The Bible is a sacred text in all denominations of Christianity, but Catholics are frequently criticized for having beliefs that aren’t scripturally accurate. They make some original interpretations that are controversial to other Christian denominations, much like these 18 Catholic beliefs that can’t be found in the Bible.
Purgatory
Catholics believe in Purgatory, where souls are purged of sins before being accepted into Heaven. The word ‘Purgatory’ is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, but it was inspired by scripture. Catholic Answers uses biblical passages about how ‘nothing unclean can enter Heaven,’ and imperfections can be ‘burned up’ to defend Purgatory.
Heaven Is Earned
Christ’s sacrifice on the cross granted all of humanity salvation, but Catholics believe we should do good deeds to continue earning our place in Heaven. Though they’re criticized for ‘minimizing’ the significance of the crucifixion, Catholics are actually inspired by Jesus’s goodness and want to be saved for both their faith and actions.
Taking the Sacrament of the Eucharist Literally
The Sacrament of the Eucharist is incredibly symbolic; while Jesus used bread to represent His body and wine to represent His blood in the Bible, it’s not believed He intended the symbolism to be taken literally. However, Catholics believe they are physically consuming Christ’s body and blood, whereas other Christians treat it as symbolism.
Saints Facilitating Our Prayers
It’s a misconception that Catholics pray to saints like they’re God, but they do believe saints facilitate our prayers. In the Bible, believers are told consistently to direct their prayers to God, so the Catholic practice of directing prayers to saints to pass on isn’t taken from the scripture.
Mary Was Conceived Without Sin
The Virgin Mary is an essential figure in Catholic worship, so much so that they believe she was born free of all sin, like her son, Jesus Christ. Britannica says this dogma evolved from early beliefs about Mary’s holiness, especially after she was declared the mother of God. However, this isn’t in the Bible.
Calling Priests ‘Father’
The Bible refers to God as ‘the Father’ throughout, so other Christian denominations find it blasphemous to use His name for anyone else, let alone human beings. Despite the importance of priests, they aren’t considered equivalent to God anywhere in the Bible, so Catholics referring to them as ‘Father’ has caused many heated debates.
Using Rosary Beads
Catholics are the primary users of rosary beads, which they use to count their prayers during the rosary. However, you won’t find any mention of the rosary in the Bible because this method of prayer didn’t originate until the Middle Ages. For Catholics, rosary beads are intrinsically linked to Mary and Jesus.
The Church’s Teaching Authority
Jesus was the Bible’s most famous teacher, and He encouraged His disciples to inspire people similarly, but nowhere is it stated that churches have teaching authority. Of course, most Christians learn more about their faith at church, but Catholics take it one step further by declaring the Pope a teacher whom God speaks through.
Baptizing Infants
Nowadays, we most commonly associate baptism with infants, but the Bible does not record any babies being baptized. Biblical baptism is primarily associated with adults who become Christians after hearing ‘the word of Christ.’ Jesus taught His disciples how to baptize people, but children aren’t singled out anywhere.
Worshipping the Holy Trinity
While the Bible mentions God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit left behind on Earth, nowhere does it explicitly triadically link them. Despite this, Catholics worship the Holy Trinity rather than just God. The National Catholic Register teaches that Catholics believe in the oneness of a God who is three people: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Power of Holy Water
Holy water certainly appears in the Bible. Most notably, it symbolizes rebirth through Christ and is used in baptisms today. However, Catholics believe holy water is even more powerful than the Bible suggests. Catholic saints have historically reported using it to repel evil and connect with Jesus and His mother, Mary.
Peter Was the First Pope
The Pope is a figurehead of Catholicism, believed to have been chosen by God to represent Him on Earth. Therefore, it’s no wonder Catholics believe Saint Peter was the first Pope, especially as Jesus gave him authority among the apostles. However, the Bible never calls Peter the Pope, nor does it say he is Roman Catholic.
Praying for the Salvation of the Dead
Most Christians believe that once somebody has died and been received by the afterlife, our prayers cannot influence them. However, due to their belief in Purgatory, Catholics pray for the salvation of the dead, despite it not being a biblical practice. In the Bible, figures typically only pray for the living to be saved.
Venerating Saints
The Bible mentions many significant saints, including Peter, Matthew, John, and the Virgin Mary, but it doesn’t revere them as Catholics do today. Catholics even have their own saints, such as Mary Magdalene, who aren’t officially named saints in the Bible. They believe saints occupy a privileged position in Heaven, so they venerate them.
The Seven Sacraments
In Catholic worship, there are seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Ordination. These sacraments are all rooted in biblical stories, but some are more prominent than others. Protestants only celebrate two central sacraments, but Catholics emphasize the importance of all seven.
Abstaining from Meat During Lent
Lent is a sacred time when Christians fast to honor Christ. For Catholics, fasting specifically includes not eating meat. According to the Catholic Telegraph, Catholics must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all other Fridays during Lent. This is a Catholic tradition that isn’t found in the Bible.
Mary’s Assumption to Heaven
Mary is one of the most influential biblical figures, but the scripture doesn’t include her death. The Catholic Church teaches that after her death, Mary was assumed into Heaven. Some consider this belief controversial because it implies Mary holds as high a heavenly position as God or Christ.
Decorating Churches
Catholic churches are known for being opulent and beautiful, with grand statues and colorful stained-glass windows. However, in the Bible, they’re simply described as the body of Christ, so other denominations, especially Protestants, believe they should be kept plain and holy. Catholics decorate their churches to enjoy and celebrate their faith.
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