I heard someone make this observation recently, and I have seen some similarities as a Methodist myself--we observe confirmation, the pastors wear robes and vestments, for example. On the other hand, there are significant differences--for example, the doctrine of salvation by faith alone and not works is definitely not a tenet of Catholic doctrine. So, where's the historical connection, if there is one?
2006-10-26 03:17:55 · 11 answers · asked by nacmanpriscasellers 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What's so "degenerate" about the concept of salvation by faith? It doesn't leave out the importance of good works by any means. As the Apostle James said, "Faith without works is dead." What true faith does is lead to good works, if the person is truly one with the saving grace of Christ. The doctrine means that one cannot earn salvation through good works, or through any effort on one's part; so that the productive atheist, for all the good he does, is still lost unless he comes to accept Christ as his saviour, after which every good thing he did begins to truly count for something, and every past sin is wiped away. The "good" atheist and the "bad" but penitent murderer are thus equal in God's eyes, both sinners but both also worthy of salvation.
2006-10-26 04:37:08 · update #1
During the Protestant Reformation, Luther separated from the Catholic Church and his separation formed the Lutheran Church. Other groups splintered off from this to form Methodists, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterians, etc. Several years ago some Methodists merged with Episcopalians and started the United Methodis Church. The Episcopalians are actually the Anglican Church, which is almost the same as the Catholic Church. There was a break between the Anglican and Catholic churches over who should be the head of the church. Consequently, they split, and in England Queen Elizabeth is considered head of the Anglical Church followed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The rest of the Catholic church follows the pope, except for Eastern Orthodox which follows their own Patriarch. The merging of the Methodists and Epicopals formed a church with many Catholic style practices.
2006-10-26 03:27:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are churches, the orthadox churches, that aren't offshoots of catholisism. The catholics and orthodox were one big church until the great schism. Then they split, neither is an offshoot, neither came first. They both come from chalcedonian christianity, which has been dead for centuries. I just wrote all that to correct a previous answer.
there are similarities between the methodists and the catholics, but these similarities are previlent in almost all forms of christianity. Most protestant churches were founded in protest (hence the name) of the catholics. They went back to the bible and made churches that they believed was how the bible said it was supposed to be. Some of these things that the protestants found in the bible, the catholics were already doing, but many others weren't practiced by the catholics. So there are noticeable similarities between all protestant churches (methodists included) and the catholic church, but it isn't because methodism is an offshoot, it is just because these similarities where both mentioned in the bible, such as communion snd babtism.
2006-10-26 10:36:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you DO realize that Catholicism was the only "official" branch of christianity until Luther, right? In that sense, every subsequent branch of Christianity is an offshoot of Catholicism, save those that claim descent from one of the heresies. Methodism began in England in the 1700's as sort of a grass-roots reaction against the Church of England, which itself was a reaction against Catholicism primarily provoked by Henry VIII not being able to freely divorce. It doesn't really bear any particular relation to Catholicism beyond this.
Incidentally, and I know this has nothing to do with your question, but the doctrine of "salvation by faith alone" has to be one of the most degenerate notions ever promulgated. It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you sincerely subscribe to the salvationist theology. The penitent serial killer is ranked above the atheist who leads a decent life and contributes to society. This is why so many people find "Jesus" in prison and rehab.
2006-10-26 10:20:20 · answer #3 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Catholic Church---Mothers Milk
The Methodist Church---Formula
2006-10-26 12:16:17 · answer #4 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Methodism is an offshoot of the Church of England.
The Wesley's did not intend to start a new denomination, but to help meet the peoples needs. The Church of England did not want to change to meet these needs.
2006-10-26 10:35:58 · answer #5 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All organized religions come from Catholicism. She is the Harlot spoken about in Revelations 14. Her daughters are the churches that have come out of her and just changed things here and there. Read it, what city sits on 7 hills? Rome
2006-10-26 10:22:58 · answer #6 · answered by tabbikat 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All so-called christian religions are branches or off shoots of Catholicism.
None of them have any direct connection to the original teachings of Jesus other than those they brought with them when thy split from the catholic or universal church.
Some are subdivisions of former splits but all can be traced directly to Catholicism.
Love and blessings Don
2006-10-26 10:23:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Why are you so ignorant/incurious about your own faith? It's been my observation that the atheists posting here seem to know more of the history of christianity than do those members of the various sects who come here.
2006-10-26 10:22:56 · answer #8 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You will find a more complete answer to your question at the webpage below.
2006-10-28 03:59:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism
2006-10-26 10:28:39 · answer #10 · answered by coogle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