Why so many Protestant denominations

[Sword_Brethren]

Also, the Holy Ghost only guides the Holy Catholic Church and not all the many protestant groups. The many protestant groups are a contradiction and Truth{The Holy Ghost} can not contradict Himself.

 

[BrianH]

I thought the subject was the number of denominations and not the size of the congregation. What does the term denomination mean to any of you? To me it is a denomination with the freedom to set the parameters of belief for the members. If that is true then there are a lot of denominations…as suggested by the DIFFERENT names for the denom.
I was not aware that the Catholic and Orthodox Churches were having a current problem with “breaking off”. Do we need a thread about why there are so many Catholic or Orthodox denominations?

Sure, link this if you do that:

ind-movement.org/links_denominations.html

 

[justinthemartyr]

Also, the Holy Ghost only guides the Holy Catholic Church and not all the many protestant groups. The many protestant groups are a contradiction and Truth{The Holy Ghost} can not contradict Himself.

Yet this does not mean that the Holy Spirit cannot guide our protestant brothers and sisters in doing His will on a daily basis. It is only in the area of faith and morals that they may fall short.

 

[estesbob]

actually, the invented doctrine of sola scriptura, never heard of before Luther is the reason for the divisions within Christendom. It is the lack of proper God given authority. The pillar and foundation of Truth is the Church, and Christ instituted one Church and called it to be one as He and the Father are one. One flock, one shepherd, not One shepherd, many flocks.

Correct-everyman is his own Pope.

 

[dogsaint]

I’ve read there are just as many catholic branches as there are protestant ones.

 

[justinthemartyr]

I’ve read there are just as many catholic branches as there are protestant ones.

from whom?

 

[estesbob]

I’ve read there are just as many catholic branches as there are protestant ones.

Well that proves everythng one reads is not correct. even if one counts each National Church as a seperate branch(although they are in full communion the Catholic Church) you can only come up with 256. There are more protestant denominations than that within a 50 mile radius of me

 

[justinthemartyr]

when a catholic speaks of prot denoms, he/she is mainly speaking of churches which teach differently not only from the first church(catholic) but also teach differently from the others in the count(ie 30,000).

 

[justasking4]

when a catholic speaks of prot denoms, he/she is mainly speaking of churches which teach differently not only from the first church(catholic) but also teach differently from the others in the count(ie 30,000).

This is what all protestant churches have in common.
1- Christ is God
2- Died for our sins
3- We are saved by faith in Christ
4- rejection of the pope as the leader of the church

These are just some of the common beliefs among protestants.

 

[jblake]

Sword Brethren;:

Some protestant churches allow homosexual marriage is that supported by the Bible?

a) There are historical records showing that the Bishop of Rome has performed marriages between persons of the same sex. Are these homosexual marriages? The data isn’t clear.

b) I don’t remember if it was an Esoteric Christian commentary on the Bible, or the precursor to the Metropolitan Community Church commentary on the Bible that points to scriptural evidence that Jesus was in a homosexual relationship. (Most of the evidence that was used is from an analysis of the Gospel of John. Personally, I think that their evidence provides much better support for either/both of the following theories:
i) Jesus and Mary Magdala were married;
ii) Mary Magdala is the author of the Gospel of John.)

c) Metropolitan Community Church argues that the abomination was not homosexuality per se, but rather sex without love. (In brief, the claim is that the prohibition is against anal intercourse.)

Most of all protestant churchs allow birth control and that is against Holy Scripture.

There is scriptural support for both sides (The three major issues which make this “hard” are human biology, economics, and family stability.)

True love for Holy Scripture is not picking and choosing the verses one likes and forgetting the other verses. I think that is what protestantism does.

You find the same picking and choosing of verses, and what they mean in all branches of Christianity. The difference is that Prima Scriptura hides that under the guise of “tradition”.

xan

jonathon

 

[estesbob]

a) There are historical records showing that the Bishop of Rome has performed marriages between persons of the same sex. Are these homosexual marriages? The data isn’t clear.

Not true.

b) I don’t remember if it was an Esoteric Christian commentary on the Bible, or the precursor to the Metropolitan Community Church commentary on the Bible that points to scriptural evidence that Jesus was in a homosexual relationship. (Most of the evidence that was used is from an analysis of the Gospel of John. Personally, I think that their evidence provides much better support for either/both of the following theories:
i) Jesus and Mary Magdala were married;
ii) Mary Magdala is the author of the Gospel of John.)

Not true

c) Metropolitan Community Church argues that the abomination was not homosexuality per se, but rather sex without love. (In brief, the claim is that the prohibition is against anal intercourse.)

A very convenient interprettion that did not exist until about 30 years ago. No Bibel Scholar in history even hinted that at an absurd interpretation like this.

