Christianity - confusing

[MiniN]

I was watching a programme at the weekend that mentioned a few different sects of christianity such as Quakers, Presbyterian and a few others.

so how many sects are there? why are there so many? what are their basic differences?

[Octavius]

This page provides an overview which might answer most of your queries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomin ation

[MiniN]

thanks - thats brilliant.
i'm up to historical schisms now.

[keyplus90]

Of course it is. Don't look into it. However if you are interested in real teachings of Jesus (pbuh) then study Islam.

[naomi24]

No, don't study Islam, and don't study Christianity either, because all religion is man-made. Despite what people may want you to believe, no one - absolutely no one - knows what Jesus really taught, but do bear in mind that he wasn't a Christian and he wasn't a Muslim. He was a Jew. Neither Christianity nor Islam existed during Jesus' lifetime. There is no dependable record of his teachings but we are told that he taught us to love one another - and whether that's true or not (and no one knows) there's nothing wrong with that., and we won't go far wrong if we try to do that. It's all we need to know. Forget religion. Whichever way you look at it, it's all hocus pocus.

[MiniN]

I was only interested in it from an educational point of view. I was wondering why there was so many different denominations.

I know what you mean, naomi. the teachings of Jesus were written down several hundreds of years after he died weren't they? which is to say the stories were passed down through several generations - and we all know what happens in chinese whispers.

[keyplus90]

Off the question but��.

According to Naomi of course Islam did not exist during Jesus (pbuh) life time and she is right if we consider Muhammad (pbuh) the founder of Islam. What we believe now as religions were either tribes at that time (Israelies) or people started worshipping other human or their miracles (Christianity).

In that sense Muslims should not be known as Muslims and rather Muhammadin or Arabian or arabicism etc. The problem is according to this definition then anyone who is not from the tribe of Israel could not be a Jew and anyone who does not believe in Jesus (pbuh) as Christ & Messiah and consequently does not worship him is not a Christian. That is the main reason why Jews do not accept Jesus(pbuh) as prophet and Christians do not accept Muhammad (pbuh). Muslims believe he was Messiah but do not worship him.

However Muslims believe in all the Prophets from Adam onward including Abraham and all his descendants which includes Jesus, Moses and Muhammad (pbu them all). Why, because Muslims believe that all the prophets gave the same message and that is total submission to the will of God so the one who acts upon that is a Muslim so according to that definition Islam started with Adam (pbuh) and not with Muhammad (pbuh). According to Quran they were all Muslims as they did what God asked them to do.

You love the one God says to love and you hate the one God says to hate. According to Naomi�s philosophy we should love one another if that is the only thing we need then does that include Hitler as well?

[naomi24]

Hi Mini, because biblical texts are often ambivalent, people interpret them in different ways, and that's why there are so many denominations. For example, based on their interpretation of biblical texts, Jehovah's Witnesses will not accept blood transfusions, but other groups interpret those texts differently, and so will accept blood.

Religion makes for interesting study if only to try to sort the wheat from the chaff. An impossible task - but nonetheless interesting.

You're absolutely right. We do know about Chinese whispers - but it seems a lot of people prefer to ignore their effect.

[MiniN]

i find religion a very interesting topicical subject.

as Keyplus says, Judaism, Islam and Christianity derive from the same place - it makes me wonder why people argue and fight in the name of religion?

from what we are saying religion is based heavily then on groups interpretation of events.

[keyplus90]

Mini the difference unfortunately has been surfaced by the Jews and Christians. Detail is very long but just think about what I said earlier. Muslims believe in all the messengers and prophets, if we do not then we are not Muslims any more it is basic and fundamental belief. But Christians and Jews knew all the time about the coming of another prophet at that time. Jews refused to accept Muhammad (pbuh) only because they could not digest a prophet outside tribe of Israel. Many Christians at that time accepted him prophet but many decided not to, to keep their business running. If there are similarities in the teachings and beliefs they are due to the same source. We only believe the parts of Bible being the words of God that can be varified by the Quran, others are the additions.

For few it only takes One single sign from Holly Quran to see the light of truth, as here.

http://www.geocities.com/aahem187/brain.htm

And for others, nothing will wake them up. So keep watching

[MiniN]

keyplus, i wish everyone could respect each others belief and get along then. if everyone shares the same fundamental beliefs then surely that should unite people.

what does (pbuh) mean?

[naomi24]

Keyplus, why 'according to Naomi'? Islam didn't exist during Jesus' lifetime, or at any time before that.

And again why 'according to Naomi'? If Hitler had followed the basic ethos of loving his fellow man, World War II and the holocaust wouldn't have happened. Unfortunately, like most men, he didn't, so what's your point?

Mini, religions are based on interpretation of ancient texts, but whether we can say that those texts are based on 'events' is highly debatable.

[MiniN]

as people suggest that religion was used to control the masses, using it to control people isnt necessarily a bad thing.

if religion gave people a sense of purpose, treated their fellow human beings better and followed the law then surely this was a good thing?

[naomi24]

Keyplus, But Christians and Jews knew all the time about the coming of another prophet at that time. Jews refused to accept Muhammad (pbuh) only because they could not digest a prophet outside tribe of Israel. Many Christians at that time accepted him prophet but many decided not to, to keep their business running.

Where do you get it from?

Mini, pbuh means 'peace be upon him'.

[MiniN]

thanks naomi.

[naomi24]

Mini, I believe that organised religion is a blight on man's intellect and on this world we live in - and used as a means of control it is abominable.

[MiniN]

is it possible then to believe in a God but not in a religion?

[keyplus90]

(PBUH) means what Naomi said.

Naomi tell me one thing. Hitler should have loved fellow men, but he did not. Now where do we go from there on. Shall we still love him as you said we should love one another or shall we exclude him? Or shall we burn him for as many times as many people he killed, You know what only God can do that by giving him new skin millions of time.

Mention of Muhammad (pbuh) in other scriptures I have gone over it so many times, if you do not believe then fine carry on, I am not forcing you. That is the reason (not specifically for you) I said that for few Only One Sign is enough but for many they will never even see the Sun right above their head. Here is another sign,

http://www.answering-christianity.com/fingerti ps.htm

Don�t worry just ignore it if you want to, that is the easiest thing anyone can do.

[MiniN]

keyplus, can I ask you how long have you been a follower of Islam? is this something you were brought up with or did you see a sign also?

these are obviously very personal questions so if you don't want to answer them then i completely understand.

[keyplus90]

No I have no problem in answering anything what I can answer. I was born in a Muslim family, as I grew up I studied in a church run school, of course earlier it was just faith from the teachings of parents but as I grew up I started looking into religion more, I would still not call myself very well versed because certain things you can never understand with human given intellect (many here do not like when I say that) so that is where your faith jumps in. Islam is a logical faith as I have heard many reverted (converted) from other religions who did know and in fact were preaching their religion at some stage but then realised that they are not getting the answers to their own questions so decided to become Muslims. I always say that if anyone wants to know about Islam they can watch Channel 820 Peace TV a free channel on SKY satellite. Especially after 9: 00 PM. You would get authenticated and logical answer to your queries about Islam. A little bit you can find here as well.

http://www.irf.net/irf/main.htm

Go to the Q&A on Islam at the bottom of the screen.

[MiniN]

thanks for your honest and open answer, keyplus

do you think you would still be a muslim if you had grown up in a non religious family and went to a non religious school? do you feel you would've always been drawn to Islam?