The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Hello, I am new here

Hi, I am a middleage Jewish woman and I have recently become interested in comparative religion studies (self taught). I am certainly no expert in anything but was hoping that someone here would be kind enough to answer questions that I may have from time to time? In return, I would also be glad to answer any questions that anyone may have of me, too! I am not interested in converting, just sharing knowledge. If I am at the wrong place for this, please let me know and direct me to where it might be more appropriate. Thank you for your time.
patty

Bagrisn plt! Glad to have you here. Please feel free to ask any question you desire there are many here who will be more than happy to try to answer you.

Again welcome. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />

Welcome, plt!

Well, for what it's worth, I am a middleage goy--with Jewish in-laws, but that's another megillah!

As Boanerges already said, I think you will find "the regulars" here quite willing to answer most questions you may pose. Not knowing exactly what you believe about either Judaism or Christianity in particular, I did want to point out three general principles that will be helpful to bear in mind when and if you do pose questions.

[*]First, the term "Christian" on this site is used to refer to:

belief in a specific set of details, recorded in the Bible, which are concerned with the person and work of Jesus Christ,

and by extension,

a person who believes those details to be true in a way that only such belief can cause a person to be declared righteous by God.

At least two implications follow.

a) "Comparative Religion" is, to a Christian, the evaluation of utterly false systems of belief in light of the one absolutely true system, rather than a neutral choice between systems equally acceptable to God. Of course we will be happy to go into great detail about why this is the case; do not be surprised when these things come to the surface.

b) The word "Christian" is frequently used to refer to persons or beliefs who do not fit the above definition. There are and have been many times, grievous to the true Christian, when non-Christian activity has been done using the name of Jesus Christ in a manner inconsistent with his own teaching, including, but not limited to, anti-Semitic behavior. I am convinced that a proper understanding of the true Christian teaching will equip you to see that much of so-called "Christian" history, while sadly true, did not reflect the true Christian faith at all, and really, ultimately only a true understanding of the Christian faith can enable one to make sense of it at all.


[*]Second, the details of this Christian faith are revealed by God, by God alone, in one place alone, the Scriptures of the Bible, specifically the 39 books of the Old Testament with which you are hopefully thoroughly familiar and the 27 books of the New Testament.

Many implications follow; most important is that since the Christian faith is sufficiently, authoritatively, inerrantly and infallibly revealed in the combined testimony of the historical Scriptures, no other system of belief which either adds to (as semi-Christian cults do), subtracts from (as modern Judaism and others do) or contradicts (as all other religions do) this Biblical testimony may be said to be God's own voice of revelation of how to be declared righteous in his sight. Do not be surprised if your questions are sooner or later referred to Biblical passages to clarify the Christian faith.


[*]Third, I find it helpful to clarify one point of terminology at the outset. As you know, in Jewish usage, the term "Reform" refers to the wing of modern Judaism which places the least emphasis on the role of the Bible. Since this is a "Reformed" Christian site, you need to realize that the term is used in a far different way among Christians: in Christian usage, because of the 16th-century return to the Biblical roots of Christianity known as "the Reformation", Reformed always refers to that core group of Christian teaching which places the most emphasis on the role of the Bible.
[/LIST]

Just thought you might want to know! ;-)

Thank you for your welcomes!
I hope, Paul S that you will understand that I am NOT an authority on the bible and do not wish (at least at this time) to discuss scripture. I am just interested in some of the differences in the various Christian beliefs and how they differ from each other. Be assured that I am as confident in my bible as you are in yours and hope that we will both respect those differences.
My 1st question: Would it be possible to have a brief (I know that will be the hard part) explanation of the differences in doctrine between the various Christian sects? I realize this is asking alot and certainly could be a very long list, but just a basic "primer" between Calvinism, Lutheranism, Anglican, etc? If you could link me to a website that does this that would be excellent. I seem to be unable to find one and just keep getting comparisons to Catholics. I know that one!
Than you in advance and have a joyful day. Colorado seems to be very windy today, again.

1. It would be interesting and helpful to know what this "bible" is that you have such confidence?

2. Your request is a most difficult one since the differences between Calvinism (aka: historic, biblical Christianity) and all others are varied and in some cases many. However, what we can offer you is a link to a large repository of the doctrines which Calvinism consists. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The general link is here: The Highway website. On that page you will find various links to different major areas of doctrine, e.g.,

- Calvinism and the Reformed Faith
- Predestination
- The Atonement of the Lord Christ
- Creation and the Existence of God
- In the Beginning
- Notable Sermons



