What's so illogical about Christianity?

[greybeta]

In the 2000 years since Jesus Christ was born, many heresies have sprung up regarding the “one true faith.” It didn’t take long for people to misuse and misunderstand the message of the Messiah. Isn’t that why there are so many denominations these days?

The most common answer is to use 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 to answer that question. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

These days, though, it seems that there is a vast sea of denominations. Add in the non-denominational churches and you’ve got a veritable chaos of Christianity. At least it makes me confused.

To paraphrase George Orwell, “All Christians are equal, but some Christians are more equal than others.” What I’m trying to say here is that though Christians start off saying all denominations are equal, but they will invariably tell you why their denomination (or lack of denomination) is best. How can one denomination be better than the others if they are all “equal”?

I guess the most illogical thing about Christianity is this: If I were to ask ten Christians of different denominations what the basic tenets of Christianity are, I would get ten different answers (especially if you include the “universal” Catholic faith).

Why should I believe anyone over anybody else?

Comments

[wolflady26.livejournal.com]

Well, Jesus said, love thy neighbor as thyself, and love God above all else. Anything else is like trying to explain why The Shawshank Redemption is a better movie than Lord of the Rings. You may be passionate about your belief, and it might be 100% right for you, but that doesn't mean that it's 100% right for everyone. It can be hard to accept that someone else doesn't see the brilliance in your favorite movie, but there are always some people who will think it sucks. And you're going to have a heck of a time convincing anyone who thinks it sucks that it is really great.

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

If I were to ask ten Christians of different denominations what the basic tenets of Christianity are, I would get ten different answers

Maybe because Christianity isn't about adhering to a specific set of tenets. Maybe it's not about what you think, but about who you follow. I know if someone asked me to define a relationship with a fellow mortal in a few easy "tenets," I would have different answers from hour to hour (if I bothered to come up with an answer at all). Why should a relationship with the Lord of all creation be easy to define or describe?

My Take

[cloewen.livejournal.com]

As an individual who has woked in eight different denominations before finding his home in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, I have come to a conclusion about denominations by understanding the difference between dogma and doctrine.

Every denomination that holds to some form of orthodox Christianity holds to the basic fundamantals of the Christian faith that I find wrapped up the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Denominations, except those who have become heretical and deny any of these rather basic tenets, differ in doctrine which is a matter of emphasis or preference.

Evangelical Lutherans and Baptists adhere to the same dogma, they differ over the doctrine of baptism, but I would never call either group heretical. Presbyterians emphasize a certain form of church government. Pentecostals and charismatics are into the Holy Spirit. Methodists (before the majority went liberal) had a unique methodical method of Bible study.

Now admittedly there are those who elevate doctrine to the point of dogma, but that's their ballywick.

By the bye, I'm not saying doctrine isn't important. Dogma covers salvation issues (what C.S. Lewis would call "mere Christianity"), but doctrine puts the flesh over the bare bones and determines how we live out our committment to Christ.

Re: My Take

[thanoslug.livejournal.com]

Cloewen said what I was thinking and probably did it a lot better than I would have done. I have attended services and several different denominations and, at heart, they all believe the same basic tenets as outlined by Cloewen. Where they differ is on the "disputable matters" (have a gander at Romans 14).

[kimmaline.livejournal.com]

I think that you have to believe what works for you. I've alway said that the reason there ARE so many faiths is because God comes to people in the way that they need God.

I don't think that one is better than another. I think that ANYONE, Christian or not, who condemns those who are different or believe differently....well, they are the ones in the wrong.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

I think that ANYONE, Christian or not, who condemns those who are different or believe differently....well, they are the ones in the wrong.

I agree. I understand that some religions place an emphasis on converting others to their faith. What I don't understand is when people of generally the same faith (say Baptist vs Catholic) condemn each other. I know the saying is that the devil is in the details, but if the main tenets of both faiths are the same, shouldn't that suffice?

