How many denominations?

[Nicea325]

In conversations with Protestants, they tend to ignore the Great Schism altogether, or assume they are much closer theologically to the Orthodox than is the case, saying the rift is “just a small political disagreement” or something like that. They also tend to ignore the theological implications that it is possible to be in schism without being “outside” the Church.

I do not think your statement is accurate. Catholics here and outside this website have not ignored the Schism and all other theological issues with Orthodoxs. I really do not know where you get your information but that is far from true.

 

[Bluegoat]

I do not think your statement is accurate. Catholics here and outside this website have not ignored the Schism and all other theological issues with Orthodoxs. I really do not know where you get your information but that is far from true.

I speaking of my own experience here. It isn’t universal, but in discussions where Catholics here are trying to prove that the Catholic Church is the OHCA, and Protestantism is just a silly error, the Catholics don’t tend to want to talk about Orthodoxy and what it means for the claims of the CC - they try and shunt it aside if it is brought up.

Mind you, this probably has a lot to do with the kind of people who participate in those threads.

 

[Nicea325]

I speaking of my own experience here. It isn’t universal, but in discussions where Catholics here are trying to prove that the Catholic Church is the OHCA, and Protestantism is just a silly error, the Catholics don’t tend to want to talk about Orthodoxy and what it means for the claims of the CC - they try and shunt it aside if it is brought up.

Mind you, this probably has a lot to do with the kind of people who participate in those threads.

Seriously? I am sorry but you are dead wrong and must be ignoring what has been written. How many threads have appeared here about Orthodoxy and at times started by a Catholic? Again, I have no clue what you are talking about.

 

[Bluegoat]

Seriously? I am sorry but you are dead wrong and must be ignoring what has been written. How many threads have appeared here about Orthodoxy and at times started by a Catholic? Again, I have no clue what you are talking about.

The point wasn’t about whether there are Catholics interested in Orthodoxy. It was about the Catholic treatment of Orthodoxy within a very particular type of discussion. It is within those types of discussions that the issue of the OC is usually ignored.

 

[bluelake]

The above statement is an opinion,not a fact. Vatican II did not ruin anything. Did it change doctrines? And politicians and many lay folks have always defied and rejected RCC teachings, it is nothing new.

I thought you were asking if Lutherans changed doctrines.
The main theme of believing is Jesus Christ. All christian denmonations accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
The key is to have a personal relationship with the Lord. This includes not judging others.
I would be comfortable in a Catholic setting of worship because I know they love the Lord.
Lutheran Missouri Synod is simillar to Catholic tradition in some ways.

God bless,
bluelake

 

[Semper_Zelare]

This is what I want to say about denominations:
The 23 Churches that are in communion of Rome, and which make up the Catholic Church have a membership of around 1.15 billion people.

To put things in perspective, lets just say the Catholic Church has an even 1 billion people as members. This means, if your Protestant denomination has 1 million people in it, this is .01% of the size of the Catholic Church. If it has 10 million, this is 1% the size of the Catholic Church. [The Southern Baptists have 16 million members, so 1.6% the size of the Catholic Church.]. 100 million would be 10%.

This is a factual list (though a bit dated) of all the world’s religious denominations (not just Christian) that have at least 1 million members: adherents.com/adh_rb.html

So… the Catholic Church has 1000 million out of roughly 6000 million of the Earth’s population (1/6 of the world’s population). But, if you get down to a Church with 1 million members or less then that is 1 million out of 6000 million. Or 1/6000th of the world’s population.

It makes sense that such Protestant churches would teach that the Body of Christ is not limited to a single denomination, and can be spread across a wide array of ‘true believers’ even though they may differ considerably in terms of doctrine.

I just want to point out how fragmented and scattered the Protestant Churches are, and how unified the Catholic Church is. Make of it what you will.

 

[cooterhein]

I just want to point out how fragmented and scattered the Protestant Churches are, and how unified the Catholic Church is. Make of it what you will.

This is what Bluegoat was talking about. For starters, pay attention to the Eastern Orthodox, like he’s saying. For the entire first millennium, they were Catholic. Now you’re in schism with them. This isn’t an example of “how unified the Catholic Church is.” It’s the opposite of that. You can ignore it, but you’re not doing you or anyone else any favors.

Long as you’re looking at them, do a quick comparison. The unity of the Eastern Orthodox- primarily in their lack of Reformations- makes your unity look like a joke.