There is scriptural support for both sides (The three major issues which make this “hard” are human biology, economics, and family stability.)

not really. What we have is very recent distortion of the accepted interprations of scripture for 2,000 years in order to try and jusrtify and inhertly sinful lifestyle.

You find the same picking and choosing of verses, and what they mean in all branches of Christianity. The difference is that Prima Scriptura hides that under the guise of “tradition”.

The difference is that some people have decided how they want to live their lives and created a god and a distorted view of scripture to try and upport it. You have met god and he is you.

xan

jonathon

 

[pismopal]

Hi

There is no use in quaralling, if there are seven or eight or 32000plus ripped apart denominations of Catholics or Christians, the main point is uniting again in one United Christendum and working for this selflessly and whole heartedly. This is a home work to be done or a pre-condition of Second Coming of Jesus. Do the Catholics and Protestant now don’t believe in Jesus’ Second Coming?

If they don’t believe in this of late; they should confess it openly. Othewise thereis no point in being sluggish or lousy. Sorry for the strong words.

Thanks

I am a little sluggish but not at all lousy…not the last time I checked.

 

[jblake]

whatevergirl;:

Why further splits after Martin Luther’s initial split? I

In brief, the splits are the result of one of three things:

• People don’t get along with each other;
• Somebody concludes that something in the doctrine, or theology does not correspond to what Jesus taught, and forms their own, new denomination/church;
• A group moves, and doesn’t maintain contact with the people where they used to be;

The third reason is probably the least common. (The only examples I can think of offhand were Celtic Christianity prior to circa 350 AD, and “The Religion of Light”. [If the archaeological evidence can provide solid support for the most common theory about the extent of the influence of “The Religion of Light”, the result will be more earth shattering than the combination of proving that the Turin Shroud was used by Jesus before his resurrection, and the spear attributed to Longinus was used to stab Jesus when he was on the cross.])

the splits that have occured and that keep occuring have a lot to do with personal preference from those beginning new ministries,

Not every new church/ministry that pops up is a new denomination. (If they are based in florida, the odds are they are all of the same denomination — The church of Prosperity Theology.& yes, I realize that cuts against my saying that greed/avarice aren’t the major reasons for starting a new church. {Prosperity Theology is wrecking Protestant Christianity in the same manner that Liberation Theology tried to wreck Catholic Christianity during the 1970s, and 80s. }])

that the RCC has one person who decides what is true through Scripture, through his infallible interpretation.

And who watches the watcher?

xan

jonathon

 

[estesbob]

And who watches the watcher?

xan

jonathon

The Holy Spirit, of course.

 

[jblake]

justinthemartyr;:

the invented doctrine of sola scriptura, never heard of before Luther

Your dating is off by at least 1,500 years.

xan

jonathon

 

[justinthemartyr]

show me the evidence of someone teaching sola scriptura in the first century then, outside of scripture.

thank you.

 

[justasking4]

show me the evidence of someone teaching sola scriptura in the first century then, outside of scripture.

thank you.

What is your definition of sola scriptura?

 

[estesbob]

What is your definition of sola scriptura?

\

If you dont know what Sola Scriptura is how can you claim it has been around since the early church?

 

[bluestarsneyes]

Why so many different kinds of bread? Why doesn’t everyone drive a Honda?

There was no ONE Jewish Church in Jesus’ time…each section followed the law based on opinions and facts as they saw it in scripture and in real life application.

Thank GOD we all serve a loving Father…so many denominations…but at this point in history that is from my viewpoint more unity in many ways that ever has been.

I’m Thankful for the varying opinions in a way…because it makes me search my heart and ask and seek from my Father where he stands…and sometimes I get the feeling…it doesn’t matter.

Those out there doing the Father’s work…have little time for aruging on Theological differences. I’m hoping to see more unified service of God’s work in all denominations

 

[jblake]

BrianH;:

Sure, link this if you do that:

ind-movement.org/links_denominations.html

a) Just because a denomination has the term “Catholic” in it, that doesn’t mean that they were ever in communion with any branch of Christianity.

b) The Ecclesia Gnostica. +S. Hoeller. Stephan might argue that this is a branch of Gnostic Christianity, but I doubt it.
Basilidean or Valentinian Gnosticism would be more probable. *

c) The Gnostic Catholic Church. (Also known as “Ecclesiastica Gnostica Catholica” .) You’d be very hard pressed to fit this into “very esoteric Christianity”. I’ll grant that one or two Popes are considered to be Saints by that organization. (OTOH, most of the clergy who were ordained between circa 1980 and 1990 do have valid apostolic succession.)

I suspect that if I spent more time looking at the listings, I’d pick up more examples of churches that shouldnot be listed there.

xan

jonathon*