Christians don't like s.e.x, they just like sects.?

Question

No, but seriously...

What's the difference between Protestant, Mormon, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Orthodox, Presbyterian, Seventh-Day Adventist, Amish, Anglican, Jehovah's Witness, and the hundred other sects, but especially those ones?

Real answers please, not some "witty" oneliner/groaner.

Enlighten an atheist.

If I wanted books of information or google and research each one, I probably would have done it, wouldn't I?

People seem to have no trouble summarizing Christianity as a whole in a simple sentence, why do you have trouble summarizing the beliefs of your own sect?

The complexity and vastly different interpretations of the same book is just one of the reasons why I call BS on the validity of the text as a whole.

If it's all open to subjective interpretation, what good is it as an 'absolute' guide? Why not just think for yourself if that's the case?

Answer 1

The answer to your question is actually pretty involved, and would take semesters of study to truly understand. I'm not an expert, but I can try to sum it up briefly.

Basically, what all these churches differ about is who has the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ and what the true teachings of Jesus Christ are.

Jesus Christ is the son of God and He came to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world, and to teach people the way to return to our Father in Heaven. When Jesus Christ organized His church approximately 2000 years ago, He called 12 apostles, who were responsible for the workings of the church. When Jesus Christ was resurrected and ascended into heaven, Peter, the head apostle, became the earthly head of the church of Jesus Christ. Shortly after that time, however, the members of the church were persecuted and many were forced into hiding. Also, geographical differences between the congregations of the church meant that many followers of Christ started teaching doctrines that were not correct. While the early apostles tried to correct the incorrect teachings that were taking place, the early church basically fragmented and went into a period of darkness because the true teachings of Jesus Christ were not being taught in their fulness. Part of what Jesus Christ gave to his true followers was a power called "priesthood", which basically means the authority to administer sacred ceremonies with the permission of Jesus Christ. As the church of Jesus Christ fragmented and incorrect teachings were established, the priesthood was not properly passed along in the church. So, relatively soon after the ascension of Jesus Christ, there were many sects, each of which taught some true doctrines of Jesus Christ, but none of which had the complete doctrine, nor the authority from Jesus Christ necessary to administer His church.

During this period of darkness, for quite a long time, the Catholic church was the main church over the Roman empire and, later, Europe. After Constantine took over, there was a split between the Catholic church and the Orthodox churches. Reformers such as Martin Luther and John Calvin recognized that the teachings of the Catholic church were not completely in keeping with the true doctrine of Jesus Christ that they had learned from the Bible, and so they tried to form new churches that were closer to the things they read about in the Bible. That was the beginning of Protestant churches. Of the ones that you've listed, the Protestant churches are: Episcopalian/Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Seventh-Day Adventist, Amish, and Jehovah's Witnesses. None of these churches, though, had the authority or direction of people with priesthood authority from Jesus Christ. And these branches of churches have continued to split to today.

The good news is that that is not the end of the story. The world is no longer in darkness and no longer lacking the authority from Jesus Christ. In the year 1820, God the Father and Jesus Christ personally appeared to Joseph Smith, a young farm boy who lived in New York State. As a result of this experience and other experiences, Joseph Smith became a prophet of God, and he was called to reorganize the Church of Jesus Christ. He received the authority to administer the Church of Jesus Christ directly from John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John, people who had the authority in Jesus Christ's day. The church organized by Joseph Smith is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and members of this church are sometimes known as Mormons. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is completely separate from other Christian sects because it is a restoration of the original church of Jesus Christ, not a reaction to any other church. (We use the term latter-day simply because we are talking about the church of Jesus Christ that has been organized in this time period, the last days, but it is the same church of Jesus Christ. In case you haven't guessed, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

If you would like to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please feel free to send me an e-mail or see the website that my church has established to answer questions: www.mormon.org.

Answer 2

Wow...this is a question that the answer requires a lot of history. Simply put, Protestant, Baptist, Episcopal, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Amish broke of from the Catholic Church. Some still today pledge allegiance to the Catholic Church. Orthodox (Greek) along with the catholic Church broke off from the true church of Christ. Mormons derived from God restoring the true church of Christ back to the earth around 1830. Seventh-Day Adventist and Jehovah's Witness share a similar beginning deriving from Divine revelation. Not sure on the Anglican, probably broke from Catholic. You basically have 6 Christian churches that have possible validity since all the others are nothing more than splinters of the originals and claim no real line of divine authority for their creation and organization; Scientology (just silly in my opinion), Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Seventh-Day Adventist, Mormon and Jehovah's Witness. They are each different in their own way, you will have to look into this on your own as it would take for ever to compare each difference. A Christian should really only consider one of these 6 churches if they are to be in tune with the Bible as the Bible clearly claims a divine authority line that is passed through Christ/God directly to his followers. (i.e. 12 apostles and the such)
P.S. I am christian and I admittedly like sex, usually get it 3-4 times a week, for mere pleasure too, not for creating kids. Stereotypes are lame.

