read the Bible yet but I'm planning on purchasing the KJV Bible, once I've got the money. But I've came across a book called The Street Bible: would reading this first help me to understand KJV Bible? How different are these versions?


texts: What is the evidence that Ignatius of Antioch was ordained by the Apostles?

texts: What evidence do we possess today indicating that Ignatius of Antioch was ordained by the Apostles?


texts: Does the Catholic Church prohibit marriage between a woman and her God-father?

texts:
Each child born in a Catholic family, receives the Sacrament of Baptism at an early age, and is escorted by its Godparents at the time of its baptism. Traditionally, a godparent must normally be an appropriate person, at least sixteen years of age, a confirmed Catholic who has received the Eucharist, not under any canonical penalty, and may not be the parent of the child.

Now, there could be a situation in which a Catholic girl grows up and develops an affinity for her Godfather in spite of the age-difference of say,  twenty years. They are not related  to the extend that their union is prohibited  on the basis of proximity of blood-relationship.   Does the fact that they are Godfather and God-daughter, stand against  their receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony ? In other words, does the Catholic Church prohibit marriage between a woman and her God-father ?


texts: When did the Catholic Letters get called the Catholic Letters

texts: The Catholic Encyclopedia says which books are the Catholic Letters but doesn't say how long ago it was that they were called that.  I was wondering, because of another post asking for the oldest instance of the term Catholic.  Did St. Jerome or Eusebius ever call them that, was it written in the Codex Vaticanus or the Book of Kells or what?


texts: What is the argument supporting that there is a break between the 69th and 70th week in the book of Daniel?

texts:
In the book of Daniel it mentions the 70 weeks.

  “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
  The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. (Daniel 9:25 NKJV)

It is been said that an interval between the 69th and 70th week is described here:

  “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26 NKJV)

Can someone explain why we should not consider the 70 weeks of years to be completed already?

Gathered Calculations :: Start
The Jewish (and Babylonian) calendars used a 360-day year. 69 weeks of 360-day years totals 173,880 days.

The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem was given by Artaxerxes Longimanus on March 14, 445 B.C.5 (The emphasis in the verse on "the street" and "the wall" was to avoid confusion with other earlier mandates confined to rebuilding the Temple.)

During the ministry of Jesus Christ there were several occasions in which the people attempted to promote Him as king, but He carefully avoided it: "Mine hour is not yet come".

This is the only occasion that Jesus presented Himself as King. It occurred on April 6, 32 A.D.9

When we examine the period between March 14, 445 B.C. and April 6, 32 A.D., and correct for leap years, we discover that it is 173,880 days exactly, to the very day!

Ref: http://www.khouse.org/articles/2004/552/
Gathered Calculations :: End

Since events truly did take place after the sixty-two weeks and also before the seventieth week. I see those as fulfilled. But I do not see it specifically mention a gap between the 69th week and the 70th. So why should we not conclude that the fulfillment of the 70th week has already occurred Ending around March 1, 39 A.D.?


texts: What does the Catholic Church teach about the significance of reference to Jacob's Well at John 4:12?

texts:
We see the conversation of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at John 4: 10-12 :

  "Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

  “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?  Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

There is no mention in the Old Testament regarding  inheritance of the well by Israel from Jacob, as is claimed by the Samaritan woman. But then, Jesus does not question her belief, and goes on to explain the significance of the water of eternal life. My question therefore is: What does the Catholic Church teach about the significance of reference to Jacob's well at John 4:12?


texts: Do Young Earth Creationists believe that insects, microorganisms, and animal cells died before the Fall?

texts:
As explained in answers to other questions,1 2 young-earth creationists (YECs) believe that there was no animal death prior to the Fall.  They accept that plants must have "died," since man and now-carnivorous mammals were then herbivores (Genesis 2:16).

Besides plants, do YECs believe that anything else died before the fall?  Examples that come to mind are insects, microorganisms, and animal cells (such as human skin cells).

Is there general agreement among YECs as to where to draw the line? On what basis do they draw it?

1 Before the fall of Adam, did anything die?
2 Does the Bible say if animals in Eden were carnivorous, or when animals on Earth became carnivorous?


texts: What are the views of Evangelical Christians on whether it is possible to go to heaven and back to earth?

texts:
I've heard some stories about how kids have died and come back to life a couple of minutes later with a note or something from heaven (e.g., Colton Burpo). Is this biblical? Is it possible? Could it just be a vision?

The apostle Paul claims to have gone to the "third heaven," which he also called "Paradise" (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). Is his experience similar to the experiences of other Christians, such as Colton Burpo?

If, as is likely, there are dissenting views, a complete answer will be an overview presenting brief arguments from both sides.


texts: According to the Catholic Church, why did Mary go with haste to visit Elizabeth?

texts: Luke 1:39-40 says that Mary went with haste to visit Elizabeth. What, according to Catholic Church, does the departure of Mary in haste to visit Elizabeth tell about Mary's personality?


texts: Can a devil use one prayer to prevent us from praying different one? (Catholic perspective)

texts:
We all know the importance of praying the rosary. But I have also been praying The Twelve-year Prayer of S. Bridget of Sweden.

I noticed one very important thing. Anytime I got into a temptation it was difficult to stop thinking about the temptation and the attacks were constantly coming and wouldn't stop.

Anytime I prayed the rosary, it didn't help much. The temptation still kept coming after I prayed. A year ago I started to pray the prayer of St. Bridget and anytime I pray this prayer in time of temptation, the attacks completely stop. It's a little bit scary because it really resets my brain. It gives me no desire to follow thoughts of any temptation that I was facing before.

Now I feel like the rosary is not that powerful and maybe I shouldn't pay much attention to it. I still want to pray it because it helps me meditate on Christs life and stay focused but...

My question is, was there ever in the Catholic tradition a case where a saint or somebody struggled with a similar problem? Is it possible for Satan to use one prayer in order to distract us from a different one which is considered by the Church a prayer which is deemed to be more meritorious?


texts: In the Gospels, is there any recorded instance of the Pharisees quoting Scripture?

texts: In a discussion, a family member said that the Pharisees often quoted Scripture.  Do we have any record of this in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)?  I don't mean just referring to Biblical concepts or Jewish tradition; I'm looking specifically for direct quotes of the Old Testament.  I can't think of any such case, but I also can't think of a good way to search for such a passage.


texts: What happens if someone spills the wine during the Eucharist?

texts: What would happen if someone (a priest, parishioner, deacon or anyone) spills the wine during a Eucharist service at a Catholic church?


texts: Do I have to disclose my private life to a stranger?

texts:
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,
  that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great
  power as it is working. (James 5:16, ESV)

If I did something sinful between myself and God, like watching pornography, smoking, getting drunk, having sinful thoughts, involving in some sinful activities etc. and I want to stop doing it, do I have to confess my weakness to others and bring shame to myself? It would be fine if the audience are my good friends but if there are new people in the church, I don't think it is appropriate to share my personal life to a stranger. I think personal problems should be shared with the pastor and ask him to pray for us, encourage us and strengthen us.

