Why are there 33,839 different Christian denominations?

[Zzyzx]

If Christianity is based upon the Bible, and if the Bible is “the infallible word of god” (or even the fallible word of god) why are 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia?

Supposedly these denominations are all worshiping the same god from the same (or similar) ancient text. How can one god be “infallibly correct” in 33,830 different ways?

If there are at least 33,000 different “interpretations” of “god’s word”, it seems as though any interpretation can be just as valid as any other and words can be “redefined” to mean exactly the opposite of their common meaning.

[k-nug]

There's a million reasons why, but I think that the fact so many different versions of Christianity exists is evidence that the Bible is not clear, concise and contradictory-free, which is further evidence that the Bible was not guided by an omnipotent, omniscient being.

If Christianity is about a relationship with God, then the purpose of the Bible is to lead us to God and connect with Him. If it was God's intention that the Bible would lead us to such a relationship, then just because it contains contradictions, does not mean it has not been been guided by an omniscient being. As long as it fulfils its purpose, the contradictions mean nothing.

I am sure many Christians do have "an experience of God" as probably happens among Jews, Muslims and others. If that is so, then the Bible, doesn't need to be perfect. Even the "many different versions" of Christianity don't nullify Christianity's purpose.

People won't necessary flock to God just because they've read a Book that contains a message that's supposed to lead them closer to Himself. It's a bit like an archery match. There's going to be hits and misses. Those who really seek God will find Him, those more interested in ideology and logic will not, and are more likely to start a new creed or think that by aligning themselves to a creed, ideology or organisation are on the path of truth. That said, it is not logic or ideology that leads us to God, but the heart. If you explore other faiths, I reckon you will probably discover the same thing.

The message is an expression of others' experience of God, particularly those early Christians. Ultimately, it's the heart, not the logic in the words of the message, that leads us to God. The words are just an expression, and will mean nothing until we embrace their true meaning.

If Christianity hasn't been fulfilling, you may indeed explore other faiths. With regards to a God that exists (assuming He does), I reckon the words above will still apply.

I'm not sure, correct me if I'm wrong, are you saying that the emotional attachment one feels to God is more important than logic or reason? (I'm not being condescending, I can't word it any other way.) That philosophy did not work for me. First, my own personal experience through Christianity wasn't to necessarily find a God, it was a search for some ultimate Truth. (Hey, I was young.) I thought I had found that in Evangelical Christianity. However over time the facts did not match up and I found myself wanting. After much soul searching and research I came to the conclusion that the bible was bogus both as a way of life and as a connection to God. The thing is I had a very emotional experience with Christianity, and it proved to be just that. An emotional experience. There was no ultimate Truth underlying it. secondly,

Omniscient:

ADJECTIVE:

Having total knowledge; knowing everything: an omniscient deity; the omniscient narrator.

NOUN:

1. One having total knowledge.
2. Omniscient God. Used with the.

Omnipotent:

ADJECTIVE:

Having unlimited or universal power, authority, or force; all-powerful. See Usage Note at infinite.

NOUN:

1. One having unlimited power or authority: the bureaucratic omnipotents.
2. Omnipotent God. Used with the.

Supposing the God of Christianity was omniscient and omnipotent as claimed in the Bible, there is absolutely no way God would let a book like the bible speak for Him. It is so filled with contradiction, injustice, intolerance, and hate that only man could have been the author, thus showing God as not omniscient or omnipotent.

If I were God, my book would be perfect. It would stand up against all argument, study, skepticism, and would truly be a Sign of the Creator. As it is now, Christians themselves cannot even agree on what God is supposedly trying to say.

[DerangedProtagonist]

I thought I had found that in Evangelical Christianity. However over time the facts did not match up and I found myself wanting. After much soul searching and research I came to the conclusion that the bible was bogus both as a way of life and as a connection to God. The thing is I had a very emotional experience with Christianity, and it proved to be just that. An emotional experience. There was no ultimate Truth underlying it. secondly,

I'm not sure about the emotional experience thing, but yes that does dominate my thinking to some extent. I don't deliberately pursue an "emotional feeling" with regards to connecting with God and won't claim to have connected with Him at all.....yet. I believe that if it comes, it'd come, but I can't force it. In the meantime, I'll just read and study the Bible, explore life, explore myself and figure out what my life, as well as the Bible....all means.

