Protestants are not a different "religion" from Catholics

[John_oxios]

There was a thread -timeline of church- where we looked at early church writings.I only read up to about 130 A.D. I found most writings to be quite catholic, that is universal, in that the precepts were common to both Catholics and Protestants.That is, very little mention of transubstantiation or even an sacrificial offering, or Mary, or of any head bishop (pope), or of any “confessional” ,purgatory, praying to/with deceased saints. The fact is everything we have in common as faith , is apostolic.

hello David Ruiz,

Let’s keep this on the subject, My guess is that you believe that Protestantism is no the same religion as Catholicism! Thank you very much!

yet you don’t belong to a protestant faith? But that

non-denominational churches, ** refuse to recognize any ecclesiastical authority above the local congregation **and deny the visible unity of the Church (though not the unity of the invisible Church) despite the fact that the original denominations were formed by substantially the same ideology.

Boston University religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that non-denominationalism hides the fundamental theological and spiritual issues that drove the division of Christianity into denominations in the first place behind a veneer of “Christian unity.” He argues that non-denominationalism encourages a descent of Christianity—and indeed, all religions—into comfortable “general moralism” rather than being a focus for facing the complexities of churchgoers’ culture and spirituality. Prothero further argues that it also encourages ignorance of the scriptures, which in turn reduces overall religious literacy, increasing the potential for inter-religious misunderstandings and conflict.[2]

** Ignorance of scriptures is Ignorance of Christ** [St. Jerome 347- 420]

God bless,
John

 

[John_oxios]

That is, very little mention of transubstantiation or even an sacrificial offering, or Mary, or of any head bishop (pope), or of any “confessional” ,purgatory, praying to/with deceased saints. The fact is everything we have in common as faith , is apostolic.

   Church writings?  Hmm,   like the Bible?

What Church do you suppose Paul is writing too? Exalting and or admonishing in their practice of the Faith? Book of Acts, is the story of the Church and its begginings.

You haven’t read about Mary in the Bible? How an angel appeared to her and announced that she is full of Grace and the Lord is with you" {Luke 1:28} .

How many other people biblically were full of Grace? was full can’t be filled with more, (John the baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit before Birth, [Luke 1:15])

Now how many people biblically were told the LORD is with you, By an angel?

Only Gideon;
Jdg 6:12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor…
6:14 And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Mid’ian; do not I send you?”

Gideon was called to save God’s people, Mary is called to particpate in the salvation of mankind "God’s people’ by her faith in the LORD.

How many people on this planet in tis entire history say the shadow of the Lord came upon me? Only Mary, how many people can say that they bore our Lord Jesus Christ for 9 months? Only Mary! How many people can say they cuddled and cared for our Lord incarnate? Only Mary! Bible says Honor thy Mother and Father, Jesus Honored his Mother Mary, why is it frowned upon from outside the Church?

confess our sins, it doesn’t matter whether it is in a Confessional or not, actually the confessional idea came out of Ireland, Anglicans also use a type of Confessional ( But that’s okay, their Protestant) What is important is confessing to God our sins through a priest , and receiving absolution of our sins. No the priest himself doesn’t forgive, he forgives through the person of Chist but he celebrates our forgiveness from God with us.

cont’d

 

[John_oxios]

T
, very little mention of t
,purgatory, praying to/with deceased saints. The fact is everything we have in common as faith , is apostolic.

Hello david Ruiz,

  Common  precepts?  how convenient!  What about the differences?

Biblical Purgatory" maybe hell doesn’t exist either?

Purgatory, even the Jews going back to biblical times belive in a purification of the soul upon death for 11 month period.

The Bible says we will be purified by fire, is it a burning of hot coals type? No, but a purging of unconfessed sin, the closer we come to death the closer we come to God and the spiritual realm, the next phase after death our souls burn with desire to be with God but we’re not ready to be in his presence. John Chysostom described purgatory as a ladder leading to heaven in which satan tries to hold us back calling out our sins trying to convince God we are not worthy to ascend.
Christ did not say praying for the dead for 11 months after death was wrong or sinful, Christians being Jews first, just kept on doing what they were doing and passed it down.

