Is there any differences? Post the differences in beliefs (if need apply) for each of the following:

Catholic

Baptist

Pentecostal

Lutheran

United

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus

dude, use wikipedia. why are you relying on totse for accurate information? you do realize that's like using a pineapple to wipe your ass, right?

quote:Originally posted by Eil:

dude, use wikipedia. why are you relying on totse for accurate information? you do realize that's like using a pineapple to wipe your ass, right?

LOL

Using a pineapple can be effective in wiping your ass. But afterwards, it's difficult to separate the meat from the shit...

Zman- um... no. Perhaps the catholic, as in the general church, but certainly not the RCC.

For the OP-

It goes a little something like this:

The first major schism in christianity occured when what is now know as the Orthodox/ Eastern Churches broke away from Church that was based in Rome ( now known as the Roman Catholic Church). This became known as the Great Schism or Eastern Schism ( c. 1054 AD), there was also a Western Schism when there were 3 lines of Pope running concurrently.

The second major schism occured during a later period, when several groups in Europe chose to break away from the RCC. This period is known as the reformation (throughout the 1500's) . Jean Clavin and Martin Luther where two of the main personalities that were involved. Martin Luther (from whom the Lutheran tradition evolved) in Germany, was a Catholic Monk who actively instigated a religious revolution of sorts against the coruption he saw in the RCC. The Baptist and Annabaptist/ Mennonite traditions also emerged from this period. This was the start of the protestant churches, which were characterized by a rejection of perceived superflous doctrine, and an emphais on Sola Scripture (where scripture is given greater authority than the ecclesiastical institution of the church).

In England the Catholic church began to distance itself from the RCC, but never really split with the church in a dramatic way like the European protestants did. Hence why the Anglican / Episcopalian church is known as the Church of England. As such they retain many similarities to the RCC in terms of tradition and ritual, but their theology is very much a protestant one. The Puritans were another protestant group that emerged in England that were more similar to their continental counterparts

Alot of the other denominations that are around emerged from smaller schisms within denominations e.g. the Methodists/ Weslyans. In England, John Wesley, in light of problems many people were having with the established Church there, started a movement that become known as the methodists. While he never intended to start an independent denomination (he wanted people to remain in the CoE), the Methodists emerged as a fairly major protestant group and had a major influence on the emergence of the trade union movement in the UK.

Pentecostals... *i think* emereged from a group known as the Enthusiasts. I could be wrong though. The term is often used interchangably with Charismatics, and isn't strictly a denomination in itself, maybe its more of a paradigm descriptor. Anyway, the main emphasis of pentecostals would appear to be on the role of the Holy Spirit in worship and practice. They are also big on ideas such as spiritual warfare, and supernatural manifestations. Again their theology is very protestant, but signifcantly different from the theology that emerged in the reformation. However pentecostalism is a fairly influential force in western (read American) christianity and is shaping many of the mainline and conservative groups.

Pentacostalists are the craziest fucks I've ever met...even when I was deeply involved with Christianity, those people scared me to death.

They chant and speak in tongues and dance and hold snakes and are not affected by poisons. Or so they say, mainly because the scriptures describe these as things apostles would be able to do. They see it as an affirmation of the Gospels to practise those things.

There is no difference. All are motivated by pride, and greed.

quote:Originally posted by Zman:

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus

That is false.

But before I argue on this point, please expound on why you believe that.

I want to be specific when I offer the evidence against that belief.

Thanks. ;-)

quote:Originally posted by Eil:

dude, use wikipedia. why are you relying on totse for accurate information? you do realize that's like using a pineapple to wipe your ass, right?

Oh my God !!!

LMAO

quote:Originally posted by Zman:

The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus



Heh...you're pretty off there...think apostles and what Jesus originally had in mind going the other way.

quote:Originally posted by Hexadecimal:

Pentacostalists are the craziest fucks I've ever met...even when I was deeply involved with Christianity, those people scared me to death.

Amen.

I was dragged by a friend of my mother's to a Pentecostal service when I was 10, and they were rolling around on the floor, and barking like dogs.

While this cannot represent the entire denomination, I must say that their behavior was strictly un-Biblical.

Also, Jesus did not teach that we ought to copy the miracles and experiences of the Apostle's.

Not one person who came along after them could replicate the spirituality that they experienced. They were annointed by the Holy Spirit which took the form of flame above their heads, for pete's sake !

Not reproducable logically...and God does not ever promise that we will experience that if we become spiritually close with Him. That occurance was unique to THEM.

It is a tool of the devil to deceive, and detract from the written word of God.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Also, Jesus did not teach that we ought to copy the miracles and experiences of the Apostle's.

Not one person who came along after them could replicate the spirituality that they experienced. They were annointed by the Holy Spirit which took the form of flame above their heads, for pete's sake !

Not reproducable logically...and God does not ever promise that we will experience that if we become spiritually close with Him. That occurance was unique to THEM.