[jeremyarc7.livejournal.com]

How can one denomination be better than the others if they are all “equal”?

All people are equal, right? Yet, you wouldn't consider dating every person in the world - just the ones that make you feel warm inside. Denominations inside Christianity are much the same way. They're all paths to God, but each have a slightly different terrain for you to experience. I'm not big into mountain biking, but maybe you are so the mountain biking path might be best for you. Etc.

One reason they are all "equal" is due to war. When they weren't considered equal, people tended to get violent over them and a lot of misery was spread around. We're supposed to love our neighbor, not murder them and everyone else in the village for not being [insert denomination here].

Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion--several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight. He has made a graveyard of the globe in trying his honest best to smooth his brother's path to happiness and heaven...
- Mark Twain</b<

[baronbrian.livejournal.com]

If I might ask, what do you see as the basic tenets of Christianity?

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

If I were to ask ten Christians of different denominations what the basic tenets of Christianity are, I would get ten different answers

I would hope they would all agree on one: that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ.

Whether or not drinking or dancing is a sin, or if a woman's place is in the home, or if birth control is wrong, etc. is superfluous.

[happydog.livejournal.com]

Why should I believe anyone over anybody else?

Don't ask me, I never found an answer to that question.

[purplkat.livejournal.com]

I'm not Christian, but applying this general statement to some things I do with practically a religious fervor:

Neither knitting nor crocheting is inherently better. I fully respect my friends who crochet and prefer not to knit. I know how to do both, an I do see the inherent advantages of crochet. However, I prefer the way the knit stitch looks, I like being able to make pretty cables, and I think it's easier to get a nice even tension with knitting. So for me, knitting is better, and if someone asks me for my advice on which to learn, I will probably recommend knitting because I prefer it. They asked me for my opinion, after all.

Cats aren't inherently better than dogs. However, I prefer cats in pretty much every way -- I think they're more beautiful, I think they're better for snuggling (dogs tend to be tense and bony, even the ones small enough to fit in your lap), I like that they don't -always- need my attention and when I want to withdraw, they're cool with it, I even prefer the way that they smell. I know that there are advantages to owning a dog -- they're more fawning, if you like that sort of thing, and more easily trained, and you can teach them tricks and take them places. But for me, cats are better. I prefer cats.

Equal doesn't mean exactly the same. Two things that are equal overall can have aspects of them that are different, and those aspects can decide what choice an individual makes. When people say that all denominations of Christianity are equal (although I've never actually heard anyone say that before now) but that theirs is better because of X reason, what they're saying is that their denomination is better FOR THEM.

[kmg-365.livejournal.com]

When people say that all denominations of Christianity are equal (although I've never actually heard anyone say that before now)

I have never heard anyone say that before either. Each denomination of Christianity has its own unique qualities. The one thing that should make them equal is what exactly it would take to get into heaven.

Baptists don't drink or dance. Roman Catholics serve wine at Mass. Roman Catholics are opposed to birth control (at least that is the official line), but non-denominational Christian faiths may be fine with it. I think the increase in popularity of non-denom Christian faiths is because people had difficulty reconciling their beliefs in God and Christ with some of the finer details of other faiths.

I don't think any of these faiths would consider themselves equal to others (if they were, and did, then why the distinctions?). I could be wrong though.

[kteck.livejournal.com]

Ya know... true Christians will acknowledge that very often denominational differences are simply the result of being born into different families, raised in different situations, and taken different paths. No true Christian would dare to make the claim that their particular denomination is the right one. C.S. Lewis put it nicely... Christianity is a great Hall. The hall, though, is not where you live and make your home. You make your home in the rooms adjacent to the hall. Sometimes you will make better roommates with people in certain rooms than with people in others. Sometimes some rooms, when you opened the door and looked in, looked cheerier and kinder than other rooms. There are certain rooms that are healthier than others, and the people in the healthy rooms should try to help the people in the unhealthy rooms get out and find a better living spcae. But they should all know that they are all Christians living for God and for Jesus.