30,000 denominations of protestantism?

[1234]

While I agree that Protestant Churches are run differently, I must disagree with a lot of the assertions made in your post.

First, Protestant Churches do not always split when they get big. IN fact, many grow to near mega-church size. They often split due to theological or other issues. How many times have we seen splits because a group got mad at the pastor and left?

Second, Protestant Churches are not usually wealthier. By and large, they tend ot raise more money than Catholic Churches, but if you look at the demographics, they are not generally classified as the wealthiest churches in a city.

Third, different focii in ministry will often lead to differences in theology. Evangelicals see their calling as being different than mainstream, and they see themselves as being of a different type of Christian, even to the point of some calling everyone else none-Christian.

By the way, many Mizzu Synod and Wisconsin Synod Lutherins would disagree that ELCA are the same.

Well, I agree with your points also.

So I say, I don’t *know * why all those churches of one denomination exist. Money may still be a factor–not that their members are more wealthy, but they give more (tithe) so there’s more $$ to build another church.

In my home town there were four small-to-medium churches in my denomination scattered around town. All of them all together were smaller than the Catholic church nearest mine. But their combined budget was larger and particularly now, with a shortage of priests and nuns, the RC churches are closing and parishes are combining, not multiplying. This produces fewer, larger RC churches.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

I’m not a defender of the Reformation or protestantism but I often hear it thrown in protestants faces that there are 30000 different forms of their religion. I think this is unfair.

1. I’d be hard pressed to name 20 different branches of Protestantism
2. Even the ones I could list have the same theological beliefs even if their views on morals differ

So what do you say? Isn’t it time catholics abandon this attack on protestants?

**I say 2 different branches or Protestant denominations is one two many. I agree the 30, 000 different protestant denominations, if used as an attack should cease.

How do you recommend in conversation, To define the different or correct amount of Protestants and non Catholics.? How can one word it without becoming offensive to our seperated brethern? **

**Personally commenting, I believe we all come from the same root of Christianity. I pray one day we will be one in the Spirit, One in the Lord, and the world would know we are unified by our Love. **

 

[Syele]

**

How do you recommend in conversation, To define the different or correct amount of Protestants and non Catholics.? How can one word it without becoming offensive to our seperated brethern? **

Protestants aren’t too stupid to know there are different denominations, dragging out wild numbers isn’t necessary to make the points the Catholics want to make.

When I see “…30,000 denominations…” my brain usually shuts off to their point. All I get is Yet another Catholic quoting stuff for the wrong reasons (reasons like “WOW this big # ought to get everyones attention” or like “My lists of things to stump protestants with has this, so it must be good” or “let me make protestants look as bad as possible so Catholics will look better!”). At first I didn’t get stuck on such numbers, I’m sure there are people who use them that have other purposes, but they don’t show their purposes very well. Often the gist of the posts focusing on # of denominations are just attacks, rather than attempts to convert or attempts to educate or even attempts at reasonable discussion.

Really, I see two things Catholics use this argument for most. Unity and Sola Scriptura.

If it’s Unity you want to discuss, Just say what is unified about the Catholic Church and why that is important. Surely, the only important thing about it isn’t to stop Protestants from having differing denominations? Talk about it so Protestants will see you have something awesome, make us want to be there. You don’t make people want to be with you if you are attacking them in your opening line. I can say how much I love my house and how nice it is cause it has an awesome jacuzzi tub and a porch where I can sit and watch deer without pointing out how messy and small someone else’s is, can you?

If it’s sola scriptura, be sure the protestant you are talking to actually believes sola scruptura in the first place, then realize that there are way better arguments against it than # of denominations and go look some of them up.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Protestants aren’t too stupid to know there are different denominations, dragging out wild numbers isn’t necessary to make the points the Catholics want to make.

If it’s sola scriptura, be sure the protestant you are talking to actually believes sola scruptura in the first place, then realize that there are way better arguments against it than # of denominations and go look some of them up.

**Point well taken, because to me the numbers dont mean anything to me. I just like to know which denomination I am addressing to avoid confusion in the dialogue.

