Since older religions beget newer religions (and often drastically different religions) What do you think is the next "step" in Christianity?

[xixxvmcm85]

The newest “Abrahamic” faith came from Islam but today is considered not to be Islamic, rather is in it’s own category (Bahai Faith).

In Christianity, I’d say the most recent of a similar phenomenon is a toss up between the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (two sects that stemmed from Christianity but are today so drastically different from the orthodox faith that they are in a class all their own).

What, and from which sect do you predict the next “Christian innovation” is going to come?

I thought that since we see this recurring pattern in history, it might be more proactive to anticipate the creation of sects before they are even created, thus curbing their influential power.

 

[LaMar]

The newest “Abrahamic” faith came from Islam but today is considered not to be Islamic, rather is in it’s own category (Bahai Faith).

In Christianity, I’d say the most recent of a similar phenomenon is a toss up between the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (two sects that stemmed from Christianity but are today so drastically different from the orthodox faith that they are in a class all their own).

What, and from which sect do you predict the next “Christian innovation” is going to come?

I thought that since we see this recurring pattern in history, it might be more proactive to anticipate the creation of sects before they are even created, thus curbing their influential power.

Radical evangelical protestants already have far more political power than Catholics, Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses. They’re united not by a common bureaucratic framework, but by beliefs.

Catholicism is dying at an incredibly rapid rate throughout the world, with double digit declines in one single generation. Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t have the sort of growth that evangelicals have (both have growth rates of around 2-3 per cent). Evangelical Protestant congregations are growing in Mexico, Chile and Argentina at explosive rates.

In 200 years there will probably be no more Catholics or Mormons. If religion exists, it’ll be Evangelicals who make up the majority, and the minority religions in the western hemisphere will most likely be Buddhism and Islam.

 

[xixxvmcm85]

Radical evangelical protestants already have far more political power than Catholics, Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses. They’re united not by a common bureaucratic framework, but by beliefs.

Catholicism is dying at an incredibly rapid rate throughout the world, with double digit declines in one single generation. Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t have the sort of growth that evangelicals have (both have growth rates of around 2-3 per cent). Evangelical Protestant congregations are growing in Mexico, Chile and Argentina at explosive rates.

In 200 years there will probably be no more Catholics or Mormons. If religion exists, it’ll be Evangelicals who make up the majority, and the minority religions in the western hemisphere will most likely be Buddhism and Islam.

But how do you see this renegade form of Evangelical Christianity morphing into something uniquely un-Christian?

 

[Steadfast]

There are a couple of problems with your premise:

Saying that something “morphs” into something else implies that what it was ceases or dwindles.

The example of Baha’i is illustrative, Islam still exists and is growing strong, Baha’i is just a heterodox off-shoot.

The same is true in Christian terms with Mormonism and the Watchtower.

So, to clarify your question, are you asking what will be the next Christian heterodox off-shoot? Or are you asking us to speculate on what Christianity qua Christianity will become in the future?

I think Lamar answered the second question and while I don’t entirely agree I certainly commend him for doing the work.

Christianity is a mansion with many rooms and a few out buildings, there are common denominators, simple adherence to which will ensure residency.

IMO, it is unlikely that there will ever again be a major single paradigm shift for Christianity as a whole, trends seem to rise and die much more quickly these days (church growth movement, the “emergent” movement, etc. all of which endure but appear to have passed their zenith). This seems to be due to a couple of factors: rampant consumerism where ideologies are evaluated and adopted as products only to be discarded when their effectiveness has been eclipsed by the “next big thing” and the speed of information; people are able to access and assimilate ideologies, doctrines and so on much faster. The latter feeds the former here.

But the core remains and hasn’t changed in 2000 years. I don’t see any reason to think it will.

If what you’re asking about is the next heterodox movement to come out of the church, it’s interesting to speculate on a Christian-Islamic meld but this seems unlikely. It is just possible that as Islam progresses in the West (particularly in Europe) it will assimilate certain characteristics and aspects of Christianity, never actually becoming Christian but perhaps developing a more clearly articulated cultus around the persons of Jesus and His mother.

 

[ralphinal]

I see reversion, not a next step. I think that as the world challenges the Christian faiths, two groups will emerge: those with the world,a dn those against. Those against will be small in number but more holy and devout. Those with will have numbers but not faith. A smaller, holier church

 

[LaMar]

But how do you see this renegade form of Evangelical Christianity morphing into something uniquely un-Christian?

This is just my own opinion, but I see the most radical branch of the Evangelicals (what we might call fundamentalists) as already deviating pretty widely with the teachings of Jesus.

Can you look at the Iraq war, the discrimination against women, gays and lesbians, and non-Christians, and the host of other “qualities” (LOL!) promoted by the fundamentalist protestants as even remotely influenced by the teachings of Jesus?

Would Jesus have approved of capital punishment? torture of detainees? indefinite arrest and imprisonment without trial at Guantanamo Bay?

It’s all pretty freaky to hear these people call themselves “Christians”, but maybe that’s just me.

 

[ralphinal]

This is just my own opinion, but I see the most radical branch of the Evangelicals (what we might call fundamentalists) as already deviating pretty widely with the teachings of Jesus.

Can you look at the Iraq war, the discrimination against women, gays and lesbians, and non-Christians, and the host of other “qualities” (LOL!) promoted by the fundamentalist protestants as even remotely influenced by the teachings of Jesus?

Would Jesus have approved of capital punishment? torture of detainees? indefinite arrest and imprisonment without trial at Guantanamo Bay?

It’s all pretty freaky to hear these people call themselves “Christians”, but maybe that’s just me.

You may be on to something. Although to me, there is another explination: their faith ends at the church door. They see no reason to apply these things they beleive to every aspect of their life, or they look at it as being an exception.

My father was raised baptist by his mother (his father wanted no part of the Baptist church, but that is another story). Now, he has an issue with the death penalty, as God says vengence is mine. Ok. I can understand that. However, he feels that certain criminals deserve to die for their crimes. He does not see it as vengence but as the only way to take care of some who will never rehabilitate.

I hope that helps.

 

[LRThunder]

Would Jesus have approved of capital punishment? torture of detainees? indefinite arrest and imprisonment without trial at Guantanamo Bay?

Maybe not torture or indefinite arrest, but God instituted the death penalty for certain offenses in the Old Testament. And keep in mind about Hell, which is far worse than any death penalty any nation can impose.

Jesus never condemned the death penalty. And the Church has stated that Catholics can disagree regarding the death penalty (support or oppose).

 

[Lapell]

The newest “Abrahamic” faith came from Islam but today is considered not to be Islamic, rather is in it’s own category (Bahai Faith).

In Christianity, I’d say the most recent of a similar phenomenon is a toss up between the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and the Jehovah’s Witnesses (two sects that stemmed from Christianity but are today so drastically different from the orthodox faith that they are in a class all their own).

What, and from which sect do you predict the next “Christian innovation” is going to come?

I thought that since we see this recurring pattern in history, it might be more proactive to anticipate the creation of sects before they are even created, thus curbing their influential power.

Well, after Jesus the next step ahead should be His second coming in glory and the Last Judgment. After Him, other steps would seem to me to be somehow false or backward, really… no offense intended!