Supposing the God of Christianity was omniscient and omnipotent as claimed in the Bible, there is absolutely no way God would let a book like the bible speak for Him. It is so filled with contradiction, injustice, intolerance, and hate that only man could have been the author, thus showing God as not omniscient or omnipotent.

If I were God, my book would be perfect. It would stand up against all argument, study, skepticism, and would truly be a Sign of the Creator. As it is now, Christians themselves cannot even agree on what God is supposedly trying to say.

I suppose the issue here is whether the book needs to be perfect or not. I believe all sacred, religious texts have a purpose, that as long as its fulfilled, could possibly be said to be God-inspired.

I don't see perfection as necessary as I believe we all have an "inner spark" that can connect with God. I think of the Bible as simply recording people's experiences of God, so that people of later generations can read it and connect with Him as well. With regards to having a "perfect book" leading to God, I'm thinking deep inside we already have a substitute. (ie. God giving us a mind to think, and feelings to feel). We don't necessary need an Instruction Manual, but a Journal may help. In this case I see the Bible as a Journal.

With regards to the hatred, contradictions, injustice.....maybe I'm just insensitive or numb!!! Up until one or two years ago, I had seen only fragments here and there (the Books of Moses, Daniel, 1/2 Samuel, 1/2 Kings, the Four Gospels, the Epistles, Revelation) but I had not decided to do a complete sweep of it until then. I was brought up Christian but only just recently started a rigorous read.

I haven't made many value judgments of what I read. I haven't felt compelled to do that. I guess I'm more interested in the dialogue, the relationships, the politics, the power struggles, the struggles of Israel, their relationship with God, sayings of the prophets -- just letting it all project into my mind so I can see what they were seeing. Much like watching some movie, or television series -- Star Trek, StarGate, 24 with all the politics and power struggles.

Am I a "true believer" or just some hobbyist or enthusiast who just likes the read? A thrill-seeker who just likes the story? Not sure about that. I'll ponder that for a while.

I'd be interested on what experience you've had, though I guess you've summed it up already. The emotional experience was a hint. Not sure what questions to ask at this point. I have, for a while thought that God giving us emotions was for us to use our emotions to figure out what was right for us. But we also think in terms of logic. From observation, I've seen that for a lot of Christians, logic dominates their thinking, I guess decided to switch.

emotional attachment one feels to God is more important than logic or reason?

I have, for a while, thought of emotions as just a different kind of reasoning compared to logic. ie. reasoning about relationships with people. Logical reasoning is stuff like science and maths. Quantitative stuff. Emotional reasoning being qualitative. (might be getting into philosophy here)

IQ (intelligence quotient) vs. EQ (emotional quotient)

[Desert_Rose2]

If Christianity is based upon the Bible, and if the Bible is “the infallible word of god” (or even the fallible word of god) why are 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia?

Supposedly these denominations are all worshiping the same god from the same (or similar) ancient text. How can one god be “infallibly correct” in 33,830 different ways?

If there are at least 33,000 different “interpretations” of “god’s word”, it seems as though any interpretation can be just as valid as any other and words can be “redefined” to mean exactly the opposite of their common meaning.

i just wonder who in the heck counted em all!!...in the town i live in , there are Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Church of God, Church of Christ, Vineyard church (i'm one of the vineyardites ....those are just a few i can think of off the top of my head...there are more. and they all agree on the main issue, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. They are all Bible believing churches. So the differences are more on what type of worship you prefer (like the Vineyard church i attend is comtemporary...some prefer more traditional...)....we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

yes, good post.
(We used to be in Vineyard and love them)

The point is, unless we are Catholics we are (usually) free to believe differently on secondary (non-essential to salvation) doctrines, because there is the recognition that we are still limited, fallible, in our understanding/interpretations.
There is the recognition that we are humans, not robots, in that we don't have to be 'clones' to be in spiritual unity.
There is the recognition that there is only One Church, but different expressions of it.
True Christian unity is in Spirit/spirit - it is not organisational in a human way.

