why are there so many denominations of christianity, and why do most think that the other is wrong? isnt that an indication that the bible is a "interpret it the way you want" book, if god really speaks through the bible, why is it so inefficient? it's imperative that a "priest/shaman/scolar" figure do the guiding.
2006-09-29 14:03:23 · 23 answers · asked by lnfrared Loaf 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
All of the different interpretations of the Bible (which leads to so many denominations) is evidence against the existence of the Christian god.
"The Bible is supposedly God's perfect Word. It contains instructions to humankind for avoiding the eternal fires of hell. How wonderful and kind of this God to provide us with this means of overcoming the problems for which he is ultimately responsible! The all-powerful God could have, by a mere act of will, eliminated all of the problems we humans must endure, but instead, in his infinite wisdom, he has opted to offer this indecipherable amalgam of books which is the Bible as a means for avoiding the hell which he has prepared for us. The perfect God has decided to reveal his wishes in this imperfect work, written in the imperfect language of imperfect man, translated, copied, interpreted, voted on, and related by imperfect man. No two men will ever agree what this perfect word of God is supposed to mean, since much of it is either self- contradictory, or obscured by enigmatic symbols. And yet the perfect God expects us imperfect humans to understand this paradoxical riddle using the imperfect minds with which he has equipped us. Surely the all-wise and all-powerful God would have known that it would have been better to reveal his perfect will directly to each of us, rather than to allow it to be debased and perverted by the imperfect language and botched interpretations of man."
2006-09-29 14:06:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, the way I look at it is when the church started there were many, many different churches all throughout the world (mostly near the middle east and Jerusalem, which was the center of the expanding missionary efforts). Each different church was founded by a different person who taught in a slightly different way than others. All had the same message, that Jesus was the Christ (messiah).
Fast foward to modern times and it is the same relative situation with some changes. There are very liberal churches that put very, very little emphasis on the teachings of the Bible while there are also very conservative, fundamentalist type churches that rely almost completely on the Word. The only churches that really say that the others are wrong are the wacky ones (such as the supper liberal or the fundamentalist). Most other denominations are simply places for people to worship God through Jesus Christ in a slightly different way.
The Lutheran denomination began from Martin Luther's objections to the horrific abuses committed by the church. He brought the church back from the craziness of selling indulgences (people payed the church to be able to sin) to a more pious life based on faith.
John Wesley started the Methodist denomination from small groups he ran that enjoyed the way in which he worshipped God. It's not that his theology was vastly different than other people (although he did have a very new and impressive way of preaching) but that his belief in small prayer groups for personal growth touched the hearts of many people.
There are absolutes in the Bible, it's only in more modern times that people claim that everything is relative. As for it being "imperative" that a priest do the guiding, that's a bunch of baloney. The Bible is for everyone.
2006-09-29 21:30:49 · answer #2 · answered by Seth G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Roman Catholic was not the first religion. It may have been the first organized religion. Paul went to speak to the Church in Ephesis. He didn't call it the Catholic Church.
I had to answer what someone else said.
I proved your first point, I do think the Catholic Church is wrong on so many levels, because they don't follow the Bible. No where in the Bible does it say to pray to Mary or any other Saints. You can not pay to keep your loved ones out of hell. The Bible is not an "interpret the way you want book". I know a couple of people that believe that the Bible says Eve ate an apple. When the Bible does not say that. You can't just read into it what you want. Also, when speaking in tongues, the Bible is very specific about certain aspects of it, most Charismatic Churches don't follow the Bible's rules. Another thing which Christians find "grey" areas like drinking alcohol. I believe that during passover, Jews did not drink alcohol, because there is yeast in wine. The Jews got rid of all yeast during passover, so therefore I believe Jesus didn't drink wine during the last supper. I'm sure people with argue that point with me.
I think the Bible is very clear on how we should act and pray and give. I do believe that we need Pastors and teachers to help make things clear. Most Pastors have a degree in Pastoral Studies. But we still need to have discernment.
But really, isn't the main thing that we believe in Jesus Christ and that He died for our sins. This is the main thing that makes us all united...Christians.
2006-09-29 21:29:56 · answer #3 · answered by sunny 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually it is just the opposite. A few hundred yrs after the beginning of Christianity. The Emperor Constantine was converted. In some ways it was good because much of the persecution stopped. In other it was bad because he became the new "leader of the church". The authority was centralized in one man. Subsequent Popes continued to introduce false doctrines. The various denominations came about when a group of believers decided that something was wrong and split away from the central church. So it is really due to their attempt to be more accurate in their worship that these denominations came into existence. The bible should be interpreted in the way the writer intended it to be interpreted. Some parts literal and some parts symbolic. Not our way, God's way.
We do not need a priest or shaman. Scholars are helpful, but ultimately, it is we who are responsible for learning the bible. The Holy spirit is a much better teacher than man.
2006-09-29 21:28:25 · answer #4 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry I don't agree that it's imperative that someone else do the interpreting of the bible. I think, yes, there are certain things open to interpretation in the bible, and I can understand why people have their differences. But certain things in the bible are perfectly clear....unless someone has an agenda and doesn't want to believe it. Yes I do agree that it's a pity there is infighting amongst denominations. That doesn't speak so well for brotherly love, does it?
Constantine wrote: "in the essentials, unity; in the non-essentials, diversity, and in all things, charity".
2006-09-29 21:33:52 · answer #5 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
During the Dark Ages, the Bible was restricted to some priests and the popes. During the Reformation, some light was revealed through the Bible, and small factions split from the mother church to from a new denomination, but they refused to accept ADDITIONAL light. Consequently, other denomination split from THEM, and so on.
In modern times, two reasons: (a) different interpretation of the original texts or even of translations , (b) money.
2006-09-29 21:21:10 · answer #6 · answered by flandargo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Inefficient....boy you have never read it have you? The bible is the "living word". Meaning it can mean different things to different people at different times. I can read one verse on one day and get nothing out of it. The next day...it gives me the answer I am looking for. God made it this way because he had to leave us with one book for our entire lives that could give us all the answers to most of lives questions. He succeeded. However, your answer to why so many denominations is because down the line man created useless traditions because he believed that is how it should be. Churches aren't perfect because they are lead by man. Man is not perfect.
2006-09-29 21:12:53 · answer #7 · answered by Stiletto ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most take what they want of the bible and leave the rest. that is why so many denominations. If you want to really study the bible, it will explain itself with no help from anyone else. Not inefficient at all but very effecient if you will just let it be and let it explain itself.
2006-09-29 21:07:57 · answer #8 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, all Christian denominations split from the Roman Catholic denomination, either directly or indirectly (by splitting from another Christian Denomination). A lot of the splitting came from interpreting things differently and arguments over certain issues of the time.
2006-09-29 21:07:01 · answer #9 · answered by akknaley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's so many denominations because there are so many self-righteous jaska.s.s.e.s. who think they know God better than anyone else. They may be called denoms, but in fact are religions. True Christianity has no religion, men created religion.
The Lord himself proclaims that the way the bible is written,"even a fool cannot err within". Yet we have a ton of fools at the pulpits.
2006-09-29 21:09:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