JUST wondering if if its not because of a different interpretations of the Bible by different Christian cultures ? Can any one give some sane reason??/
Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religion?
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Re: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
Maybe it's because Christians like to have sects. :?
Sorry, I know you asked for a sane answer; but one persons sanity is insanity to another. There is no simple answer.
You could also ask why there are so many forms of Buddhism. :wink:
Maybe it's because Christians like to have sects. :?
Sorry, I know you asked for a sane answer; but one persons sanity is insanity to another. There is no simple answer.
You could also ask why there are so many forms of Buddhism. :wink:
Re: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
Well, I thought I might have an answer until I saw you ask for a *sane* reason. I'm inclined to think all religions are superstitious nonsense with no basis in reality.
It's not cultures as much as individuals. Most of the sectarianism is due to single individuals developing different interpretations and convincing enough followers that they're on to something. The first major schism, between Rome and Constantinople, is an exception; it was a gradual development starting in the 7th century and culminating in the sacking of Constantinople by Crusaders in 1204. The schism with Anglicanism is due entirely to Henry VIII, Protestantism is due almost entirely to Martin Luther, Calvinism to John Calvin, and so it goes. Trace any of the contemporary sects back to their origins and you'll likely find a single charismatic and forceful individual or a very small group, usually male, convinced there's heresy in other sects so a new one gets started with supposedly a better lock on the real truth... And so it goes.
Well, I thought I might have an answer until I saw you ask for a *sane* reason. I'm inclined to think all religions are superstitious nonsense with no basis in reality.
It's not cultures as much as individuals. Most of the sectarianism is due to single individuals developing different interpretations and convincing enough followers that they're on to something. The first major schism, between Rome and Constantinople, is an exception; it was a gradual development starting in the 7th century and culminating in the sacking of Constantinople by Crusaders in 1204. The schism with Anglicanism is due entirely to Henry VIII, Protestantism is due almost entirely to Martin Luther, Calvinism to John Calvin, and so it goes. Trace any of the contemporary sects back to their origins and you'll likely find a single charismatic and forceful individual or a very small group, usually male, convinced there's heresy in other sects so a new one gets started with supposedly a better lock on the real truth... And so it goes.
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
There is little sanity where religion is involved. People have strong opinions about their beliefs. Strong opinion coupled with a lack of objective facts work to create a situation where disagreements can't be resolved (god never says one way or the other who is right).
Heated debates and strong opinions also exist in science, the difference between science and religion is that in science actual verifiable answers are possible.
There is little sanity where religion is involved. People have strong opinions about their beliefs. Strong opinion coupled with a lack of objective facts work to create a situation where disagreements can't be resolved (god never says one way or the other who is right).
Heated debates and strong opinions also exist in science, the difference between science and religion is that in science actual verifiable answers are possible.
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
PRIDE!
The seperations in religion are always about feeling better and more righteous than others. In the end everybody is judging everybody else and it leads to the fragmentation of faith into ridiculous dogmatic differences.
It's just one of the devil's old tricks... If such a strange thing exists of course...
PRIDE!
The seperations in religion are always about feeling better and more righteous than others. In the end everybody is judging everybody else and it leads to the fragmentation of faith into ridiculous dogmatic differences.
It's just one of the devil's old tricks... If such a strange thing exists of course...
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
Thanks for all the answers.One more question if I may .Not being a beliver in any thing I have a hard time trying to understand people asking me .."are you saved"?
Saved from what ? Can any one explain this term ,not according to the Bible ,but according to everyday life.
THANKS
Thanks for all the answers.One more question if I may .Not being a beliver in any thing I have a hard time trying to understand people asking me .."are you saved"?
Saved from what ? Can any one explain this term ,not according to the Bible ,but according to everyday life.
THANKS
Re: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
To many chiefs and not enough indians?
I always thought that phrase should read: Have you been saved? Because if you haven't saved for tithing you're not going to get to heaven, according to most Christian ministers around the end of fiscal year.
china said:
To many chiefs and not enough indians?
china said:
I always thought that phrase should read: Have you been saved? Because if you haven't saved for tithing you're not going to get to heaven, according to most Christian ministers around the end of fiscal year.
Re: RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian re
Your conditions can't really be met. The question can't be answered except according to certain interpretations of the Bible, which is everyday life to some people. "Saved from sin" is the simple answer, which loosely speaking means you believe that you are a sinner, that Jesus Christ died for your sins and you've accepted Jesus as your personal saviour and thus been redeemed in the eyes of God, which in turn means you've turned your life over to Jesus to run. Beats me how he can do that, since the best, indeed the only, evidence we have is that he's been dead for about 2000 years, if he ever existed at all (and there's some doubt about that). In practical terms, turning your life over to Jesus to run usually means you've turned many of your decisions over to somebody claiming to represent him, and all other issues you'll resolve by praying to him and his dad. As a friend of mine once put it, "Some guy comes to earth to save humanity, but the folks don't take kindly to meddling long-hairs and nail him up on a big piece of wood, where he proceeds to snuff it. Three days later, he's cruising around (!) and all is right with the world AS LONG AS you kiss his ass every week and do what his old man tells you to. Otherwise, yer screwed!"