Do I have to share my shameful private life and humiliate myself in front of everyone?
Does this verse imply only to confessing and asking forgiveness to the person that we hurt and sin against?

I would prefer answers from Evangelical or Pentecostal.


texts: Is it sinful to prophesy using the Bible?

texts:
My pastor correlates any event going on in the world as a sign of getting closer to the return of Christ, using all different quotes from the book of Revelation.

I remember Jesus saying something about looking for signs is a sin.

Is it sinful to prophesy what will happen in the future by looking for world events that match some scripture?


texts:
Do Baptists believe someone with multiple personalities has multiple souls?  What if someone has two personalities, like the dissociative identity disorder and one has accepted Jesus as their Savior, and the other has not?  Would these be two souls judged independently, one going to Heaven, and the other to Hell?  The movie “Jonathan” though it is fiction, really got me thinking about this.

Note: I edited the question to make it clear I am asking about the real disorder vs. the movie.


texts: Which is more important to the Roman Catholic Church today: Church unity or the actual text of scripture?

texts:
I recently did some study on the fact that Augustine objected to Jerome translating the OT into Latin from the Hebrew instead of the Greek because there were significant differences in the texts. Augustine argued that the Greek versions were already wide spread and the differences might cause fracture between the Latin and Greek churches. He therefore, urged Jerome to only translate from the Greek. Clearly Augustine thought it was vitally important that the Church remain unified even at the cost of the exactness of Scripture.

I know that Augustine is highly esteemed in the Catholic Church and I wonder if the Roman Catholic Church officially takes a position like this. If not then are there historical events that indicate an implied position like this (other then this particular one)? Or from the reverse perspective, is there an official position and/or historical events that indicate the Scripture is more valued than unity?

An anecdote for further explanation
Years ago while talking to a priest he told me that he believed that many Protestants would return to the Catholic Church if they would read Augustine's writings and take it to heart. I think this shows, at least in his mind, how much the RCC esteems Augustine.


texts: Was Jesus a Hindu saint and belong to the religion of Hinduism?

texts:
I am from  India and in various newspapers and in different electronic medias, people are arguing that Jesus was a Hindu person. His religion was Hinduism. He was born in Kerala state of country India in a Brahman family.
Also,in one of  stack exchange sites, it is said that Jesus was an incarnate of Hindu God "Shiva"
So my simple question is that are these true stories or just  rumors?


texts: Looking for a passage on the effect of good/bad actions on your family through time

texts:
I don't remember the exact context surrounding the story/situation, but the message was about the impact of one's good or bad deeds through time.

I remember it said something like: good things go down on your family for three(?) generations, while bad things will affect you for twenty(?) generations.

If you recall a similar passage, let me know, it may be the one I'm looking for.


texts: Why is masturbation not allowed while intercourse without the purpose of offspring is allowed in RCC?

texts: The catechism of the RCC state that masturbation isn't appropriate and is immoral. But within a marriage a man can penetrate his wife, when the woman hasn't her fertile period. But why does the RCC makes this distinction, while in both cases there is actually (specially for the man) just a purpose of lust.


texts: How common were blasphemy accusations and trials among the Jews during the time of Jesus?

texts: I am curious if any critical scholarly work has attempted to study the frequency with which blasphemy accusations occurred within the Jewish community at the time of Jesus, and if possible, how many of those trials led to executions as Jesus' did?


texts:
My question When did the concept of οὐσία begin to refer to God's nature? has been answered and the answer was actually great. However, the answer has led me to ask another question.

Conceptually, I do hold onto the applicability of οὐσία to refer to
God's nature since nature is what innately belongs to someone.
I agree that the Greek word homoousios (same substance) faithfully
preserve the meaning of Scripture in creedal form (Nicene Creed cf.
John 1:1, 18 10:28-33; Hebrews 1:3).

What prompted the second century writers to adopt the concept of οὐσία to refer to God's nature?

Did the second century church writers adopt οὐσία to refer to God's nature because they wanted to summarize what the Bible has to say on the relationship of the Father and the Son?
Or did they adopt it because they were trying either to defend the Christian faith to Greeks or to convert contemporary Greeks ?


texts: What is the purpose and basis of the stigmata?

texts:
The stigmata is sores or wounds in the places that Jesus suffered wounds during the crucifixion. That's about as much as I know.

My questions, to be answered from a Catholic perspective:

What's the purpose of the stigmata?
What is the Biblical basis, if any, for the stigmata?
How does the stigmata not indicate Christ's suffering was insufficient?
How do we know that the stigmata reflects Christ's crucifixion and not someone else that was crucified?


texts: What are the consequences of suicide according to the Roman Catholic church? Are there exceptions or special penalties?


texts: When did Christmas (the birth of Christ) first begin as a Christian celebration?

texts:
I remember hearing something about a true Saint Nicholas who maybe helped poor children or something, but to be honest, I really don't know much about when Christmas began to be celebrated by Christians.  I do know that the Orthodox Church celebrates it on a different day.

Did it begin in the Catholic Church?  If so, when did it become adopted by the Orthodox Church?


texts: Did the myth of the holy grail originate from Catholicism?

texts:
Or its practices? Catholic church sanctioned holy wars suggest they didn't think the Holy Grail a myth back then.

The question is about its' origins, source.


texts: I would like to know when David, the king of Israel, was born.


texts:
I've heard a lot of religious chatter concerning what exact "sea" was parted by God to allow Moses and the Israelites to cross out of Egypt. Seems productions by the History Channel and other such sources have made statements about it but they also talked about the Mayan end of the world ideas. I know my bible says "Red Sea" but I've heard that could be a mistranslation.

I was just wondering if there was any solid evidence to support either location? Such as archaeological findings or other sources.

  "18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red
  Sea." -Exodus 13:18


texts: What are the classics/giants in Systematic Theology?

texts:
Two of the popular ways of analyzing the Bible are: Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology.

Based on Biblical Theology vs Systematic Theology, Biblical Theology focuses more on verses; whereas Systematic Theology focuses more on topics.

Who are the giants in Systematic Theology?

What are the classics / great works in Systematic Theology?

See also: Related question on Biblical Theology.


texts: Did the LDS believe that Christians are doomed to hell?

texts:
While perusing the Vatican's official website, I stumbled upon this:

  THOUGHTS FROM THE DIALOGUE CENTRE IN ÅRHUS, DENMARK

  "... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) used to
  teach with some vehemence that Christians were doomed to hell."

