The Authority of the Roman Catholic Church

[Scott1]

Thanks for the info Terry - just bought one!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thanks for the info Terry - just bought one!

You will find is some what puzzling at first read. You need a very open mind and realise the originators knew nothing about "Christianity" as we know it today. They were starting with a clean slate overlaying their Judaic background, and what was still current knowledge about Jesus, and taught about him by the apostles.
In the mid first century some will have heard Jesus speak for themselves.

I am working through the whole book for the fourth time thinking about what was included and why.
And Perhaps more important for a modern Christian is what is not included in the training .. was it not known about, not yet developed or not thought important ????

I would suggest.
Dogma is developed slowly by rationalisation of new thoughts and previous rationalisations, errors become progressive. It is a building process that can include faults or weaknesses, that become hard to recognise and harder still to unravel.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Thanks for the info Terry - just bought one!

Just clicked that you are a Maronite. Is this a new departure or longstanding.
I don't think I have ever seen one of your Churches in the UK.
and certaily not met a maronite in person.
Do your services have a different feel to the usual RC.

 

[Scott1]

New departure ... few months.

I still work and teach for the RC diocese, so it won't be a "formal" move - I have approval to attend both Rites.

MUCH different feel -- and I am having to learn a lot of Aramaic to keep up! I love the RCC, but found the "Eastern" way of thinking (specifically theoisis) to be more helpful in my life in Christ.

There is at least one church in London that I know of --- where you find those of Lebanese decent, you will find Maronites.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

New departure ... few months.

I still work and teach for the RC diocese, so it won't be a "formal" move - I have approval to attend both Rites.

MUCH different feel -- and I am having to learn a lot of Aramaic to keep up! I love the RCC, but found the "Eastern" way of thinking (specifically theoisis) to be more helpful in my life in Christ.

There is at least one church in London that I know of --- where you find those of Lebanese decent, you will find Maronites.

Theosis is a concept with many forms and pervades all Christian denominations .
Each church has its own language to define it and perhaps their own start and end points. Anglican and the Catholic Churches are as close as their bounding theology allows.
As usual, I come at such things as union with God, in a somewhat "awkward and heretical way", as I believe all souls come from and return to God. And that our souls are of God and in perfect Communion with him.
Unfortunately we have almost no communion with our own souls. except through the grace of God and the help of the Holy Spirit.
It is the abuse of the Gift of free will that keeps us apart. (Sin)

 

[arcanum]

How Old Is Your Church?
If you are a Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex- monk of the Catholic Church, in the year 1517.

If you belong to the Church of England, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII in the year 1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.

If you are a Methodist, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England in 1744.

If you are a Unitarian, Theophilus Lindley founded your church in London in 1774.

If you are a Mormon (Latter Day Saints), Joseph Smith started your religion in Palmyra, N.Y., in 1829.

If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in Amsterdam in 1605.

If you are of the Dutch Reformed church, you recognize Michaelis Jones as founder, because he originated your religion in New York in 1628.

If you worship with the Salvation Army, your sect began with William Booth in London in 1865.

If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year in which your religion was born and to Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy as its founder.

If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as 'Church of the Nazarene," "Pentecostal Gospel." "Holiness Church," "Pilgrim Holiness Church," "Jehovah's Witnesses," your religion is one of the hundreds of new sects founded by men within the past century.

If you are Catholic, you know that your religion was founded in the year 33 by Jesus Christ the Son of God, and it is still the same Church.

The sparse first century church bears little resemblance to the pomp, gold, and satin trimmings of the the roman catholic church that it slowly evolved into as it became established in Europe.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The sparse first century church bears little resemblance to the pomp, gold, and satin trimmings of the the roman catholic church that it slowly evolved into as it became established in Europe.

It took quite a while for all the available material to be gathered together
Then came the process of selection and rejection.
even then there was no defined dogma.
Then it was the turn of the "thinkers" and Christian Theology was borne.
Only there were lots of thinkers and lots of different theologies.
By then, Rome wanted one version of Christianity throughout the Empire.
"Nicea" decided the issue and the creeds and what was to become RC dogma was instituted. since then other Denominations have come and some gone.
Beliefs have changed like the fashion industry.
However Basic Christianity still holds up the entire edifice.

It is not possible to go back and start again.
Many denominations have tried
All that is achieved is another denomination.

The only thing that is important,is that we love God and follow the teachings of Jesus as we believe them to be. as to the rest...
The Holy Spirit will Guide us.....