loiner2003  was inspired to say
>Michael J Davis wrote:
>>  TGoS goes on to say:-
>>  "The books thus declared canonical and inspired by the Spirit of God
>> contain ‘the truth which God wished to be set down in the sacred
>> writings for the sake of our salvation’ (Dei Verbum 11). It is
>> important to note this teaching of the Second Vatican Council that the
>> truth of Scripture is to be found in all that is written down ‘for the
>> sake of our salvation’. We should not expect total accuracy from the
>> Bible in other, secular matters. We should not expect to find in
>> Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision."
>>  However I think you understand all this, however much you may not 
>>accept
>> it!
>
>I'm sorry that you think that TGoS sells you slightly short. I think it 
>is a very healthy document!

Only that I think a better opportunity was lost. But I recommend TGoS as 
a starter for those who say they don't know enough.

>That last paragraph you quote seems to me to be close in spirit to this 
>from the Methodist Church's "Deed of Union", a key formative statement 
>for us:
>>  The doctrines of the evangelical faith which Methodism has held from 
>>the beginning and still holds are based upon the divine revelation 
>>recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The Methodist Church acknowledges 
>>this revelation as the supreme rule of faith and practice. These 
>>evangelical doctrines to which the preachers of the Methodist Church 
>>are pledged are contained in Wesley's Notes on the New Testament and 
>>the first four volumes of his sermons.
>>  The Notes on the New Testament and the 44 Sermons are not intended 
>>to impose a system of formal or speculative theology on Methodist 
>>preachers, but to set up standards of preaching and belief which 
>>should secure loyalty to the fundamental truths of the gospel of 
>>redemption and ensure the continued witness of the Church to the 
>>realities of the Christian experience of salvation.

Yes, that's interesting; thanks, Eric.

Mike
-- 
Michael J Davis
Rural Theology Unit
Rochdale
Opinions expressed here may sometimes be stuck in the mud