What's a denomination?

[GQ Chris]

Thank God for the Reformers, if it weren't for them, I may have embraced atheism. What does the Papacy really symbolize today, other than the controversy that they've brought upon themselves.

 

[Im_A]

Thank God for the Reformers, if it weren't for them, I may have embraced atheism. What does the Papacy really symbolize today, other than the controversy that they've brought upon themselves.

[rolling eyes]-I'm a non-believer but that even to me seems silly.

I just find it funny that the fallacy of the pope would in theory lead you to deny the existence of god. As if somehow the fallacy of the pope is worse than Luther's antisemitism in, "On the Jews and Their Lies" is worse in the eyes of some hebrew god than raping children(oh that's right that does happen in the OT...my bad)

The Protestant Movement trying to monopolize the believers by aligning itself with capitalism, free market systems and a republic form of government. No wonder stuff from Calvinists today make people think...salesmen but selling indulgences just took a new light in a Protestant manner eh so it seems the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

 

[jameseb]

my point was, every Church and denomination has doctrines that they think are correct and that others are mistaken about
but the Catholics are the ones who get called out for thinking that way

No, it's alright, I understood your point. EO usually escapes a lot of scrutiny because when asked most people reply, "Eastern what?"

 

[jameseb]

Catholics themselves have portrayed it as praying to saints, to me. This area is heavily Catholic, so I've been around quite a few Catholics. At least two Catholic former coworkers told me that they pray to saints. They described the prayers. One of them prayed to a saint when she was in busy/hectic traffic and told me what she said. I wonder if part of the problem isn't just Protestant churches that are misrepresenting Catholicism, but also some Catholics who, apparently, don't understand their own religion. (this is no dig at Catholics, but I find it confusing...I'm obviously not Catholic.) I can't speak about EO churches and their members, though, because I don't know anyone (other than one professor) who goes to an EO church in this area.

I really can't speak for Catholics on this as my own understanding is based in EO. I just assume on issues such as this our understanding is the same. Having said that, this is probably a case of semantics - when asking a saint to intercede on your behalf, you're talking to them in prayer. I guess the point of clarity that should be made is that they're not praying to the saints as if they were demi-gods. As for myself, I don't practice intercessory prayer.

 

[GQ Chris]

[rolling eyes]
I just find it funny that the fallacy of the pope would in theory lead you to deny the existence of god.

It isn't just the popes, it is everything with Roman Catholicism.

 

[Rhamiel]

Denominations are immature believers' ways of making the Christian life difficult. Focusing on them is a sign that the person is spiritually weak.

hmmm
what about the tendency of some denominations to oversimplify?

also, about immature believers, I have met many who do not care about denominations, but since they have no firm belief structure, they go for lots of new age type stuff or gnosticism

I like that when someone takes a denomination seriously, atleast you know that they have some orthodox beliefs

 

[jameseb]

also, about immature believers, I have met many who do not care about denominations, but since they have no firm belief structure, they go for lots of new age type stuff or gnosticism

You raise a good point here - also, a lot of the "born again" atheists or agnostics that I've known had previously held very liberal views on Christianity. It might just be coincidence, but then again there might be something to that. If your house is built on sand...