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To: JohnnyM
I will agree that denominations have seriously fractured the Church and have hurt the testimony of unity, but I will add that Catholicism is a denomination just like Baptist or Methodist.

Strictly speaking, Catholicism is not a denomination. It is the root, the mother Church. Every other church uses a name to de-nominate themselves away from the original. The Church has no need of a name, except in contrast to those who broke away from her.

This is why we can point to history as early as we can and see Catholic practice. And your style of Christianity is nowhere to be found. It is the later development and it de-nominates itself by eschewing a name.

If a church practicing 20th Century American fundamentalism existed at all times from Pentecost to today, we would expect to see some history of this church existing. Where is it? That is why it matters. Some people here have a church with a set of beliefs that is shown throughout history to have existed. Other folks are, I believe the phrase is, "living in a fantasy world."

I'll repeat it again. The interpretation of the "Church" shown in Acts is ambiguous. I see a proto-Catholic Church, you see a proto-"Bible only" Church. We can not tell from Scripture which is which. So let's look at history written after the NT. There's my church. Where is yours?

SD

348 posted on 10/16/2001 12:20:59 PM PDT by SoothingDave
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To: SoothingDave
"The interpretation of the "Church" shown in Acts is ambiguous"

How is it ambiguous? The church is the body of Christ. Once you accept Christ as Lord and Savior, you become a member. Pretty straight forward, obvious, and well documented in Scripture.

JM
350 posted on 10/16/2001 12:30:17 PM PDT by JohnnyM
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To: SoothingDave; JohnnyM
Every other church uses a name to de-nominate themselves away from the original

With respects... you are leaving our a number of faiths that were seperated from the early church more by geography than by theological schism. They can not properly be refered to as Protestants. Remember also that there are various "rites" within Catholicism that have variant practices from much of what has been argued on these threads as "Catholic belief" - like married priests - yet they are Catholic.

351 posted on 10/16/2001 12:32:02 PM PDT by IMRight
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To: SoothingDave
Catholicism is not a denomination.

In other words, its a verb when we want it to be and a noun when its convenient as well. Ho hum.

361 posted on 10/16/2001 12:51:20 PM PDT by Invincibly Ignorant
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