After the Reformation instigated by understandable feelings about some aspects of the Church leadership and false teachings or abuses transcending cultures, we run into a continuous lineage of division, leading to modern day thousands of faiths, not to mention the individul “personal relationship with Jesus” believers. Alexander Campbell and his father began a new movement that is referred to as the “Restoration Movement” in my circle of friends and family. He broke from the Presbyterian Church leading to the newly created Disciples of Christ, which later broke over other issues resulting in a further break, creating the Christian Church and the Church of Christ. I’m Church of Christ.
Because of all the various claims many of us argue on this forum and in real life, the Church of Christ dismisses all denominations, including a new movement called the “non-denomination” churches. Traditionally, down south in particular, hey argue that all of them are “apostate.” All of the same anti-Catholic rhetoric is in tact. Ironically, many of their beliefs are quite similar to Catholicism. Different only in depth of understanding in my opinion. I’d have to write a book as to why I made this last statement though.
The “Restoration movement” writers, evangelists, say that the the break from truth started with Clement of Rome and gradually became less and less like the authentic 1st century church that Christ created. This belief is clearly annotated in a book my brother in law gave me after being married to my wife. It was a give to help me be a good leader in the family and to help support my new belief, grounded in the authority of the bible. I still possess it. After I began reading it, I became disturbed by some of the contradictions to beliefs I never shook as a former Catholic. In fact, I had already discerned certain beliefs that I believe are clearly found in scripture. I became distraut, as I did as a Catholic when Catholic priests and laity contradicted logical conclusions from reading Catholic documents. The reason I thought the Catholic Church was apostate was because the teachers in the Catholic Church were in fact teaching heresy - whether knowing or not.
On my continued life journey and upon discovering the existence of the early church fathers writing available online, my studies revealed to me that I was actually write on many key points I had figured out on my own accord, though isolated in interpretation. That led me to questions all that I believed and therefore I approached the teachings of the Church from an academic perspective, constantly trying to disprove it on the basis of teaching, not experience. Ironically, the Church teaches the experience is important, but not at the risk of losing face with the truth I say now. Metaphors, theology are wonderful tools. But they do not replace authentic truth when those theologies and analogies diverge from truth.
St. Ignatius, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, John Martyr, Ambrols, Eusibius, Athenaesius, and many other’s writings changed my historical view of what Christians actually believe, not what Protestants conjecture. In fact, most Catholics, including clergy, have a distorted view of the early church and innocently teach incorrectly many of the disciplines enforced today - married priests for one. Many Catholics erroneously believe that after Christ’s resurrection, the Apostles opened up confessionals to start listening to confessions. They also envision worship much different than thought of today. Some believe “the Church no longer teaches” various beliefs, which is what led me out the front door many years ago.
All Protestant churches are descendant churches of the one CC to which Ignatius belonged! 
