Re: [asa] some questions on doctrinal differences

You will also want to read general histories of Christianity for context.
Jaroslov Pelikan's "The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of
Doctrine" series is excellent. Latourette's 2-volume general history is
good too. I've heard that Justo Gonzalez's two volume history is very good
as well, but haven't read any of it.

On 7/20/07, D. F. Siemens, Jr. <dfsiemensjr@juno.com> wrote:
>
> I don't know of any listing, although you have one that definitely has an
> ax to grind. I would suggest that you do an inductive study of the various
> denominations. Begin with the confessions that were formulated at the time
> of the Reformation, although you'll have to extrapolate some. The Reformed,
> Anglican and Anabaptist confessions explicitly refer to scripture, while the
> Lutheran one is like the ecumenical confessions in assuming biblical
> authority. Catechisms will also clue you in. Moving forward, the various
> denominations have statements of faith, books of discipline, manifestos, or
> whatever they call it. You will find that there is a core of beliefs in the
> orthodox churches, whether Fundamentalist or Pentecostal, main line or
> charismatic. Even Baptists, who declare that they have no creed, have
> commitments. I noted that the most recent statement from Southern Baptists
> is more fundamentalist (inerrantist) than earlier documents. So you may need
> to dig into some history. Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans,
> Episcopalians and Nazarenes are discussing modifications, and there are
> probably others I haven't noted. Then there is the difference between
> statement and practice in many instances, sometimes challenged, often
> sloughed off.
>
> I know, you wanted a simple answer and I dump on lots of work. Happy
> googling.
> Dave
>
> On Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:58:06 -0500 "WENDEE HOLTCAMP" <
> wholtcamp@houston.rr.com> writes:
>
> This is an interesting and true reply – thanks. I need the answer to make
> this exact point, but it's a literary tool and I still nee dto know how many
> main issues divide the church. J
>
>
>
> Wendee
>
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Wendee Holtcamp * Freelance Writer * Photographer * Bohemian
>
> http://www.wendeeholtcamp.com
> Bohemian Adventures Blog * *http://bohemianadventures.blogspot.com*
>
> The Fish Wars: A Christian Evolutionist http://thefishwars.blogspot.com
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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>
>
>
> *From:* Janice Matchett [mailto:janmatch@earthlink.net]
> *Sent:* Friday, July 20, 2007 10:41 AM
> *To:* WENDEE HOLTCAMP; asa@calvin.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [asa] some questions on doctrinal differences
>
>
>
> At 12:18 AM 7/20/2007, WENDEE HOLTCAMP wrote:
>
>
> I am working on a book proposal and wanted to ask if any of you knew if
> there is a standard number of the primary doctrinal schisms within
> Christianity. Obviously there are probably umpteen, but* I'm talking
> about the main issues that divorce the various church denominations.*
>
>
>
> *@ * George made some good points that you can use in his post.
>
> I will add that you can make your research and book writing easy if you
> follow this principle:
>
> *There are only two bottom-line world-views **from which all of ones
> religious and political views are derived and from which decisions are then
> made:
>
> *In one (the God-centered biblical world-view), *Man is not basically good
> and God alone is sovereign in everything*
>
> In the other (man-centered religion), *Man is basically good, and God is
> not totally sovereign in everything*.
>
> *What is called "the one true church" (the wheat) will not be found in any
> one "denomination" or any other temporal organization of men* -- (in spite
> of the fact that *two* of those organizations claim to have direct
> apostolic succession as they carry over many of the OT Jewish Synagog
> traditions / legalistic teachings :)). *The true Church (the Bride of
> Christ) is invisible, CANNOT EVER BE DIVIDED, nor fail, and is comprised
> of regenerate _individuals_ *(some of whom have died), *who are*/were *scattered
> inside and outside of all sorts of organizations of men (orthodox and
> unorthodox) all over the face of the earth. **Each regenerate
> individual's level of emotional / spiritual maturity (on-going
> sanctification)* will have a lot to do with which organization he/she
> chooses to affiliate - including the choice: "none of the above".
>
> *The false church (the tares) is visible and is comprised of currently
> living _UNregenerate individuals_ *who are also scattered inside and
> outside of all sorts of organizations of men. Many of these actually *
> outwardly* appear to be better "Christians" than the regenerate because
> they also know "the rules" and are really good actors.
>
> *Only God knows the difference.
>
> *As a regenerate individual grows in spiritual maturity - the freedom he
> has in Christ will become more and more clear to him. This individual will
> no longer need his "training wheels" -- (dos and don'ts church organizations
> which have their place for baby Christians of all ages) -- in order "to
> feel safe". (The emotionally immature are "fearful of many things" and can
> never be free - they prefer "security" to freedom).
>
> When one half of a population is comprised of fearful children - (like
> those suffering from BDS) - who have an emotional need to believe man is
> basically good and the other half of adults who know that man is not
> basically good -- division is the quite _natural_ result.
>
> ~ Janice ... "...the *trinitarian curse* on the left --[fearful lovers of
> security over freedom] -- is found on any coin: Liberty, In God We Trust,
> and E Pluribus Unum. For if the ACLU had their way, you can bet that our
> coins would say Equality, In Matter and Collectivism We Trust, and E Unum
> Pluribus. " ~ Gagdad Bob *
> http://onecosmos.blogspot.com/2006_12_10_archive.html*<http://onecosmos.blogspot.com/2006_12_10_archive.html>
> *
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *
>
>
>
>
>

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Received on Fri Jul 20 16:46:35 2007