[kosta50]

Another poster states"The Baptists were not a part of the Reformation, but instead were the original church from which the Roman Catholic Church and Greek Orthodox churches broke away and then fell into error"

If one could only prove that Harry Potter really did exist.

Not even the Baptists agree on the origin of this sect. Historically, one can trace it back to a Puritan "heresy" (heresy of a heresy?) in the early 17th century England.

The other one, claiming the Baptist church was the 'first' church (established on "this rock") can be credited to and Arkansas Baptist pastor, J. M. Carroll's, and his booklet The Trail of Blood, 1931, promoting what is known as the "Landmarkist" origin of the Baptist church.

As proof, of the unbroken "lineage" of this church he lists as members of the Baptist "family," are you ready for this, Montanists, Novatianists, Donatists, Paulicians, Albigensians, Catharists, Waldenses, and Anabaptists.

[xzins]

Carroll's history is suspect. If he accepts those groups for one doctrine, then he gets to accept them for all their doctrines.

One thing about Carroll, though, that I think is worthy of note.

His intent was to show that one could trace the faith backward through history no matter what name those believers went by.

There is some merit to that notion.

It is the claim that Christianity can be identified by Christian teaching. The debate then becomes a discussion of the authoritative source of Christian teaching.

We say it is the words of the Apostles, founders of the Church, who were repeating the instruction they'd received from our Lord Jesus Himself.

I have trouble believing that anyone can disagree with that.

[bornacatholic]

Hey, you know the old saying, lack of evidence is evidence of lack...

And what is Lack?

Well, it hust happens to be a small village on the Old Sod.

And what was the principal religion on the Old Sod, Ireland?

That's right. Catholic.

And the Catholics have a Church, right?

Right.

So, if you think about it - lack of evidence is evidence of lack (or, another way of saying Church)

In other words, the Baptist Church has always existed and that is proved by its LACK of evidence

It is all so easy to judge the truth of these assertions when you just break it down using logic...

[monkfan]

"As proof, of the unbroken "lineage" of this church he lists as members of the Baptist "family," are you ready for this, Montanists, Novatianists, Donatists, Paulicians, Albigensians, Catharists, Waldenses, and Anabaptists.

I saw a Baptist tract once that unabashedly traced their "history" back to the Waldenses and, ultimately, to the Montanists. At first I thought it was a practical joke. But no.