The different strains of Christianity

[rosscruz89]

Hi,

I was wondering what were your general thoughts on the apparent fragmentation of christianity as opposed to Islam for example. Of course islam is fragmented as well i dont believe it is to the extent of christianity.

Do you view it as a positive thing? i.e. giving people choice or representing different ways to the same goal or the same god as it is in say Hindu religion.

Do you see the fragmentation as purely driven by historical forces i.e. the formations of a religious haven in the US and the persecution in europe. Or Do you see your brand of Christianity (if you are christian) as the correct one and others as incorrect?

(p.s by you i mean the reader - not "you christians")

 

[sojourner]

Don't kid yourself. Xy has been "fragmented" from the very beginning. It wasn't until Constantine imperialized Xy that it became "uniform."

 

[DavyCrocket2003]

Hi,

I was wondering what were your general thoughts on the apparent fragmentation of christianity as opposed to Islam for example. Of course islam is fragmented as well i dont believe it is to the extent of christianity.

Do you view it as a positive thing? i.e. giving people choice or representing different ways to the same goal or the same god as it is in say Hindu religion.

Do you see the fragmentation as purely driven by historical forces i.e. the formations of a religious haven in the US and the persecution in europe. Or Do you see your brand of Christianity (if you are christian) as the correct one and others as incorrect?

(p.s by you i mean the reader - not "you christians")

Very good question. Why are there so many Christian sects? Are they all right? Is one right and they're all wrong? Sort of. They are all right to a certain degree, but only one has all the authority, keys and priesthood that Christ's church had when he set it up on the earth. Only one has the direct line of revelation that is available through a Prophet chosen of the Lord to guide and warn the people of the earth.

That being said, the truth of the gospel can be found throughout Christianity, as well as among other religions of the world. None has a complete picture, but one can find it if they search carefully and diligently. The main things you need to know are everywhere: love, kindness, justice, working for the benefit of mankind, service for your fellowmen, self improvement... these can be found anywhere.

 

[sojourner]

Very good question. Why are there so many Christian sects? Are they all right? Is one right and they're all wrong? Sort of. They are all right to a certain degree, but only one has all the authority, keys and priesthood that Christ's church had when he set it up on the earth. Only one has the direct line of revelation that is available through a Prophet chosen of the Lord to guide and warn the people of the earth.

That being said, the truth of the gospel can be found throughout Christianity, as well as among other religions of the world. None has a complete picture, but one can find it if they search carefully and diligently. The main things you need to know are everywhere: love, kindness, justice, working for the benefit of mankind, service for your fellowmen, self improvement... these can be found anywhere.

This is coming dangerously close to a debate -- and this isn't a debate section. I find your statement provocative. I don't agree with it on several levels. Why don't you consider moving your comment to one of the debate sections? Or at least discuss the specific question about sectarianism.

 

[DavyCrocket2003]

This is coming dangerously close to a debate -- and this isn't a debate section. I find your statement provocative. I don't agree with it on several levels. Why don't you consider moving your comment to one of the debate sections? Or at least discuss the specific question about sectarianism.

Oh. I'm really sorry. I was just trying to quickly state my view of the topic. Not demean any others or start a debate. It was rather thoughtless of me. How do I move a comment? Or delete one?

 

[Snow_Owl]

On one hand, the many divisions within Christianity give representation to many groups of people, and in a lot of cases, help keep the church from gaining too much power and rather "down to earth" and more able to serve the needs of individuals and small communities. On the other hand, they can't all possibly be right and sometimes provoke a lot of in-fighting and disunity within Christendom. My opinion is that a healthy dose of division is good and that all denominations are right in some degrees and very wrong in others, there is no "correct" church to adhere to. Many of these churches are formed historically and based on other socio-political events. For example, the recent formation of the Anglican Province in America (APA) results from many whole groups of churches finding the presiding Episcopal church too liberal. Other groups were started to minister in a certain region or to a group of people, to aid a specific cause or to expand the teachings of a specific theologian.

tl;dr version: I am not bothered by the divisions; I see no one church as correct/the only way to salvation and I see the formation of new churches driven by history and the socio-political context of the people forming them.

 

[rosscruz89]

Hi, thanks for the responses - sorry if it was posted in the wrong place (i am a newbie). in response to the last comment; what you say seems very reasonable. I suppose that there is a great deal of flexibility in christianity in that a church or a sect can wander from the centre and still be "valid" in the eyes of most christians but i wonder does the core itself shift depending on who is asked? and at what point does a radically different sect become a distinct religion?

 

[Valjean]

The homogeneity of Muslim scripture might be another thing to consider, in comparison to the Christian gospel.

 

[Kathryn]

When I read the Koran, to me it sounds remarkably like the Old Testament. The New Testament however, differs greatly from every other religious text I've ever read, mostly because of it's emphasis on grace and forgiveness, rather than law.

I personally like many of the differences between Christian sects. When I visit a charismatic church, though I don't personally care for a steady diet of that sort of worship, I can see how that setting ministers to the spiritual needs of some people. Those same people may not get a thing out of my Methodist church service, but personally I love a more formal setting - I love the history and community feel of a liturgical service.

Diversity has it's strong points.

 

[Comicaze247]

I like how you use the word "strains"

 

[sojourner]

On one hand, the many divisions within Christianity give representation to many groups of people, and in a lot of cases, help keep the church from gaining too much power and rather "down to earth" and more able to serve the needs of individuals and small communities. On the other hand, they can't all possibly be right and sometimes provoke a lot of in-fighting and disunity within Christendom. My opinion is that a healthy dose of division is good and that all denominations are right in some degrees and very wrong in others, there is no "correct" church to adhere to. Many of these churches are formed historically and based on other socio-political events. For example, the recent formation of the Anglican Province in America (APA) results from many whole groups of churches finding the presiding Episcopal church too liberal. Other groups were started to minister in a certain region or to a group of people, to aid a specific cause or to expand the teachings of a specific theologian.

tl;dr version: I am not bothered by the divisions; I see no one church as correct/the only way to salvation and I see the formation of new churches driven by history and the socio-political context of the people forming them.

I think I agree with your concept. But I think your statement, "they can't all be right" goes a little too far, and is off the mark.

Being "right" isn't the aim of Xy. Following is. The different churches all revolve around a center, which is God. My personal take is that Jesus is kind of like the gravity that holds us together. We all revolve around God, so we all have different perspectives of God. No one has the full view. Therefore, we need each other if we are to have the fullest view possible of God.

Where we run into trouble is when one group claims a closer, more complete orbit than everyone else.