However, as Christians mature in Jesus there should be more mutual understanding, even if not perfect agreement, on secondaries.

[Rayosun]

"Spoken by a true Hindu/Buddhist/Atheist/Philosopher? Have you figured out what you are yet? . . .
I know, you don't have a world view. . . You know you never were a Christian. So you haven't borrowed from that one. It takes one to know one, and you never were one. So how could you make an informed decision?"

Is this YOUR idea of speaking like a true "Christian"?

[Smersh]

why are 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia?

Because Bible is part its not the whole. What heretics don't understand is the fact that The Holy Scripture is the integral and inseparable part of The Holy Tradition. Taken out of context of The Holy Tradition of The Church, The Scripture can be confusing and contradicting.

Perhaps an overly simplistic an example but nevertheless.

Imagine one has acquired a book on rocket building, will he be able to build a rocket? No! Because he would also need physics, ballistics, material science, manufacturing technologies etc.

And this is exactly what happened they(heretics) took one internal document of The Church and thought to know it all. As the result we have 33,830 rockets and none has any chance to fly...

So the question arises if there are so many fakes is there an original? Clearly there has to be original otherwise what would they model fakes on.

How do we identify the original? Simple - authenticity.

I would argue that Apostles have retained the true essence of The Teaching of Christ. Because they lived very close in terms of time and space.

Therefore he is not a Christian who doesn't obey and recognize the rules of Apostles.

He is not a Christian who doesn't recognize and obey decision of The Seven Ecumenical councils and specifically The Symbol of Faith the concentrated belief of The Church:

(SYMBOL OF FAITH)
I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; begotten of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made, of One Essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made: Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became Man: And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried: And He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures: And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father: And He is coming again with glory to judge the living and the dead; And His Kingdom will have no end: And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of the Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is equally worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets: And in One, Holy, Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the Dead; And the life of the Age to come.


Nor is he a Christian if the Church (The Body of Christ) has separated him via anathema.


The Service of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
As we therefore bless and praise those who have obeyed the divine revelation and have fought for it; so we reject and anathematize those who oppose this truth, if while waiting for their return and repentance, they refuse to turn again to the Lord; and in this we follow the sacred tradition of the ancient Church, holding fast to her traditions.

To those who deny the existence of God, and assert that the world is self-existing, and that all things in it occur by chance, and not by the providence of God, Anathema!

To those who say that God is not spirit, but flesh; or that He is not just, merciful, wise and all-knowing, and utter similar blasphemies, Anathema!

To those who dare to say that the Son of God and also the Holy Spirit are not one in essence and of equal honor with the Father, and confess that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not one God, Anathema!

To those who foolishly say that the coming of the Son of God into the world in the flesh, and His voluntary passion, death, and resurrection were not necessary for our salvation and the cleansing of sins, Anathema!

To those who reject the grace of redemption preached by the Gospel as the only means of our justification before God, Anathema!

To those who dare to say that the all-pure Virgin Mary was not virgin before giving birth, during birthgiving, and after her child-birth, Anathema!

To those who do not believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and apostles, and by them taught us the true way to eternal salvation, and confirmed this by miracles, and now dwells in the hearts of all true and faithful Christians, and teaches them in all truth, Anathema!

To those who reject the immortality of the soul, the end of time, the future judgment, and eternal reward for virtue and condemnation for sin, Anathema!

To those who reject all the holy mysteries held by the Church of Christ, Anathema!

To those who reject the Councils of the holy fathers and their traditions, which are agreeable to divine revelation and kept piously by the Orthodox Catholic Church, Anathema!