Source: Spirituality in East and West, Easter 2000 (No. 13), from Dialog Center International, 46 Katrinebergvej, DK-8200 Aarhus, Denmark. info@dci.dk Retrieved from vatican.va

This notice was apparently delivered by the Pontifical Council for Culture and published in a semi-annual journal.

Does the Catholic Church support this statement? From what teaching/teachings do they suppose this statement is founded?

UPDATE - Oct 9, 2014
A lot of good research has been contributed by all of the answers below in response to this question, I wish to thank all those that took the time to investigate the statement above.

To summarize the ultimate conclusion: it has been concluded that the contributor to vatican.va in this instance was in error in three way profound ways:

He posted materials on the official vatican site that did not support or represent the official stance of the Catholic Church.
He improperly cited the source and author of the statement - who was not even a Catholic. (The message is similar, but the wording is actually taken from a different source)
He misrepresented the philosophy of the LDS Church, as they have a very different interpretation of "hell" compared to most Christian denominations, and use the word mostly to describe a feeling of eternal regret. Sometimes, they use the word to refer to either the spirit prison, or outer darkness, which are two very distinct places, the latter being inhabited only by Satan and the sons of perdition.

The LDS definition of Hell:

  Latter-day revelations speak of hell in at least two ways. First, it
  is another name for spirit prison, a temporary place in the postmortal
  world for those who died without a knowledge of the truth or those who
  were disobedient in mortality. Second, it is the permanent location of
  Satan and his followers and the sons of perdition*, who are not
  redeemed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. [outer darkness]

*Sons of Perdition: Those who actively serve Satan and utterly reject God.


texts: The Scripture says that the Second Temple was built on the foundation of Solomon's Temple, but was Herod's Temple built in the same place or was it built next to it? (Do we have any records that say so?)


texts: What's the principle in the eyes of God behind Leviticus leprosy and unclean law?

texts:
I am reading Leviticus these days, and I have a few questions:

To take one example, I don't understand 13:13:

  then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. "

Isn't it possible that the disease is still there?
I know some people do eat a lot of bizarre foods and animals, but I still find its hard to think about people eating locusts, and God said it's clean.

Ultimately, I want to know are these laws having good reasons and very sophisticated modern scientific explanations behind them? Or are there any other principles behind them that we would never fully know until we meet God?


texts: Why does the Catechism of the Catholic Church abridge the first commandment?

texts:
(This question came up while I was speaking with someone, and I don't think that I was able to answer it very well. Note that I am not asking whether the Church is right or wrong, just for a clear explanation of why Catholics have chosen to present a particular document in a particular way.)

In part 3, section 2, the Catechism of the Catholic Church lists the Ten Commandments. It provides a table with three columns: "Exodus", "Deuteronomy", and "A Traditional Catechetical Formula".

Why is the First Commandment abridged in the third column? Why aren't the commandments numbered in the first two columns? Is this meant to be a table of revisions, with the right side representing the "revised" commandments? What is the third column even supposed to be? Which of the columns is the "official list" of the 10 things Catholics are supposed to obey? Is the Catechism changing scripture?


texts: Is there a connection between 666 and Solomon?

texts:
There is another question here that asks for the significance of the number 666.
Most of the answers relate it to papacy, Nero or some other apocalyptic event.
I have read several prophetic websites and they do the same thing. Sum up the numeric value of the alphabets in somebody's name. Multiply it by 2, divide by 3 and it comes to 666.
However I was reading my Bible was surprised to find the following verse -

1 Kings 10:14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was
666 talents,
2 Chronicles 9:13 The weight of the gold that Solomon
received yearly was 666 talents,

My question is how did everyone over look this? Could it be that the number has nothing to do with papacy or Nero.
There seems to be some sort of connection with Solomon. If so what is it?


texts: What is the earliest historical instance of state-paid Clergy?

texts:
Years ago I read in a book about the days of Constantine and how the early church fathers, who had been ducking the persecutors' swords for so long, were overwhelmed when the Roman State turned benign under Constantine and they began to shower gifts, including Salaries, on the clergy. Church buildings, basilicas, garments, etc.  Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History said something about the elders being dazzled by the wealth of material things.  I have google-searched this topic but it is hard to narrow the language properly to find the answer: WHEN, specifically, was the first instance or instances of state-funded Christian ministers?  My memory says it was indeed in Constantine's reign but I can find no evidence. Wikipedia on State Religion says "The first state-sponsored Christian church was the Armenian Apostolic Church, established in 301 CE.", but does not define such. I'll try to find its cited source doc. I did find this one source document (image below) that for now would be the earliest instance I van find that refers to “state” monetary support, if the Queen is considered to speak and act for the state. The King here seems to be Khosrov I, and date would be ~252-268ce

Christian laity from earliest days, (Acts 2, and even earlier in Jesus's own ministry) supported their elders/leaders with hard goods or other contributions. What I'm asking is different: state-sponsorship via monetary support of the clergy [bishops, priests, etc].

Anyone have a source for this?


texts:
Does the Bible contain an unambiguous statement that God is All-Good?

(Note: I am not questioning whether God is All-Good or not, nor how we can indirectly infer God is All-God. I am not asking whether the Bible contains God is All-Loving or All-Merciful or All-Powerful, but whether Bible explicitly mentions God is All-Good or a term that unequivocally means All-Good.)

ADDENDUM

(In response to people wondering why I am wondering what I am wondering.)

In Islam there is this concept of Most Beautiful and Perfect Names and Attributes of Allah. (Obviously, all of them are from the Quran.) By itself, it is whole subject of endless research and commentary. Though God is not bounded by any number of perfect attributes, it is believed that 99 of them are mentioned in the Quran. I read that even though God is Perfectly Just, All-Just (or Absolute Just) is not a name mentioned in the Quran. (When I learned why, I was most amazed.) Then I realized that, to my understanding, there is no name that would correspond to All-Good, even though Allah is All Good. (And I have a theory why.) All of this made me curious: whether God is ever mentioned as All-Good in the Bible. I would guess not, this why I am asking here.

