Today’s readings offer unusually good explanations of how Catholic Fundamentalism looks at Scripture. It begins by taking things so literally that many recoil. Yet, sometimes, it brings forth a new way of seeing just how we fit into the world.
From today’s First Reading, Gal 3: 7-14, we read:
“Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.“
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.“
Catholic Fundamentalism considers that one interpretation of that passage is that those who believe literally are lineal descendants of Abraham and one or more of his three wives and the unknown number of his children to unnamed concubines.
Abraham’s children born to Sara and Hagar are named. An unknown number were born to concubines, according to Genesis 25:6, and were sent “East”. If we do some basic math we see that his children, over the two thousand years between Abraham and Christ, could have fathered and mothered most of the people on earth.
The reading continues:
“Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.”
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.”
Usually, this passage is taken to mean that it was the faith of Abraham that saved. In Catholic Fundamentalism, “through you shall all the nations be blessed” means that all the nations contain varying numbers of
Abraham’s lineal descendants. They have inherited the Abrahamic God Receptor, and can more easily believe and pass on their belief.
Those who embrace and share their faith in Catholic Fundamentalism sees as The Loving Programmer, Program, and Holy Wireless Connector are able to spiritually share Abraham’s faith because they have inherited the intellectual ability, the Abrahamic God Receptor, that allows them to do so from Abraham in ages past.
On the other hand, and working in favor of the traditional interpretation, the Reading concludes:
“Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
This shows that it is Christ’s decision to take the curse on Himself that saves in order that “the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, . . .” This may be taken to mean that the Gentiles are not literally descended from Abraham.
Catholic Fundamentalism says, “Not so fast!”. Before making that conclusion, we should consider that God’s power is so great that Abraham’s children could be numbering in the billions and that they have inherited the “God receptor” that allows them to be saved.
If that is true, a person who’s challenging Catholic Fundamentalism may ask: Why are the Moslems, who are definitely descended from Ishmael, Abraham’s son, among the first to deny Christ and renounce the path to Salvation that He offers?
Catholic Fundamentalism suggests that The Abrahamic God Receptor can be turned off by those who have it and choose to do so. It is, at the most basic of levels, a manifestation of free will. It can be turned on. It can be turned off.
We’re plowing new ground with a concept like the Abrahamic God Receptor. Comments and analysis are welcomed.
