Christian Sects and Bible

[Ravi]

Why are there so many sects in christianity ?
Well, it is seems there is too much confusion understanding the Bible ?

And some questions about the Bible.

1. Can anyone know if the Bible is true ?

2. Do science and Bible agree ? ( The standard evolution creation stuff ..  what do you think ?)

3. Has Bible changed over time ?

4. Who wrote the Bible ?

5. When was it written ?

6. Are there good reasons to believe that Bible is "GODS WORD" ?


-Ravi

[trmichels]

I suspect the answer to most Christians are:

1. Yes, I know. The answers to sonme of you other questions supprot the 'truth" of the Bible.

2. In many instances yes. This again supports the "truth" of the Bible. As I suggested on another post, go to my site at www.TRMichels.com. click on the "Christian Witness" page and read the articles from my book "Genesis". I've gone into science and Biblical accuracy at some length.

3. Yes, it atarted out as the first five books of the Old Testament, known to Christians as the "Pentateuch". It is the same as the "Torah" of the Jewish faith. Books have been added as they have been found and "accepted" by the Christian church.

4. Sevearel differetn people. Many of the books in the Bible tell in the beginning of each book who wrote them.  

5. It began over 4000 years ago.

6. Yes, because of it's historical, geographical, lignuistic, scientific and spiritual accuracy. And because Jesus said so.

T.R.

[DavidFilmer]

For three-quarters of the Christian Era, there was only one Christian doctrine. You didn't have "denominations" like we have today.  There was "Eastern Christianity" and "Western Christianity," which (from the Eleventh Century) were divided over leadership, but NOT doctrine. There were no "denominations." Everyone believed and accepted the same doctrine, and EVERYONE accepted that the Church held the absolute and final authority to define what doctrine was.

In the Sixteenth Century, some Catholics got the idea that they could take a portion of Catholic Doctrine (ie, the Bible) and use IT as the basis of faith, instead of the authority of the Church.

But, as everyone plainly knows, two educated, sincere and God-fearing people can both pray for inspiration, read the Gospels, and come away with two completely different (and perhaps contradictory) interpretations. Since they recognize no authority (except themselves) to declare which interpretation is true, they fragment. Thus, there are over 55,000 protestant sects today. It’s very sad.

[trmichels]

And Lord knows, using the Bible as the authortity for the foundation and central dogma of a church would be wrong!!!

Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only on single Word, his Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely. (Chatechism of the Catholic Church 102)

I do have to agree that humans have a great tendency to interpret the Bible differently. But, that is part of the beauty and mystery of the Bible; it has different meanings for different people, to meet their needs. It even means different things to the same person at different times in their lives.

However, is there any doubt that several customs of the Catholic church or it's parts/divisions were ill founded, and not according to Christ's will and desire? Payment or goods for indulgences, and the Spanish Inquisition for example.

Is there any doubt that the "belief" (which I know not all of us share) of many Catholics that "good works' are the means to salvation is wrong? Good works should be the outcome of being a Christian, not a means to salvation.

Was not someone (not of the Catholic church) not right in asserting that we are saved by our belief in Jesus as God, Lord, Savior; and that his suffering on the cross is what saved us?

Has not the Christian Church and Catholicism benefited by SOME of the differing interpretations of  SOME of the denominations of Christianity.

Does not an open mind, and diversity of opinion and interpretation, lead to a better and more complete understanding of Christianity?  

That being said, I personally believe the Catholic church is closest to what Christ woud have wanted for the Christian Church in this day and age. So, I personally choose Catholicism.

But, we have to remember, the people are the Christian church, not the hierarchy of any denomination.


May God bless all of you,
T.R.

[jesusandyou]

The same sin Adam and Eve did is continuing. Pride.