If the church fathers were alive today what would they do about protestantism... they were tough on fighting?

Question

other heresies, what would they do about protestantism? would they just lay back and let them keeping splitting into new denominations or would they fight them? (my main question is would they accept it?)

Answer 1

the'd have to learn to live with it

Answer 2

The very nature and history of Protestantism is that of schisms and new denominations forming. Protestantism emerged in 16th Century Germany as a reaction towards the corruption in the Catholic church. It spread to England, Holland, parts of Germany, Switzerland, Scandanavia and parts of France very quickly. All these countries had different interpretations and ideas about what Protestantism should be. These differences continue to this day. What generally happened in the early years of Protestantism was that Protestants fought the Catholics who were trying to reconvert them. When they weren't fighting the Catholics they fought each other. The pilgrims who fled to America fled because their strict form of Protestantism was not shared by the english majority who had a more liberal take on life and religion. Thus Protestantism is a history of internal and external conflict and division. If the church fathers were alive today they would probably denounce any fighting, once they had crushed all opposition and everyone shared their view.

Answer 3

Protestants were not the first to state that the Pope was not the authority of Christ.

The Roman Church had a number of unchristian practices which Luther protested against. Because Luther was in Germany, the Roman Church could not kill him.

As for the Church fathers, you don't have all of them. Anyone who disagree with the Roman Church were murder, executed. Once the Roman Church was the official church of the Roman Empire (actually the Western Roman Empire, the Greek Orthodox Church was the official church of the Eastern Roman Empire), all other doctrine was suppressed.

Back to Protestantism, Protestants rule out Oral tradition and rely solely on Written tradition, the Christian bible. For example, Mary is the mother of Jesus, but she is not the mother of God. Mary is definitely not worshiped. Protestants are limited by the Christian bible.

From Luther, there are a number of theologians, church fathers if you like. As for heresies, look to the Roman Church. You have the Christian bible and you have Canon Law, and they do not match.

If you limited yourself to the written tradition, the Christian Bible, you will find no Church fathers. Religion is a belief, not a discourse.

Answer 4

The first break with the Catholic faith (to my knowlege) was between the Catholic church leaders (Pope etc.) and a man named Martin Luther. It is my understanding that he was initially a catholic priest who disagreed with the interpretation the church leaders had put on the Bible teachings. I guess it did raise quite a bit of hullabaloo and Martin Luther was eventually ex-communicated from the Catholic church because of his fighting with them. Unfortunately, the same thing has happened over and over and over again during the past several hundred years. Keep in mind, that men make religions...God makes relationships. I think Jesus would have been (perhaps is) very saddened by the infighting of the faithful.Obviously, enough people agreed with Martin Luther to get the ball rolling.

Answer 5

Josie, you don't say who these "church fathers" are. Do you mean the heads of the Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation?

The Catholic Church named anyone who did not believe the dogma of the church at that time.

For example, the scientist Copernicus stated that he had discovered that the world moved around the sun every day.

The church disagreed and said that the SUN MOVED AROUND THE EARTH and declared Copernicus a heretic.

Later when Martin Luther rvealed that the Pope was selling monsignorships and cardinal positions for gold HE was called a heretic.

And when there were two men who said they were the POPE there was a split and two branches of the Catholic church were established.

Further divisions occurred just as they are occurring to-day.

There are about 300 active religions at present.

Answer 6

Are you talking about the Catholic Church's fathers? That's a very vague question that can only be answered with a dissertation length reply.

Answer 7

I can guarantee you 100% they would not be Catholic. I think they would be surprised at how much doctrine and theology has been altered and interpreted. They would definitely try to clarify some stuff, but would understand that salvation comes from Christ alone, and not what church you belong to.

Answer 8

We can be glad that people like Martin Luther oposed the catholic church.
Anyway didn't Jesus say (Math 23;9) And do not call anyone on earth "father" , for you have one father , and he is in heaven.