An old joke goes that a door-to-door Bible salesman knocked on the front door of a house to sell his holy wares, only to be told by the homeowner: “Sorry, we don’t read the Bible. We’re Catholic.”
It’s a punchline that draws a chuckle, but is it one rooted in truth? Knowing that the Bible is the backbone of the Christian faith and that the Roman Catholic Church is its largest denomination, it almost seems absurd to assert that its Scripture could have no place in the lives of millions. Still, when we think of people we know who can deftly quote chapter and verse, they more often than not seem to belong to Protestant denominations instead. So what’s the truth? Is it true that Catholics don’t read the Bible? Let’s take a closer look.
Sharing Space With Rituals
What is true, admittedly, is that Protestant faiths have placed more emphasis on personal Bible study. This has its roots in the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther’s doctrine of sola scriptura: the belief that the Bible itself, not its learned readers, is the only authority on matters of faith. Other Protestant denominations have mitigated this belief by merely making Scripture the foremost authority rather than the solitary one. Meanwhile, the Catholic Church maintained that extrabiblical ecclesiastical traditions, such as the rituals of the sacraments and the teachings of the Church, were equally important to the lives of parishioners. The Bible’s importance despite a lack of primacy is what informs the misconception that Catholics don’t read their own Scripture.
Apocryphal Origins
Not only is it true that Catholics do read the Bible, but they read from an expanded version that contains additional books. The Catholic Church’s edition of the Bible contains 14 additional books in the Old Testament—books that were part of the Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, but are not quoted in the books of the New Testament. These books comprise the Apocrypha, or what the Catholic Church refers to as the deuterocanonical books of the Old Testament, and the inclusion or omission of these 14 books is perhaps the largest difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles.
There’s No Mass Without the Bible
The claim that the Bible plays no part in Catholicism becomes more absurd when one considers Mass and the outsize role that Scripture plays in that ritual. Even if everyday Bible study isn’t a part of parishioners’ lives, religious education and participation in Mass familiarizes Catholics with the words of the Bible. That being said, if it ever is a matter of needing someone to cite chapter and verse, that does seem to be Protestant territory.
A global journey through fireworks, festivals, rituals, and traditions that welcome the arrival of 2026.
As 2025 draws to a close, cities and cultures across the world are preparing to welcome 2026 with fireworks,
festivals, ancient rituals, and modern spectacles. From the first midnight in the Pacific islands to the final
countdown in the Americas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day offer a fascinating snapshot of our shared hope
for renewal. Whether you dream of standing beneath a sky full of fireworks, joining a centuries‑old ritual, or
adopting a new good‑luck tradition at home, the arrival of 2026 is filled with possibilities.
This article takes you on a tour of New Year’s celebrations across continents, highlighting unique cultural
traditions, and shares inspiration you can bring into your own celebration at home. You’ll also find links
to travel guides, destination features, and cultural explainers that your visitors can click to explore in more depth.
Setting up your salon’s service menu isn’t just about covering overheads or matching the competitor down the street. It’s a subtle psychological dance. The prices you choose tell a story about your brand before a client even walks through the door. Understanding the mental triggers behind spending can turn hesitant browsers into loyal regulars. To help you achieve this in your salon, we’re here to cover the psychology behind effective service pricing.
We often think of nature as a peaceful backdrop to our daily lives—lush parks, tree-lined streets, and vibrant forests. However, if left unchecked, plant growth can compromise public safety.
Safety is often synonymous with law enforcement, but for forward-thinking local governments, the definition is far broader. True community security involves resilience, public health, and social equity.
Bridging the gap between the physical and digital worlds requires precise tools. Whether you are preserving historical artifacts or ensuring the quality of aerospace components, 3D scanning technology acts as the critical translator.
Related Bing News Results The D.E.I. Industry, Scorned by the White House, Turns to ‘Safer’ Topics Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT To avoid government scrutiny, companies are asking for fewer trainings focused on race and gender and more on neurodivergence and generational differences. By Niko Gallogly To report this article, ... Convenience Store News Industry Report 2025: Under Pressure Sun, 08 Jun 2025 17:00:00 GMT Weary consumers, declining foot traffic and rising operational costs had convenience store retailers apprehensive heading into 2024. Indeed, some of their concerns were warranted. After hitting record ... Self-Publishing’s Output and Influence Continue to Grow Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT In its most recent report, Bowker found that the number of self-published titles with ISBNs rose 7.2% in 2023 over 2022, topping 2.6 million—another healthy jump for a sector that has more than ... Comics Industry Unites Against Headwinds at ComicsPRO 2024 Sun, 25 Feb 2024 15:59:00 GMT Comics retailers, publishers, and distributors got down to business at the annual ComicsPRO retailer meeting held February 22–24 in Pittsburgh, Pa. The event is sponsored by ComicsPRO, an organization ...