All over the ancient catacombs is written 'pray for us"

ask.com/wiki/Early_Christian_inscriptions

A perfect 4th century example of this kind of epitaph is that of the Egyptian monk Schenute; it is taken verbally from an ancient Greek liturgy. It begins with the doxology, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen”, and continues:
May the God of the spirit and of all flesh, Who has overcome death and trodden Hades under foot, and has graciously bestowed life on the world, permit this soul of Father Schenute to attain to rest in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the place of light and of refreshment, where affliction, pain, and grief are no more. O gracious God, the lover of men, forgive him all the errors which he has committed by word, act, or thought. There is indeed no earthly pilgrim who has not sinned, for Thou alone, O God, art free from every sin.

Scripture backing Pugatory: The actual word we use may not be there but the principle is:

1Cr 11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

1Cr 3:10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it.

1Cr 3:11 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Cr 3:12- 15 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw , each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because** it will be revealed with fire,** and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.
If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Chastening, test, fire in the process of being already saved??? Hmm these Catholics might have some thing here!!

Judas Maccabeus 167-B.c.

2 Macc 12:36 As Esdris and his men had been fighting for a long time and were weary, Judas called upon the Lord to show himself their ally and leader in the battle

2 Macc 12:39 On the next day, as by that time it had become necessary, Judas and his men went to take up the bodies of the fallen and to bring them back to lie with their kinsmen in the sepulchres of their fathers.

40 Then under the tunic of every one of the dead they found sacred tokens of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbids the Jews to wear. And it became clear to all that this was why these men had fallen.

41 So they all blessed the ways of the Lord, the righteous Judge, who reveals the things that are hidden;

42 and they turned to prayer, beseeching that the sin which had been committed might be wholly blotted out. And the noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen.

43 He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this he acted very well and honorably, taking account of the resurrection.
44 For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.

45 But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.

Now any faith that prays for their dead, why?

If they’re in heaven, the dead do not need our prayers, if they’re in hell? There is nothing our prayers can do for them!
However, ancient Jews as well as Catholics believe there is a middle ground in which our prayers do help, we call it purgatory, you can call it whatever, it’s not the name but the belief in efficacious prayer. And it is biblical!

What do we have in common?? Apostolic Traditon isn’t written down it is passed down, **The Mass is Sacred Apostolic Tradition **of the Worship of the Christian Church to God

What do you have? kumbaya?

God bless,
John

 

[John_oxios]

Does not seem like a good reason to go back to catholic Church, because of something negative in the former . Sounds quite protestant, you know, find something you disagree with, then leave that church. I was not as wise as you .I did not seek God (for no man does).

Hi David Ruiz,
Let’s get one thing straight, I left the protestant faiths because through years of studying the Bible with them, they taught me that The Roman Catholic Church IS the Church Jesus Christ founded! It wasn’t easy coming back, I came back with my tail between my legs ashamed for turning my back on her… and yet I was welcomed back with open arms.

see Eph 3: 10, 1tim 3:15

I could not pretend to be protestant, nor sit on the fenced any longer! The Holy Spirit compelled me to return to the Roman Catholic faith in my heart and in my gut.

**Preachers purposely lying  is a 'small negative**'.. if they lie about the catholic church what can you believe of them!  I would look up what they said show them they were incorrect in their teaching and I was admonished for it!  That's not a negative That's plain wrong.  All wrongs are sin

1Jo 5:17 All wrongdoing is sin,

If a so called man of God can’t be trusted with little how can he be set over us?

Mat 25:21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master

What? Did you say " No man is called to seek God?" Where do you get that from? All men are called to Worship God!

Ever hear this one? What is the Chief end of man?
Man’s Chief End is to Glorify God
1 Pet. 4:11. "That God in all things may be glorified

Glorifying God consists in four things: 1. Appreciation, 2. Adoration, 3. Affection, 4. Subjection. This is the yearly rent we pay to the crown of heaven.

**God waited til Moses decided to turn towards him **before God calls to him:

Exd 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
Exd 3:3 And Moses said, "I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Exd 3:4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here am I.”

God is always there waiting… for us to turn to him. The entire Bible is about man turning to God… man turning away from God {God withdraws his favor)man fails miserable and then turns to God for help… God forgives and restores his favor.

David Ruiz, Maybe Protestants spoke lies of CC, but I felt the CC didn’t necessarily lie about protestants, but about salvation itself.

