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atg2
Guest
whilst the pope leads the catholics;who leads the protestants?
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HyeDetroit
Guest
The pastor of the church and the bible
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palmas85
Guest
Nobody does. They have no centralized leadership as each individual community is run by either the Pastor or a board made up of people from the congregation. There are some loose alliances floating around but generally speaking each community is pretty free to believe what it wants to and worship the way it wants to.
And if you don’t agree with your Pastor all you have to do is make up your own community and go from there:thumbsup:
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Malkin71
Guest
Very true. It is amazing how many denominations of Protestants there are. New “Churches” spring up all the time. It makes you think?
What is interesting is how you can have a room full of Protestants from different denominations and ask each other "What do their Church and Pastor Believe? " and they will not be in “Attack Mode”. But, the moment that you mention that you are a “Catholic”, they will all in union zero in on you and try to “Save you”. I have seen this and experienced this.
All of them can have 100 different belief styles and practices what they do or not believe. They all could be different from one another. They will think nothing of it and discuss it politely. The moment someone questions and a response is “Catholic” they all will focus on the “Catholic” and their beliefs. That does not make sense.
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Omyo12
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the Patriarch of Sheol
just kidding
Every denomination would give the same answer: “the Bible”
Of course a more accurate answer would be: “our own interpretation of the Bible, modified over time since our founding.”
Others might also add “the Holy Spirit”
But this would make the Holy Spirit chaotic since many denominations have vastly different interpretations
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Contra_Mundum_1
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I think it makes sense. Not being Catholic unites them. I wonder if Eastern Orthodox would get the same treatment.
What always amuses me is how they are not concerned about the number of Protestant sects. I simply can’t understand how anyone can interpret that as being God’s will.
It varies from church to church.
I have found quite a few that elect some kind of ‘general overseer’ that presides over all of the churches in a particular group.
But the leadership does not quite extend down that far, and bible interpretation differs from location to location.
What’s aggrevating is that I have seen one person attending church in their particular religion and their beliefs literally change depending on which of the churches they go to on any given Sunday.
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kage_ar
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They each become their very own “pope”.
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AskSeekKnock
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I believe most would answer “Christ leads us”.
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Just_Lurking
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Along with citing 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. Many Protestants think it is interesting that St. Paul addressed the problem of unity among Christians without ever mentioning the office of the papacy.
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nsper7
Guest
Technically, if they are Baptized validly (water, intent, Trinitarian formula) and, thus, connected (albeit imperfectly) to the Church, the Pope is their leader, they simply reject his legitimate authority.
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daeve
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Some denominations have a hierarchy, like the Episcopalians and the Anglicans. Their structure is similar to Catholic, but I think the highest office for them is an archbishop. The Lutherans have either the Missouri Synod or the ELC and I’m sorry but I don’t remember what those letters stand for, maybe Evangelical Lutheran Conference but I think I’m guessing.
The others are guided by their own pastors and boards of directors. Most congregations seem to have a lot of autonomy, make their own decisions and choices about things. Some are connected to national organizations like the Baptist convention, but some are completely on their own, like those non-denominational churches.
I like having someone in charge, and a whole history of scholars who have studied this stuff the last couple thousand years. I think they can interpret the Bible much better than I can. Many of the various Protestants I know don’t read the Bible, something we are frequently accused of skipping. I don’t know how you can interpret something you don’t read anway.
The others are guided by their own pastors and boards of directors. Most congregations seem to have a lot of autonomy, make their own decisions and choices about things. Some are connected to national organizations like the Baptist convention, but some are completely on their own, like those non-denominational churches.
I like having someone in charge, and a whole history of scholars who have studied this stuff the last couple thousand years. I think they can interpret the Bible much better than I can. Many of the various Protestants I know don’t read the Bible, something we are frequently accused of skipping. I don’t know how you can interpret something you don’t read anway.
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Malkin71
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I wounder if they understand the Orthodox. The Orthodox have 7 Sacraments, Respect the Blessed Mother, and have the same belief in Holy Communion as Catholics. The Orthodox are more close to the Eastern Rite than the Roman Rite.
That is the point I was trying to make. when you said “How they are not concerned about the number of sects.”
I have a relative who is a “Born Again Christian”. We do get into discussions. What is interesting he went through a few different denominations before becoming a “Born Again Christian.” and each of the denominations he was in he thought they were right.
I would like to know is what do they think of their former denominations? Why did they change churches? Do they think that their current one is better than their former. Do they think that their current one is the right one? If so why don’t they confront the former like they do with Catholics?
