The Christian Discussion Thread VI

[Nordengrund]

I haven't been to many other denominations outside of the Baptists, but from my experience, most Protestant denominations seem to be accepting of each other. Of course, every group has some radicals who believe their sect is right. The only time I have experienced the "One true church" mentality in real life was when I attended an Seventh Day Adventist school

I find the "accepting" attitude quite confusing. If they don't think they are the true church, why should anybody listen to them? There are disagreements on doctrine between denominations so if one denomination doesn't agree with it's own stances then why should anybody else agree with them?

Protestants believe in spiritual unity, that the universal Church is made up of all believers across all denominations. It is true that at one point each denomination saw themselves as the True Church. Martin Luther did not want his follewers calling themselves Lutherans, only Christians.

Protestants also recognize different kinds of disagreements. I may disagree with a Presbyterian that babies should be baptized or with a Methodist that you can lose your salvation, but I don't see these as reasons for leaving a church. I'm more concerned about things like the Trinity, the church conforming to the world, etc.

The reason I follow the denomination I do is because I think it is the most biblical in what it teaches, but it is by no means perfect, however, most of those things I do not believe affect your salvation. You are saved by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and repentence and good works are the sign of a truly born again person. Though I may not agree with theistic evolution or that you can speak in tongues, as long as they meet the above criteria, they are Christians in my eyes.

[Gim]

Almost exactly the same, except for its name.
http://franciscan-anglican.com/explanation.htm

Lol, because I was ruthlessly criticizing Anglicans a few days ago. LOL, sorry bro.

Not a problem. I'm not Anglican, so....

[Diopolis]

I haven't been to many other denominations outside of the Baptists, but from my experience, most Protestant denominations seem to be accepting of each other. Of course, every group has some radicals who believe their sect is right. The only time I have experienced the "One true church" mentality in real life was when I attended an Seventh Day Adventist school

I find the "accepting" attitude quite confusing. If they don't think they are the true church, why should anybody listen to them? There are disagreements on doctrine between denominations so if one denomination doesn't agree with it's own stances then why should anybody else agree with them?

That they believe that there's no such thing as infallible doctrine(save for perhaps what's most plainly written in the bible, like Jesus dying for our sins and baptism being a good idea) does not mean they don't believe some doctrines are more likely true than others, and that their church has the most correct doctrine, without it being infallible.

[Grand Calvert]

I find the "accepting" attitude quite confusing. If they don't think they are the true church, why should anybody listen to them? There are disagreements on doctrine between denominations so if one denomination doesn't agree with it's own stances then why should anybody else agree with them?

Protestants believe in spiritual unity, that the universal Church is made up of all believers across all denominations. It is true that at one point each denomination saw themselves as the True Church. Martin Luther did not want his follewers calling themselves Lutherans, only Christians.

Protestants also recognize different kinds of disagreements. I may disagree with a Presbyterian that babies should be baptized or with a Methodist that you can lose your salvation, but I don't see these as reasons for leaving a church. I'm more concerned about things like the Trinity, the church conforming to the world, etc.

The reason I follow the denomination I do is because I think it is the most biblical in what it teaches, but it is by no means perfect, however, most of those things I do not believe affect your salvation. You are saved by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and repentence and good works are the sign of a truly born again person. Though I may not agree with theistic evolution or that you can speak in tongues, as long as they meet the above criteria, they are Christians in my eyes.

Same here

[Ovybia]

I find the "accepting" attitude quite confusing. If they don't think they are the true church, why should anybody listen to them? There are disagreements on doctrine between denominations so if one denomination doesn't agree with it's own stances then why should anybody else agree with them?

Protestants believe in spiritual unity, that the universal Church is made up of all believers across all denominations. It is true that at one point each denomination saw themselves as the True Church. Martin Luther did not want his follewers calling themselves Lutherans, only Christians.

Protestants also recognize different kinds of disagreements. I may disagree with a Presbyterian that babies should be baptized or with a Methodist that you can lose your salvation, but I don't see these as reasons for leaving a church. I'm more concerned about things like the Trinity, the church conforming to the world, etc.