Maybe? I guess and spread falsehood and false witness??

1Jo 2:4 He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

David Ruiz, "The gospel itself was clouded with “Catholicism”. Great seeds are in Her, but poor in birthing. I think that is why half the protestants I meet came out of seeds of Catholicism (much like Nicodemus), but find “life” in the simpler gospel.They meet Jesus. They stick close to the Apsotles Creed.

Gospel clouded with catholicism?? Then you don't believe the Gospels?  Nicodemus visited Christ at night in secret so he would not lose his position as a temple priest nor his standing in the community.  After he witnessed Christ death on the Cross and his suffering Nicodemus helps with Chris burial unashamedly.

cont’d

 

[John_oxios]

david ruiz;8513146][ruiz;8511280]
… The gospel itself was clouded with “Catholicism”. Great seeds are in Her, but poor in birthing. I think that is why half the protestants I meet came out of seeds of Catholicism (much like Nicodemus), but find “life” in the simpler gospel.They meet Jesus. They stick close to the Apsotles Creed…

David Ruiz: Remember those days aged man,centuries ago, before the confessional, transubstantiation, necessity of beliefs on Mary, or a pope,purgatory or praying to saints or a rosary ? .I should not mention those things for they divide us, but what does not , is that both “churches” speak of Jesus as our Savior , with heaven to come, because of His Blood. That is catholic/universal.

No I don’t remember those days, Christ Real Presence in the Eucharist does go back to Christ and the Apostles themselves, Paul breaks bread in the first century which aAre the First CHristian Mass. So do Bishops and head stewards. Transubstantiation is a term used to philosophically explain just what the Apostles taught of the Eucharist.

The word Pope came about the third century form the italian term "papa’ meaning spiritual father, Paul considered us his spiritual children, he became timothy’s and our spiritual Father all Biblical,.… a Head Steward/ head shepherd also Biblical!

David Ruiz, Where you sit is where you stand on this issue. We differ on scripture views , why shouldn’t we differ on early writing views, and we do. Sorry , I read history and see evolution from truth, the good ,the bad ,the ugly.

We differ on early writings?? you haven’t produced one spec of early writings to compare?? Tell/ show me what you have read, I’d love to read it! Whose the author? Where can i find them? Then discuss them… You say we differ on early writings I haven’t been given the chance to read what you say we different opinions.

david Ruiz: Studying can be quite vain if one is not born again

.

Really? So your saying you have to be born again first? to seek and understand God?? Faith is a gift of God, and it is the Holy Spirit who prompts us leads us to God’s Holy Word, Faith comes by hearing… God blesses those who read aloud the word of God
Rev 1:3 Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near.

I haven’t seen you use One quote, scriptural or othrwise to back up your beliefs/ biased opinions against the Catholic Church, even though you agree the protestants lie about Catholic teachings!

David ruiz. "Indeed I am a liar -miss the mark , BUT if by chance or design I am graced to say anything truthful, it is only by and thru Him. Furthermore , at times it is thru people that indeed He sheds light on my errors. Iron sharpens iron.Thank-you.

A liar is a liar… the devil is the Father of Lies [John 8:44] and satan does know scripture, we all miss the mark! But it is God’s saving grace that puts us back in the right direction! Your welcome!!

David ruiz, "I am all for freedom for life, not for death . This is good , but this same church was bad when decreeing against God-given liberties a hundred years earlier. Of course as today the evil act takes on “light” as in calling it “choice”, yesterday the church justified it’s 'light " as “unity,purity”

.

You’re blaming the Catholic Church for something you personally haven’t experienced? That’s an excuse!! decreeing against God given liberties- 100 yrs ago??? What are you talking about? did you know as late as 1900 catholics were being beaten down in NYC for being Catholic? By who? the Protestants!

David Ruiz," I will partially let this slide because the cause is God’s , but according to catholic radio,** protestants were a bit late getting on board as compared to catholics **,but they are fully on board now(since 80’s ?) .Makes me wonder what churches you attended as a protestant, and names (Lutheran /Baptist) mean little, just as one priest can be quite dynamic and filled with God and the next one not as much.
God bless,

You’re holding the Catholic Church hostage and unforgivable because???
Who are you? who made you a god?

