fiatlux

David B. Barrett identified 20,800 Christian denominations worldwide . . ." Also, according to the United Nations statistics there were over 23,000 competing and often contradictory denominations worldwide (World Census of Religious Activities [U.N. Information Center, NY, 1989]).

Denomination was defined as "an organized Christian Church or tradition or religious group or community of believers or aggregate of worship centers or congregations, usually within a specific country, whose component congregations and members are called by the same name in different areas, regarding themselves as an autonomous Christian church distinct from other denominations, churches and traditions."

Whether or not the differences were significant to argue, the 20, 000 to 23,000 distinct denominations pose a sober question: who is right? Rephrased, how could t***h have so many varied interpretations? Rephrased again, how can the message of the Gospel find so many divergent doctrines and beliefs? And to you the believing Christian, of what belief can you be certain?

May I suggest that we go at t***h with the wrong mind and heart. Belief is not t***h or anything related to it. All belief is, in my view, a stumbling block. Belief, by nature and definition, is far removed from t***h and of course fact. And faith, for that matter. Belief is what's wrong with Christianity. Everything Jesus said was about becoming, what we were TO BE.

son of witless

This seems to contradict very basic Christian teachings. Belief and Faith are basic Biblical teachings. Can you show me what teachings of Jesus you are referring to about becoming and to be?

fiatlux

"Unless you BECOME as little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." This is the whole enchilida but there is much more.

Yet how can you say "very basic Christian teachings" when 20, 000 denominations might disagree?

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is there any purpose to this post and article other than to cast dispersion on Christianity? For the record I am NOT a Christian, but I highly respect Christianity, faith, Christians, and I do believe in God. Do I give a hoot about the differences in denominations? Of course not! Why don't I care if they are exact or not? Because it doesn't affect me nor can it affect me - nor is it anything to concern one's self with unless one is determining which denomination he belongs in. These nitpickers must have absolutely NOTHING in their lives of any importance to them so they nitpick everyone else's lives to accomplish pain? guilt? worry? There is certainly NOTHING positive to be gained by being a nitpicker.

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are absolutely right. What this is is n***ardly nitpicking serving no good purpose, and designed, in my view, as hatred of Christianity.

son of witless

You have read the Bible and not only come away with a different meaning than was intended, you came away with the exact opposite of the intended meaning. Little children are ready to believe. They have Faith. That is the message.

The 20,000 denominations is a different question. I am sure they disagree about a lot. What that has to do with the price of tea in China escapes me.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Why does it matter how many are claimed~~Your definition defines why they are...
Difference in teaching philosophy is just that..Philosophically t***h is in the eyes, heart and mind of the person, period..Many t***hs can exist and do, all as you, I, he, she or anyone else chooses to believe what they do through their own measurement of wh**ever the topic is...

Theology is the systematic and rational study of concepts of God and of the nature of religious ideas, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, and includes churches....

What belief can you believe?? My own is what I say to that...

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

What belief can you believe?? My own is what I say to that..

Dang double post~~ Sorry

Off to play, its gorgeoussssssss out..Have a great day everyone~~

GRB777

You want t***h; read your bible occasionally.It doesn't matter what any of you think. It only matters what GOD thinks.

I could give you volumes on the slop professing christians believe. Gen. 2:2- GOD rested on the 7th day and made it holy. Billions attend their services on Sunday the first day of the week. Billions believe you go to heaven when you die- John 3:13, no man has ever ascended into heaven. Do professing christians keep the law-Ex. chapter 20; the holy days- Deu. 16, Lev. 23. No because they claim these are Jewish laws. The bible no where says that. GOD gave the law to Moses; he passed it on to the 12 tribes of Israel. Moses wasn't a Jew he was a Levite, Ex. chapter 2. You people don't know what the t***h is because you don't want t***h. Jesus Christ brought t***h and the people k**led him. This generation is far worse than those who murdered the son of GOD 2000 years ago.

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

I'm going to throw my two cents in here for what it's worth and while I'm not so sure fiat has it "all" wrong, I agree with you when it comes to "faith". Where are we, if we don't have "faith"? Faith is what allows you to step off into darkness, having really no idea what you will encounter, whether you will find firm footing or find yourself in free fall. Indeed, to all be as children, to have utmost faith and belief, what a wonderful thing. Perhaps, it is fiat's choice of words when it comes to linking belief to faith in a negative sense, because without faith, none of us would "believe" even in the existence of a power greater than ourselves. Faith and belief "are" entertwined because you surely can't have one without the other. Faith, to me is more of a state of being, your beliefs, what you act upon. Maybe, that's the crux of the matter. Hey, just my opinion.

That "tea in China" :wink:.....we must be sitting on different limbs of the same tree. I'm not sure why you think fiat has a wrong interpretation when she speaks of the Bible, Christianity and those 20,000 or so denominations, although I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I should not consider myself truly objective when it comes "religion", with my "religious" experiences having left a really bad taste in my mouth. Don't you find it odd that you don't see people of the Jewish Faith finger pointing at those of Christian Faith. Nor do you see, now that I think about it, Buddhists nor Hindus finger pointing. I see Christians finger pointing all the time, at each other, at other faiths. My perception of religion per se, is that religion is a lot like politics, certainly at the top. It is about POWER. Perhaps, that's what fiat meant, when she said "Belief is what's wrong with Christianity. Everything Jesus said was about becoming, what we were TO BE."

I have a "personal" relationship with God. My feeling is that as unique as each individual is, so is the uniqueness of that relationship with God. Perhaps, it is the arrogance fiat speaks to, the arrogance of any group to finger point and tell you that you've got it all wrong, and in an awful lot of cases, totally lacking in compassion, never bother asking "why" you feel the way you do. Having to be "just wrong" in your beliefs sounds a lot like what you hear in the political arena, and it makes me ill at ease....

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

Danger, Will Robinson, Danger.

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

son of witless

What I cannot grasp is what fiatlux believes the Bible means when it states "Unless you BECOME as little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." I have stated my thinking on it.

As far as religion leaving a bad taste in ' your ' mouth, very few of us have not had that experience. We had it shoved down our throats and saw the flaws of the adults of our childhood who did the shoving. We are then in the influence of the Atheists and their ilk.

Some of us then also got an eyeful of the soft underbelly of our new leaders and decided they were even worse. Then in full adulthood ourselves we drifted back into Christianity and decided that the original problem with it was not the religion itself, but merely the imperfect examples we grew up with.

In other words, I have worked through all of the problems I had with organized religion. I know it's sins and it's inconsistencies and it's divisions and decided that since I despise all of those who do nothing but attack it, you can count me in as one of them crazy Christians.

Searching Loc: Rural Southwest VA

We all wear different prescription lenses with which we view the world and the myriad of philosophies we collectively bring to the table. It's good to see it from another's perspective.

Unlike you, I haven't worked through all the problems I have with organized religion and some of those are ones resulting from situations in my adult life, not childhood experience. I will agree with you about those 'imperfect examples'. I won't state on this forum the issues for me created after being on a pastor search committee nor, but briefly state, the discomfort, after sitting in the pew of another church, where public shaming from the pulpit occurred and was encouraged. However, just so you know, count me as one who does not countenance an attack on another's beliefs. Conversations are always healthy. Attacks are not. I always am open to conversation about another's spiritual journey. I wish you safe journey, my friend.

Alicia Loc: NYC

*****************
You state that you don't care but you speak like a victim. If you wish to place the information in a trash pile do so, but why should you call attention to it. What statement are you attempting to make?