Not Catholic or Protestant?

[Lindsey-Loo]

I'm a nondenominational Christian, and we have never considered ourselves Protestants or Catholics or Orthodox. I've always thought of nondenominationalism to be a completely seperate category. Like:

1. Catholic
2. Nondenominational
3. Orthodox
4. Protestant

But what I've been finding among my friends is that most people consider nondenominational Christianity to be listed under Protestant denominations. What do you all think? Is nondenominationalism a seperate category unto itself, or does it fit under "Protestant"?

 

[fascist_crusader]

I'd say they fall into the protestant category. I've been to a few non denominational churches and they really weren't any different than other protestant evangelical churches I've visited.

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

Well, since the churches are nondenominational, they are all different from each other. So some could be closer to Protestant-type churches than others. What you said makes sense to me, but I can't help thinking that "nondenominational" means completely un-denominational. And all Protestant denominations are just that- denominations.

 

[Katzpur]

I'm a nondenominational Christian, and we have never considered ourselves Protestants or Catholics or Orthodox. I've always thought of nondenominationalism to be a completely seperate category. Like:

1. Catholic
2. Nondenominational
3. Orthodox
4. Protestant

But what I've been finding among my friends is that most people consider nondenominational Christianity to be listed under Protestant denominations. What do you all think? Is nondenominationalism a seperate category unto itself, or does it fit under "Protestant"?

To me, a "non-denominational Christian" is an individual who considers himself to be a Christian but who does not affiliate with any specific denomination of Christianity. That's the straightforward meaning of the word. A non-denominational Christian man accept certain doctrines of Methodism, certain doctrines of Lutheranism, etc., but most non-denominational Christians I have known are fairly conservative and a lot like your typical Evangelicals in terms of most of their beliefs.

You did leave out one category, by the way: Restorationists.

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

Hmm, I'm a bit familiar with Restorationism, but not really. Why wouldn't Restorationists fit under "Protestant"?

 

[fascist_crusader]

Restorationists aren't protestants because they believe that the church was lost from the earth, and that someone at a later date, a prophet or prophetess, restored the true church to the earth. Protestants don't believe the church was ever lost from the earth, and usually don't believe the prophet[ess]'s of the restorationist groups were truly of god.

 

[JayHawes]

People typically separate groups based on their traditions. THe Tradition of Cardinals, and the authority of the Pope, and the practice of rituals belongs to Catholocism. THe Prace of all the previous minus the Pope, is Orthodox. However, all other denomiantions - without a pope or preist are protestant (besides the cults). Non-denomiantionlism is itself a denomiantion of Protestism, they just dont "take sides" by naming their church under a certain name.

 

[Polaris]

People typically separate groups based on their traditions. THe Tradition of Cardinals, and the authority of the Pope, and the practice of rituals belongs to Catholocism. THe Prace of all the previous minus the Pope, is Orthodox. However, all other denomiantions - without a pope or preist are protestant (besides the cults). Non-denomiantionlism is itself a denomiantion of Protestism, they just dont "take sides" by naming their church under a certain name.

So what exactly is your definition of a cult? It's apparent you're including the restorationists in that category, so what exactly do you mean by it?

 

[JayHawes]

I am not placing anyone in a cult. And i have not placed Restorationist in this category either. However I will list the definitions for a cult as found on the web:


adherents of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
fad: an interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season"
a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]In religion and sociology, a cult is a group of people (often a new religious movement) devoted to beliefs and goals which may be contradictory to those held by the majority of society. Its marginal status may come about either due to its novel belief system or due to idiosyncratic practices that cause the surrounding culture to regard it as far outside the mainstream. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings ("scriptures"), its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. Cult is literally the "care" owed to the god and the shrine. ...[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_(religion)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]A religious group that follows a particular theological system. In the context of Christianity, and in particular, CARM, it is a group that uses the Bible but distorts the doctrines that affect salvation sufficiently to cause salvation to be unattainable. A few examples of cults are Mormonism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Christadelphians, Unity, Religious Science, The Way International, and the Moonies. (See also Cults)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]www.carm.org/dictionary/dic_c-d.htm[/SIZE]

 

[Quiddity]

I'd categorize all denominations that got their theology from Luther and those that followed Protestant with the exception of LDS.

 

[JayHawes]

Jospeh Smith taught that the whole Church (in cluding the Catholic Church) is corrupt and that LDS is a restoration of the true Church. Why condmen all protestants and not them?

 

[JayHawes]

I'd categorize all denominations that got their theology from Luther and those that followed Protestant with the exception of LDS.