What are you talking about fully on board since the 80’s??

Evangelical Lutheran Church means little?? At least you can look up what they believe, also Wesleyan, Grace Reformed Baptist, American Baptist Church, Salvation Army bible studies, the Lighthouse Christian Fellowship South Shore INC, even been to Jehovah Witness studies…
I was going to a bible study or two a day for yrs. Can’t remember them all.

Baptists don’t have priests, Wesleyan’s neither,
There are charismatic preachers, as well as dynamic, it’s not the speaker, it’s what the Holy Spirit tells us and moves us that matters

dynamic speakers are a dime a dozen… i.e Joel Osteen, great speaker! Hardly ever mentions Christ. then there was Jim Baker he was dynamic also!

Even been to Billy Graham’s last crusade, it was a big disappointment!

biblical confession:

Num 5:7 he shall confess his sin which he has committed; and he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it, and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

the whole temple sacrificial system was about confessing sin, when you dragged your best goat, Cow sheep bleating all the way to the temple everyone knew you had sinned, and was making confession and restitution!

God bless,
john

 

[John_oxios]

You saw nothing specific, or is it that any depravity can be brushed off one way or another ? For starters we were talking of arresting and confiscating property of non-catholics in Germany in the late 1500’s, who were allowed to be non-catholics for a generation ,living peacefully ? Do you condone their actions against the “lutherans” ? … If forbidding freedom of religion/freedom of conscience, vernacular bibles , bible societies, as in 1800’s, was OK , why did Rome change her position ?

 

[John_oxios]

There was a thread -timeline of church- where we looked at early church writings.I only read up to about 130 A.D. I found most writings to be quite catholic, that is universal, in that the precepts were common to both Catholics and Protestants.That is, very little mention of transubstantiation or even an sacrificial offering, or Mary, or of any head bishop (pope), or of any “confessional” ,purgatory, praying to/with deceased saints. The fact is everything we have in common as faith , is apostolic.

Hello David Ruiz,

What exactly do we have in common? You deny your Catholic baptism as saving you? You deny the Church.

As far Catholics persecuting other religions:

Catholics suffered under Jewish persecutions during the apostolic era, followed by extreme persecution under the Romans for nearly 300 years.

Then Catholics suffered at the hands of Arians and other apostates.
Only to find themselves under the oppressive yoke of the Muslims for the last 1,500 years.

Again, Christians have been martyred all over the world, by multiple different kinds of people, until finally they were slaughtered by the millions under Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. Millions were also slaughtered under Adolph Hitler’s Nazi regime. Finally, Christians still suffer under persecution in China, other communist regimes, and Muslim countries all over the world.

Still waiting for some viable reference on that Jesuit ‘story/ protestant gossip’ you passed on to this forum!

As far as the Catholic Church changing in the 1800’s? Actually Jerome wrote the Vulgate (Latin) Bible 5th century, which was the vernacular back the. There was an English Catholic Bible [Douay Rheims,1582 ] before the King James Version [1611], there was a Catholic Bible in German prior to Luther’s German Bible.

Bible translations developed for Catholic use are complete Bibles. This means that they contain the entire canonical text identified by Pope Damasus and the Synod of Rome (382) and the local Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397), contained in St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate translation (420), and decreed infallibly by the Ecumenical Council of Trent (1570)

Even the KJV 1611 was complete! It was the printers [Not the ministers] who asked to leave the Deutero-canonicals out if they were not Sacred Scripture, Why they could print faster Bibles with less pages, which would also be less expensive!
Luther in fact left most of them in His German Bible as good to read for inspiration!
and they have been in the bible since the Greek Septuagint {LXX] had been written, The translation process was undertaken in stages between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century CE, initially in Alexandria, but in time possibly elsewhere too. Although the translation was not completed for some time, it reached completion before 132 BC.

God Bless,
John

 

[Nicea325]

I am disappointed at the title of this forum. Protestants are not a different “religion” from Catholics. That’s a misuse of the term “religion.” Islam is a different religion from Christianity, but Protestants are part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. This is acknowledged by most RC scholars.
Tom

They are part of the one,holy,catholic and apostolic church? Really? Then why does there exists thousands of denominations? Many Protestants reject Apostolic Traditions,so I do not know what RC scholars you are making reference to here?

