This is for my religion class.?

Question

How has Christianity, a faith based on theteachings of one text (the Bible), divided into so many denomination

Answer 1

Well, the first denominational split occurred because of heated disagreement over the translation of one word--'filioque' vs 'filioqua,' I think. That's what started the Eastern Orthodox church.

The Protestant sects arose because of dissatisfaction with corruption in the Catholic church.

Anglicanism began because King Henry VIII wanted to assume personal control of religion in his country instead of having to get permission to do what he wanted from the Pope in Rome.

Henry wanted a wife who he hoped would bear him a male heir, but the Pope denied him permission to divorce his first wife to marry a second one. Henry broke with Rome and assumed control of the church in England, making himself titular head, with the Archbishop of Canterbury actually running things. This also gave Henry access to lands formerly owned by the Catholic Church, which he seized for the wealth to be had from them.

Beyond this, my knowledge gets a bit fuzzy. :)

Answer 2

People are flawed and often use the Bible out of context or towards their own purposes. The truth that is in the Bible has not changed and we can go back to very early texts to verify the content but people will choose to ignore parts they don't like... some even ignore the whole book to their detriment. There is also a tendency in the modern Church to not take things literally even though it was obviously intended that way... again more divergence from the truth and the creation of more denominations!

Just look at the 10 commandments for example, if you read them at face value they are easy to understand ... although difficult to follow, but you will see Church's ignore them right through to what was intended... take them as strict rules.

Answer 3

The rise of denominations within the Christian faith can be traced back to the Protestant Reformation, the movement to “reform” the Roman Catholic Church during the 16th century, out of which four major divisions or traditions of Protestantism would emerge: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, and Anglican. From these four, other denominations grew over the centuries. The Lutheran denomination was named after Martin Luther and was based on his teachings. The Methodists got their name because their founder, John Wesley, was famous for coming up with “methods” for spiritual growth. Presbyterians are named for their view on church leadership—the Greek word for elder is presbyteros. Baptists got their name because they have always emphasized the importance of baptism. Each denomination has a slightly different doctrine or emphasis from the others, such as: the method of baptism; the availability of Lord’s supper to all or just to those whose testimonies can be verified by church leaders; the sovereignty of God vs. free will in the matter of salvation; the future of Israel and the church; the role works play in salvation; pre-tribulation vs. post-tribulation rapture; the existence of the “sign” gifts in the modern era, and the list could go on and on. The point of these divisions is never Christ as Lord and Savior, but rather honest differences of opinion by godly, albeit flawed, people seeking to honor God and retain doctrinal purity according to their consciences and their understanding of His Word.

Denominations today are many and varied. The original “mainline” denominations mentioned above have spawned numerous offshoots such as Assemblies of God, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Nazarenes, Evangelical Free, independent Bible churches, and others. Some denominations emphasize slight doctrinal differences, but more often they simply offer different styles of worship to fit the differing tastes and preferences of Christians. But make no mistake: we, as believers, must be of one mind on the essentials of the faith, but beyond that there is great deal of latitude in how a Christian should worship in a corporate setting. This latitude is what causes so many different “flavors” of Christianity. The Presbyterian Church of Mbale, Uganda, has a style of worship much different from the Presbyterian Church of Denver, but their doctrinal stand is the same. Diversity is a good thing, but disunity is not. If two churches disagree doctrinally, debate and dialogue over the Word may be called for. This type of “iron sharpening iron” (Proverbs 27:17) is beneficial to all. If they disagree on style and form, however, it is fine for them to remain separate. This separation, though, does not lift the responsibility Christians have to love one another (1 John 4:11-12) and ultimately be united as one in Christ (John 17:21-22).

Answer 4

Because the Bible says its of no private interpretation. Therefore, people have divided up into groups based on what they believe, They as a group believe the Bible says.

Answer 5

My thoughts are: that Yahweh, God w/ us, in His Infinite Wisdom allowed this to happen in t/ coarse of history so that there would be many different avenues to choose from. Apart from "those versions" or "denominations" or "cults" that don't acknowledge that:
Jesus is t/ Christ, t/ Messiah! Sent to liberate, & set free,

all who would accept His death as payment for our sins, giving us an opportunity to have a Relationship w/ our Father God, where we can call Him "Abba"(Daddy) & where He can call us friends.

Those versions that acknowledge this, offer up a "buffet" of avenues down t/ narrow path of Righteousness. Some people would never darken a Catholic Church but some would never darken a Baptist Church, or Pentecostal, or whatever but those that are members of these Churches, hopefully, are saved & know Jesus as their Lord & Saviour & are following His Righteousness through t/ Bible.

Answer 6

First I would argue with the basic premise that you state. Christianity, especially from the perspective of the two oldest Churches, Catholic and Orthodox, is not founded on a text at all. It is founded on a person, Jesus Christ. The test, Old and New Testaments, have to be interpreted in terms of Jesus. He is the Truth before any written word.

Answer 7

So many denominations follow the Bible, but then add their own "man-made" ideas into the picture.

Answer 8

It is not, contrary to popular beliefs, because the Bible is so nebulous that you can pull what you want out if (unless, like in real life, you ignore context, genre, etc,). but mainly it is for 4 reasons.

1. There are those who do not take the Bible as the very (and usually literal) word of God which the Bible clearly claims and manifests itself to be, Such would be the Unitarians and liberal churches, and to a degree, Catholics.

2. There are those who hold that another source is of equal or supreme authority to the Bible, whether it be a book or person or group. This includes the Mormons (the Book of Mormon), the Jehovah's Witnesses (the WTS), and above all, R. Catholicism (church tradition and the Teaching Magisterium), as well as most every cult.

#1 and #2 is not Biblical Christianity as among other things, they hold to a different means of salvation, that of works done as members therein, which keeps them in "business."

3. Then there are those who agree on the most essential truths, such as the infallibility of Scripture, salvation by grace thru faith, the virgin birth, the Deity of Christ, the Triunity of God, and the eternality of Heaven or Hell, etc., but who differ in more peripheral matters, from musical instruments in church to the perpetuity of all spiritual gifts.

4. In this category, there are those who splinter off due to a preference in style, or lack of adaptability, and deadness in the church due to institutionalization setting in.

The division among the gospel believing churches, while not ideal, overall works to the growth the church, in contrast to the former divisions, just as living cell can divide and replicate.

And while we must seek greater unity according to Scripture in submission to Christ, and the more mature realize such more, unity itself is not the goal (even Jesus brought division), and unity among the saving essentials of faith is of far greater quality than any quantity of union based on error.

(Eph 4:3-6) "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. {4} There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; {5} One Lord, one faith, one baptism, {6} One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Answer 9

Some people choose to take certain text out of context. Some choose to hold to traditions over text. Some people refuse to try to understand the text as a whole and some like to think of it as a buffet. Taking some parts that they like and ignoring others.

Answer 10

Most denominations agree regarding the core of the Christian gospel (salvation through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross)...

but different denominations have different views on secondary teachings (such as the nature of baptism, or the form of church government, the form of communion etc).

Cordially,
John
http://www.GodSci.org