Is there such a thing as a stupid question?

BillyHW · #1 May 27, '12, 9:39 pm

I say yes. What are your (least?) favourite stupid questions that you hear regularly on Catholic Answers Live? Here's mine:

1. In the creed it says that on the third day, Jesus rose again. So when did he rise the first time?

2. Is contraception okay in this circumstance?

chevalier · #2 May 28, '12, 1:19 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyHW

I say yes. What are your (least?) favourite stupid questions that you hear regularly on Catholic Answers Live? Here's mine:

1. In the creed it says that on the third day, Jesus rose again. So when did he rise the first time?

2. Is contraception okay in this circumstance?

Yes, there are stupid questions. No, the above two aren't stupid in general. They could perhaps be stupid when coming from a person who should be able to answer on the basis of information already had.

Saul of Tarsus · #3 May 28, '12, 1:28 am

#1: Apostles Creed clearly states that he "descended into hell." At least the version I learned. It is commonly accepted that the time that Jesus spent dead, he went into hell to gather the souls of those who could not enter Heaven. If only I could remember the verse, it said that when this man died he went "to the bossom of Abraham." The souls were in eternity, but couldn't enter Heaven yet. They weren't deserving of Hell, so they had to go SOMEWHERE!

#2: No, never to be used as birth prevention. Contraceptive medications, with their attributes to hormonal control can be Ok. Only when they are used in a prescribed manner to normalize a woman's bodily funcions in order to stabalize her hormones. However, this case is not licensure to use the "contraceptive" as birth prevention. If I knew the full microbiological mechanics I'd explain this better, but I only know the general gist.

I think there aren't stupid questions, so much as stupid people. Sometimes the right thing to do is to have patience with them, and make them less "stupid." Other times I want to do highly unChristian things to them.....

Hokomai · #4 May 28, '12, 1:31 am

I know of no error in thought made by those asking questions that I have not made myself, so I think I will go with "no".

Seira · #5 May 28, '12, 1:32 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevalier

Yes, there are stupid questions. No, the above two aren't stupid in general.

Come on, the first question was a little stupid.

Saul of Tarsus · #6 May 28, '12, 1:33 am

Here's my stupid question I hate.

"Where's that found in the Bible?"

You poor soul, you who believe only by Sola Scriptora (by scripture alone). How did the original Fathers of the Church teach? They preached diligently! St. Peter never had a Bible in his hands when he went to Rome. St. Paul (my namesake

) never knew he was writing scripture!

It wasn't until the Council of Nicea that finished, in roughly the year 400, that we have today's Bible. There used to be 27 Gospels, and 4 Apocalypses. Can you imagine how hard it was for them to figure this out? No modern technology for record keeping. Never met Jesus to disprove heretical "holy" writings. Blessed be these men!

Ohana · #7 May 28, '12, 5:53 am

Or, as of our Feast Day yesterday, all praise to the Holy Spirit.

john78 · #8 May 28, '12, 8:24 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul of Tarsus

Here's my stupid question I hate.

"Where's that found in the Bible?"

You poor soul, you who believe only by Sola Scriptora (by scripture alone). How did the original Fathers of the Church teach? They preached diligently! St. Peter never had a Bible in his hands when he went to Rome. St. Paul (my namesake

) never knew he was writing scripture!

It wasn't until the Council of Nicea that finished, in roughly the year 400, that we have today's Bible. There used to be 27 Gospels, and 4 Apocalypses. Can you imagine how hard it was for them to figure this out? No modern technology for record keeping. Never met Jesus to disprove heretical "holy" writings. Blessed be these men!

I can understand how someone asking that could come off as annoying, especially if we are talking about two intelligent people who are in a debate and it is no longer a question but seeing who knows scripture better than the other person or trying to prove that the other person does not know their scripture.

as for those who are truely searching for knowledge or want to better enrich their lives, then that question would become a proper question, but as you properly stated we can not live by scripture alone.

and indeed amazing how scripture has been written, and carefully scrutinized , prayed over, and how humanity was charged with guidance from God to put it all together in a book that everyone can learn from.

what i agree with from another post, is that there really is no stupid question when asked in honesty, and not posed to harrass, or asked knowing that it is not a valid question and only ment to again harrass or irritate others.

I mean how great it is that children are not limited by fear most of the time and just ask questions, sometimes they become so fearful of being laughed at in a class room that the child doesnt ask a question for fear of being mocked, and that is a shame because how is a child supposed to learn at that point ?

As adults it is a bit easier to discern rather quickly what is an honest question and what is not.

Cristiano · #9 May 28, '12, 8:29 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seira

Come on, the first question was a little stupid.

Why is it stupid? What would be the answer to the question?

I think that unless a person understands its etymology, the answer is not trivial.

Irish Eyes 826 · #10 May 28, '12, 8:38 am

I would say no, but there are certainly a lot of inquisitive idiots.

Cristiano · #11 May 28, '12, 8:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Eyes 826

I would say no, but there are certainly a lot of inquisitive idiots.

Why are you staring at me when you say that?

Another Mary · #12 May 28, '12, 9:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish Eyes 826

I would say no, but there are certainly a lot of inquisitive idiots.

Yes, and let's try to charitably educate them.

Equites Christi · #13 May 28, '12, 9:23 am

I have heard that there are no stupid questions, only stupid question-askers!

One question that gets me is one which people do not usually say outright, but what their question usually boils down to, "But is it permissible if we want to do it?"

**Church Militant** · #14 May 28, '12, 10:17 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul of Tarsus

#1: Apostles Creed clearly states that he "descended into hell." At least the version I learned. It is commonly accepted that the time that Jesus spent dead, he went into hell to gather the souls of those who could not enter Heaven. If only I could remember the verse, it said that when this man died he went "to the bossom of Abraham." The souls were in eternity, but couldn't enter Heaven yet. They weren't deserving of Hell, so they had to go SOMEWHERE!

One thing that helped me better understand this is the fact that the creed, as written in Latin says "descendit ad inferos" which is the Latin for descended to the dead, not the hell of the damned, so this is one place where Our Lord "led captivity captive" (See Psalm 68:18 & Ephesians 4:8).

Quote:

I think there aren't stupid questions, so much as stupid people. Sometimes the right thing to do is to have patience with them, and make them less "stupid." Other times I want to do highly unChristian things to them.

I don't really think there are many of either, stupid questions or people. Most times I think they are just ignorant and have been misinformed or led astray, often by well meaning people with Bibles.

We really do need to remember the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Quote:

The spiritual works of mercy are:

To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offenses willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.

bearer · #15 May 28, '12, 10:19 am

As I like to say, there are no stupid questions, only stupid people.