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Kasey1
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Nice work–thank you for sharing-
Thanks so much for this. I appreciate the effort. It really helps a lot.
http://www.photosnag.com/img/4673/n09x0302vnsn/clear.gif
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stuart12
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Luther believed:
This is what Scripture says, everyone should agree with it. Scripture is so clear on this matter, there’s no other possible interpretation of this. Every Christian should be able to read Scripture and come to this conclusion. What do you mean that you don’t agree Zwingli!?
And from that chaos…
This is what Scripture says, everyone should agree with it. Scripture is so clear on this matter, there’s no other possible interpretation of this. Every Christian should be able to read Scripture and come to this conclusion. What do you mean that you don’t agree Zwingli!?
And from that chaos…
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mangy_dog
Guest
Whoever gives the best sermon that day…
One of the over 600 some odd leaders of the over 600 and some odd christian, prostestant denominations.
But seriously,
I attend mass at a military base. There was a prostestant service that occurs two hours earlier than our mass. Their pastor did not show up and so they called the chaplain’s office and asked them to send over someone to do their service.
Only our priest was available. So they spoke over the phone with him and asked if he would come and give them a “service”…“sermon” or “something”…
He very clearly stated to them…“I am a catholic priest”…
They said, " It doesn’t matter!!. Please come over. And so he did.
They were delighted with his wit and wisdom and knowledge of scripture. And are looking forward to their pastor missing a date again!?
imagen that…
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Bluegoat
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Protestants aren’t a group that you can just lump together. Historically there are a number of groups that broke off from the RC church around that time. There were some before and since as well. The groups during the Reformation have some things in common, but were never one group with the same ideas and intents. It is a somewhat convenient label, but doesn’t say as much as some think. There is a much bigger difference between a Lutheran and a Mormon than a Lutheran and a Catholic.
So to ask who leads them, or why there are so many groups, doesn’t really make sense.
As well, many Protestant people would not let the CC off in these considerations - they would see it as one of the many Christian groups. They might ask, if it was so perfect, why did so many others schism from it? Would it not perhaps be more accurate to say that they “schismed” from each other - that there is no group free from the taint of schism? And so that we are all Christians and so part of the Church, the Body of Christ - but somehow imperfectly, because of our fallen nature and inability to maintain unity? It seems strange to many Protestants for the CC to claim unity when all those groups broke away.
In fact, I have occasionally heard of this being argued by OC members - that the schism of the Catholics inevitably led to the further schisms of the Reformation. It is exactly the same argument some Catholics use about Luther and the many Protestant denominations, pointing out how all the schismatics arose from the first schism, since it was missing something essential to the Faith. (Although, in the case of the Protestant reformation, I would argue that it isn’t actually true, as I said above - there were several groups that broke away.)
So to ask who leads them, or why there are so many groups, doesn’t really make sense.
As well, many Protestant people would not let the CC off in these considerations - they would see it as one of the many Christian groups. They might ask, if it was so perfect, why did so many others schism from it? Would it not perhaps be more accurate to say that they “schismed” from each other - that there is no group free from the taint of schism? And so that we are all Christians and so part of the Church, the Body of Christ - but somehow imperfectly, because of our fallen nature and inability to maintain unity? It seems strange to many Protestants for the CC to claim unity when all those groups broke away.
In fact, I have occasionally heard of this being argued by OC members - that the schism of the Catholics inevitably led to the further schisms of the Reformation. It is exactly the same argument some Catholics use about Luther and the many Protestant denominations, pointing out how all the schismatics arose from the first schism, since it was missing something essential to the Faith. (Although, in the case of the Protestant reformation, I would argue that it isn’t actually true, as I said above - there were several groups that broke away.)
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TristanCross
Guest
Wow. This thread should have title, “Our Hatred For Protestants”. Seriously, this is just degrading. Hey, I know: Let’s talk about priest sex scandels, Charismatic Catholics, how the RCC sold indulgences to poor people to get rich (to rejuvinate St Peter’s Cathedral) while everybody elsr got poor, how Pope’s were having sex and had kids in the Middle Ages, how the RCC blamed the Jews for the bubonic plague, how the RCC was on Hitler’s side in WW2, etc. Oh my, it appears I’ve offended some of you…Not so nice getting a taste of you’re own medicine, is it?
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GeorgeSword
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If we were on the side of Hitler during the War, why is it that the Nazis had made plans to assassinate the Pope?
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Malkin71
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The Roman Catholic Church saved more Jewish people than the Alies during World War II. With the help of Pope Pius XII he led them to Palistine. A good real movie is “The Scarlet and the Black” talks how Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty saved over 6,500 Jews, British and American Solders. He was awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom. His death was mourned all over the world. hughoflaherty.com/index.cfm/page/biography
Protestant denominations have scandels too. Jimmy Swaggert come to mind? Child molestation happens in Protestant denominations too. They are free to Marry.
I think you need to do some research before you start accusing the Catholic Church.
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