The reason I follow the denomination I do is because I think it is the most biblical in what it teaches, but it is by no means perfect, however, most of those things I do not believe affect your salvation. You are saved by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and repentence and good works are the sign of a truly born again person. Though I may not agree with theistic evolution or that you can speak in tongues, as long as they meet the above criteria, they are Christians in my eyes.

Of course, I understand. I was objecting to you saying that Seventh Day Adventists are the only denomination that claims to hold a true religion. All of us claim to have the true region; it's not like it's some sect to say that oneself is right.

[Efraim-Judah]

Right, So I was told by someone who I look up to that I need to "build bridges" and not "Tear them down ,burn them down, and blow them up" tonight so I suppose I'll be trying to do that from now.

[Nordengrund]

Protestants believe in spiritual unity, that the universal Church is made up of all believers across all denominations. It is true that at one point each denomination saw themselves as the True Church. Martin Luther did not want his follewers calling themselves Lutherans, only Christians.

Protestants also recognize different kinds of disagreements. I may disagree with a Presbyterian that babies should be baptized or with a Methodist that you can lose your salvation, but I don't see these as reasons for leaving a church. I'm more concerned about things like the Trinity, the church conforming to the world, etc.

The reason I follow the denomination I do is because I think it is the most biblical in what it teaches, but it is by no means perfect, however, most of those things I do not believe affect your salvation. You are saved by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and repentence and good works are the sign of a truly born again person. Though I may not agree with theistic evolution or that you can speak in tongues, as long as they meet the above criteria, they are Christians in my eyes.

Of course, I understand. I was objecting to you saying that Seventh Day Adventists are the only denomination that claims to hold a true religion. All of us claim to have the true region; it's not like it's some sect to say that oneself is right.

I never said Adventists were the only ones, just the only ones from experience.

[Gim]

Right, So I was told by someone who I look up to that I need to "build bridges" and not "Tear,burn them down, and blow them up" tonight so I suppose I'll be trying to do that from now.

Proverbs will help you choose wise decisions.

[Schiltzberg]

Right, So I was told by someone who I look up to that I need to "build bridges" and not "Tear them down ,burn them down, and blow them up" tonight so I suppose I'll be trying to do that from now.

LOL

[Constantinopolis]

Right, So I was told by someone who I look up to that I need to "build bridges" and not "Tear them down ,burn them down, and blow them up" tonight so I suppose I'll be trying to do that from now.

Building bridges is pagan.

I'm sorry, guys, I had to.

[The Princes of the Universe]

Right, So I was told by someone who I look up to that I need to "build bridges" and not "Tear them down ,burn them down, and blow them up" tonight so I suppose I'll be trying to do that from now.

Building bridges is pagan.
I'm sorry, guys, I had to.

Perhaps comedy is your calling?

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Medjugorje is, at best, a pious fraud. The local ordinary's investigation rendered a verdict of constat de non supernaturalitate and the episcopal conference rendered a verdict of non constat de supernaturalitate. The seers were plainly fed lines by their Franciscan spiritual director(really, the virgin Mary appearing to condemn a relatively obscure papal bull only applicable in one tiny part of the world?) who, by the way, got laicized for sexual misconduct, heresy, and disobedience. The only statement from the vatican on the apparitions was that they were completely fabricated.

Actually, the Vatican is still considering the matter at the moment, and is expected to make an official final report this fall, which will be interesting to see. I believe that they have been collecting reports since the new Pope was elected in 2013, because that was something that he was interested in. My thoughts are that they have not made it legitimate yet, because it is still happening. There is no denying that there are miracles taking place there, as I know several people who have been there and have seen the miracles, including my grandma, who is the most honest woman in the world. My grandma said that she saw the sun spinning, and that the rosary she was praying turned to gold.

Fuck. Religion does crazy things to people.

[Othelos]

You guys probably won't care about this, but I feel like this would be the best place to write this down, since this is the closest place symbolically that I could think of.

I want to forgive the people in my past who have wronged me or treated me badly, many of them Christians. I have been holding a serious grudge against the church and the people in it ever since I left, and I feel that it is time to let that go.

It's not their fault that they didn't realize that the words they were saying were cutting into me, but they should have been more compassionate and sensitive towards all people. They shouldn't have been sucked into "cultural Christianity" - that deems that your messages depend on whatever culture war issue is being debated on by society.