If you can accept nonsense like that, you're well on your way to being seriously religious. If you can't... well, congratulations, and welcome to reality.
china said:
Your conditions can't really be met. The question can't be answered except according to certain interpretations of the Bible, which is everyday life to some people. "Saved from sin" is the simple answer, which loosely speaking means you believe that you are a sinner, that Jesus Christ died for your sins and you've accepted Jesus as your personal saviour and thus been redeemed in the eyes of God, which in turn means you've turned your life over to Jesus to run. Beats me how he can do that, since the best, indeed the only, evidence we have is that he's been dead for about 2000 years, if he ever existed at all (and there's some doubt about that). In practical terms, turning your life over to Jesus to run usually means you've turned many of your decisions over to somebody claiming to represent him, and all other issues you'll resolve by praying to him and his dad. As a friend of mine once put it, "Some guy comes to earth to save humanity, but the folks don't take kindly to meddling long-hairs and nail him up on a big piece of wood, where he proceeds to snuff it. Three days later, he's cruising around (!) and all is right with the world AS LONG AS you kiss his ass every week and do what his old man tells you to. Otherwise, yer screwed!"
If you can accept nonsense like that, you're well on your way to being seriously religious. If you can't... well, congratulations, and welcome to reality.
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
Thanks guys for your answers to my questions,and I agree with most of you .In my younger days ,Ihave to admitt,I have read the Bible (mostly the New Testament) and the way I understood it was a history book of the christian movement .I can't see it being a "word of God" or "Basic Instructions Before Living Earth ". What is the "Word of God "? I've read in a Bible that "the word became flesh and dwelet among us...Christ" ,the bible isn't flesh. What I can't understand are the ones who can,t carry on an inteligent conversation without using the bible .Wll I be saved if I don't read the bible? if yes,why read it in a first place .What does it mean to be saved ? in layman language ,not some biblical terminology ? Saved from what?,the only reasonable answer that Ihave is to be saved from yourself . From a devil? Is there a anyone who could c "clue" me in?
Thanks guys for your answers to my questions,and I agree with most of you .In my younger days ,Ihave to admitt,I have read the Bible (mostly the New Testament) and the way I understood it was a history book of the christian movement .I can't see it being a "word of God" or "Basic Instructions Before Living Earth ". What is the "Word of God "? I've read in a Bible that "the word became flesh and dwelet among us...Christ" ,the bible isn't flesh. What I can't understand are the ones who can,t carry on an inteligent conversation without using the bible .Wll I be saved if I don't read the bible? if yes,why read it in a first place .What does it mean to be saved ? in layman language ,not some biblical terminology ? Saved from what?,the only reasonable answer that Ihave is to be saved from yourself . From a devil? Is there a anyone who could c "clue" me in?
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
BitWhys:its an afterlife thing.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------OOOOH,........... 'what's it like?
BitWhys:its an afterlife thing.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------OOOOH,........... 'what's it like?
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
Saved from hell or purgatory.
In essence christians believe that all humans are scum. God loves us so much so he cuckolds Joseph by knocking up the "virgin" mary and forces the ofspring to bear the weight of all humanity's sin by being tortured and murdered by crucifixion then rising from the dead and then going to heaven. Makes perfect sense to me.
God is insane.
Humans have free will that they must freely give up to blindly follow a book of inane contradictions. What's so hard about that?
Saved from hell or purgatory.
In essence christians believe that all humans are scum. God loves us so much so he cuckolds Joseph by knocking up the "virgin" mary and forces the ofspring to bear the weight of all humanity's sin by being tortured and murdered by crucifixion then rising from the dead and then going to heaven. Makes perfect sense to me.
God is insane.
Humans have free will that they must freely give up to blindly follow a book of inane contradictions. What's so hard about that?
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
Divine we aint,!!!! What is the 'scale'?
Divine we aint,!!!! What is the 'scale'?
RE: Why are there so many denominations in aChristian religi
I think Christians mainly want to be saved from pain and suffering.
Personally, I'm not sure I'm willing to draw a line between the divine and non-divine. The idea that we are not divine and that we need to be "saved" is much too pessimist for me. If I have an eternal soul I'm guessing it is in a constant form of evolution.
I don't believe in eternal damnation because it just seems contrary to how the universe seems to function. Everything is in constant flux. If I really am to "burn in hell", I'll eventually be all burned up and cease to suffer.
I think Christians mainly want to be saved from pain and suffering.
Personally, I'm not sure I'm willing to draw a line between the divine and non-divine. The idea that we are not divine and that we need to be "saved" is much too pessimist for me. If I have an eternal soul I'm guessing it is in a constant form of evolution.
I don't believe in eternal damnation because it just seems contrary to how the universe seems to function. Everything is in constant flux. If I really am to "burn in hell", I'll eventually be all burned up and cease to suffer.