I have no beef with Catholics or the Orthodox, but I do not teach the doctrines of Martin Luther, he merely opened a door toa new Way of thinking. You should appreciate his contrabutions. Because of him, the BIble was translated in other languages, and since you read the English version of the bible, you are reading of his results. And of course the majority of mankind has be converted becuase of an translated bible. (by Majority I mean billions over time).

 

[Quiddity]

I have no beef with Catholics or the Orthodox, but I do not teach the doctrines of Martin Luther, he merely opened a door toa new Way of thinking. You should appreciate his contrabutions. Because of him, the BIble was translated in other languages, and since you read the English version of the bible, you are reading of his results. And of course the majority of mankind has be converted becuase of an translated bible. (by Majority I mean billions over time).

I appreciate his and many others contrabutions. You know what they say "God works in mysterious ways".

 

[lilithu]

Restorationists aren't protestants because they believe that the church was lost from the earth, and that someone at a later date, a prophet or prophetess, restored the true church to the earth. Protestants don't believe the church was ever lost from the earth, and usually don't believe the prophet[ess]'s of the restorationist groups were truly of god.

Interesting. I have often heard of the Universalists described as Restorationists but I don't think they ever believed the church was lost from the earth and then restored by a prophet. I think that what you are describing is specific to the Mormons. And while they are part of the Restorationist movement, they are not the entirety of it.

In my understanding, "Restorationist" refers to a broad movement to restore Christianity back to its early days, which started in the late 18th century and reached its peak during the Second Great Awakening.

Alternatively, "Restoration" refers to the restoring of one's soul into right relations with God and therefore salvation.

 

[JayHawes]

Scripture does not teach restoration unto salvation, however it does teach restoration into a relationship with God. A person's sins and backsliding can cause a Christian (one saved by the blood of Jesus) to loose a relationship with God, however the bible teachings that if we confess our sins he will forgive us of them- this restores our relationship. However, although we though are not restoring salvation, we never lost it.

 

[lilithu]

However, although we though are not restoring salvation, we never lost it.

Are you a universalist? Or are you saying that those who are saved cannot lose salvation even if they fall out of right relations with God?

 

[rocka21]

I am non- denomonational. ( i guess).

i think all of our churches main difference is that the Pastor is the Head of the congregation. He is not voted in or out, we don't take votes or have a deacon board. God gives the pastor a vision and he follows it ( no voting to see if we want to pave the parking lot.)

we have no titles on all churches and no conventions ( but we do have campmeetings).

you don't offically join a denomonation( baptist, church of christ, etc. ) you just join the " body of Christ" and the local church.

 

[JayHawes]

I am non- denomonational. ( i guess).

i think all of our churches main difference is that the Pastor is the Head of the congregation. He is not voted in or out, we don't take votes or have a deacon board. God gives the pastor a vision and he follows it ( no voting to see if we want to pave the parking lot.)

we have no titles on all churches and no conventions ( but we do have campmeetings).

you don't offically join a denomonation( baptist, church of christ, etc. ) you just join the " body of Christ" and the local church.

I guess you are non-denominational. Most regualr Protestant churches have Deacon boards, we though still view the Pastor as the Head of the Congragation (aftter Jesus Christ of coruse). And usually at my local assembly (church) we dont vote on conctruction plans....

 

[JayHawes]

Are you a universalist? Or are you saying that those who are saved cannot lose salvation even if they fall out of right relations with God?

1) It depends on what you mean by Universalist, and how you are applying it.

2) It depends on what you define as as "right relationship with God." I beleive that a Christian can loose fellowship with God (as his Presense and sense of morality in their lifes), however i do not believe they can loose salvation. We all fall short of the glory of God, but he said if we confess he'll forgive us. Becuase it was not our own works that saved us, and therefore our own works cannot keep us saved.

 

[Lindsey-Loo]

I am non- denomonational. ( i guess).

i think all of our churches main difference is that the Pastor is the Head of the congregation. He is not voted in or out, we don't take votes or have a deacon board. God gives the pastor a vision and he follows it ( no voting to see if we want to pave the parking lot.)

we have no titles on all churches and no conventions ( but we do have campmeetings).

you don't offically join a denomonation( baptist, church of christ, etc. ) you just join the " body of Christ" and the local church.

that's the thing with nondenominational churches. We're all different! With my congregation, we have elders and deacons, but it's the same with how we're just a local church. We don't have any National or Universal organization, like all the other denominations do. We don't consider the preacher the head of the church, though, our Elders are the leaders.