If you want to know what another denomination teaches

If you want to make a point should you start just one thread on the subject or three?

How long were you a Catholic Craig, and what sense of pride leads you always to conclude that your method of acquiring knowledge always trumps everyone else on this board?

 

Posted three times...wow!

 

Is there something going on here to which the rest of us aren't privy? I've got the feeling I'm stepping in the middle of something here.

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I believe, to examine another denomination (or lots of other things for that matter), that you have to read things pro and con. You have to read things in light of what the scripture says -- not in light of any preconceived notions you've got. You have to read the preface and the sidebars. You've got to get a big picture. This would mean that several sources would have to be purused.

I certainly want to measure against the Bible and not against being a Baptist. I like Baptists, I like being a Baptist, but I don't think we've done everything perfectly.

 

Hate mail should never be read. I was not aware that most denominations had hate mail.

 

Ed

 

Ed

 

I don't go around people of other Christian
religions without my copy of:

HANDBOOK OF DENOMINATIONS in the United
States, 11th Edition (Abingdon press, 2001).
It has much unbiased information about
other denominations (mostly Christian ones).

 

There's plenty of stuff on the web to find out what other groups hold as truth regarding the Scriptures. All it takes is a little searching on Google or another search engine...

What was the purpose of this thread, anyway?

 

Craig

I agree with you, but when getting it from the horses mouth you have to realize the horse also wants to spin there belief / denom in the best possable light. This is where honest study and judgement comes in. Just like making any decision or purchase you have to research all the facts pro and con. I would get it from the horses mouth but I would also read things from opposing groups. Those things you may think of as "hate mail"

Some examples. Catholics will tell you they do not worship Mary. They call it veneration they spin it all kinds of ways but in the end I believe there veneration crosses the line into worship. That is a judgement call I have made by looking at all the information pro and con.

 

I believe that a person desiring to know what another denomination teaches should study their writings and official documents carefully,</font>[/QUOTE]Agreed.

prayerfully,[/QUOTE]

Agreed.

and objectively.[/QUOTE]

Disagree. They should study their beliefs with a fair and reasoned mind, but their conclusion should be subjective and biased in favor of the teachings of Scripture. IOW, if what this denomination teaches contradicts Scripture, it should be rejected, corrected, and rebuked.


Some of this information can be found on the internet, much of it can not be found there.

I have found that very many Baptists, however, rather than carefully, prayerfully, and objectively getting the information from the horse’s mouth get it from another mouth in books, pamphlets, and web sites. Much of this information from “another mouth” is highly distorted or radically incorrect due to personal prejudice, poor scholarship, or other factors.

But this is my belief and my perspective and I would like to get some feedback from others.

[/QUOTE]

I agree that we should not just find an anti-whatever website and base our opinions solely on what they say. By that same matter, we should not, likewise, find only pro-whatever websites and base our opinions on that. We should study all sides of the issue, keeping in mind to study the Word of God so that we subject these doctrines to the truth of Scripture. For example, when I study eschatology, I try not to only look at it from one major POV (I believe there are four major views out there). When I study the doctrines of grace, Calvinism vs Arminianism, etc...I try not to only read one point of view. I have, to illustrate the point, read the book Life in the Son by Robert Shank who argues totally for the Arminian POV on every point, and Chosen By God by RC Sproul who is the exact opposite. That is fair and balanced. But, what I read must be subject to the teachings of Scripture as the final authority. I think the same holds true for studying various denominations or even religions. There are points which I could agree with Catholics (mostly on moral issues), but there are certainly points at which I disagree based on what God has revealed through his Word.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I think you are absolutely correct. Joseph made a good point about "objectively", and that can be difficult but I think it's worth the effort.

It's also a good idea, if possible, to talk to several people involved in the denomination to get different perspectives. For example, suppose you wanted to find out what Baptists teach. Where in the world would you start? If the first person you talked to were Arminian and the second were Calvinist then you'd probably quit right there, thinking that not even Baptists know for sure what they teach. (And you would probably be correct.)

 

If anyone expects to get the truth up front from cults about what they really believe, they will be rudely surprised.

To find out what Mormons believe, you MUST go to other web sites.

You won't find out all the things they believe unless you join and go through the temple cermonies unless former members reveal it, which they have if you know where to look.

I have noticed that people generally don't present themselves in their true light, but others see them more as they really are.

The same is true of churches.

MR

 

Another thought I just had is that most of this literature, at least what I have in my library, opposing say the Catholic Church, Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons has been written by former members.

MR

 

Craig

Documents and creeds MEAN NOTHING!! Examine the beliefs of the church BY THE WORD OF GOD! That IS the acid test. IF what they believe isn't made clear in scripture, than their church,title and creeds don't mean squat!

 

Yes you should, and compare that with scripture.

All I knew about the Catholic Chruch before I came to Ireland was what I had been told they believe. I quickly learned that they did not really believe much of what I had been told.

After studying their papers and documents I am more convinced than ever that the Catholic Church is in error, but at least now I know the real reasons why.

 

How do you tell a crooked stick? You lay a straight one next to it.

When the JWs and Mormons come around it doesn't matter what my church teaches. WHat matters is that I know my Bible well. Most of the new Mormons come from SBC and RCC backgrounds.