a 'sign' or pure 'coincidence' - Page 8

**Chris** · 07-07-2003, 13:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Stones
as far as im concerned, everyone should be left to believe what they want and not have anything forced on them by anyone else <snip>

Despite being an evangelical Christian, I couldn't agree more. Naturally I want you to find what I have found, but seeing as what I found is essentially a relationship, it would be self-defeating to try to force it on anyone.

Dave Stones · 07-07-2003, 13:22

Quote:

<snip snip> it would be self-defeating to try to force it on anyone.

jehovah's witnesses anyone?

our house is in their black book, my mum and dad had a huge argument with them a while ago as my mum almost electrocuted herself cos of them... whoo for circuit breakers

and you say ur evangelical... can anyone explain to me whats different about all the chrisitanities? i never understood why there are so many, we only got taught about islam in RE...

Ramrod · 07-07-2003, 13:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Stones
can anyone explain to me whats different about all the chrisitanities? i never understood why there are so many, we only got taught about islam in RE...

Over to Towny and Russ.....

**Chris** · 07-07-2003, 13:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Stones
jehovah's witnesses anyone?

our house is in their black book, my mum and dad had a huge argument with them a while ago as my mum almost electrocuted herself cos of them... whoo for circuit breakers

and you say ur evangelical... can anyone explain to me whats different about all the chrisitanities? i never understood why there are so many, we only got taught about islam in RE...

An irresistible invitation ...

First I ought to define 'force' ... I have done door-to-door work in the past but don't consider it 'forcing'. Forcing religion on people is making it illegal not to be a certain religion, as in some islamic countries, and as it was in this country in the middle ages. I can's speak for islam, but as Christianity is about a relationship between God and the believer, to force it on someone is pointless. You can force someone to recite prayers and rituals, but these outward things are not essentially what Christianity is.

As for the difference between 'Christianities', well, there is only one Christianity but the expression of it varies for all kinds of reasons.

Normally, a new denomination is formed when a group of people in a particular church read the Bible, think, 'hang on, we've drifted away from what the Bible actually teaches...' and go to their leaders about it. If the leaders refuse to budge, they go off and form a new church instead.

That is a hopelessly simplified account of how it happens, but to give some examples:

1. Although it was Henry VIII's political needs that gave the impetus for the formation of the Church of England, there was already a great deal of discontentment among Christians in England about the way Rome was running things. They were in favour of reform but didn't have the clout to do it until Henry found it to his advantage to support them (he wanted a divorce).

2. The Methodist church was founded when John Wesley, an Anglican cleric, complained that there was too little attention to Bible study and Godly living in the Church of England. He never wanted to form a new denomination, but he and his followers were eventually hounded out of the C of E. 'Methodist' was actually an insult coined by the Anglicans to disparage them for their habit of meeting in each other's homes for Bible study and prayers.

3. Other minor denominations - Baptist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, etc etc etc etc - all formed when one or more folks felt challenged by God to get back to the fundamental teaching of the Bible. Sometimes named after that part of Biblical teaching that most obviously prompted them to form a new denomination. EG, Baptists are characterised by their emphasis on baptizing adults who have decided for themselves to become Christians, rather than babies.

4. Among the newer denominations, despite their names often focusing on one particular aspect of Christian belief or practice, they all tend to share a lot in common; they tend to baptise adults only, believe in the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (first given during the Jewish festival of Pentecost), and have an evangelistic outlook (i.e. believe that the 'good news' should be actively shared and proclaimed).

danielf · 07-07-2003, 13:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Ramrod
Of course you would not be able to publish this stuff in anything other than Fortean Times . However the same can be said of 'authentic' experiences.

Cheers, that's several working days down the pan

Ramrod · 07-07-2003, 14:33

Quote:

Originally posted by danielf
Cheers, that's several working days down the pan

not with you on that one.....

danielf · 07-07-2003, 14:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Ramrod
not with you on that one.....

The Fortean Times. I didn't know that, but I feel a few working days might be spent reading that...

Ramrod · 07-07-2003, 14:39

Quote:

Originally posted by danielf
The Fortean Times. I didn't know that, but I feel a few working days might be spent reading that...

Ah yes. Sorry to be dense. btw...There are lots of mags like that in the shops. Have a look in the bigger whsmiths. The 'truth'(

) is out there....

Russ · 07-07-2003, 19:30

Quote:

You're joking right? Errr.... but isn't Catholicism a part of Christianity then? So where's the border? Next to the Protestants.... Blatant disregard to any Chritian faith is to assume the upper hand... May you burn for ever....

If you'd ever been to a Catholic school, you'd surely understand how Christianity gets 'pushed' upon you....

I had 12 years of Catholic schooling.

No, there are many differences between christianity and catholicism. This is not intended as a dig at anyone but not realising this is indicitive of many peoples' lack of understanding of religions and faiths.

For example there are some who consider Catholicism to be more of a 'cult' given it's teachings.

Ramrod · 07-07-2003, 19:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ D
For example there are some who consider Catholicism to be more of a 'cult' given it's teachings.

rotfl, excellent

Russ · 07-07-2003, 19:36

It's true! Praying to and worshipping Mary and the saints, this is directly against what is written in the Bible. The many beautiful ornaments found in so many Catholic churches, although wonderful and a glorious tribute to God, are exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught!

danielf · 07-07-2003, 19:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ D
It's true! Praying to and worshipping Mary and the saints, this is directly against what is written in the Bible. The many beautiful ornaments found in so many Catholic churches, although wonderful and a glorious tribute to God, are exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught!

Time for an Iconoclasm then?

Russ · 07-07-2003, 19:41

Oooo painful

Ramrod · 07-07-2003, 21:01

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ D
It's true! Praying to and worshipping Mary and the saints, this is directly against what is written in the Bible. The many beautiful ornaments found in so many Catholic churches, although wonderful and a glorious tribute to God, are exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught!

I know. I just think the way you put it was very good.

Theodoric · 08-07-2003, 22:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ D
It's true! Praying to and worshipping Mary and the saints, this is directly against what is written in the Bible. The many beautiful ornaments found in so many Catholic churches, although wonderful and a glorious tribute to God, are exactly the opposite of what Jesus taught!

However, although the term Mariolotry is often bandied about, if my memory serves me right, what Catholics are doing is praying for the intercession of Mary or of a saint with Jesus, not quite the same thing as worshipping Mary or a saint.