Here is the essential divide my Friends, at least here on FR. It is between those whom I will call the “libertarian” Christian - the folks who believe that the ONLY opinion that counts is their own, and the Thomistic view that we, as individuals, are never complete by ourselves, but rather we need others. On the Natural level we need communities and on the Supernatural level we acknowledge the Mystical Body of Christ as a corporate body with decision making and teaching authority handed down to us from the Apostles.
Listen to a much wiser man than I explain:
In the Religion forum, on a thread titled The Ravenous Wolves of FreeRepublic, xzins wrote:
“The followers of Jesus is his Church, following Jesus is to live his gospel.”
It is not possible to read the letters to churches in the New Testament, to read of churches founded in Acts and of their loving to gather together, to read the letters to churches in the Revelation, and to come away from all that with the idea that “lone wolf” Christian is what Christ had in mind.
It isn’t. The entire New Testament is testimony that such is not the case.
I’ll go further: there is no such thing as individual Christianity.
Individuals can be Christians, but Christianity is corporate.
Certainly true - when two or more are gathered in His name - there He is in the midst of them!
Aren’t you supposed to post your cereal first?