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E
Zoe....
- A sect is a subgroup of a religious, political or philosophical belief system, usually an offshoot of a larger religious group. (wiki)
not to be confused with cult? although some become cults
I find it helpful to remember that Jesus said that Christians would be known by their love...not their beliefs..and that, indicates actions, not words
just something to consider...not the perfect answer to your question which has been asked many times and probably rightly so
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul lamented that strife and divisions had resulted in some saying, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos” ( 1 Corinthians 3:3 ). In other words, divisions in the church go back to the first century. It is also important to establish which are denominational sects and which are cults. Despite many interdenominational differences, there can still be unity regarding the essentials of the Christian faith. As Augustine said: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity."
These links may help you:
http://questions.org/attq/why-are-there-so-many-christian-denominations/
Why are there so many Christian denominations?
These links may help you:
http://questions.org/attq/why-are-there-so-many-christian-denominations/
Why are there so many Christian denominations?
B
Aww Zoe, the MAGNATUDE of the question you have asked makes me wanna go take a nap. I mean that... I really would like to give you a simple answer to concretely resolves the problem for you... but you are going to have to wrestle with this for a time and until you have the matter settled yourself... continue to seek HIM. I sincerely hope, you get really good responses quickly... I remember struggling with the SAME question, which birthed more questions and I can't really pinpoint a simple way to do this for you.... just keep SEEKING!
T
That is something I have wondered about for years. I think it may have something to do with the reformation. Before that happened there was really only two denominations in Europe you could be part of, the Roman Catholic Church or the Eastern Orthodox. Once the reformation happened things began to unravel and over a period of time denominations sprouted like weeds. For the first time in centuries if you disagreed with one you could either join another or start your own. Its still going on to this day. The ecumenical movement has tried to reunite the major denominations but cant manage it because the doctrinal differences are to great.
Short answer is sin. Romans chapter one teaches us that men do not like God so they go about to make God into someone more to their liking.
Not all believers are able or willing to walk close to the Lord. As a result they change what the word of God says so they can do what they want instead of changing to do what God desires they should do.
Believers are saved and have an inheritance in eternal life but we abide in carnal bodies of flesh.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Not all believers are able or willing to walk close to the Lord. As a result they change what the word of God says so they can do what they want instead of changing to do what God desires they should do.
Believers are saved and have an inheritance in eternal life but we abide in carnal bodies of flesh.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
G
Zoe, just because the group calls itself Christian, does not mean it is.
Okay.
Is Mormonism Christian? No. Mormonism believes Jesus Christ was a created being. Not the eternal Word. Believe in false prophet. Those are of men and not of Christ. Hence Mormonism is not Christian.
Is Catholicism Christian? No. Jesus, not Mary, is the way, the truth, and the life. We go to God through Jesus. Not through Mary, not through a priest. Peter was not a pope. All those are based on teachings of men. Catholicism is not of Christ. Hence it is not Christian.
Is Jehovah Witnesses Christian? No. Jesus Christ is the eternal Word. Jehovah Witness teaches that Jesus Christ was created. That teaching is not of Christ. Hence JW is not Christian.
What do you mean by Christian sects?
This might be better: How can there be one book, but so many different groups?
Religion always produces division. Jesus Himself said His teaching would cause division.
Zoe, truth divides. It unites, but in so doing, it also brings about division.
Son obeys the truth. His parents who do not believe in Jesus, cast him out of their lives. The son is united with other believers and God the Father, but divided against his parents, error, and falsehood.
Okay.
Is Mormonism Christian? No. Mormonism believes Jesus Christ was a created being. Not the eternal Word. Believe in false prophet. Those are of men and not of Christ. Hence Mormonism is not Christian.
Is Catholicism Christian? No. Jesus, not Mary, is the way, the truth, and the life. We go to God through Jesus. Not through Mary, not through a priest. Peter was not a pope. All those are based on teachings of men. Catholicism is not of Christ. Hence it is not Christian.
Is Jehovah Witnesses Christian? No. Jesus Christ is the eternal Word. Jehovah Witness teaches that Jesus Christ was created. That teaching is not of Christ. Hence JW is not Christian.
What do you mean by Christian sects?