Finally, the answer will help me with my own research and book.


texts: What is the Catholic practice to find God's will for lay Catholics?

texts:
In the evangelical circles, finding God's will for one's life is a very common topic, with a "recipe" that looks like this Christianity.com article: How Do We Know God’s Will for Our Lives?.  The motivation why one is "compelled" to find it is: by walking in the "zone" that God has set for you: 1) you will have peace that God is with you, 2) you will be successful because God will provide everything you need for His will to be accomplished, and 3) you live a Godly pattern exemplified by Jesus and the apostles who themselves have dedicated their lives to execute God's specific will for them.
I realize that for Catholics entering vocations (joining a religious order / priesthood), there is an established practice for discernment.
But how about for lay Catholics?  What I heard is a general Thomistic guidance of aligning our intellect and will toward true happiness in God by being aware of how our numerous daily choices can potentially sidetrack us toward anything less than God such as honor, riches, power, etc. instead of striving toward the true final end of human nature of beatific vision by living with true love toward those within our circle while working together with the Holy Spirit toward eliminating one's vices and increasing one's virtues.
While that guidance is in some way more specific than the evangelical advice linked above, there are still many choices that a typical 18 year old Catholic can be bewildered, such as: what major to study at the university, who to marry, career path, etc.  Is there a practice similar to discerning vocation but for lay Catholics?
A related sub-question: does the answer come in the form of special graces given to lay Catholics toward some particular calling (example: talents for music for those called to be musicians), similar to special graces infused by God for the religious (example: for fulfilling their vows of chastity)?


texts: Which Christian groups prohibit playing cards, and what is their basis for doing so?

texts:
When I was a child I remember hearing that some Christians strongly opposed the use of playing cards. If I remember correctly, it wasn't just for gambling games such as Poker, but even for children's games such as Go Fish. I have always assumed that this prohibition was linked to a particular denomination(s), but I have not personally encountered anyone since then that has held this view.

Are there any Christian groups that prohibit the use of playing cards, and what is their basis for doing so?


texts:
Are there any Christian sects that allow for the existence of other "God" claims?  That is, allow for claims that are (semi-)polytheistic in nature.  I'm excluding claims that the Trinity is polytheistic for purposes of this question.

I may have just found my answer. It turns out Mormonism allows for the existence of other "Gods" – their afterlife claims include the belief that they become "Gods".  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Are there any other Christian sects that allow for multiple "God" claims?


texts: Was the washing of feet of the disciples by Jesus, part of a Jewish tradition?

texts:
At John 13:3-6 (RSVCE) we read:

  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel.  Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.  He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

That the towel and the basin were already there, suggests that Jesus was enacting a traditional ritual of washing of the feet of the participants of  Passover feast, by the elder. The assumption is also corroborated by  the fact that only Simon Peter, who was not the first one to have his feet washed by Jesus, registered his objection.

My question is: Are there any teachings from the side of Catholic Church confirming that Jesus was in deed reinforcing a Jewish tradition of washing the feet of one's  dear ones at Passover ?


texts: In Psalms 2:7, does the expression 'this day' forbid the thought that Jesus is eternal?

texts:
Psalms 2:7: 'Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee'

Does the expression 'this day' forbid the thought that Jesus is eternal?

Sorry for being not an expert, but that expression makes me think that the relation between Jesus and God was different before 'this day', maybe before that 'this day' Jesus was not the Son of God, and therefore Jesus is not eternal.

Peace be with you.

 And, overall, for those who like to know the denomination to which the asker belongs, I inform I'm a Christian and Adoptionist.


texts: Can a Christian in a state of grace know that they are?

texts:
Based on the question "Should Catholics in a state of grace call themselves sinners?"

Does Catholic doctrine allow for such a person to come to know of their state of grace while living?


texts: What did Paul mean when he called Jesus the "firstborn from the dead"?

texts:
note: All Scripture quoted is from the King James translation.
I have noticed that Paul referred to Jesus as the firstborn numerous times:

Colossians 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Romans 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Hebrews 11:28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Hebrews 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

I am especially interested in the phrase "firstborn from the dead" from  Colossians 1:18. Was Paul referring to being dead to sin or being dead physically and being resurrected to eternal life, Something even more elusive to me?


texts: Are other flood legends relevant to Christians?

texts:
There are different flood legends among several civilizations that are similiar to the flood in the Bible.

  A flood myth or deluge myth is a mythical or religious story of a great flood sent by a deity or deities to destroy civilization as an act of divine retribution. It is a theme widespread among many cultures, though it is perhaps best known in modern times through the biblical and Quranic account of Noah's Ark, the Hindu puranic story of Manu, through Deucalion in Greek mythology or Utnapishtim in the Epic of Gilgamesh. (Wikipedia)

Are these other stories relevant to Christianity?
Do they describe the same event?
Why are they so similar and at the same time different (reasons and causes)
How can a valid exhaustive list of flood legends exist if it supposedly killed every man on earth besides the ones that were saved


texts: Where in the Pentateuch does it indicate that it's better to sin against God than against your spiritual director?

texts:
From The Ladder of Divine Ascent:

  Do not be surprised at what I am going to say (for I have Moses to
  support me). It is better to sin against God than against our father;
  for when we anger God, our director can reconcile us; but when he is
  incensed against us, there is no one to propitiate him for us. But it
  seems to me that both cases amount to the same thing. (4-121)

I have tried to find the passage to which St. John Climacus is referring but have failed. What verses is he referring to?


texts: How does the Catholic Church understand the priesthood of all believers?

texts:
In the process of answering a question on the Sacraments, I discovered that Catholic Church accepts the doctrine of the "priesthood of all believers".  This rather surprised me since the Church has separate, ordained priests who, among other things, perform the Sacraments.  From my point of view (as an Evangelical Protestant), passages such as:

  But you are a chosen race, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, a people to be a personal possession to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.—1st Peter 2:9 (NJB)

...suggest that everyone in the church has a duty to stand before God.  Practically the entire book of Hebrews makes the case that the Old Testament model of priests as holy (literally, "set apart") men has been replaced by a new model in which we all function as priests.

At a very simple level, it seems impossible to hold both of the following statements as true:

The entire Church is set apart by God to be priests.
Individuals are set apart from the rest of the Church by God to be priests.

Am I equivocating on the word "priest"?  (Or to put it another way, are there two different classes of priests in the Catholic Church?)


texts: Why do Pentecostalists often use the word "fire" during exorcisms?

texts:
In the Pentecostal Church you often see people use the word "fire" during exorcisms. Why? To burn the demon out?

I would like to see some scripture that can back up the doctrine or culture.


texts: According to the Catholic Church, are Adam and Eve in heaven?

texts:
According to this site

  As we have said elsewhere, Adam and Eve are not called saints in
  ordinary reference, historical or scriptural. But they may be called
  saints on their feast day, which is the vigil of Christmas, because we
  know from sound Catholic tradition that they repented of their great
  sin, lived lives of holiness and are now in Heaven.

What Catholic tradition speaks of them to be in heaven?