It is a tool of the devil to deceive, and detract from the written word of God.

What? You mean like this:

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

- John 14:12

Even when read in context Jesus appears to be talking about miracles, and then goes on to promise the holy spirit.

So, if we're not supposed to copy Jesus, can we still waterski?

No, no, no...we're supposed to copy Jesus.

We are not supposed to try and replicate the specific spiritual blessings that the Apostle's experienced, because it is different for everyone.

However the spirit manifest's itself, is God's choosing.

By rolling around on the floor and barking like dogs, people are emulating their interpretation of what they have read (though I don't remember Peter ever howling at the moon !), and not just experiencing the spirit as it comes to them.

That's a falsification of doctrine, and does nothing to glorify God.

And I don't believe God has anything against water skiing.

Inquisitor - What does that have to do with using the Holy Spirit to manifest whatever man's interpretation is of being affected by it ?

Laughing hysterically was never an experience of the Apostle's.

Barking like dogs wasn't, either.

People that participate in such theatrics obviously aren't under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and are therefore misrepresenting God.

Your scripture doesn't even support your rebuttal for what you perceived I had said, even though I didn't say that.

That verse is telling us to love our brother, as Jesus did.

That love encompasses his entire life's work. If you love someone, you will tell them the truth. If you love them, you will be kind to them, and forgive them for their transgressions ceaselessly (that is a miracle, in and of itself).

That statement had very little to do with actual miracles, and was also specific to Phillip, and the other Apostle's.

God does not command or even encourage any other Christian to go around performing miracles.

Besides, miracles are very different from hysterics and loss of self control (as witnessed during the services of any given Pentecostal church).

Try to follow the context of what I am saying, please.

I go to an AOG church in the uk and my experance is very diffrent to the way you describe it there, whilst i dont disbeleve it happens in the US pentacostlism is from how ive vewed it is diffrant,

Digi just as a question how do you know the holy sprit didnt manafest its self upon the people at that churh the way it said it did?

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Inquisitor - What does that have to do with using the Holy Spirit to manifest whatever man's interpretation is of being affected by it ?

Not much really.

You said:

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Not one person who came along after them could replicate the spirituality that they experienced. They were annointed by the Holy Spirit which took the form of flame above their heads, for pete's sake !

Not reproducable logically...and God does not ever promise that we will experience that if we become spiritually close with Him. That occurance was unique to THEM.

Which gives the impression that you are saying two things.

1) that spirtitual manifestations claimed by many modern pentecostals, such as being 'slain in the spirit' or the profuse speaking of 'heavenly tounges' were not the experiences of the apsotles.

2) That the supernatural experiences that the apostles had have never been experienced by anyone else.

It would appear then that you are saying that both pentecostal experience, and ANY claimed manifestation or work of the Holy Spirit is a) not biblical and b) not real. However it appears that I must have misunderstood you.

You then go on to say that:

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

It is a tool of the devil to deceive, and detract from the written word of God.

The point of my post was to show that, according to the bible and to Jesus, that "greater things then these" are to be expected. Not the pentecostal experience IMO is of that nature.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Your scripture doesn't even support your rebuttal for what you perceived I had said, even though I didn't say that.

That verse is telling us to love our brother, as Jesus did.



I dunno what bible your reading, but last time i looked that verse is telling us that "anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."



quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

That love encompasses his entire life's work. If you love someone, you will tell them the truth. If you love them, you will be kind to them, and forgive them for their transgressions ceaselessly (that is a miracle, in and of itself).

Again it appears that the text is sying something quite different to that. Just about every time Jesus mentions love he connects it with obedience, not with smiling at your church friends.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

That statement had very little to do with actual miracles, and was also specific to Phillip, and the other Apostle's.

Phillip says "show us God and i'll believe that you're the way, life truth and the life".

The Man says "Surely you've known me for long enough to know that I'm one with God. But even if you don't believe me when I say it, believe on account of what I've done. Btw, whoever does believe in me is going to do the same things (that prove that Jesus is of the same nature as God)- in fact even greater things."

Jesus then goes on to explain about the Holy Spirit. Is it only for the Phillip and the Apostles?

" believes in me will do what I do" 14:12

"whoever[/I] loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and my Father and I will come live with Him" 14:23

Look at that double repetition! So then who is the Holy Spirit for? "Whoever". What will it do through them? As well as "remind(-ing) you of all these things it will also allow them to do "greater things than these".

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

God does not command or even encourage any other Christian to go around performing miracles.

Tru dat. Well, not explicitly. But what does he command us to do? To spread the good news. What does that entail?

"Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Besides, miracles are very different from hysterics and loss of self control (as witnessed during the services of any given Pentecostal church).

Yes, I agree.

quote:Originally posted by Digital_Savior:

Try to follow the context of what I am saying, please.

I'll try to.