To those who mock and profane the holy images and relics which the holy Church receives as revelations of God's work and of those pleasing to Him, to inspire their beholders with piety, and to arouse them to follow these examples; and to those who say that they are idols, Anathema!

To those who dare to say and teach that our Lord Jesus Christ did not descend to earth, but only seemed to; or that He did not descend to the earth and become incarnate only once, but many times, and who likewise deny that the true Wisdom of the Father is His only-begotten Son, Anathema!

To the followers of the occult, spiritualists, wizards, and all who do not believe in the one God, but honor the demons; or who do not humbly give their lives over to God, but strive to learn the future through sorcery, Anathema!

There cannot be variations and different interpretations of The Truth. It is either truth or it is not.

Mt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Of course it is not so much the fault of heretics themselves but rather an elaborate process called apostasy which is also a part of The Dogma. So many fakes are: to make it difficult to locate the genuine, to discredit The Faith and to spread conflict and confusion. No explanation needed to establish who the beneficiary is, the devil.

[Catharsis]

Hi Smersh, it's not as simple as accepting the decisions of the Synods or the Symbol (particularly for someone coming from the western tradition). Western Christians have a totally different theology, understanding of God, and other important "little" details.

The Orthodox speak a different "language".

[Smersh]

Catharsis

Hi Smersh, it's not as simple as accepting the decisions of the Synods or the Symbol (particularly for someone coming from the western tradition). Western Christians have a totally different theology, understanding of God, and other important "little" details.

The Orthodox speak a different "language".

So much is obvious.

Yet, my point stands - there cannot be 33,830 truths.

The can only be two possible combinations;
1) 33,830 lies or
2) one truth and 33,829 lies.

Christians by definition must support the second statement for if one believes in the first statement he rejects Christianity entirely.

Therefore there is only one truth. Comprehensive study of the history of Christianity will reveal that only one Church has retained authenticity and dogma of the early Church. Since the Church has never seized to exist that identifies the True Church. Clearly this Church has the right to identify who Christians are.

Because such profound and indisputable truth is unacceptable to those who placed themselves outside The Church, various heresies have sprang up. Heresies tend to multiply for if one rejects the truth, how easy it is to reject a lie?

Result = 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia... = apostasy.

[McCulloch]

Not all of the differenced between the denominations are doctrinal, are they?

[arayhay]

why are 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia?

Because Bible is part its not the whole. What heretics don't understand is the fact that The Holy Scripture is the integral and inseparable part of The Holy Tradition. Taken out of context of The Holy Tradition of The Church, The Scripture can be confusing and contradicting.

Last time I checked, those who are so ready to call someone a heretic, were far and away more consistently heretical in their flagrant errors, staunch doctrine and condemnation than those they accuse.


The Holy Scriptures are not tradition at all. to say that is to twist Jesus's own words;

Mat 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
Mat 15:2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
Mat 15:3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'
Mat 15:5 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God,"
Mat 15:6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
Mat 15:7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
Mat 15:8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
Mat 15:9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"
Mat 15:10 And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand:
Mat 15:11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."
Mat 15:12 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
Mat 15:13 He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."
Mat 15:15 But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us."
Mat 15:16 And he said, "Are you also still without understanding?
Mat 15:17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?
Mat 15:18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Mat 15:20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."
Mat 15:21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.



Jesus here deflates your 'so called necessity' for traditions plainly.

Also you fail to show HOW traditions make the Scriptures easier to understand, or do. They can but traditions can cross a line between usefulness and overreaching, so as to ADD to the Scriptures something not only unintended in the first place, but worse, they can override Scripture as to annul it.

Deu 12:32 "Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.


So you've stated that traditions are equal to Scripture, and the Messiah contradicts you. How do you reconcile this ??? I haven't a clue. Oh yeah, you blame the heretic. Perhaps your kind have accused the so called Heretic for so long and changed what Jesus has said to mean what you need it to, as to create a fervor and displaced the truth. The fact is, You/and your kind have actually 'changed' what His words plainly mean to suite separation from the Nation of Israel. But your accusation is pointless from its beginning, because these verses can not be changed in a reasonable mind at all. So you must attempt to contradict SOMEONE other than the Messiah for your lies to appear legitimate.

