The No true Scotsman Fallacy

[morningstar2651]

I've never personally heard these types of comments. And ice never experienced these types of churches. But I have been in churches where people overreact when the pastors call sin sin.

I have met protestants that say Catholics aren't really Christian because they worship idols and they're all going to Hell for venerating saints.

 

[Hammster]

I have met protestants that say Catholics aren't really Christian because they worship idols and they're all going to Hell for venerating saints.

So was Hetta a Catholic going to a Protestant church?

 

[MoreCoffee]

I'm specifically talking about denominations, not individuals. But if you think that individuals say things in a vacuum, I'd refer you to their churches, because usually they are repeating what they have learned at church.

How about you name the specific denominations that say this and cite the official doctrinal statements from those denominations where this is said? Then we will know for sure which denominations are like that. We'll also be able to decide if they represent any significant Christian theological movement. And please, do not cite denominations that have confessions of faith that specifically condemn Catholicism and/or the Pope. Such denunciations of Catholicism are far from claiming that the members of the denomination are the only true christians on the planet.

 

[Hammster]

I don't see any point in continuing this discussion. It's at 24 pages and I've repeated over and over what my experience has been and have had it belittled or misinterpreted. It has caused a divergence really from the OP, and I'm sorry for that.

I think it's related to the OP. There's a context involved. Without it, we can't understand exactly why someone would claim you aren't a Christian, or whatever your complaint is.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I don't see any point in continuing this discussion. It's at 24 pages and I've repeated over and over what my experience has been and have had it belittled or misinterpreted. It has caused a divergence really from the OP, and I'm sorry for that.

Okay. But if you ever decide to name the denominations then I am interested in knowing which they are.

 

[Hetta]

I think it's related to the OP. There's a context involved. Without it, we can't understand exactly why someone would claim you aren't a Christian, or whatever your complaint is.

I'm not the OP but I understand where she's coming from. I've been told many times on CF that I am not a Christian. Sometimes openly, sometimes inferred and have had the same experiences IRL.

Red Fox (the OP) can only of course speak for her own experiences and I'm not going to speak for her.

 

[Hammster]

I'm not the OP but I understand where she's coming from. I've been told many times on CF that I am not a Christian. Sometimes openly, sometimes inferred and have had the same experiences IRL.

Red Fox (the OP) can only of course speak for her own experiences and I'm not going to speak for her.

My mistake. I thought you didn't attend church because people there said you were not a real Christian.

 

[Architeuthus]

I don't see any point in continuing this discussion. It's at 24 pages and I've repeated over and over what my experience has been and have had it belittled or misinterpreted. It has caused a divergence really from the OP, and I'm sorry for that.

This is where starting your own thread would have been a good idea; I think you were perceived as joining in on a "let's attack Christianity" thread.

And I did think the assumption in your "I'm sure that, to your way of thinking, I am not a Christian" comment might have been a little unhelpful.

But this thread probably spun out of control long ago, sadly.

 

[Hetta]

This is where starting your own thread would have been a good idea; I think you were perceived as joining the OP in a "let's attack Christianity thread."

So you can read the minds of others?

The OP wasn't attacking anyone and nor was I. It becomes impossible to have discussions with other Christians about what is driving Christians away when all that some can do is scream persecution whenever anyone raises an issue. This is how people just quit because their personal experience is dismissed or minimized, or worse - they are criticized for "persecuting" a massive, worldwide institution.

 

[MoreCoffee]

So you can read the minds of others?

The OP wasn't attacking anyone and nor was I. It becomes impossible to have discussions with other Christians about what is driving Christians away when all that some can do is scream persecution whenever anyone raises an issue. This is how people just quit because their personal experience is dismissed or minimized, or worse - they are criticized for "persecuting" a massive, worldwide institution.

I'd still like to know which denominations say in their official statements of faith that they and they alone are true christians.

 

[Hetta]

My mistake. I thought you didn't attend church because people there said you were not a real Christian.

I did say that, but I'm still not the OP. And it isn't that these comments have particularly been addressed to me (although sometimes they have), it's that I've seen it either being expressed directly or inferred in churches and amongst Christians.

 

[Hammster]

I did say that, but I'm still not the OP. And it isn't that these comments have particularly been addressed to me (although sometimes they have), it's that I've seen it either being expressed directly or inferred in churches and amongst Christians.

Then your experiences are directly related to the OP. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of the context of what was said. It would be helpful if you would give an example of what was said to you, and what type of church you were attending.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Then your experiences are directly related to the OP. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of the context of what was said. It would be helpful if you would give an example of what was said to you, and what type of church you were attending.

When last I visited a Pentecostal Church some folk told me I could not be a Christian since I was a Catholic. Of course their denomination doesn't teach that. But that doesn't stop some from saying it.

 

[Architeuthus]

I did say that, but I'm still not the OP.

Exactly, and in a heated thread like this, the motivations of one participant wind up being ascribed to the other. Hence my comment that starting your own thread (in the Christian area of the forum, probably) would have been a better idea.

 

[Architeuthus]

It would be helpful if you would give an example of what was said to you, and what type of church you were attending.

I agree with that (although I think it belongs in another thread).

 

[Ironhold]

But these are not ordinary people. It's not healthy to aspire to perfection.

In the world of business, there's a concept known as "benchmarking". This is where you identify a group or organization that is a leader in a certain area, and then begin emulating their best qualities in an effort to boost one's performance in that area.

If done right, then even if you don't successfully emulate them all the way you'll still be better off for having tried.

 

[GoingByzantine]

Pain and suffering can cause a person to harden their heart, if a denomination or group of people has harmed a person why would they condemn Christianity as a whole? I totally understand feeling upset, and feeling hurt. I understand that sometimes a "break" from religion might be needed to help a person heal...but...we cannot let the pettiness of denominations get the best of us. Christianity is about the Lord our God, who should be feared and respected. If we get so caught up in what "person x" thinks about "person y" or what "denomination x" thinks about "denomination y" then we are missing the point, Christianity is about God first and all the superfluous stuff is a distraction.

Therefore if you want to find salvation through Christ, read the bible and pray, when you are ready you can rejoin a church. If you do not want to find Christ, then move on and if you are lucky he will find you.

 

[A New Dawn]

I honestly don't know. I'm not Catholic and never have been.

That particular book was one example out of many. If you click the link you'll see a long list.

If you can't support your premise, then why bring it up?

My post that you responded to was about basing doctrine on things other than the Bible. Specifically things that the Bible contradicts or is completely silent on. Not whether they accept other books of as scripure.

 

[morningstar2651]

So was Hetta a Catholic going to a Protestant church?

So's law.

 

[Hammster]

So's law.

I don't know what that is.