To non-catholics: Does your religion claim to teach infallably?

[rwillenborg]

I was just thinking, do any of the mainline protestant faiths claim that they will infallibly teach the faith? Do any others at all (mormon, etc.)? What about non-western religions, like Hinduism or Islam?
If they do not say that they infallibly teach the faith, what do they say exactly regarding their teachings? What if they did teach error, and you followed that error, would that make you culpable for that sin, even though it was committed with the understanding that it was not sinful? And, again, if the faith makes no claim to infallibility, if there is a large component of its members going on what they think is right at the time, is there any level of certainty offered that your interpretations are correct?
Does any church ever believe that it is capable of teaching error?
I’m not looking for anything regarding the Catholic church and what she believes about infallibility. There are about seven hundred threads on THAT subject.
I’m wondering what other faiths teach. If you have documents from your church that better explain this, a link would be fine, too. And please, I’m not looking to try to convince anyone of anything here in this thread (I make no promises regarding anyone else’s intentions ) but I really am just unschooled in what other faiths believe on this point and googling ‘infallibility and LDS’ for example, is getting me a whole lot of nuthin.
Thanks in advance for your charitable responses!

 

[2nd_Adam]

I was just thinking, do any of the mainline protestant faiths claim that they will infallibly teach the faith? Do any others at all (mormon, etc.)? What about non-western religions, like Hinduism or Islam?
If they do not say that they infallibly teach the faith, what do they say exactly regarding their teachings? What if they did teach error, and you followed that error, would that make you culpable for that sin, even though it was committed with the understanding that it was not sinful? And, again, if the faith makes no claim to infallibility, if there is a large component of its members going on what they think is right at the time, is there any level of certainty offered that your interpretations are correct?
Does any church ever believe that it is capable of teaching error?
I’m not looking for anything regarding the Catholic church and what she believes about infallibility. There are about seven hundred threads on THAT subject.
I’m wondering what other faiths teach. If you have documents from your church that better explain this, a link would be fine, too. And please, I’m not looking to try to convince anyone of anything here in this thread (I make no promises regarding anyone else’s intentions ) but I really am just unschooled in what other faiths believe on this point and googling ‘infallibility and LDS’ for example, is getting me a whole lot of nuthin.
Thanks in advance for your charitable responses!

In general, Protestants do not believe that thier particular denomination is infallible. I think within Christendom, only the Catholic Church and Orthodox Church teaches that they are the One True Church. We acknowledge that we know in part. If you look at our bible translations, the translators also admit that their work is not without error. However, Protestants believe that we know the One who is true.

 

[ChosenAndCalled]

Remember one of the codas of the Reformation: Always Reforming

We believe, in general, that theology and religion are highly influenced by man - as opposed to the truths of God that He revealed in His word - and are subject to error; thus, there is an ever need to be vigilant and test all things against scripture.

Now, by that I do not mean individuals should have their own theology, but that denominations should use councils and other formal meetings as places to challenge each other with truths.

I reject individual revelation, by the way; this is in no way tied to that.

 

[2nd_Adam]

Remember one of the codas of the Reformation: Always Reforming

We believe, in general, that theology and religion are highly influenced by man - as opposed to the truths of God that He revealed in His word - and are subject to error; thus, there is an ever need to be vigilant and test all things against scripture.

Now, by that I do not mean individuals should have their own theology, but that denominations should use councils and other formal meetings as places to challenge each other with truths.

I reject individual revelation, by the way; this is in no way tied to that.

Always Reforming

 

[famdigy]

I was just thinking, do any of the mainline protestant faiths claim that they will infallibly teach the faith? Do any others at all (mormon, etc.)? What about non-western religions, like Hinduism or Islam?

I can’t speak for other faiths or sects within Islam. But according to Twelver theology, All prophets, messengers, and Imams (divinely appointed guides) are infallible. That is they don’t commit any sins, either consciously or unconsciously in both their personal lives and with regards to the religion they teach. That is to say, everyone from Adam (as) to Muhammad (pbuh&hf) and the twelve imams from Muhammad’s (s) progeny are infallible.

The principle behind this belief is based on the concept of God’s Justice, He does not wrong any of his creatures or deal unjustly with them, not even an atoms worth. His Justice is precise. This concept then necessitates the infallibility of the prophets because prophets and messengers are sent to guide the people towards good and away from evil. If there is a chance that a messenger can commit sins, this opens up the possibility of the messenger teaching his sins to the people. Defeating the very purpose of why he is sent. This puts the believer in a catch 22 situation, where on the one hand you are to obey God’s commands, avoid sin and follow the messenger, yet on the other hand the messenger himself is capable of teaching you his sins, presumably by mistake. causing you to commit the very sins God commanded you to avoid.

Therefore, we believe all the messengers and prophets and Imams are infallible, and sinless from birth to death.

 

[thecourt]

My church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has a characteristic unknown to Catholicism — revelation.

Unlike the countless who have taken something that was not for them to take the priesthood, for example — and I speak, “I had a feeling” or “I was called”, in Catholicism is men choosing the priesthood, instead of them being ordained by those who have the authority. (Having the authority is key here — yet I am sure some of you will say you have the authority — your version of it, created by Catholicism – not the authority of God) Further, if anyone tells the hundreds of bishops and cardinals are your twelve apostles, apparently your version of 12 is different than mine.

 

[Nominefili]

The Lutheran Church (well, the orthodox half of us anyway) believes that the Scriptures are divinely inspired and infallible. We reject the Historical-Critical approach to exegesis and maintain that the Holy Scriptures are the norma normans of all Christian theology, life, and worship.

So while the Lutheran Church itself does not claim to be infallible, it does claim to correctly teach the faith as revealed in the Scriptures, which are infallible.