Cults and the "Protestant vs Catholic debate"

[BigTurkey]

Hey guys,

I have been reading some debates and dialogues between Protestants and Catholics. In one of James White’s essays, he compares the Mormon church authority to the Catholic church authority. He says that both of them define the governing body as infallible. Anyway, one of his points was to try and get the reader to see that ‘blindly’ accepting the authority of the church does not give you any more confidence you are right then a Mormon should have. In other words, it should make one run into the wide open arms of sola Scriptura. However, I was wondering if the LDS and the Jehovah Witnesses ( or any of the other nonChristian cults/religions) had their roots in the Catholic church. It seems like I remember that Joseph Smith was around a lot of Protestants in his early years. I also thought I remembered hearing the on thing about the beginnings of the LDS was that it started during the Millenial expectation and hype of early America. Wasn’t this Millenial hype a Protestant thing, based upon a non-Catholic interpretation of the eschatological teachings of the bible? If so, what does this tell us about sola Scriptura? Is the lack of authority and guide in Protestantism more likely to give rise to cults? (I’m really asking; this isn’t a rhetorical question.)

-BigTurkey

 

[scylla]

Both Jehovahs Witnesses and LDS had their roots in Protestant beliefs, adventist and trying to get back to the original church. Like everyone else, starting up a new denomination.

Here is the Wikipedia link about Jehovah’s Witnesses who were started by Charles Taze Russel who I believe was first Presbyterian.

Jehovah's Witnesses - Wikipedia

LDS were started by Joseph Smith, who kinda just started it all out on his own.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith

You should see what sola scriptura does in different cultures it gives rise to some pretty surprising innovations.

Iglesia Ni Christo Philippines
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_Ni_Cristo
Iglesia Universal Brazil
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Church_of_the_Kingdom_of_God

God Bless
Scylla

(did you read the comments to your other James White post?)

 

[BigTurkey]

Thanks scylla for submitting that answer. There has been a lot of posts on my James White thread, so I haven’t gotten a chance to go through and read them all.

-Micah

 

[arieh0310]

BigTurkey:

In one of James White’s essays, he compares the Mormon church authority to the Catholic church authority. He says that both of them define the governing body as infallible.

James White obviously has no understanding of the wide chasm between the Catholic definition of infallibility and the Mormon definition. Mormons have come up with a term called “functional inerrancy” to help deal with the false prophecies and doctrinal reversals. Basically, the Mormon prophet is only speaking prophetically when he is right and he will never lead the church astray (even changing doctrine when opportunity sees fit). This leads to a pretty vacuous definition of infallibility.

The Catholic Church on the other hand has no such liberty. They cannot change doctrine and the Church claims to have preserved the teachings of the primitive Church perfectly. That is a pretty lofty claim, something Mormons will not even attempt to claim even though their faith is less than 200 years old.

Mr. White has a gift of making some pretty startling accusations that seem impressive but are about as sturdy as a house of cards.

 

[kidrome]

How Can U Say Cults And Other Religions…

Its Only 2 Religions That Kill People For Not Converting Its The Roman Catholic Church Who Killed Millions Of Non Catholic In The Dark Ages. And The Nation Of Islam… If The Catholics Didnt, Kill People In The Name Of God Then Search Roman Catholics The Dark Ages.

John 14:6–i Am The Way The Truth And The Life No Man May Cometh Unto The Father, But By Me.

So How Can U Pray To Man When Man Is Born In Sin Like The Rest??