200,000 books

[bhsmte]

Is that the reason there are 30,000 odd varieties of Christians, it's a message so important no one can decide what it means.
Looks like god failed once again.

Good point.

What it actually does, is allow people to tailor their interpretation, to their personal needs and this is what we typically see.

 

[joshua 1 9]

Is that the reason there are 30,000 odd varieties of Christians, it's a message so important no one can decide what it means.

They may meet in 30,000 different building. Did you want them all to meet in the same place? Some cities do use an old stadium so they can gather quite a few together at one time.

Or are you talking about a standard of belief? There is a statement of faith here on this web site. You agree not to violate that statement of faith in order to gain admission. So there is a standard set here on this forum. People can argue outside of that statement of faith if they want, but I don't. For example: "I look for the resurrection of the dead". You may find someone that does not accept or believe that there is a resurrection but I do not argue with them. Because I figure if they do not believe in it then they are not qualified to be resurrected.

As Christians we have the Mind of Christ. What makes us Christian is: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & self control. Some are more mature then others. Also people have different gifts and a calling. Just like the body has different parts and they do not all perform the same functions. None of this seems to confirm your idea that we should all be a cookie cutter copy of each other. Maybe that is what atheists do but not christians.

 

[lesliedellow]

Is that the reason there are 30,000 odd varieties of Christians, it's a message so important no one can decide what it means.
Looks like god failed once again, Christians are casting a slur on their God by saying he wrote the Bible, far better for them to say that man made mistakes when they didn't write down the words they were told to write.

That 30,000 figure, atheists are so enamoured of comes from the World Christian Encyclopaedia. It counts (for example) Catholics in England as being a different denomination than Catholics in Scotland, or Methodists in France as being a different denomination from Methodists in America.

Christians are usually accounted of as belonging to a different denomination if their theology, or practice, or both differs from that of another group. Living in different parts of the world, or even different parts of the same country, doesn't normally get them classified as belonging to different denominations. The WCE does it differently because it is basically a handbook for missionaries.

 

[Larniavc]

There does not seem to be any plan or purpose though. Back during WW2 they wanted to conquer the world. Then they wanted to fix the damage and rebuild the world. Today I am not quite sure what people are doing. There is a lot of destruction in very ancient places that have survived up till now for tens of thousands of years.

What? What does that have to do with anything?

What is it with these flights of ideas?

 

[bhsmte]

What? What does that have to do with anything?

What is it with these flights of ideas?

It is about needing to avoid the main point.

 

[JaneC]

That 30,000 figure, atheists are so enamoured of comes from the World Christian Encyclopaedia. It counts (for example) Catholics in England as being a different denomination than Catholics in Scotland, or Methodists in France as being a different denomination from Methodists in America.

Christians are usually accounted of as belonging to a different denomination if their theology, or practice, or both differs from that of another group. Living in different parts of the world, or even different parts of the same country, doesn't normally get them classified as belonging to different denominations. The WCE does it differently because it is basically a handbook for missionaries.

OK let's cut that number by two thirds to 10,000 it still means most people are not quite getting the same massage, who is to blame for that the writer or the reader?

 

[joshua 1 9]

You might just as well say that the more you study history the better you will understand a cookery book. Obviously nonsensical.

Not at all. In fact there is a book that claims that cooking food was a major step forward in the evolution of mankind. The history of cooking is just as valid as any other history.

 

[joshua 1 9]

It is about needing to avoid the main point.

Ahh, ye ol theory of conflict avoidance.

 

[joshua 1 9]

OK let's cut that number by two thirds to 10,000 it still means most people are not quite getting the same massage, who is to blame for that the writer or the reader?

I have been to Bible school and I know how to preach a sermon. You have to be lead by the Holy Spirit of God. We do not need man to teach us, we can be taught by God. Also what they told me was to teach any truth at all from the Bible. Just get the point across to people. So we learn line upon line, precept upon precept. A little here and a little there. There are lots and lots of churches that have pastors with only a two year degree. They for the most part can preach a pretty good sermon. They are not very good at counseling people or helping them with their personal problems. For that you need a main line denomination where the pastors or priests have a graduate level degree and they are better trained and better able to help people.

Your idea of cookie cutter christians that just teach what they learned from others is a dangerous concept. We can not teach the truth. People need to discover truth for themselves. We just do what we can to help them in the discovery process.

 

[joshua 1 9]

What? What does that have to do with anything?

The point is that the world is a different place then it was 50 or 100 years ago. Yet things are still very much the same.

 

[Larniavc]

The point is that the world is a different place then it was 50 or 100 years ago. Yet things are still very much the same.

But we were not discussing that!

Let's call it a day, talking to you is pointless tangent after pointless tangent.

Good day, sir.

 

[JaneC]

I have been to Bible school and I know how to preach a sermon. You have to be lead by the Holy Spirit of God.

What nonsense is this?

 

[bhsmte]

What nonsense is this?

He seems to have difficulty responding on topic.

 

[46AND2]

That 30,000 figure, atheists are so enamoured of comes from the World Christian Encyclopaedia. It counts (for example) Catholics in England as being a different denomination than Catholics in Scotland, or Methodists in France as being a different denomination from Methodists in America.

Christians are usually accounted of as belonging to a different denomination if their theology, or practice, or both differs from that of another group. Living in different parts of the world, or even different parts of the same country, doesn't normally get them classified as belonging to different denominations. The WCE does it differently because it is basically a handbook for missionaries.

The actual number is not as important as the point that there are a LOT of different ways people interpret the Bible, despite the holy spirit allegedly helping them understand it.

 

[bhsmte]

The actual number is not as important as the point that there are a LOT of different ways people interpret the Bible, despite the holy spirit allegedly helping them understand it.

It appears, the holy spirit helps them understand how they want to understand.

 

[lesliedellow]

It appears, the holy spirit helps them understand how they want to understand.

It may be the case that an individual's agenda and/or prejudices enter into his/her interpretation of the Bible, but that is no fault of the Holy Spirit. There is something called original sin in Christian theology.

 

[bhsmte]

It may be the case that an individual's agenda and/or prejudices enter into his/her interpretation of the Bible, but that is no fault of the Holy Spirit. There is something called original sin in Christian theology.

Then, the holy spirit can't help interpretations with the personal agenda's of those doing the interpreting.

 

[lesliedellow]

Then, the holy spirit can't help interpretations with the personal agenda's of those doing the interpreting.

The Holy Spirit may have our sin to contend with, but that does not mean that its influence is wholly frustrated.

 

[46AND2]

It may be the case that an individual's agenda and/or prejudices enter into his/her interpretation of the Bible, but that is no fault of the Holy Spirit. There is something called original sin in Christian theology.

With so many different interpretations, how to tell who is and is not not letting their agenda and/or prejudices enter into his/her interpretation?

 

[bhsmte]

With so many different interpretations, how to tell who is and is not not letting their agenda and/or prejudices enter into his/her interpretation?

You can't.