That's dishonest. You've accepted a LIE.

Perhaps an overly simplistic an example but nevertheless.

Imagine one has acquired a book on rocket building, will he be able to build a rocket? No! Because he would also need physics, ballistics, material science, manufacturing technologies etc.

And this is exactly what happened they(heretics) took one internal document of The Church and thought to know it all. As the result we have 33,830 rockets and none has any chance to fly...

Here you state, indirectly, that the Scriptures are INCOMPLETE, AND 'MUST' BE ADDED TO. You've lied again.


Deu 30:11 "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
Deu 30:13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
Deu 30:14 But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

how could God give man something incomplete and expect us TO DO IT ??

So the question arises if there are so many fakes is there an original? Clearly there has to be original otherwise what would they model fakes on.

How do we identify the original? Simple - authenticity.

I would argue that Apostles have retained the true essence of The Teaching of Christ. Because they lived very close in terms of time and space.

Therefore he is not a Christian who doesn't obey and recognize the rules of Apostles.

He is not a Christian who doesn't recognize and obey decision of The Seven Ecumenical councils and specifically The Symbol of Faith the concentrated belief of The Church:

Your premise is correct, the original is where we find authenticity. The Apostles are a great place to start. But your huge leap from the Apostles to these councils is merely monologue.
All the 'prof' you claim that links the two is faulty rhetoric unsupportable by Scripture. Jumping offer hundreds of years and pointing an accusatory figure at the very people sent by God to be a light to the world. Your orthodox approach is nothing more than a reproach to God.

Luk 6:26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Luk 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luk 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.


Thus the need for your TRADITIONS are to support something contradictory to what God has put in place. And because your traditions end up undermining the very words of God the father and the Messiah, Your foundation is exposed as quicksand.





[strike]b](SYMBOL OF FAITH)
I believe in one God, Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; begotten of the Father before all ages; Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made, of One Essence with the Father, through Whom all things were made: Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became Man: And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried: And He rose on the third day according to the Scriptures: And ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father: And He is coming again with glory to judge the living and the dead; And His Kingdom will have no end: And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of the Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is equally worshipped and glorified, Who spoke by the Prophets: And in One, Holy, Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the Resurrection of the Dead; And the life of the Age to come. [/b]


Nor is he a Christian if the Church (The Body of Christ) has separated him via anathema.



The Service of the Triumph of Orthodoxy
As we therefore bless and praise those who have obeyed the divine revelation and have fought for it; so we reject and anathematize those who oppose this truth, if while waiting for their return and repentance, they refuse to turn again to the Lord; and in this we follow the sacred tradition of the ancient Church, holding fast to her traditions.

To those who deny the existence of God, and assert that the world is self-existing, and that all things in it occur by chance, and not by the providence of God, Anathema!

To those who say that God is not spirit, but flesh; or that He is not just, merciful, wise and all-knowing, and utter similar blasphemies, Anathema!

To those who dare to say that the Son of God and also the Holy Spirit are not one in essence and of equal honor with the Father, and confess that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not one God, Anathema!

To those who foolishly say that the coming of the Son of God into the world in the flesh, and His voluntary passion, death, and resurrection were not necessary for our salvation and the cleansing of sins, Anathema!

To those who reject the grace of redemption preached by the Gospel as the only means of our justification before God, Anathema!

To those who dare to say that the all-pure Virgin Mary was not virgin before giving birth, during birth giving, and after her child-birth, Anathema!

To those who do not believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the prophets and apostles, and by them taught us the true way to eternal salvation, and confirmed this by miracles, and now dwells in the hearts of all true and faithful Christians, and teaches them in all truth, Anathema!

To those who reject the immortality of the soul, the end of time, the future judgment, and eternal reward for virtue and condemnation for sin, Anathema!