I’ve read (and since I cannot remember where, there is no reason to put any credence to the following statement:) that Adam and Eve will stay in Purgatory until the final soul is purified.


texts: What education requirements are imposed on ordination candidates in the Anglican church?

texts: What does the Anglican church require from potential ordination candidates as far as education and background? In particular, how would they handle a candidate from a different Protestant background who came along seeking to be ordained? Obviously I would expect the candidate is expected to agree with some statement of faith covering key doctrinal distinctions, but would they also be required to undergo education in an Anglican institution? Are there set timelines for such proceedings?


texts:
Clearly Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden affected everyone.  And clearly if you murder someone, or commit adultery, it affects others.  But are there sins which do not affect other people?

What I am wondering for this question is if every sin affects other people.

As an extreme example, suppose God has spoken a promise to me, and I doubt it for a moment, but then repent and have faith.  During my time of doubt, I never speak or do anything - it is all internal.  Would that sin affect others?

The reason I am asking is that often times, non-Christians define "evil" as that which does harm to another.  By this definition, they justify things which are explicitly forbidden in Scripture, because in their eyes, it doesn't affect anyone else.  I also often hear Christians define "sin" as that which does harm to another.  One of the many passages used to support this teaching is:

  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. -Romans 13:10

Is "evil" defined as "that which harms another"?  If not, it seems like Christians need to stop using this secular definition in their teachings.


texts: Sources for Luther and Calvin quotes supporting geocentrism

texts:
In response to Copernicus' heliocentric model of the solar system, Martin Luther and John Calvin are reported to have responded showing their support for geocentrism.

I have found the following quotes in several places on the internet, however, I have not been able to find the original source for either quote.

Luther:

  The fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside-down. However, as Holy Scripture tells us, so did Joshua bid the sun to stand still and not the earth.

Calvin:

  [They] pervert the course of nature [by saying] the sun does not move and that it is the earth that revolves and that it turns.

The closest thing I can find to the primary source are statements to the effect that Calvin's quote comes from a sermon, and Luther's from something called "Table Talk". I found an online document titled The Table Talk of Martin Luther which includes a section labeled On Astronomy and Astrology but I was unable to locate this quote within it.

Are these genuine quotes? Can someone help me find their respective sources?


texts: Why do Catholics usually baptize by pouring?

texts:
CCC 1214

  This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or "immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as "a new creature."

CCC 1228

  Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the "imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect.32 St. Augustine says of Baptism: "The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament."

definition of bath (multiple definitions, most I believe involve being covered by water)

  the quality or state of being covered with a liquid

CCC 1239

  The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking. It signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity through configuration to the Paschal mystery of Christ. Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate's head.

CCC 1239 mentions in ancient times pouring was allowed, but when did that occur (what is the history of baptism)? Why is pouring of water used more often than immersion (ease/safety)?

Related Q&A on choosing immersion baptism


texts: What is the status of St Malachy's prophecy within Catholicism?

texts: As might be well-known to some, and perhaps especially to Catholics, the name of Saint Malachy, a former Archbishop of Armagh, is often associated with the Prophecy of the Popes. Much of the recent interest in this prophecy appears not to come from within Catholicism itself. Is there a general consensus from within Catholicism on this seemingly important issue?


texts: Works Rightouseness - Is there any Christian Group that focus on this

texts:
I have been reading a Protestant book on evangelism and it, as well as other books I have read from Evangelical sources, focus greatly on on how their faith practice is in direct opposition to Works-Righteousness.

Coming from the Catholic Prospective of Grace Alone, which is consistent with Gods selection throughout history.  I am curious if there is a faith practice who instructs to its followers that we are saved as Payment for the works that we do.

A Good answer would have a official Document or "What we believe" Statement from the denomination that suggest that works somehow bring a person into the family of God.

I feel personally that the context is directed towards those outside the Church, who do not know the Gospel, the Evangelicals seem focused more on those inside the church, who in there minds, are not "REAL" Christians, like themselves.

Is there a Denomination that states that we are saved by Works?


texts: Who resurrected Jesus - the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit

texts:
In John 2:19-22 Jesus tells the Jews that he will perform a miraculous sign by raising the temple of his body in three days.
In John 10:18 Jesus says he has authority to lay down his life and authority to take it up again.
Yet in Acts 2:24 it says that God raised Jesus from the dead.
This is confirmed in Romans 6:4 which says Jesus was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father.
Yet Romans 1:4 says that Jesus, who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.
And 1 Peter 3:18 says Jesus was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
How do Trinitarian Christians explain this to people who neither understand nor believe the Trinity?


texts: What is the position of the Episcopal Church on the evolution of man?

texts:
Pope Francis, in a speech given at a Pontifical Academy of Sciences, has declared his support of evolution as the scientific explanation of the origin of man. Following on the statements of his recent predecessors, it seems that the Catholic position is now firm.

What is the position of the Episcopal Church on this issue?


texts: What is the essential argument in favor of the tripartite nature of man?

texts:
A common belief regarding the nature of mankind is that we have a body, a soul and a spirit.  This is known as the Tripartite Nature of Man.

What is the essential argument in favor of this view?  I would also be interested to know how early in the Scriptures this is indicated or understood.  It would be really interesting to know how the Old Testament speaks of this and whether or not that idea was held by Jewish people prior to the coming of Jesus.


texts: What exactly was the purpose of the Council of Nicea?

texts: I heard recently in a bible study class on "How we got the Bible", that the Council of Nicea is not actually responsible for the compilation of the complete, canon biblical texts. I had always thought that the Council of Nicea had been responsible for this. So, my question is: what exactly was the purpose of the Council of Nicea?


texts:
As per biblical records, jesus was buried on friday and was alive on Sunday.

If Jesus was dead for close to 36 hours, what happened to trinity?


texts: In Luke 18:8, does the Geek word translated “quickly” mean “suddenly” in this instance?

texts:
We know that in our lives on planet earth the Lord does not always quickly protect those who are suffering injustice. Definitely, he will on the day of his visitation correct injustices and he will rule with perfect justice during the millennium. But it seems that many people, while living on planet earth, undergo major and continuous injustice even though they pray frequently for God to relieve the injustice.
I do not have sufficient knowledge of the Greek to understand how verse eight is true if I understand it to be translated “quickly.“


texts:
I know this question has been asked many times but I am still struggling with it. A post I read earlier today someone answered with if you tell your child don't touch that it's hot, when they get burned it's not punishment it's the consequences of your actions. Which yes I agree, but according to the Bible when you disobey God (sin), will allow you suffer the consequences. E.G. failing a test, breaking your leg, going bankrupt whatever the circumstances are. I don't kick my kid out of the house because he touched the stove and he disobeyed me and then throw him into a pit and leave him there. That is punishment. Yet God says if we sin we will be separated from him (kicked out) and thrown into the lake of fire (thrown in a pit) for eternity (leaving him there). I cannot see how the kind of God that is perfect love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) can allow that to happen because I told you so. I didn't ask to be here he forced me into this and now I have to play the game by his rules or I will literally be tortured and burned for eternity. I'm trying to understand and to put them together but I cannot.
Sorry for the word wall


texts: What is the theological justification for the British monarch worshipping in the Church of Scotland, rather than the Scottish Episcopal Church?

texts:
When Queen Elizabeth II is in Scotland, she worships in the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland, rather than in the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is in full communion with the Church of England.

