Certain cults are more Roman Catholic than Protestants

[Springer]

According to Catholic apologists, sola scriptura causes divisions. An authoritative church is necessary so that the church remains united.

However, when you look at some cult groups they are more Roman Catholic than we think. The Bible may be their only rule of faith but it is their governing bodies that has the final say in its interpretation:

1. The Watchtower’s biblical intepretation is the one that should be observed by all Jehovah’s Witnesses.
2. Armstrong calls the shots when interpreting passages for his members in the “Plain Truth” group.
3. The Way International member subjects itself to the biblical interpretaion of its leader.

These and much more are similar to the Catholic’s infallible church which has the final say in interpreting the Bible. It is for this reason why I think sola scriptura is NOT the cause of the divisions because certain cults are more Roman Catholic than Protestants.

What do you think?

 

[slinky1882]

Springer:

According to Catholic apologists, sola scriptura causes divisions. An authoritative church is necessary so that the church remains united.

However, when you look at some cult groups they are more Roman Catholic than we think. The Bible may be their only rule of faith but it is their governing bodies that has the final say in its interpretation:

1. The Watchtower’s biblical intepretation is the one that should be observed by all Jehovah’s Witnesses.
2. Armstrong calls the shots when interpreting passages for his members in the “Plain Truth” group.
3. The Way International member subjects itself to the biblical interpretaion of its leader.

These and much more are similar to the Catholic’s infallible church which has the final say in interpreting the Bible. It is for this reason why I think sola scriptura is NOT the cause of the divisions because certain cults are more Roman Catholic than Protestants.

What do you think?

Ahhh, but you have hit the nail on the head. You listed above three seperate and different sources of authority which can disagree on basic tenets of Faith and Morality along with “these and much more are similar”. Take the different denominations, the majority of splits have occured precisely over various articles of Faith and Morals. The Magesterium of the Church inherently has infallibility only in the areas of Faith and Morals. Coincidence??? Thanks and God Bless.

 

[Ghosty]

I’m with Slinky on this. These groups may have a central authority for interpretation, but it has no basis in the Apostalic Succession that the Church maintains. It amounts to Sola Scriptura with a powerful central body of brow-beaters. Furthermore, such groups could not exist without the abandoning of the Magisterial Authority of the Church that Sola Scriptura encouraged.

 

[Mickey]

Springer:

However, when you look at some cult groups they are more Roman Catholic than we think. The Bible may be their only rule of faith but it is their governing bodies that has the final say in its interpretation:

Satan’s best trick is to attempt to mimic the truth with something similar yet false.