On the same note, not to get off the topic but it runs along these lines, Speaking as a Catholic, I at times get tired of the same old, Mary worship, statue worship, Whore of babylon, and pope is this and that stuff, I will pray that protestants and non catholics before contesting a Catholic doctrine, define what you dont understand, or ask why we believe such doctrine, without disgracing or insulting my faith. You can insult me all you want, I can take it, but when its my one faith, one church, one Lord It hurts the body of Christ, and we all hurt,

For you, I will gladly humble myself and be more specific of the denomination other than throwing out a number.**

**Peace be with you **

 

[Syele]

**Point well taken, because to me the numbers dont mean anything to me. I just like to know which denomination I am addressing to avoid confusion in the dialogue. **

I don’t believe asking someones denomination is offensive. I do it myself. you do have to know what people believe to have a decent conversation.

On the same note, not to get off the topic but it runs along these lines, Speaking as a Catholic, I at times get tired of the same old, Mary worship, statue worship, Whore of babylon, and pope is this and that stuff, I will pray that protestants and non catholics before contesting a Catholic doctrine, define what you dont understand, or ask why we believe such doctrine, without disgracing or insulting my faith. You can insult me all you want, I can take it, but when its my one faith, one church, one Lord It hurts the body of Christ, and we all hurt,

I agree! I do try not to make insulting posts, and I hope that if I ever do, someone will say “Syele, that was insulting because…” I want to know so I can apologize and not do it again if I was in the wrong.
**

For you, I will gladly humble myself and be more specific of the denomination other than throwing out a number.

**Peace be with you ****

God bless.

 

[ralphinal]

Well, I agree with your points also.

So I say, I don’t *know * why all those churches of one denomination exist. Money may still be a factor–not that their members are more wealthy, but they give more (tithe) so there’s more $$ to build another church.

And that means that there are more jobs for pastors, etc. Not that I am saying that that is bad. People have the right to income. My other issue is always when a group of people get mad about some non-theological issue and break off. I know of a baptist church across town that split over the firing of a youth pastor (who had been convicted of a crime). Suddenly, there are two churches where there had been one. Did Jesus say if you disagree, start a new one?

In my home town there were four small-to-medium churches in my denomination scattered around town. All of them all together were smaller than the Catholic church nearest mine. But their combined budget was larger and particularly now, with a shortage of priests and nuns, the RC churches are closing and parishes are combining, not multiplying. This produces fewer, larger RC churches.

IN my area (Alabama), Catholic parishes that have closed have closed or combined because of a shift in population, not a lack of priests. We juggle priests in some areas, but the bigger issue is the people moving out of one area and leaving very few Catholics. Where are you from, 1234?

 

[Ferdy_000]

Listen, I don’t have the time to search “x” amount of denominations just to prove you are wrong. Actually, I want to listen to you but I am a Catholic, and I happen to love my Church and for what it stands for. But I heard a lot of generalizations as to what we believe from “celibacy” to belief that Mary is the Co- Mediatrix, and I couldn’t let that go! That said … I’ve been to a “few” Protestant churches, and the “one” thing that I have learned from them is that they enjoy music ( which is very enticing to me, since I am a musician ) …that is if you happen to belong to a Protestant Church that believes in music? , Oh and that they don’t like us Catholics…so I guess two things Anyway, I’m not there to listen to a concert as my own pastor reminds me on Sundays, I’m there to renew through the Liturgy ( Readings from the Bible) and through the grace that renews our faith through Communion with God’s sacrifice (Body and Blood in the form of Bread and Wind), which I couldn’t do without for all the money in the world!

For Mary, I do believe she can mediate between us and God ( as Moses did and Paul did for the Gentiles to Peter, or for that matter anybody who’s called by God , like the Saints and Angels who pray for us to God…). It’s just that there’s one Supreme Mediator , Jesus Christ. I’ll say one thing for the Protestants, they have us Catholics looking up definitions of every word in the Bible…which BTW , where does it say “bible”?