can anyone tell me the differences between Christian denominations?

[atari]

Im catholic, but I wasnt raised in a religious household.

Im totally clueless about most Protestant denominations especially, and If any would tell me the differences between them, or point me to a site that would help, that would be great. :-)

[Rokke]

"Do take the time to read about what you blindly criticise."

This is a very ironic statement. No where have I criticized any specific church. This is a quote from my initial post to Ima which drew your flaming response...

"If this is what the Catholic Church teaches, it is just one more example of why you cannot take what the church says without doing your own personal Bible study."

Note the words "If" and the uncapitalized "church". Through the flames, you and Ima have clarified to me what she was talking about. Therefore, "If" has been answered. And the "church" refers to any and all churches. Not just the Catholic church.

[Rokke]

Thanks for the response. I am currently sitting here brushing ash and soot from my shoulders as I shake off Ima and Cronos's slightly more heated response.

[Rokke]

Do you have anything to add to my post 261? Freepmail me if you want. I am intellectually curious, but am starting to realize that intellectual discussion isn't possible on a thread like this.

[Cronos]

You are incredibly defensive. I quoted Ida verbatim. I put absolutely no words in anyone's mouth. I asked a simple question. A simple response was all that is required. Your leap to an aggressive attack on "Bible Christians" is very revealing. And unfortunate.

Nope, not defensive, just pointingout hte incredible silliness similar to that of 'pastors' who read one verse and think they know it all

[Cronos]

Again. I have asked a simple question, and you have leapt to a negative and very defensive response

Nope, NYer was talking about the Pope and you then compare the Pope and the Holy SPirit? Huh? Apples and oranges -- that was one of the silliest comparisons I've ever read.

[Cronos]

Ima, you and Cronos appear to have gone to the same school of defensive "discussion".

Nope, not defensive, just pointing out the fallacies of jumping to conclusions, putting words in other folks' mouths and not bothering to read up before raising an argument

[Cronos]

"The Church is the CAtholic-Orthodox Church, the apostolic Church, founded by God, and not some man."

On what evidence? The Church is apostolic, in direct line from the church founded by God through the Apostles. Read Acts, read the history of the church in Antioch, in Ephesus, in Rome and you see a continuous line of teachings from then until now.

[Rokke]

"just pointingout hte incredible silliness similar to that of 'pastors' who read one verse and think they know it all"

Well, I'm glad to read that because I have been looking for more than Matthew 16:18 to validate the belief that God chose Peter to build His church. Perhaps you can help me out.

[Cronos]

oh, an intellectual discussion is possible -- if you can say: "yes, this is what I believe in, what do you believe in? Why do you believe in that?". Don't launch into something like "Oh, this is one verse and is The Church built on only one verse?"

[Cronos]

Well, I'm glad to read that because I have been looking for more than Matthew 16:18 to validate the belief that God chose Peter to build His church. Perhaps you can help me out.

That IS my poiint -- God chose the Rock to build his Church ON. Peter is NOT the Church, the Church is built by God. Peter's role explains the primacy of the Bishop of Rome -- the first among equals. It is not the sole thing on which our Church teaches. It's why we have the Bishop of Rome as our leader.

[Rokke]

"NYer was talking about the Pope and you then compare the Pope and the Holy SPirit?....that was one of the silliest comparisons I've ever read."

Really? Did you read NYers post? I did quote it accurately. Here it is again...

"The Catholic Church has a pope because our Lord did not want to leave His followers orphans."

But Christ addresses that point very clearly in John 14:16 when he explains the role of the Holy Spirit. He even says "I will not leave you as orphans." So is it really so strange that I would make that comparison?

[Rokke]

"The Church is apostolic, in direct line from the church founded by God through the Apostles."

I agree with that. The evidence I am looking for is evidence that the Church is the Catholic Church. I am very familiar with Acts and the Paul's letters. Remember, I am a "Bible Christian".

[Rokke]

"Don't launch into something like "Oh, this is one verse and is The Church built on only one verse?"

