[Iscool]

The prerogatives of this teaching authority are made sufficiently clear by the texts and they are to a certain extent implied in the very institution. The Church, according to St. Paul's Epistle to Timothy, is the pillar and ground of truth; the Apostles and consequently their successors have the right to impose their doctrine; whosoever refuses to believe them shall be condemned, whosoever rejects anything is shipwrecked in the Faith.

Your religion may condemn Christians for not following the Catholic doctrines but that's fine with me because God condemns your Catholic doctrines...

Mat 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And here's your priests and bishops...

Luk 20:46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
Luk 20:47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

And your religion is going to condemn me for following the God given doctrine of the scriptures and not following the doctrine of your apostolic successors??? Man O Man, am I ever glad I won't have to stand at the same Judgement you'll be at...

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

That's the doctrine in the written scriptures...

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

It didn't take very long for your religion to turn from sound doctrine and start engineering it's own doctrine...

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

There you go...

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

And no, God did not give anyone in your religion any new doctrine to push on His children...

2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Is that clear enough for those looking to join the Catholic church, with it's own doctrine???

[Cronos]

No, we condemn Gnostics, Manicheans, etc. who are not Christian and pretend to be — like Mormons or JWs. Oh, sorry about the JW bit if that offends you

[Cronos]

And of course, you now read allegory into the Bible when early you said it was literal. Jesus is talking about the pharisees. You remember those guys -- the ancestors of modern-day rabbinical judaism?

And, if the Christians of the 1st and 2nd centuries point out things as heresies -- Christians just a generation away from the Apostles -- then you honestly think your opinion and faith is better?

[Cronos]

2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Clear sign that you should join the community of believers started by JEsus Christ and his apostles, continued for 2000 years. The Church has seen all the heresies die and we'll see the current ones die too (we're seeing the death throes of the 1st generation Protestant groups die) -- as another article says that it takes about 500 years for a heresy to die and that's the time limit now for the 1st gen. Yours will too, don't worry, as it is man-made, not from God.

Come, be saved, accept Christ as your Lord and God, not your pastor or your individualness as an interpretation.