This might be better: How can there be one book, but so many different groups?
Religion always produces division. Jesus Himself said His teaching would cause division.
Zoe, truth divides. It unites, but in so doing, it also brings about division.
Son obeys the truth. His parents who do not believe in Jesus, cast him out of their lives. The son is united with other believers and God the Father, but divided against his parents, error, and falsehood.
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I've actually asked this question a lot myself. If so many sects exist, and every sect exists distinct from another sect because they believe a specific interpretation of the bible over a different specific interpretation, and every sect says that their sect is the one who has the correct specific interpretation, they can't all be right. If we follow the logic:
Truth is fixed, specific, and singular, it doesn't change (if denominations didn't think it was specific, they wouldn't have very specific doctrinal views). If truth is specific, fixed and singular, then out of all the interpretations of the bible that can possibly exist, there is only one that's true. If there is only one specific truth, then the vast majority of the specific interpretations of the bible are wrong. It is only possible for one specific interpretation of the bible to be correct. If every denomination asserts its specific interpretation of the bible is correct, then either:
They are all wrong;
One is correct;
They are all partly correct and partly wrong;
or truth is not singular, fixed and specific.
If they are all wrong, then none should be followed. If only one is correct, then how can we possibly know which one, since all denominations assert their correctness? If they are all partly correct and partly wrong, then what difference does it make if we follow one or the other? And if truth is not singular, fixed and specific, then there's no point even trying to speculate on what the singular, fixed, specific truth is, because it doesn't exist.
I still haven't found a solution to this problem. Has anyone else?
Truth is fixed, specific, and singular, it doesn't change (if denominations didn't think it was specific, they wouldn't have very specific doctrinal views). If truth is specific, fixed and singular, then out of all the interpretations of the bible that can possibly exist, there is only one that's true. If there is only one specific truth, then the vast majority of the specific interpretations of the bible are wrong. It is only possible for one specific interpretation of the bible to be correct. If every denomination asserts its specific interpretation of the bible is correct, then either:
They are all wrong;
One is correct;
They are all partly correct and partly wrong;
or truth is not singular, fixed and specific.
If they are all wrong, then none should be followed. If only one is correct, then how can we possibly know which one, since all denominations assert their correctness? If they are all partly correct and partly wrong, then what difference does it make if we follow one or the other? And if truth is not singular, fixed and specific, then there's no point even trying to speculate on what the singular, fixed, specific truth is, because it doesn't exist.
I still haven't found a solution to this problem. Has anyone else?
G
Is, that's part of the problem, I would agree. But there's more to it than that.
There's attitude. Some folks are going to rebel against the explicit teaching that a homosexuality is a sin. They will weasel around the teaching, throw in what about this and what about that. Point is, it's a sin.
But I believe it is a sin. No doubt.
So what happens? Those folks who believe it is not a sin form an organized group. Create bylaws and a creed. Separate themselves not only physically but intent of the will from the community of believers that adhere to the plain truth. Now instead of one group, there are two.
Was the splinter a result of interpretation? Not necessarily. Could have been, but not always the reason. Suppose the issue was brought up in the congregation because it was found that two men who were part of the congregation were partnering up with each other. The congregation tried to help them. Lead them to what is right. The two men refuse. What do they do, they leave and start their own group.
You can find in such a scenario other factors than matter of interpretation as to what caused the division.
But yes, interpretation is one of the major reasons.
There's attitude. Some folks are going to rebel against the explicit teaching that a homosexuality is a sin. They will weasel around the teaching, throw in what about this and what about that. Point is, it's a sin.
But I believe it is a sin. No doubt.
So what happens? Those folks who believe it is not a sin form an organized group. Create bylaws and a creed. Separate themselves not only physically but intent of the will from the community of believers that adhere to the plain truth. Now instead of one group, there are two.
Was the splinter a result of interpretation? Not necessarily. Could have been, but not always the reason. Suppose the issue was brought up in the congregation because it was found that two men who were part of the congregation were partnering up with each other. The congregation tried to help them. Lead them to what is right. The two men refuse. What do they do, they leave and start their own group.
You can find in such a scenario other factors than matter of interpretation as to what caused the division.
But yes, interpretation is one of the major reasons.