The political reason for this is obvious, but how is this theologically justified?  (Or alternately, does no justification exist, with politics overriding theology?) How can the Queen believe in apostolic succession and episcopal governance south of the Tweed, and in Presbyterianism north of the Tweed?


texts: When Christ comes and our loved ones are raptured up, will we have no memory of them. I struggle with the idea that my child won't recognize or remember me or I her.


texts: Does God lie? And does the devil tell the truth?

texts:
The Bible quotes God assaying:

  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."  (Genesis 2:15-17)

The Bible goes on to quote Eve and the serpent talking:

  3 but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" 4 But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. (3:3-7)

Now the devil tells Eve that she will not die and that she will gain the knowledge of good and evil. Which happens from what the Bible describes. God also specified that they will die on the day that they touch the tree, which does not happen, so it wasn't truth that God told Eve. Even if God said it as a metaphor, it was a metaphor that neither Adam nor Eve understood, because Eve told the serpent they they will surely die. And God is all-knowing, so he had to know that they will misunderstand him.  So, he deliberately told a metaphor, which he knew was going to be understood literally, and he knew it would be taken as literal interpretation.

In either way God provided Eve with misleading information. (It could be a possibility that something is lost in translation, but if not, it would take interpreting the text completely opposite to what is written in order to come to a different conclusion - and if we do, then why bother taking the rest of the Scripture as it is written?)

Does this mean that we must redefine our definition of lying?
Maybe lying excludes lying to children for example to save them from a greater harm
(like taking drugs for example)

If something is too complicated to explain to a child, maybe the Bible suggests that it's OK to lie to them. I feel like a lot of parents already do that making up stories to keep their children from making noise in church (for example). Telling them that if they misbehave the ghost will get them etc.

Or maybe lying overall means something else in the 10 commandments.
I really wonder about that, because I see situations when it might be good to tell a lie.
I'm Polish, so I always think of the story If I was holding a Jew in my house and Nazis would come in asking if I had any Jews in the house. I know that I couldn't tell the truth.

So I just wonder If God lied?
If so, is lying sometimes ok according to this passage?
If God doesn't lie, then what is the definition of lying?
If God told the truth that they would die, then is devil lying that they will not die?

I'm only interested in the Catholic perspective of this scripture as I was raised Catholic and this question bothered me for most of my life.


texts:
What does this verse mean? Is this the reason why many good people die and lots of bad person are living the greed and wealth in this world? This keeps on bugging me.

  John 12:25

  ”Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this
  world will keep it for eternal life.”


texts:
Mark 10:29 mentions father, but Mark 10:30 doesn't.

Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or
sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit
everlasting life.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is
no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time,
houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and
lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mat 23:9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your
Father, which is in heaven.


texts: According to the Catholic Church, what happens to a person who is in the process of learning about Catholicism, if that person dies?

texts: Suppose a person is learning about the teachings of the Catholicism, and dies before that person has reached a conclusion whether he or she would like to join the Church. According to the teachings of the Catholic Church, what would happen to this person in terms of salvation? Now suppose that person leans toward accepting Catholicism, what would happen instead?


texts: How do Catholics explain Jesus' words to the thief on the cross, in light of the doctrine of Purgatory?

texts:
In Luke 23, there is a brief conversation between Jesus and one of the thieves crucified beside him:

42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This seems to be a promise to the thief of salvation, of eternal life, and that this promise will be fulfilled imminently; not after a long period in Purgatory.
How do Catholics interpret and explain this?


texts:
We know that visionaries, such as them, talk/talked with the Virgin Mary or God.

But does the Pope directly talk with God or the Virgin Mary? Or, does he do it in any other, not-direct, way? Is it the same for any precedent Pope?


texts: How did Karl Barth justify his relationship with Charlotte von Kirschbaum?

texts:
I recently learned that Karl Barth, while he was married, had a decades-long romantic relationship with his personal assistant, Charlotte von Kirschbaum.  She actually moved into the Barths' home in 1929, straining the family.

I'd like to know how Karl Barth justified this relationship.  After a few internet searches and my own recollections of Barth's theology, the following possibilities come to mind:

Barth did not have a sexual relationship with von Kirschbaum, and therefore did not think that he was committing adultery
Barth, who argued that the Bible "contains" the Word of God, did not consider the prohibition of adultery in the Ten Commandments as "the Word of God" and therefore not binding
Barth could not overcome his love for von Kirschbaum, and thus considered it acceptable.

Which of these arguments, or others that I might be missing, did Barth use?  How did Barth justify his relationship with von Kirschbaum?


texts:
Orthodox monks seem to always acquire monastic names when they join a monastery. Thus Mikhail became Macarius. (They also acquire a "seminary surname" if they did not have one already, though this seems not to happen any more since the newcomers already all have surnames.)

What rules or process guide the selection of the monastic names? Are they supposed to be Greek? Who makes the decision as to a name and what is it supposed to represent?


texts: What is some relevent scripture regarding having something stolen?

texts:
I recently had some things stolen out of my car, and I vaguely remember reading somewhere in the New Testament that you shouldn't desire to get stolen items back. I've been searching for it, but I can't seem to find it.

Does anyone know the verse?
Also, is there any other encouraging scripture you could recommend on the topic?


texts: Did Jesus forseeing the different Denominational division of the Church, unify them together into the Kingdom of God in John 3:16?

texts:
Recently the number of Denominations, who claim to be the true Church; has caused me to research the Bible in search of Jesus description of the church, and the restrictions associated with its membership.

The only Scripture which I feel covers this is:

  John 3:16 and 17  KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If there are other Scriptures which can help in my quest I would appreciate having them. Please do not restrict answers to any particular translation as I appreciate any input from any version of the scriptures.

