Expert: Austin Cline - 4/3/2005

Question
Hi,

I am not religious: my interest in religions is that of an observer.

The Coran states clearly that it is the word of God. It says that there is an original copy on a guarded table, near God, and that it just has been dicted to Mohamed. To me, that, together with the many contradictions found in the Coran, makes it clear that it is not the word of God -- if there is one. (that argument is carried in 'Why I Am Not a Muslim' by Ibn Warraq, for exemple.)

My question is: Does chatolic dogma say that the Bible is, wholly, the word of God? If yes, is it as clear as in the Islam? Do chatolics have a different position than protestants on that?

I would appreciate any relevant comment. And if you think of any reliable references on the internet, I would appreciate. Please, don't spend too much time on my question: it is just curiosity.

Jonathan Dumas.

Answer
No, Catholics don't argue that the Bible was "written" by God. They believe that it was written by humans while inspired by God. They are products of their time and culture; as such, they aren't infallible. They have to be interpreted by people today in light of what they understand.

All in all, it's a more rational and level-headed approach to scripture.

Fundamentalist Protestants, on the other hand, do tend to interpret the Bible as though it were penned personally by God.