To those who reject all the holy mysteries held by the Church of Christ, Anathema!

To those who reject the Councils of the holy fathers and their traditions, which are agreeable to divine revelation and kept piously by the Orthodox Catholic Church, Anathema!

To those who mock and profane the holy images and relics which the holy Church receives as revelations of God's work and of those pleasing to Him, to inspire their beholders with piety, and to arouse them to follow these examples; and to those who say that they are idols, Anathema!

To those who dare to say and teach that our Lord Jesus Christ did not descend to earth, but only seemed to; or that He did not descend to the earth and become incarnate only once, but many times, and who likewise deny that the true Wisdom of the Father is His only-begotten Son, Anathema!

To the followers of the occult, spiritualists, wizards, and all who do not believe in the one God, but honor the demons; or who do not humbly give their lives over to God, but strive to learn the future through sorcery, Anathema![/strike]

There cannot be variations and different interpretations of The Truth. It is either truth or it is not.

YOUR 'TRUTH' CONTRADICTS SCRIPTURE THAT MESSIAH SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THE SITUATION AND YOU SUPPORT IT WITH THE TRADITIONS OF MAN.


[

b]Mt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. [/b]

This is why YOUR gospel is a false gospel. For if Jesus Christ / Yeshua HaMessiach is not the Messiah of Israel, He's not the Messiah at all. He said that He came TO SEEK AND SAVE THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--
Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Of course it is not so much the fault of heretics themselves but rather an elaborate process called apostasy which is also a part of The Dogma. So many fakes are: to make it difficult to locate the genuine, to discredit The Faith and to spread conflict and confusion. No explanation needed to establish who the beneficiary is, the devil.

of which yours is the doctrine of demons. Thus i've sticken it.

[Smersh]

The Holy Scriptures are not tradition at all. to say that is to twist Jesus's own words;

Mat 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
Mat 15:2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat."
Mat 15:3 He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

I believe these words are directed to "Pharisees and scribes" not Christians? Or you cannot see the difference?

The Orthodox Church continues to this day in accordance with Christ's word that "the gates of hell" should not prevail against His Church. The Church continues to hold faithfully to the Apostolic Tradition in accordance with the command of St. Paul: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle" (2 Thessalonians 2:15), not adding or subtracting from the deposit of Faith to accord with contemporary fads or fashions, for ultimately, the Truth of the Christian Faith is a person, the God-man Jesus Christ, who changes not, and whom Orthodox Christians worship and adore.

Also you fail to show HOW traditions make the Scriptures easier to understand, or do. They can but traditions can cross a line between usefulness and overreaching, so as to ADD to the Scriptures something not only unintended in the first place, but worse, they can override Scripture as to annul it.

I am not ashamed to admit that I don't understand the meaning of everything contained in The Holy Scripture. Moreover what if I don't understand it correctly? It's prudent to trust a guidance of one who already is in heaven and therefore his interpretation is beyond doubt. The Orthodox Church is designed as the perfect mechanism for preservation of The Truth. It is designed in such a way that neither government authorities, nor higher clergy can add to or deduct from The Teaching of Christ.

Thus the need for your TRADITIONS are to support something contradictory to what God has put in place. And because your traditions end up undermining the very words of God the father and the Messiah, Your foundation is exposed as quicksand.

And exactly what part of The Holy Tradition contradicts what God put in place? And allow me to ask what is your source of information of what God put in place? Were you an object of the exclusive revelation? Or is it simply you interpretation of The Holy Scripture? Why in the world should I value you interpretation more than that of Saints whose very life is the evidence of The Christian Teaching?


So you reject The Symbol of Faith? You reject The Christ himself if you read what it says.

Unfortunately such is the nature of heresy making idol of yourself. By rejecting heresy of the Roman catholic church protestants fallen into even deeper heresy. They replaced the pope of Rome with themselves. So each protestant is the pope for himself. Surely some industrious protestants build organizations of various sizes. This is why - there are 33,830 different Christian denominations recognized by the World Christian Encyclopedia.