Thank you for your help and consideration.


texts: Are the gospels comparable(equal) to contemporary works of historians?

texts:
Are the gospels (and especially claims on the identity of Jesus in the Gospels) comparable(equal) to contemporary works of contemporary historians like Tacitus and Josephus, in terms of objectivity( claims are not too far reaching conclusions), historical accuracy(telling only what really happened) and quality of research( time spent on writing work, number of members in this team that makes up the work in question) they did? In other words can I trust on the claims of identity of Jesus and historicity of the events? Can you give some reasons why gospels are equal with the documents of those historians?
For example in this author claims that quote;

  It increasingly appears that the "biblical Jesus" and the "historical Jesus" are one and the same!


texts: According to Jehovah’s Witnesses who are the two messengers at Malachi 3:1?

texts:
According to Jehovah’s Witnesses who are these two messengers in Malachi 3:1?

  Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the Lord of hosts." - Malachi 3:1

The NWT of Malachi 3:1 says,

  Look! I am sending my messenger, and he must clear up a way before me. And suddenly there will come to His temple the [true] Lord, whom you people are seeking, and the messenger of the covenant in whom you are delighting. Look! He will certainly come, Jehovah of armies has said."

It is clear that the first messenger is John the Baptist who will clear the way of the Lord God (that's who the "Me" is in the verse) and Mark 1:1-4 confirms who the messenger is. "Behold, I send My messenger before your face, Who will prepare Your way; verse 3, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make read the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight."

I would like to know if the "true" Lord (which the NWT states) that comes to His temple and is identified as the Lord God Almighty the same being as the messenger of the covenant?


texts: Romans 16:1 vs 1 Corinthians 14:34 - Position of Women in Congregation?

texts:
1 Corinthians 14:34,35

  Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to
  speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to
  inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home;
  for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Romans 16:1

  I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in
  Cenchreae.

One verse states the role of a woman in the church is passive, submissive. The second states phoebe is a "deacon".

1 Timothy 3 implies a deacon is a male (with reference to the fact that he must have one wife).

What do these three verses say about the position of Women in the congregation?

Other references welcome. Biblical answers only, please.


texts: How did the tradition of Mothering Sunday arise?

texts:
Mothering Sunday is a tradition that dates back to at least the 16th century. People would visit their "mother church" either a cathedral or large local church and people were often permitted to travel to the mother church of the place where they were baptised.

However, my question is how did this tradition arise? Is there a basis for it in church doctrine? Did it start as a folk-movement or was it introduced into the church calendar? What are the origins of this Christian festival?


texts: Was Jesus having the beatific vision when He said: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"

texts:
I know that Jesus had the beatific vision while he stayed on earth. But at the cross, he said "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?" sounding like he has not having the beatific vision at that moment. Is it possible that the Father to proved Jesus' human nature by preventing Him His beatific vision on the cross?

Please answer according to the Catholic Church.


texts:
Does God today have different knowledge than yesterday?
In other words, did God not know yesterday what will happen today?

I'm mostly interested in Catholic and Protestant traditions


texts: In Catholicism, is the Eucharist observed during funerals?

texts:
First off I know next to nothing about Christianity.  Well, I do know that Catholics have more traditions and ceremonies than Protestants do, and I know about Eucharist.  What I didn't know is that Eucharist is used during funeral ceremonies too.  A Buddhist classmate told me he recently attended the funeral of his boss (he did not know about the boss's religion but was told the funeral was held at church and he felt it would be a kind thing if he attended).  But he told me that he did not know anybody there and there was lots of chanting and at some point the priest started administering Eucharist and people were lining up and he started freaking out because he doesn't drink and he did not want to be impolite either so he kind of just left!

I told him I doubt anybody would have forced him and maybe they don't even use wine anyways, but anyhow, though I was aware of Eucharist during regular mass, I was not aware that they also do it during funeral.  Can someone explain to me its significance during funeral or if it's shared by all Catholics?  Thanks.


texts:
I've heard people say, "God has spoken to me." In the OT there were prophets proclaiming what God said. Sometimes in the Bible God speaks audibly (e.g. to Samuel).

But today: in what way does God speak to people today?

*Related: How does one know if God is talking to him?


texts: Is this about 'sehnsucht'; in which case, can God be Pleasure manifest or is he a being who is full of pleasure?

texts:
"I have tried since . . . to make every pleasure into a channel of adoration. I don’t mean simply by giving thanks for it. One must of course give thanks, but I meant something different . . . Gratitude exclaims, very properly, “How good of God to give me this.” Adoration says, “What must the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations are like this!” One’s mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun . . .

If this is Hedonism, it is also a somewhat arduous discipline. But it is worth some labour.”

This is from 'Letters To Malcolm' by CS Lewis. I assume he is, once more, talking about 'joy'/sehnsucht...an ineffible longing for we know-not-what but something 'hinted' at via beauty/pleasure.
But, using God as Lewis's 'Sun' metaphor, is he saying we shall experience God as being the white heat, if you will, of all pleasure that we may/shall experience...or is he saying that God is a person who is full of happiness and goodness as a characteristic rather than his actual material substance and 'energy' he automatically gives off?

Appologies if this seems another whacky question, it's just, well, I like that kind...


texts:
As the title asks, what is the Septuagint?

I've heard it referred to in a number of questions on this site and other sources across the internet, but I what is the Septuagint and what is it's importance to Christianity?

Also of interest is who wrote it, when was it written and why was it written?


texts: Catholic tradition tells us that Jesus fell three times under the weight of the cross on His way to Calvary.  I wish to know if any studies based on historical evidence have been conducted  by Catholic Church on the dimensions and weight of the cross that Jesus bore. For instance, was the cross made of dry wood or out of freshly felled tree ?


texts: What was the charge levied against Jesus in the courts?

texts: I read that Jesus was charged with the allegation that he claimed to be the "King of Jews". What is the evidence of this and other charges, if any, on Jesus?  I am only interested in the charges leveled against him in the (Roman) court, and if he pled guilty or not.


texts: What is the relationship between YEC and rapture theology?

texts:
I'm curious about the relationship between those who adhere to young-earth creationism, and those who adhere to Rapture theology (as expressed in the Left Behind series, for example, and similar related belief systems most commonly associated with fundamentalism and dispensationalism).  Are these, generally, the same people?  Or is there a large divergence between these two groups?

I know a good many Christians who believe in both.  I know a few who reject both.  I don't know specifically of anyone who accepts one view, but rejects the other, although they may exist and I just don't know because the discussion topic hasn't come up.

And at least superficially, they both appear to have their roots in fundamentalism.  But I wonder how substantial this similarity is.

To be a bit more specific,

Are there any theological foundations on which both views are built?  Or does one view depend in any way on the other? (Does Rapture theology depend on an literal Adam, for instance.)
What is the cultural relationship between the two theologies?  If we were to, for example, draw a Venn diagram of these two theologies, what would it look like?

Have any polls or studies been done on this topic?


texts: If war were to break out between Russia and USA, would Russian Mormons fight against the USA?

texts:
My understanding about Mormon beliefs is that they do serve in armed forces in the country where they live.

