What are your thoughts, on the idea, that the Christian church is but a mask on the face of God?

Question

this relates to the conclusions of Adolf Von Harnack, of whom questioned the "facts " of the four Gospels and the orthodoxy of the Catholic church;

"Modern doctrine is nothing more than a mask". "The mask acquires a life of its own - the Trinity, the two natures of Christ, infallibility, and all propossitions seconding these dogmas, were the product of historic decisions and of situations that might have turned out differently.... nevertheless..early or late, product or reshaping force, this dogma remains what it has been from the beggining, a bad habit of itellectualization which the Christian picked up from the Greek, when he fled from the Jews"
'Outline of the History of Dogma'; Adolf Harnack 1851-1930

Adolf was a German theologian who believed the truth of word of god had been replaced with the mask of Catholic Orthodoxy.

he also said of the fourth Gospel of the NT;

"......the fourth Gospel does not emanate or profess to emanate from the Apostle John, who cannot be taken as an historical authority....the author of the fourth Gospel acted with sovereign freedom, transposed events and put them in a strange light. He drew up discussions himself and illustratedgreat thoughts with IMAGINARY situations."

Answer 1

I agree with what Adolf Harnack wrote. I am a Christian and I believe that each of us are supposed to seek out the truth for ourselves. I believe that each person may find that the truth will be different for everyone else. I believe that a lot of the bible was put together to control the masses, because they want you to blindly follow what they say is true and never ask questions. I cannot believe that if there is a God that he would want us to blindly follow others, He would want us to seek out the truth, ask questions and know.
I also believe that the Bible is not the infallable word of God. Man wrote it, it is fallable and not only that, man wrote it thousands of years ago. There are things we can learn from it, but that does not mean that it is 100% accurate.

Answer 2

it won't take place. the final you are able to wish for is probably 4 church homes. a million.) interior the Catholic- like church homes you have the greater Protestant communities- Anglicans, Episcopals, Lutherans, and countless the Methodists. 2. interior the baptistic-like church homes you have the Baptists, Presbyterians, Amish, Mennonite, some Methodist, Bible Church, Church of Christ, Calvary Chapel, some Pentecostals, and a few Independents. 3.) Then there will be the extremely-liberal church. there will be some Methodists, United Church of Christ, Unitarian, some Epsicopals, and a few others. 4.) Then there will be a team of extremely Charismatic Pentecostals. The conservative Bible believing church homes (team 2) won't connect the two of the different 3 communities. team a million and 3 will include something that comes alongside.

Answer 3

My thoughts are that whatever you believe regarding the trinity and/or Jesus being the God/man the Bible is clear that the true church is the body of Christ and not a mask on his face. If Christians have wrong doctrine they can be called heretical Christians. If Christians have a mere profession of faith but their lives don't match up with that profession they can be called hypocritical Christians. But a "mask on the face of God" belittles the Almighty and has the ring of a artistic/fanciful definition instead of an accurate definition.

Answer 4

One could say, the Spirit was blowing, as these historical decisions about Trinity and so on were taken. :-)

Seriously, I think every religion is a mask of God, something that reveals a side, an attitude of God, but not the totality of God.

Answer 5

The religions of this world has given God a bad rep' We have over 3,000 different religions and cults all teaching something different, they have taken something simple and made it so confusing that Jesus Christ would be appalled. I have received mail from Christan's blasting me for even using scriptures!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a show of warm christian love.

Answer 6

Well of course it's all down to marketing and politics and what the religious leaders think will be most advantageous for them. Trouble is, since there is no truth to this or any other religion, people can make it whatever they want it to be, and all versions will be equally valid (and invalid).

Answer 7

Yes I agree & also think it can be applied to all organised religions for the control of vunerable people!

Answer 8

So, you agree with me, Sir Alex really doesn't care about the Carling Cup.

Answer 9

given time and mankind any philosophy becomes distorted.
so yep i suppose a form of chinese whispers has happened.
the answer might be just to get the simple message of love your neighbour and stick with it.

Answer 10

Why would God need interpreters?

I don't trust people who peddle religion, especially if they do so cap in hand.