Answer 3

If they don't like sex, I wonder where all those Christians come from.
Hey! I'm with you. I'm a non-believer too, but I can understand why there are so many different ideas about religion. Some of their beliefs are so confusing that followers break away and form another even more confusing sect.
Has anyone ever explained the Christian God who is really three people, but they're not three. All three are really one,no they're three.
Why can't you believe that the mother was impregnated by a ghost? It happens all the time.
Are you enlightened enough ? I could go into the beliefs of each of the sects mentioned, but that would take a couple of thick books. Trust me, each one is the only true church.

Answer 4

Oh, stop -- christians like sex as much as anybody else, they just can't *admit* that they like it! :)

The differences between the sects you mention would take pages and pages to explain. In some cases they're very small (Lutheran and Methodist, for example, are extremely similar except that Lutherans believe in confession of sins as a means to salvation, while Methodists believe that works are the means to salvation) -- and in other cases they're nearly completely different religions (mormons, for example, believe that god was once a regular guy on a planet like us, that by being a good mormon he became a god and got to make his own planet and rule it, and that we humans can do the same -- become gods -- if we're good mormons).

That there are so many different religions that all claim to be christian, yet are so vastly different, doesn't say much for some kind of "universal" christian doctrine that is easy to understand and is of divine origin. It shows, instead, that people make this stuff up as they go along to serve their own wants and needs. If jesus really was "the christ" and presented a clear message of "this is how it is, folks" -- then there wouldn't be all this confusion, now would there? :)

Answer 5

That's a good question.Every denomination is different.To know which one is the right one,you only have look at it one way.

What is the preacher preaching?Is he giving his own opinion up there in the pulpit,or is he teaching accurately from the word.

What denominations have "rituals"(communion and things of that nature)?If they tell you,you have to go through some ritual to get closer to God,or to get a blessing from God,LEAVE.It's not necessary.

Seventh Day Adventist believes only in the old testament(so do Jews).They also believe keeping the sabbath is going to get them into Heaven.That's wrong doctrine.

Jehovah's witness,I'm not even going to bother.They are an abomination unto the lord.Nuff said.

So far from your list I see only one that normally does what it's supposed to.Baptist denomination.They don't sway to the left or right.The preacher should be telling it like it is.

Ever listen to John Hagee?He tells it like it is.He sugarcoats nothing,because your salvation is worth it.

Answer 6

Christians enjoy sex as much as anyone else. I really can't answer the differences between the ones you listed. My origins were catholic. My belief in God did not stem from my religious teaching and certainly not from the story book written by a lot of people and selectively put together, it has come from spiritual study and meditation. I wish I could explain it better, but it's just there and I know it, and no one will ever convince me otherwise. It transcends the man made versions.

Answer 7

Not every sect you listed are Christian. It would take pages and pages to explain the difference.

I will give you this. The Bible told us about scientific things long before scientists did.

Life in the in the Blood.
The Earth is round
Fog is a form of water

These are just some of the things that proves the Bible is God's inspired Word. With that it says we are all sinners and need a Savior. That Saviour is Jesus Christ who we all need to admit that we have sinned against a Holy God and believe that Jesus died on a cross for our sins who defeated death and Satan by rising to life again three days later. We just need to call on Him to save us.

Answer 8

What's the difference?
Practically all of them came into existance because there was a difference of opinion between 2 'biggies' and one took off to start their own group.
That is not automatically a terrible thing IF the reason for splitting is to get closer to following Christ's example.
However, most have simply instituted their own likes and dislikes.
Not good.
1 Peter 2:21 says we should follow Christ's example CLOSELY!
Most, if they follow at all, follow from afar.

Answer 9

They all have different ideas on how to live your life. As a Christian,I think that religion is great and all,but in can get you in a hole when you discover that you have not been living like you and/or God wants you to live.
They all have awesome(yet different) concepts about how to better your life and community,you just have to be careful to take some time off and make sure that what you are doing is right for you.

Answer 10

No one could ever write the differences of all those religions in one answer. Why don't you do what I did and take the time to research them.