Questions Christians Ask

Was Jesus a Carpenter?
Where did the idea come from that Jesus was a carpenter? My Bible says this was Joseph's profession and that Jesus was regarded as "the carpenter's son" (Matt. 13:55). The answer

Is dancing immoral?
In my church I was taught that dancing is sinful. What I have seen of dancing confirms this is right. How can the Catholic Church condone dancing? The answer

What is a miracle?
What is a miracle? Is it a violation of a law of nature? Didn't people in the past believe in miracles only because they didn't know much about science? The answer

What is Gnosticism?
I have heard the word gnostisicm used a lot lately. What is gnosticism? The answer

What are the Nag Hammadi writings?
What are the Nag Hammadi writings, and do they reveal anything we don't already know about Christ or the Bible? The answer

Who were the Samaritans?
The Gospels place emphasis on the Samaritans (for example, in the parable of the Good Samaritan). Who were they and why were they important? The answer

What is Pascal's Wager?
A book I'm reading made a reference to "Pascal's Wager" but without any explanation. I gather it has something to do with proving the existence of God. What light can you shed on this? The answer

Why is Mary often portrayed with the Infant Jesus?
Aren't the images of Mary with the baby Jesus taken from pagan representations of goddesses with children? If not, how do you explain the fact that so many cultures have woman-with-child images in their religion? The answer

Is Catholicism steeped in guilt?
It seems that sin is so emphasized in the Catholic religion, Catholics are bound to feel guilty about everything that they do. Why is the Catholic religion so steeped in guilt? The answer

Why are Catholics forbidden to read the Bible?
I have heard that Catholics are forbidden to read the Bible. Why is this so? The answer

Is the CCC only for Clergy?
Is it true that the new universal catechism of the Catholic Church is intended only for clergy and that lay people should not bother to read it because it's too technical? That's what our associate pastor said from the pulpit last Sunday. He made it clear he felt lay people should ignore it and let the experts decide if it's worthwhile or not. The answer

Doesn't Revelation 22:18-19 render the Catholic doctrine of sacred Tradition scripturally unviable?
Revelation 22:18-19 says, "I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book." Doesn't this verse render the Catholic doctrine of sacred Tradition scripturally unviable since your Tradition is added to the Bible? The answer

Should we take the Bible literally or symbolically?
Sometimes I don't know what to think about the Bible. Should we take it literally or symbolically? The answer

Who was King James, and what authority did he have to produce a Bible?
So many Protestants I know use the King James Bible. Who was King James, and what authority did he have to produce a Bible? The answer

Is the devil real?
Does the Catholic Church believe in the devil? I saw on television a priest who said this isn't official Catholic teaching. The answer

How fruitful should we be?
Jesus said to be fruitful and to multiply but, how do we know how many children to have? What if you want more and your spouse does not? The answer

Are all Marian apparitions legitimate?
I believe in the authenticity of some Marian apparitions — I've been a follower of Lourdes since I was a youngster, and that was a long time ago — but suspect some more recent apparitions aren't legitimate. I'm particularly concerned about an apparition which is occurring in a city close to us. What should my attitude be? The answer

Why are Priests Celibate?
What is the need for priests to be celibate? Where does it say in the Bible that a priest should be celibate? The answer

Did Christ Really Rise from the Dead?
Isn't it possible that Jesus might not have died on the cross? What evidence do we have that he indeed die and then indeed rose again? The answer

Are Guardian Angels real?
I heard that we get our guardian angels at baptism. Is this true, and does it mean that the babies of non-Christians do not have guardian angels? The answer

Is the Pope infallible?
Why do Catholics believe the Pope is infallible in his teachings when he is a human being, with a finite human intellect, like the rest of us? What is the scriptural basis for this belief? The answer

Is petting before marriage okay?
A priest told my girlfriend that it is okay for us to touch one another intimately before we are married. Is this correct? The answer

Is there Purgatory?
Why do Catholics believe in a place between Heaven and Hell called Purgatory? Where is Purgatory mentioned in the Bible? The answer

Isn't Catholic Tradition changeable?
Explain to me our Catholic understanding of tradition. One book I read on the subject said tradition cannot change, yet it seems to me it has. The vernacular Mass is a prime example. Before Vatican II, we believed the Latin Mass was part of our tradition. Since then, it seems that it isn't. The answer

Isn't Natural Family Planning contraception Catholic style?
Why is Natural Family Planning accepted by the Church while contraception is condemned? They both do the same thing - prevent pregnancy. The answer

Are biblical accounts of astronomical events accurate?
A friend recently pointed out that Joshua 10:12 and 2 Kings 20:9 say the sun was made to stand still and that ancient Chinese astronomical records made during the time Joshua and 2 Kings were written nowhere mention the sun standing still. Isn't this evidence that the biblical accounts are incorrect? The answer

Is wearing the scapular an assurance of salvation?
I'm distressed by a pamphlet I've seen on the brown scapular of our Lady of Mt. Carmel. On the front panel it calls the scapular "the assurance of salvation." The answer

Why is the breakup of verses in the Bible so random?
When I read the Bible I don't see much sense in the breakup of verses. Some come at the end of sentences and paragraphs, and some don't. Why was the Bible written that way? The answer

Do we always need to obey the Catholic Church?
Can you offer any biblical justification for the Catholic Church's former teaching that it's sinful to eat meat on Friday? Do we always need to obey such instructions of the Church? The answer

Is the Eucharist symbolic?
When I read John 6 it seems obvious to me that Jesus was speaking of "eating his flesh and drinking his blood" in a purely symbolic way. The answer

Is it right to baptize infants?
Mark 16:16 says, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved". What does this say about infant baptism? The answer

Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?
In several places in the Bible, reference is made to Jesus's brothers? Doesn't this imply that Jesus was not the only child born to Mary? The answer