Protestantism has done more harm than good.

[Inkfingers]

Essentially I'm wondering if hundreds of denominations, with dozens of versions of the Bible, has resulted in confusion and (in response) apostacy; whether into heretical denominations or fully out of any semblance of the Church whatsoever.

People keep telling me that scripture is protected but it cannot be protected when there are literally dozens of different versions of the Bible. Of course, they claim that their favourite one is the special version, but heck they can't all be right can they...

So I'm calling out Protestantism as doing more harm than good because it makes a chaos and confusion of matters that shatters the Church and drives people away.

What say you all?

 

[Lost4words]

I agree to some degree.

Thousands of individual denominations, each with their own unique view/interpretation of what scripture is saying. All like little rudderless boats wandering aimlessly in a vast ocean. Not knowing where they are going.

 

[Aussie Pete]

Essentially I'm wondering if hundreds of denominations, with dozens of versions of the Bible, has resulted in confusion and (in response) apostacy; whether into heretical denominations or fully out of any semblance of the Church whatsoever.

People keep telling me that scripture is protected but it cannot be protected when there are literally dozens of different versions of the Bible. Of course, they claim that their favourite one is the special version, but heck they can't all be right can they...

So I'm calling out Protestantism as doing more harm than good because it makes a chaos and confusion of matters that shatters the Church and drives people away.

What say you all?

The history of Christianity is littered with the false and fake, as the Bible warned us would happen. Don't single out protestantism and don't discount the tremendous good that protestants have done. One man, supported by a large team, preached to 215 million people. Billy Graham was Baptist. Some people have selective memories, obviously. The utter corruption of the Roman Catholic organisation led to Martin Luther and Zwingli rejecting it. You think sheltering paedophiles does not turn people away? The lies and cover up that Catholicism indulged in to protect itself? How about the inquisition? Murdering believers because they dared to disagree with Rome. I won't go on.

 

[Inkfingers]

The history of Christianity is littered with the false and fake, as the Bible warned us would happen. Don't single out protestantism and don't discount the tremendous good that protestants have done. One man, supported by a large team, preached to 215 million people. Billy Graham was Baptist. Some people have selective memories, obviously. The utter corruption of the Roman Catholic organisation led to Martin Luther and Zwingli rejecting it. You think sheltering paedophiles does not turn people away? The lies and cover up that Catholicism indulged in to protect itself? How about the inquisition? Murdering believers because they dared to disagree with Rome. I won't go on.

Yes some protestants have done good things, which is undeniable, and the Catholic Church has hidden bad things, but this is beside the point.

The very nature of protestantism itself is unhelpful, for the reasons that I have given. This is not about the people and their actions, but the thing itself.

 

[Quid est Veritas?]

How would you quantify the harm it did?

The Reformation was in response to real abuses within the Catholic Church, as even the Counter-Reformation acknowledged. It had salutary effects too. I don't see how you can determine what is more or less harm here. A lot of the wars and so of the Reformation were often politically driven too, with the Churches merely being pretext - a good example being Henry IV giving up his Protestantism, as Paris was worth a Mass.

The Reformation is also widely regarded as aiding the spread of Education and work ethic in Northern Europe, so played a role in the shift of power centres away from the Mediterranean to North and Central Europe. Are you just speaking about the spiritual, or are you taking such material gains into account? Though again, it is very difficult to parse and apportion praise or blame here.

 

[Aussie Pete]

Yes some protestants have done good things, which is undeniable, and the Catholic Church has hidden bad things, but this is beside the point.

The very nature of protestantism itself is unhelpful, for the reasons that I have given. This is not about the people and their actions, but the thing itself.

All "isms" are wrong. Picking out one is pointless. Roman Catholicism has done way more damage to the reputation of Christianity than any protestant group.

 

[Inkfingers]

How would you quantify the harm it did?

Hundreds of denomonations, dozens of bibles, they cannot all be correct (and as many realise that they leave any semblance of the Church to create a secular age where infanticide is called health-care and sexual confusion is called orientation).

Is that enough?

 

[SkyWriting]

Essentially, I'm wondering if hundreds of denominations, with dozens of versions of the Bible, has resulted in confusion and (in response) apostasy; whether into heretical denominations or fully out of any semblance of the Church whatsoever. What say you all?

There is less variation between any two denominations than there is a variation inside any one church. See, you can point out all the differences you want between the churches, but if you settle in and attend Sunday School, you'll find that those eager to learn range from "experts" to total non-believers and skeptics.

There are subgroups of people who attend church for the socialization, some for the Sunday classes. Some are there for the singing, some for the babysitting aspect, some for the routine, and some like the sermons. Some come every week, some random weeks, some tithe, some don't.

There is far more variation inside any one church building than differences between any two denominations. And the subgroups are almost identical in their activities or lifestyle with every other subgroup of any denomination.

And I have seen Catholics scattered all over the map from the ultra-conservative to the ultra-liberal. So I can't imagine why you think they are any different. I've experienced Catholic groups handing out flyers to the public rejecting certain changes to the church structure and I couldn't even understand what the fliers were saying. Something about some 54th congress making policy changes or some pope being rejected, or something. The complaint wasn't even in laymen's language.

 

[SkyWriting]

Hundreds of denomonations, dozens of bibles, they cannot all be correct (and as many realise that they leave any semblance of the Church to create a secular age where infanticide is called health-care and sexual confusion is called orientation).
Is that enough?

