Jaybees

The RCC solved the problem early on by virtually ignoring the bible in its schools. Instead, students are treated to a catechism, which contains the real word.

Does that still go on in Catholic educational institutions?

Chili

That must be a Protestant University is it? I never knew that Universities teach religion.

Apart for that, what does it matter anyway if there is no salvation to be found in the bible apart of a 'look-alike' version of it. At least, when I read John 5:39-40 it tells you that people should not read the bibles lest they think that they can find eternal life in the passages they read:

steve_bnk

NM

Huon

In France, yes.

In France, 99 % of the Catholics do not read any Bible, usually. And they have at home only one book.

Where is the problem ?

Jaybees

No problem. In fact it's the solution to a problem. One effective way of dealing with biblical nonsense is to have nothing to do with it. French Catholics and atheists thus have something in common.

steve_bnk

I went to RCC schools in the 50s/60s.

Religion was part of it, but it was not pervasive. In biology neither creationim nor evolution was discussed.

Never saw a bible in grammar school. It was all about the rituals like mass, Stations Of The Cross, and confession. The school was attached to a church, an old new England Goth cavernous church with lights on low. And the kids would be sitting in the pews waiting in turn to go into the dark confession box.

In 12th grade religion class we read parts of the bible, but as I remember the class it was more like philosophy.

Chili

Except maybe that Catholics have nothing to deny, except maybe dust on the cover of the book that they have to keep clean.

Chili

We had it much the same Steve, except that grade school ended at 6 and from there trade school began and that kind of ended religion class for us.

But I do remember a book called "Who was Melchisedek," which was a topic that nobody seem to care much about.

Cheerful Charlie

Yes. A few weeks ago I noted several nearly new Catechisms at a used book store. This was an official Vatican catechism, and the person in charge of creating various translations was Cardinal Ratzinger.

Cheerful Charlie

Jaybees

From what I remember of the Catechism, it was religious truth brought up to date with special emphasis upon Mary, the mother of god (especially the virgin birth, the immaculate conception, her live assumption into heaven and freedom from all sin). Jesus was god (I think from birth), and suffered and died for us at the hands of god-hating Jews. Heaven, hell, purgatory and limbo were described at length.

I suspect there are new truths in the current catechism, and some old truths omitted. That's the advantage of having fresh, off the press scriptures like the new edition of the OED.