I felt alienated, scared, and depressed, but no one would have listened to me, and then when I finally spoke up, I was asked to be exorcised. I feel as if we had been members of a non-evangelical church, I would probably still be a christian today. The negative feelings I gained from being wronged by people in that type of authority over someone's life have followed me to this day. And I am letting that go.

[The Hobbesian Metaphysician]

Actually, the Vatican is still considering the matter at the moment, and is expected to make an official final report this fall, which will be interesting to see. I believe that they have been collecting reports since the new Pope was elected in 2013, because that was something that he was interested in. My thoughts are that they have not made it legitimate yet, because it is still happening. There is no denying that there are miracles taking place there, as I know several people who have been there and have seen the miracles, including my grandma, who is the most honest woman in the world. My grandma said that she saw the sun spinning, and that the rosary she was praying turned to gold.

Fuck. Religion does crazy things to people.

Humanity does crazy things to people.

Who would have thought it?

[Ovybia]

So I'm curious. I'd like to take kind of a survey if possible.

How much would you say religion influence each of your lives?

And do you bring religion into other aspects of your lives such as work or your voting preferences?

How devout would you rank yourselves on a scale of 1 to 10?

A final note: Please don't feel compelled to answer these questions if you don't want to.

[Gim]

How much would you say religion influence each of your lives?

On a scale of 1-10, maybe 5 or 6.

And do you bring religion into other aspects of your lives such as work or your voting preferences?

Not much, but I mostly tend to choose a party that has similar views to Christians, though.

How devout would you rank yourselves on a scale of 1 to 10?

3 or 4. I'm not a good Christian; I know that.

[Nordengrund]

So I'm curious. I'd like to take kind of a survey if possible.

How much would you say religion influence each of your lives?

And do you bring religion into other aspects of your lives such as work or your voting preferences?

How devout would you rank yourselves on a scale of 1 to 10?

A final note: Please don't feel compelled to answer these questions if you don't want to.

1. 8/10
2. Yes. God calls us to be the example everywhere all the time. You can't be lukewarm
3. 7/10

[Grand Calvert]

You guys probably won't care about this, but I feel like this would be the best place to write this down, since this is the closest place symbolically that I could think of.

I want to forgive the people in my past who have wronged me or treated me badly, many of them Christians. I have been holding a serious grudge against the church and the people in it ever since I left, and I feel that it is time to let that go.

It's not their fault that they didn't realize that the words they were saying were cutting into me, but they should have been more compassionate and sensitive towards all people. They shouldn't have been sucked into "cultural Christianity" - that deems that your messages depend on whatever culture war issue is being debated on by society.

I felt alienated, scared, and depressed, but no one would have listened to me, and then when I finally spoke up, I was asked to be exorcised. I feel as if we had been members of a non-evangelical church, I would probably still be a christian today. The negative feelings I gained from being wronged by people in that type of authority over someone's life have followed me to this day. And I am letting that go.

It seems like you've been in the wrong church

You might not want to hear this, but no matter how many bad churches there are, that doesn't change the truth about God or Scripture. In other words, no matter how many terrible math teachers I've had 2+2 still equals 4. There are still plenty of churches that will listen to what you have to say and honestly try to help you. You just need to look for the right place.

[Herskerstad]

Medjugorje is, at best, a pious fraud. The local ordinary's investigation rendered a verdict of constat de non supernaturalitate and the episcopal conference rendered a verdict of non constat de supernaturalitate. The seers were plainly fed lines by their Franciscan spiritual director(really, the virgin Mary appearing to condemn a relatively obscure papal bull only applicable in one tiny part of the world?) who, by the way, got laicized for sexual misconduct, heresy, and disobedience. The only statement from the vatican on the apparitions was that they were completely fabricated.

Actually, the Vatican is still considering the matter at the moment, and is expected to make an official final report this fall, which will be interesting to see. I believe that they have been collecting reports since the new Pope was elected in 2013, because that was something that he was interested in. My thoughts are that they have not made it legitimate yet, because it is still happening. There is no denying that there are miracles taking place there, as I know several people who have been there and have seen the miracles, including my grandma, who is the most honest woman in the world. My grandma said that she saw the sun spinning, and that the rosary she was praying turned to gold.