Yes, all the Bibles are correct. I'm guessing you've never compared them?
See if you can find a specific Bible version that promotes your choice of social complaints. I call them Pet Peeves. So your peevs are gays and abortion. People with little experience on gays and abortion have very strong opinions. But they turn a blind eye to gays and abortions inside their own family. Or the kids they grew up with who were "a little different" from that gang.

Go look up all your childhood friends on Facebook. You'll see a good number of your best pals living non-binary lives and you knew they were different as children.

New International Version
"'Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

New Living Translation
“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the LORD.

English Standard Version
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

Berean Study Bible
You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
'You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.

New King James Version
You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

King James Bible
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not go about spreading slander among your people; do not jeopardize your neighbor's life; I am the LORD.

Contemporary English Version
Don't be a gossip, but never hesitate to speak up in court, especially if your testimony can save someone's life.

Good News Translation
Do not spread lies about anyone, and when someone is on trial for his life, speak out if your testimony can help him. I am the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must not go about spreading slander among your people; you must not jeopardize your neighbor's life; I am Yahweh."

International Standard Version
"You are not to go around slandering your people. "You are not to stand idle when your neighbor's life is at stake. I am the LORD.

NET Bible
You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. You must not stand idly by when your neighbor's life is at stake. I am the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
"'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people; neither shall you stand against the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

A Faithful Version
You shall not go as a slanderer among your people; you shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor. I am the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Never gossip. Never endanger your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.

Bible hub

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Of course, they claim that their favourite one is the special version, but heck they can't all be right can they...

It is the same with religions. From among the thousands the one people end up is the right one.....well unless they change their minds which apparently happens a lot. Then the new religion becomes the right one.

Funny how it goes.

 

[Saint Steven]

Hundreds of denomonations, dozens of bibles, they cannot all be correct...

Plain vanilla, please. None of this 31 flavors stuff. If there are 31 flavors, they can't all be right. Correct?

What was the outcome of the first church-split? - lol

Acts 15:37-40
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

 

[Saint Steven]

It is the same with religions. From among the thousands the one people end up is the right one.....well unless they change their minds which apparently happens a lot. Then the new religion becomes the right one.

Funny how it goes.

In Christianity, the enemy is the church across the street. And they feel the same way about you. How unfortunate.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

In Christianity, the enemy is the church across the street. And they feel the same way about you. How unfortunate.

That is hardly confined to Christianity. Shias and Sunnis come to mind.

 

[Saint Steven]

That is hardly confined to Christianity. Shias and Sunnis come to mind.

Agreed.
But I hate to see Christianity reduced to this. Why aren't we above such prejudices?

Saint Steven said: ↑
In Christianity, the enemy is the church across the street. And they feel the same way about you. How unfortunate.

 

[Inkfingers]

There is less variation between any two denominations than there is a variation inside any one church. See, you can point out all the differences you want between the churches, but if you settle in and attend Sunday School, you'll find that those eager to learn range from "experts" to total non-believers and skeptics.

There are subgroups of people who attend church for the socialization, some for the Sunday classes. Some are there for the singing, some for the babysitting aspect, some for the routine, and some like the sermons. Some come every week, some random weeks, some tithe, some don't.

There is far more variation inside any one church building than differences between any two denominations. And the subgroups are almost identical in their activities or lifestyle with every other subgroup of any denomination.

And I have seen Catholics scattered all over the map from the ultra-conservative to the ultra-liberal. So I can't imagine why you think they are any different. I've experienced Catholic groups handing out flyers to the public rejecting certain changes to the church structure and I couldn't even understand what the fliers were saying. Something about some 54th congress making policy changes or some pope being rejected, or something. The complaint wasn't even in laymen's language.

You obviously chose to ignore the part where I said "This is not about the people and their actions, but the thing itself".

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

In Christianity, the enemy is the church across the street. And they feel the same way about you. How unfortunate.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

[Saint Steven]

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Is that your proof that the enemy is the church across the street? Wow.
(they feel the same way about you)

 

[Hawkins]

God counts souls. At peak time the number of Christians reached 2 billion, almost half of them are protestants. If only Catholics exist, a lot of them disagree with the Catholic behavior or denomination may have no choice but to leave Christianity as a whole.

God allows Protestants to rise to choose a denomination suiting their mind. Biblical knowledge may be understood differently but not the message of salvation which is to believe Jesus. The salvation power of a church is governed by the statements in the Apostles' Creed.

Maybe thanks are to given to the corrupted Catholicism which caused the emergence of Protestants.

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

Is that your proof that the enemy is the church across the street? Wow.
(they feel the same way about you)

thats the point they are not my enemies obviously they are your enemies.

 

[Jesus is YHWH]

God counts souls. At peak time the number of Christians reached 2 billion, almost half of them are protestants. If only Catholics exist, a lot of them disagree with the Catholic behavior or denomination may have no choice but to leave Christianity as a whole.

God allows Protestants to rise to choose a denomination suiting their mind. Biblical knowledge may be understood differently but not the message of salvation which is to believe Jesus. The salvation power of a church is governed by the statements in the Apostles' Creed.

Maybe thanks are to given to the corrupted Catholicism which caused the emergence of Protestants.

the voice of reason !