 

[MariaDeDios]

Hello Rinnie. You tell it like it is, that we have huge doctrinal differences. It’s amazing how far we’ve gone from the beginnings of the Apostles Creed. It is not enough, anymore, to the point where you say we, individuals, are not guided by the Holy Spirit.This is false…".A wise man saves souls"- proverbs. “Meditate how to save a soul by the Word”- Barnabus(115 ?), early church father. In general, Catholics lead someone to the Church, to sacraments wherein is Christ. Protestants generally lead someone to Christ, thereby becoming part of the Church. Totally different emphasis. Indeed,our gospels are far apart.Your good news is different from mine. How did this happen ? Are you willing to be shown Catholic errors ? Can you shed the self-serving doctrine of infallibility, and the indoctrination that everything CC does today is from the Apostles ? Like once right always right ? It is possible for half my church are Christians born of Catholic seed. The Father does draw miraculously.

Which of the 26,000 or so protestant divisions are you referring to, david, when you talk about “our gospels”? If the protestant church is the body of Christ, it’s a millipede.

 

[John_oxios]

Which of the 26,000 or so protestant divisions are you referring to, david, when you talk about “our gospels”? If the protestant church is the body of Christ, it’s a millipede.

Hi Maria de,
That’s funny!!!

        God bless,
                   John

 

[david_ruiz]

Hello david Ruiz,
okay, how have you heard that Jesuit fable? Gossip, we are responsible for every word we utter

Hello JO. You are quick to judge , just like protestants ? A better method is shown by younger Catholics who simply would ask , “source please”. To which I would answer, "I believe in the book , “The Jesuits”, by Manfred Bartel. However , I am double checking it for you.

Non catholics in Germany?? Be specific what are you referring to?

I am sorry .I will give the benefit of the doubt, that I am totally not explaining myself right . It is just that I thought you knew this history, but apparently I must be very specific, for you totally evade my historical point of where the term “protestant” came from. Have you heard of the peace of Augsburg-1555 ?-established the principle that the rulers of the individual German states would decide whether their subjects would henceforth be Catholics or Lutherans-“ciuis regio,eius regio-whose the region, his the religion”. I believe this ended a war, (hence peace at Augsburg"). Again, I am a relative novice, but I believe it was this “peace” that fell apart and princes, even bishops, parishioners would no longer have this freedom to chose. So tell me, is this fable ? Is this an attack on your faith ? Is a protestant crying/protesting for his freedom persecution of The Catholic Church ? You have written much , thank-you and would love to discuss point by point, but thought we could stick to what Catholics here posted about the origins of the term “protestant”. I did not come here to attack you , as you imply, but to respond to a point in history that was only partially portrayed by Catholics . If this offends you, I will stop and let your partial version of the history of “protestant” term stand.

 

[david_ruiz]

Which of the 26,000 or so protestant divisions are you referring to, david, when you talk about “our gospels”? If the protestant church is the body of Christ, it’s a millipede.

Hi Maria. It is up to 50,000 and climbing. At least you are kindly generous , for some militant, passionate Catholics have it at millions, that is, every protestant believer is a denomination to him/herself.

 

[david_ruiz]

What has the Catholic Church done to you personally?

 

[Rosie12]

I am disappointed at the title of this forum. Protestants are not a different “religion” from Catholics. That’s a misuse of the term “religion.” Islam is a different religion from Christianity, but Protestants are part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. This is acknowledged by most RC scholars.
Tom

Sadly I must disagree. I don’t WANT to think of Protestantism as being a different religion, but… look, you know how Spanish, French, Portuguese, etc were all derivative from Latin? Dialects become distinct languages once they stop following the rules of the parent language. It’s no different with protestants making up their own forms of sacred tradition (depending on whether you go off the Lutheran, Anglican, or Calvanistic branches… and later Unitarian, Jehovah;s witness, Mormonism, etc… and then non-denominational…) Theological chaos follows from the new and exciting sacred traditions of Luther, whereby Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura become the vehicles of liberation from Apostolic Authority – you know, that annoying 2000-year old anchor (i.e. ball and chain) to the original Apostles… Now the REALLY smart people can figure it out and re-educate the world on what Christ REALLY meant to say.