Also I may be incorrect but, looking at this question, it seems that Mormons hold the United States in an especially high regard among nations. This can also be seen from the talk "This Nation Shall Endure" (by Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in 1973) linked to the accepted answer to the question.

So the question I wanted to ask is about Mormons living in Russia (where, according to this page, the church has 23,180 adherents).

Edited to a single question:

If a war broke out between Russia and the USA, would Mormons in Russia be instructed to not to fight, considering perhaps reasons such as that it could destroy the United States constitution?


texts: What is the biblical basis for 'Holy laughter'?

texts: What is the biblical basis for Holy laughter? Here some examples.


texts: Are there theological differences between the Greek Orthodox church and the Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox church?

texts: Is there a theological difference between the Greek Orthodox church and the Coptic (Egyptian) Orthodox church?


texts: How have Christians dealt with "I prayed my way to moral behavior"?

texts:
I was in discussion with some friends about sin.  I believe that passages like "Be Perfect (Mt 5:48)", as well as many of the other tough sayings from Jesus, inform us that the continuing standard is absolute perfection.  When you realize you are incapable of obedience, then and only then do you seek Christ with your whole heart.  Part of my basis for this belief is from Luther's Heidelberg Disputation:

  The person who believes that he can obtain grace by doing what is in him adds sin to sin so that he becomes doubly guilty.  Nor does speaking in this manner give cause for despair, but for arousing the desire to humble oneself and seek the grace of Christ.   It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ.

I'm also influenced by Tullian Tchividjian's sermon:

  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus wants to set us free by showing us our need for a rightness we can never attain on our own–an impossible righteousness that’s always out of our reach. The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is to demolish all notions that we can reach the righteousness required by God–it’s about exterminating all attempts at self-sufficient moral endeavor.

Some of my friends, on the other hand, said if you had any sins, you can pray and God would not only help you overcome them (perhaps in a spiritual sense) but will allow you to become free of your participation in them. If you doubted you could pray your way out of sin, you were doubting the power of prayer. If you said that all Christians were ultimately immersed in some inescapable sins, then you were saying sin, disobedience, and fake contrition were okay.

Q: Is the view I'm describing here, in essence, "Wesleyan perfectionism" (WP)?
Q: Was the "power of prayer" ever invoked in defense of WP?
Q: Do the Bible or church fathers offer any critique of "pray to moral behavior"?


texts: What do non-Calvinists believe about Proverbs 21:1

texts:
Proverbs 21:1 says

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.

This seems to imply that kings (and perhaps everyone else too) don't have freewill, but that God determines their decisions. How do non-Calvinists view this verse?


texts: What is the "city of seven hills" in St. Malachy's Popes Prophecy?

texts:
Reading through St. Malachy's Popes Prophecy, I couldn't understand a particular phrase:

  Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when
  they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the
  dreadful judge will judge his people

I have been searching the internet for some time now but I have not found any clue. What does the city of seven hills refer to?


texts: Will we be able to eat anything in Heaven?

texts:
Eating meat and potatoes for lunch after missing breakfast, I was thanking God for such delicious foods. Then I came up with a question; will we be able to eat in Heaven?
I love eating, and I wouldn't be able to stand not being able to eat chili-dogs for eternity in Heaven.
Is there any biblical backups that states whether or not will we be able to eat anything once we die?


texts: According to Catholicism is feeling nostalgic a sin?

texts:
According to a Doctor of Church (e.g., St. Thomas Aquinas), is feeling nostalgic a sin?

I think it is, because saints have advocated detachment from the world, and it is a constant theme of even Christ Himself to detach our hearts from all worldly things and keep our conversation in heaven, as St. Paul reiterated.


texts: Does anything different happen during General Conference when there's a new president?

texts: Next week will be the first general conference where President Nelson is the president of the Church. Does any special procedure or meeting occur because of this, or it is just a normal general conference?


texts: Are priests who committed a sin together able to validly administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to each other?

texts:
The Vatican recently released a report about the Holy See's knowledge and involvement in former cardinal Theodore McCarrick's rise to prominence despite allegations of sexual misconduct. The report quotes a letter from a psychiatrist who had been treating a priest who revealed an incident in which

...the young priest was shocked when he walked into the bedroom and found Bishop McCarrick engaging in sexual relations with another priest...My patient noted that the bishop and the other priest later administered the Sacrament of
Reconciliation to each other.
Report on the Holy See's Institutional Knowledge and Decision-Making Related to Former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick (1930 to 2017), p. 121

Obviously it is normal for priests and bishops to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to each other. However, is it valid for priests who committed a sin together to administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to each other? Or must they seek the sacrament from a priest who was not involved in the sin?
It seems odd to "confess" a sin which the priest you are confessing to is obviously already aware of the sin since he committed the same sin. Moreover, in such a case it would be difficult/unlikely that the priest administering the sacrament would be able to assign an appropriate penance ("ah, just say a Hail Mary and you're good"), offer good advice to avoid the sin in the future, etc. Is there anything in canon law which forbids such a confession, or at least a recommendation to seek the sacrament from a priest who was not involved?


texts: What is the significance of Eve being created as a "helper fit for [Adam]?"

texts:
The Bible appears to indicate that there was a specific purpose in the creation of Eve, from Adam, to be a helper fit for him.  It seems, then, that the design of Adam and Eve may be distinct, while they both bear the image of God.

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him a helper fit for him..."   But for Adam there was not
found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to
fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed
up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from
the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.  Then the man said,
"This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man."  Genesis 2:18, 20b-23 ESV
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27

So, what specifically is the significance of Eve's being created as "a helper fit for [Adam]" in the doctrines of Young-Earth Creationists, or those who take a literal interpretation of Genesis?  What does that mean about her specifically or the inner being of a woman?
I understand there can be some pretty emotional responses to this question, but I'm concerned with specific exegetical interpretations of this rather than reactionary or biased opinions.


texts: What is the Biblical view of "the spiritual gift of leadership"?

texts:
Romans 12 is said to describe "spiritual gifts".  (See this post, for instance.)  Such gifts are often regarded as being granted supernaturally to specific Christians, who are then specially able to exercise them.  My question is for Christians who hold such a view.

  Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.  -(Romans 12:6-8)

What is the spiritual gift of "leadership", how is it described in the Bible, and how is it unique to specially-gifted Christians?


texts: Was Peter poor and uneducated before he met Jesus?

texts: Peter is sometimes depicted as a poor uneducated fisherman before he met Jesus (I am referring to quite a few homilies I have heard in different churches). Do we know what languages he spoke? Did he know the scriptures well? What his social status was likely to be?