Tracing the Church

[Angelgunner]

College Apologetics by Fr. Anthony Alexander makes the distinction that the Roman Catholic Church can solely trace its authority down through Saint Peter to Christ himself. Good evidence to start with.

Concern comes with new publications that also claim to trace themselves back to Christ. Research on Church of Christ (lots of them in Arkansas) led to this Wikipedia article:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_christ

No mention of founders. Very disturbing.

Was wondering if anyone else finds failure to acknowledge this problematic?

 

[itsjustdave1988]

College Apologetics by Fr. Anthony Alexander makes the distinction that the Roman Catholic Church can solely trace its authority down through Saint Peter to Christ himself. Good evidence to start with.

Concern comes with new publications that also claim to trace themselves back to Christ. Research on Church of Christ (lots of them in Arkansas) led to this Wikipedia article:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_christ

No mention of founders. Very disturbing.

Was wondering if anyone else finds failure to acknowledge this problematic?

Firstly, I would think twice about using Wikipedia, as it is an “encyclopedia” written by its readers. So, there’s know actual requirement to know anything about the subject to “edit” an article. It’s not really an scholastic source, but a collection of conventional wisdom, which in my experience, isn’t all that wise.

Secondly, many Protestant or non-denominational denominations say they have their roots in the 1st century Christianity, but saying it is not the same as making a cogent argument from the evidence of history.

I usually quote from Protestant sources to refute such claims. For example, Protestant author J. Leslie Dunstan in his book *Protestantism *states the following:

Protestantism is one of the three main divisions of the universal Christian Church, which together with the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches make up one world-wide religion. Protestantism is the most recent of the developments within Christianity, having a relatively short history of slightly more than four centuries; the other two branches of the faith have histories going back to the earliest days of the Christian era. Moreover, compared to the unity which characterizes those other branches, Protestantism is divided within itself among hundreds of separate organizations, some of which deny all relationship to others. The many denominations and sects have differing beliefs and carry on a variety of practices, which give them the appearance of being distinct from one another.

(*Protestantism, *by J. Leslie Dunstan, (New York: George Braziller, 1962), p. 9)

 

[Angelgunner]

Thank you, itsjustdave1988.

I agree that Wikipedia should not be the sole source of trust. However, it is composed of entries written and editted by anyone who is a member. I would have thought it would be flagged by now.

It is but one example of revising the history of sects to make them appear more valid. I think the Mormon Church has done it numerous times in response to their inaccurate historical accounts.

Does anyone know of any other sect that claims itself to be started by Christ with no “founder”?