Hmmmm. Aren't you the person who wrote "just pointing out the fallacies of jumping to conclusions, putting words in other folks' mouths and not bothering to read up before raising an argument." How does that saying go?...practice what you preach...

This is the question I asked you..."Then why is this single verse the only one Catholics use to support their contention that God chose Peter be the first Pope?" I have yet to see any support other than Matthew 16:18.

[Rokke]

"Peter is NOT the Church, the Church is built by God."

On this we agree. But I am looking for more evidence that Christ assigned Peter any exclusive power that made him the "first among equals". To my knowledge, Peter doesn't seem to claim that authority.

[Quester]

So where to go for a dyed-in-the-wool protestant who loves the tradition and the sacraments?

As has been suggested ... you might wish to take a look at the Orthodox Church ... or the Lutheran Church.

[Quester]

What about your faith is most important to you ?

My, that is an interesting question. I must admit that threw me, as I haven't stopped to think about it in those terms. The most important thing is my relationship with Christ, followed by obeying the 10 commandments, which the former denomination I belonged to keep saying was under the law.

I want the truth and I don't want doctrines of men and I am beginning to think that is too much to ask.

You may wish to look at the Lutheran Church, ... as well as some of the more conservative branches of the Methodist Church ... or one of the Baptist Churches.

These denominations, typically, see the Ten Commandments ... as well as the (2) overarching commandments ...

Matthew 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

... as the character and behaviour that we, as God's childen, should strive for ... and that character and behaviour which should be observable in the life of a christian.

Of the set (i.e. the Lutherans, the Methodists, and the Baptists) ... the Lutherans will be the most like Catholicism ... the Baptists will be the most free-form and independent ... and the Methodists will be somewhere in the middle.

[NYer]

The evidence I am looking for is evidence that the Church is the Catholic Church. I am very familiar with Acts and the Paul's letters. Remember, I am a "Bible Christian".

The answer to your question has been posted to this thread multiple times. If you are pursuing serious inquiry, then I will refer you back to post 238. ImaGraftedBranch has also addressed your questions directly, yet you ignore the posts. If you are truly serious in your pursuit of the truth, you will read this.

PILLAR OF FIRE PILLAR OF TRUTH

and this

Catechism of the Catholic Church

ALL of these resources are scripturally based with direct references. And, in case you were not aware of this, the Bible that you read and embrace, was compiled by the Catholic Church.

[NYer]

I understand your need to believe in the hypothetical construct that Y’shua spoke only Aramaic.

I NEVER said that! What I did say is that Aramaic was the language spoken by Jesus, his apostles, disciples and the majority of Jews at that time. Please DO NOT misconstrue my words!

Since Aramaic was the language that predominated, it is only natural that his words in Aramaic would have been translated into Koine Greek when forming the gospel.

The Convent of the Pater Noster was built over the site where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer. The walls are decorated with 140 ceramic tiles, each one inscribed with the Lord's Prayer in a different language. Father Pierbattista, O.F.M., Father Eugenio Alliata, O.F.M. and Father Stefano De Luca, O.F.M., from the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem, have supplied all of them to Christus Rex.

Convent of Pater Noster

The problem with accepting this reality is yours.

[aimhigh]

it is only natural that his words in Aramaic would have been translated into Koine Greek when forming the gospel.

The problem is you don't have a clue what Jesus said in Aramaic, because no Aramaic gospel has ever existed. The scriptures were "God breathed" in Greek, and use the word "pebble" for Peter's name.

[ladyinred]

It's a typical practise of those that attack God's Church.

With all due respect, the Church is the body of believers, and I don't mean "the universal Church any belief goes" type, I mean true believers in Christ Jesus. So it doesn't necessarily follow that one who doesn't believe exactly like you do is attacking the Church.

The Church I belonged to recently said they were the first Church with an unbroken line back to the Apostles. The Catholic Church thinks it is. They both believe in Jesus Christ as savior. I consider you a good Christian and I consider most of them the same.