So does this golden rosary still exist? Or did it transform back into the wood or whichever material it was prior?

[Herskerstad]

Right, So I was told by someone who I look up to that I need to "build bridges" and not "Tear them down ,burn them down, and blow them up" tonight so I suppose I'll be trying to do that from now.

Wonder what could have inspired that.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

Actually, the Vatican is still considering the matter at the moment, and is expected to make an official final report this fall, which will be interesting to see. I believe that they have been collecting reports since the new Pope was elected in 2013, because that was something that he was interested in. My thoughts are that they have not made it legitimate yet, because it is still happening. There is no denying that there are miracles taking place there, as I know several people who have been there and have seen the miracles, including my grandma, who is the most honest woman in the world. My grandma said that she saw the sun spinning, and that the rosary she was praying turned to gold.

So does this golden rosary still exist? Or did it transform back into the wood or whichever material it was prior?

From what I can tell, according to the local priests, they change color, not material... if you believe in such things.

[Herskerstad]

So does this golden rosary still exist? Or did it transform back into the wood or whichever material it was prior?

From what I can tell, according to the local priests, they change color, not material... if you believe in such things.

There is a statement appertaining to this specific instance? Could you share it or is this in the context of a . . . frequently occurring miracle that happens in many churches?

[Tarsonis Survivors]

From what I can tell, according to the local priests, they change color, not material... if you believe in such things.

There is a statement appertaining to this specific instance? Could you share it or is this in the context of a . . . frequently occurring miracle that happens in many churches?

All I found was a quote from a Jesuit priest describing the same things the poster's grandma described. I can't give you a context because there is none. I've never heard of any similar miracles, not the miracles are a frequent occurrence in the church.

As for the Virgin Mary appearing monthly like clockwork to six people, it's not unheard of to receive visions form the Blessed Virgin or other saints but I've never heard of it with such frequency.



I should also point out that in extremely skeptical of "witnessed miracles."

[Grave_n_idle]

Don't most churches teach that they are the one true Church?

I haven't been to many other denominations outside of the Baptists, but from my experience, most Protestant denominations seem to be accepting of each other. Of course, every group has some radicals who believe their sect is right. The only time I have experienced the "One true church" mentality in real life was when I attended an Seventh Day Adventist school

Your experience doesn't match mine at all.

In my experience, and I've been to a lot of churches of different denominations on more than one continent - every sect is dismissive of every other sect and teaches that every other sect has somehow fallen away from god, or lacks true understanding of the scripture, etc.

I've even heard various Christian sects that say that other Christian sects are anti-christ, because of their obviously wrong teachings. I've heard Baptists sat that Catholics are followers of Satan, and I've heard pretty much the same from Catholics about Baptists.

Now wonder the anabaptists are my favourites. They're about the only group not talking shit about everyone else.

[Tarsonis Survivors]

I haven't been to many other denominations outside of the Baptists, but from my experience, most Protestant denominations seem to be accepting of each other. Of course, every group has some radicals who believe their sect is right. The only time I have experienced the "One true church" mentality in real life was when I attended an Seventh Day Adventist school

Your experience doesn't match mine at all.

In my experience, and I've been to a lot of churches of different denominations on more than one continent - every sect is dismissive of every other sect and teaches that every other sect has somehow fallen away from god, or lacks true understanding of the scripture, etc.

I've even heard various Christian sects that say that other Christian sects are anti-christ, because of their obviously wrong teachings. I've heard Baptists sat that Catholics are followers of Satan, and I've heard pretty much the same from Catholics about Baptists.

Now wonder the anabaptists are my favourites. They're about the only group not talking shit about everyone else.

The problem with Baptists is there's no uniform structure or doctrine one can call strictly baptists. while there are some large Baptist groups (SBC, etc), Baptist also serves as a catch all for a lot of independent churches. For instance the last Protestant Church I was a member of, was a part of the NCBA. It also was right across the street from the Catholic Church, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone with a negative word to say about Catholics in that church. So much so that the Pastor refered to them as "our catholic brothers and sisters" from the pulpit. But these Baptist get over shadowed by the "synogogue of Satan" baptists.