different erm... branches??? of christianity

sheep_lady · Post by **sheep_lady** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:33 pm

When I was born, there was a big fight over wether I should be christened Catholic or Church of England, as a result my parents refused to christen me, and apart from RE lessons in school, I've had very little education.....if that make sense

I really dont understand what the differences is are between catholic/ protestant/anglican etc, if we all believe in the same one God, why do people who follow the different paths argue??

Can anyone help me?

xxx

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:47 pm

Wikipedia has a simplified version of the history of the major branches of Christianity.

And the major branches within Protestantism, the most divisive major branch of Christianity.

Are you interested in the reasons for any particular branch or the branches in general? I could save you some time. Almost all of the branches were justified by one of two arguments:

Christianity has become corrupted and we're going to reform or restore it to something closer to its original purity.
Those other groups have deviated from the true path. Our group is the continuation of the one true way.

sheep_lady · Post by **sheep_lady** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:17 pm

To be honest, I just want to understand, if we (you know what I mean) all believe in the one God, and the commandments etc, why is there fighting between all the churches?? Are the beliefs of the different parts THAT different, that they need to shut each other out??? I dont understand the differences, I know Catholics confess where C of E dont etc, but if we all believe we will end up in the same place, why such differences to the point of war etc? why do the different churches do things differently? sorry for the bombardment of questions but you were warned hehe

Miles · Post by **Miles** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:32 pm

Never mind.

Miles · Post by **Miles** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:32 pm

Arrrgh!

sheep_lady · Post by **sheep_lady** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:53 pm

lol well i didnt mean to annoy you hehe, love!!!!!!!

sheep_lady · Post by **sheep_lady** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:58 pm

ill google/wiki all the ones on the chart u sent and get back to u with my thoughts xxxx

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:01 am

sheep_lady wrote: To be honest, I just want to understand, if we (you know what I mean) all believe in the one God, and the commandments etc, why is there fighting between all the churches??

To be honest, no one fights wars over mathematical proofs. The simple fact is that there is no sensible way to resolve differences of religion, since all religion is based on tradition, unverified visions of the god, subjective mysticism and the like. So, if you cannot settle your differences without violence, sometimes you fight.

I once belonged to a church group which had an issue over the communion cup. One side believed that since the passages in the New Testament referred to the cup singularly that it would be wrong to use multiple cups for the it. And they did not call it communion since that word is not in the Bible, they called it the Lords Supper, which they knew must be taken every Sunday (Lord's day), again because that is what they read from the Scriptures. I am not making this up. http://churchofchristonecup.org/about_us.html

Other divisive religious issues:

Baptism
1. for children or believers only,
2. sprinkling or immersion,
3. in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Church organization - congregational or a hierarchy
The Bible - literally true, or mostly allegory
The Holy Spirit - miracles for today, speaking in tongues or just an internal guide
Open or closed communion
priesthood - a special ordained group or priesthood of all believers
Predestination v Free will
Grace - is it irresistible?
Hell - eternal torment for unbelievers or annihilation.
The role of women
politics and war - do Christians get involved?

Kuan · Post by **Kuan** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:05 am

Im curious as to what restorationism is, can some one elaborate on that?

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:32 pm

mormon boy51 wrote: Im curious as to what restorationism is, can some one elaborate on that?

That is an odd question from a Mormon.

Restorationism is one response to denominationalism. It is the belief that true Christianity should be restored using the early church as a model, in contrast to Reformation which argues that whatever failings there may be in Christianity can be addressed and reformed or corrected.

The term "restorationism" is sometimes used more specifically as a synonym for the American Restoration Movement. They do not consider themselves to be Protestants (a reform movement) since they maintain that they stem directly from the first century church.

Key principles:

Christianity should not be divided, Christ intended the creation of one church.
Creeds divide, but Christians should be able to find agreement by standing on the Bible itself instead of on the opinions of people about the Bible.
Ecclesiastical traditions divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by following the practice of the early church.
Names of human origin divide, but Christians should be able to find common ground by using only biblical names for the church (i.e., "Christian Church", "Church of God" or "Church of Christ" as opposed to "Methodist" or "Lutheran", etc.).

Ironically, the American Restoration Movement, has split into factions, Churches of Christ, Independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, International Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Other groups which can trace their origins to American Restorationism are Christadelphians, Latter Day Saints (through Sidney Rigdon), some forms of Adventism, Bible Students (Watchtower, Jehovah's Witnesses),

Does that help?