If your belief system was started over 1500 years after your religion began, would you not question it?

Question

I know Bible fundamentalists do not, but what about others?

Born Again Catholic...
gee, I don't know. I mean, the beliefs of protestants/evangelicals/Bible-fundamentalists have been around for less than 500 years. But they say their beliefs are not man-made...hmmm

Edge, actually I can help you trace your beliefs but you may be surprised...

The first "Pentecostals" in the modern sense appeared on the scene in 1901 in the city of Topeka, Kansas, with a handful of students conducted by Charles Fox Parham, a holiness teacher and former Methodist Pastor, with emphasis in the Pentecost's Baptism with the Spirit and glossolalia (speaking in tongues) of Acts 2.

It was not until 1906, however, that pentecostalism achieved worldwide attention through the "Azusa Street Revival" in Los Angeles, California, by the African-American preacher William Joseph Seymour.

Looks to me like this is MUCH MUCH LATER than the day of Pentecost mentioned in the Bible.

I find it interesting that the Pentecostal church started on the day of Pentecost and yet the only Church that existed at the time was the Catholic Church. Even more perplexing is that there were no Pentecostal churches until the late 1700's, so what in the world took them so long to build a church?? I mean, they had practically 18 centuries to do it.

tur b, didn't you know that if you tell the truth you are being smug? Also, if you ask about anyone's beliefs you are being smug and superior. The definitions of these words just changed today and new dictionaries will be in print soon. ;-) lol

Dear Cheryl,

I am not at all saying that non-Catholics are unbelievers or that they are not Christians. My question is simply asking if you ever questioned where your beliefs originated and if you think newly created beliefs can be true. That is all I wanted to know.

For example, Edge says the Pentecostal church started on the day of Pentecost. So I wonder if he ever questioned why the first Pentecostal church was established in the 1700's if the church indeed started on the day of Pentecost.

I hardly think that wanting to understand your reasoning accuses you of being an unbeliever.

Answer 1

Most Protestants do not question their own systems and claims but many do question everybody else's.

Answer 2

There are some inconvenient historical details that you seem to be glossing over Raven. For instance, the bishop of Rome was not a singular office until the reign of Pius I beginning in 142 (J.N.D. Kelly; The Oxford Dictionary of Popes). The pope having universal jurisdiction over the entire church was an even later development, the first claimant to that being Boniface III in 607; and that being by decree of the emperor Phocas. The modern office of the papacy is therefore shown to be the result of a political move by an emperor, not the decree of God almighty. I have nothing against Catholics, but you are not immune from historical problems. It is also worth pointing out that the 16th century reformers were not the first people to believe as they did, nor were they (in anticipation of your response) the first Christians to disagree over points of doctrine. The usual Roman Catholic presentation of history, in this case, yours, is quite oversimplified. I admit, that the reformed version of history gets a little simplistic as well, but at the risk of beating a dead horse, you are not above having problems with the historicity of your claims.

Answer 3

The Bible says to question all things. My religion is fairly new, and I do question things.

As far as Pentecostalism, that was a movement that began in the late 18th century. While they say they trace their roots back to the day of the Pentecost, there were no Pentecostal churches until the late 1700's.

Answer 4

human beings will deceive attempt to help their own religious ideals. i've got seen fundamentalist Christians try this each and all the time, and it particularly saddens me that those human beings, attempting so confusing to transform others, will droop to something to attempt to realize their objective -- no longer understanding that a newborn can tell they're making stuff up. that isn't any longer in basic terms in one faith that this happens, in spite of the indisputable fact that. working example, I surely have been in diverse circumstances the place an Imam grew to become into explaining Islam, and as quickly as they have been given sponsored right into a nook, they only made stuff up. THis befell on a similar time as i grew to become into in Saudi Arabia and it has because befell contained in america to boot. i think of that they had no concept that their lies have been so sparkling that all and sundry ought to work out by way of them. They probably concept they have been doing sturdy for their faith while in actuality they have been destroying any believe others had in Islam as a great or truthful faith.

Answer 5

My belief system started on the day of Pentecost approximately 2000 years ago. The day the Pentecostal church was founded.

Your ignorance is showing. We are Christians the same as Catholics. We are part of the church founded by Jesus. This church is not a denomination but it is all believers. People like you are what cause people to become Catholic haters. That smug superiority that so many Catholics have.

Modern Pentecost yes. However the Pentecostal church formed at pentecost. Catholics only rediscovered speaking in tongues 40 years ago.


Born-Again Catholic - He is pushing me to my vent limit. If I get there he will not be happy. He is right about one thing. Your denomination has been around longer and there is a lot more to attack.

Answer 6

Using your logic, Jews could claim that Catholics should question their religion, since Judaism is much older. Do you question yours?

Protestants claim that their belief system is the closest to the "original" Christianity, since it is based almost exclusively on the Bible (I.E.: the writings of the original apostles), so technically, Protestantism is just as old as Christianity.

Answer 7

I sure did question it (raised Pentecostal), and in consequence I became a Lutheran because it is the only Protestant denomination that can justify its existence to my satisfaction.

Answer 8

No, in most religious belief systems, it is considered a jolly good show to beieve without proof, the more ridiculously unhinged the belief, the better an adherent you are for believing it.
Or so it seems; it is scary to imagine having that sort of deadness of sprit, but it seems to bring a strange sort of smile to the faces of that sort of believer.

Answer 9

Paganism is older than that. What is there to question? It's about the earth and our connection to it; what I believe in is what I see, hear, touch, feel, and smell. There is no guesswork about it. Knowing that people thousands of years ago understood our part in the cycles of the earth makes me respect their wisdom, but I have to incorporate my life into these cycles on my own.

Answer 10

Gee, wouldn't that be ... a "man-made" belief system?

Edit:
Gimme that man-made religion,
Gimme that man-made religion,
Gimme that man-made religion,
It's good enough for me ...

Edit again: Sorry, Edge. Truly. But sometimes we can only take so much without venting a little bit -- a very human weakness.

Answer 11

All branches go to the trunk. Those that are no good to the tree will be cut off. Simple and clean.