I was a Protestant for a long time, and I was so tired of getting jerked around by all the little popes who wanted me to follow them… yes sir, Protestantism is most definitely a different religion. It’s a minority group of rogues who started the first revolution in the Christian world… and what has this done to Western Civilization? Hey, you don’t like authority? Just rebel against it! It’s what all the cool kids are doing…

 

[david_ruiz]

But how can eating a mere piece of bread in an unworthy manner bring Judgment upon oneself?

 

[Rosie12]

I am disappointed at the title of this forum. Protestants are not a different “religion” from Catholics. That’s a misuse of the term “religion.” Islam is a different religion from Christianity, but Protestants are part of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church. This is acknowledged by most RC scholars.
Tom

John oxios;8514899:

Certainly that would be one of 26,000 interpretations of the Eucharist -a mere piece of bread, and I see your point of not making sense . Now, what of the other 25,999 possibilities other than transubstantiation ?

Actually, I am curious to know if you have a real answer to this question. Do you know?

 

[david_ruiz]

No where in the Bible does it say You are saved by confessing with your lips Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior’ alone.

 

[david_ruiz]

david ruiz;8519844:

Actually, I am curious to know if you have a real answer to this question. Do you know?

Hello Rosie 12. How much time do you have ? I just spent hundreds of posts on the Eucharist topic. If you click my name for my profile /posts you can read some under “Real Presence”. But it’s late tonight .Thanks PS just reread your post -which question ,eucharist or are we of different religions ?

 

[david_ruiz]

hello David Ruiz,

Let’s keep this on the subject, My guess is that you believe that Protestantism is no the same religion as Catholicism! Thank you very much!

yet you don’t belong to a protestant faith? But that

non-denominational churches, ** refuse to recognize any ecclesiastical authority above the local congregation **and deny the visible unity of the Church (though not the unity of the invisible Church) despite the fact that the original denominations were formed by substantially the same ideology.

Boston University religion scholar Stephen Prothero argues that non-denominationalism hides the fundamental theological and spiritual issues that drove the division of Christianity into denominations in the first place behind a veneer of “Christian unity.” He argues that non-denominationalism encourages a descent of Christianity—and indeed, all religions—into comfortable “general moralism” rather than being a focus for facing the complexities of churchgoers’ culture and spirituality. Prothero further argues that it also encourages ignorance of the scriptures, which in turn reduces overall religious literacy, increasing the potential for inter-religious misunderstandings and conflict.[2]

** Ignorance of scriptures is Ignorance of Christ** [St. Jerome 347- 420]

God bless,
John

interesting quote(SP’s) .where can i find it and read more on ?

 

[Rosie12]

Rosie12;8519852:

Hello Rosie 12. How much time do you have ? I just spent hundreds of posts on the Eucharist topic. If you click my name for my profile /posts you can read some under “Real Presence”. But it’s late tonight .Thanks PS just reread your post -which question ,eucharist or are we of different religions ?

Oops, it must have had something to do with how the quotes were represented when I replied to your post. Yeah, I meant the question about the Eucharist.

Actually, I think taking the Real Presence out of the Eucharist is fundamental to starting a new and distinct religion from Christianity. John 6 makes it patently clear what the Eucharist is all about, and almost everyone left Christ when He informed them of the Eucharist. Hardly anyone was left… just a remnant in fact. Seems like a strange outcome if He had been referring to a symbolic offering of his flesh.

Taking the Real Presence out of the Eucharist was the first step in the Protestants artificially replacing the veil between Heaven and Earth. The Divine Mystery of the Eucharist requires a whole lot of faith, and it is the most intimate experience a Christian can have with our Beloved Saviour. Having an intimate relationship with a symbol is, well… nonsense. So yeah, that was the first step in denying Heavenly realities. Then came the abolition of relationships with our Heavenly family, the Saints. Heavenly Authority via Apostolic Succession had to go as well, leaving us to pilot our own little putput boats using our own smarts. Sacramental marriage? Nah, we don’t need Heavenly interference in the private lives of man and wife. They’ll figure it out… no Sacrament is needed there. And then this whole idea of a continual need to rely on Christ for Salvation… hey, once saved always saved! What a strange religion to no longer have to depend on Christ to save you. And the list goes on… and it all started with the denial of Christ in the Eucharist.