Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 1
David argues that “nearly all of us have grown up with enormous prejudice” against the Deuterocanonical books; what specific stories, warnings, or assumptions shaped your own bias, and what would it take—practically and emotionally—to “get past” it?
Another way to ask: What stories, warnings, or assumptions taught you to distrust the Deuterocanonical books? What would you need—emotionally and practically—to move past that bias?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s teaching, the prejudice usually comes from being trained to assume the Deuterocanonical books are “Roman Catholic additions” and therefore dangerous. Getting past it would require admitting that you may have inherited misinformation, and then doing the slow work of reading history and the books themselves.
- He says “nearly all of us have grown up with enormous prejudice,” either as evangelicals/Mennonites who were taught the books are “false, evil,” or as former Catholics/Amish who were “instilled with an extreme prejudice” after leaving.
- He describes the common assumption: these books were “inserted in the Bible by the Roman Catholics.”
- He admits change is hard: “I seriously doubt that in 45 minutes, I can overcome all of that prejudice… it took me a lot more than 45 minutes to change my mind.”
- He offers a practical path: “explain to you the truth about these books” by looking at origins, history, and objections.
- He gives a motive: “If you’re able to get past your prejudices, you will find that these books will enrich your spiritual life.”