In His grace,

My bible is the Stone edition. I also refer to JPS (1917) online. There are 24 books in the Jewish Bible.
I am sorry the question is difficult. I know there are many differences but I wish to start with just a basic comparison. Maybe this isn't possible? If you know of any links, that would be an enormous help! I can specifically look up each of the doctrines but then I would have to have about 10 windows open at a time and trying to find specific information from each is very difficult. I guess I would like to start with a comparison of the differences in areas such as baptism, requirements of salvation, views on literalness (is that a word?)of the words. I understand in general what Christians believe and the differences between Catholics and Protestants but my knowledge breaks down between what a Baptist believes vs. Church of Christ vs. Lutheran. Any start would be appreciated. Also, what common church names are under the umbrella of Calvinism? I will read the links you provided! Thanks.

plt,

I think I have found the type of "satellite view" of the various branches growing out of the Reformation under Wikipedia's Protestantism article. A quick peek tells me it gives the broad strokes you are looking for, for at least the major branches, in a generally accurate way, without delving into substantial detail on particulars.

I strongly recommend, as Pilgrim has above, that after getting a view of the Protestant landscape, so to speak, you venture back here to see what it looks like "on the ground". In particular, I await hearing more about how "your Bible" differs from that used by Christians.

Thank you!
I, finally, found a link, also.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_deno.htm
In perusing this link I now realize what a difficult question I was asking! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Eeeeeek.gif" alt="" /> I am sure I will return with more specific questions and thank you for your patience.
As for differences in the bible, I will hopefully (and probably pathetically) show how the Jews interpret the Torah differently. Sometimes it is a specific word but usually it is an entirely different understanding of what was meant (always the more difficult of the two).
Shalom

plt, I hope you find your time here very informative!

You wrote:

Well, first know that we as Reformed Christians believe that the Bible is our sole infallible authority in all matter of life and doctrine. There are many who call themselves Christians (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox) who would deny this, but that has led them into all sorts of problems (their authority becomes fallen man rather than the authority of God's Word.)

You also wrote:

We believe in Genesis through Malachi (or, in your Bible, Genesis through 2 Chronicles). In fact, we are very confident in it too. In it, we see Jesus Christ, the Messiah that was promised. He is the One that Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms testify to.

MarieP wrote:And here is where we will,I hope, respectfully disagree. Thank you for the welcome.

Welcome,

I would be a bit weary in using a source (as linked) in explaining the various differences within Christianity that refers to CE instead of AD in its dating.

John,

It might help if you explain in more detail the reason for being wary of the linked source in light of the common theme upthread that the true Christian ultimately finds the source of all knowledge necessary for life and doctrine in the Scriptures. Are you implying that the Scriptures require usage of the letters AD and forbid the usage of CE? Or is it something else? This inquiring mind would like to know!

Paul,

I'm just positing that any site that makes a point in using CE instead of AD would most likely be unreliable in explaining the various Christian branches or movements. Maybe they do a fine job, but my hinky meter would be running.

I'm not suggesting that AD is scriptural as we see with the KJV only advocates. I just want the new poster to find accurate info on the various positions held in Christianity.

It will not confuse me. I have used CE all my life and prefer its neutrality. I also try to always read multiple sites for information. Trusting one website for acurate information is like trusting one doctor, picked at random, for the best medical advice. He might be right but, boy, do I want a second opinion! Once again, thank you for your welcomes!

John and plt,

I echo your caution to be wary, taking the unspoken assumptions of writers into account. I just wanted to extend it in the opposite direction of the point you made to say that even if a source uses BC/AD, it may be no more explicitly or accurately Christian in its interpretation than one which uses BCE/CE.

I would also add that the degree of confidence to place in a source depends on the nature of the material being conveyed. So if you have a choice of obtaining a piece of historical information about a Christian denomination from 2 articles--one by a Jew who is a respected historian and the other by a Christian for whom history is not a strength--you should clearly give more weight to the article by the historian.

In the information you are seeking, plt, that principle would hold for many basic details, as in the link I gave you above: dates, countries, tracing the development of which branch split into others, general categories of denominational distinctives, names of key figures involved. These are matters of such common knowledge that any well-documented source could be accepted with little fear of prejudice against the truth.

The "wariness" John advises is essential, however, when looking for any explanation of the actual teaching of a particular group, since an author's core assumptions--even the most allegedly neutral--inevitably intrude on his critique or defense of an article of faith.

In light of this I would urge you to consider the following plan of study of Protestant teaching, once you have spent time with Pilgrim's links above.

Without exception, the major Protestant branches emerging from the Reformation--Lutheran, Calvinist/Reformed, Anglican--and their immediate offspring--Presbyterian, Congregational, Baptist--very quickly drew up documents stating with varying degrees of precision what they themselves considered the essential elements of their belief. The advantages of your going to this source material would be many:

• these confessions of faith are written in an accessible vocabulary
• they tend to be concise and yet thorough
• they display a remarkable sense of unity across the several branches on all major points of doctrine--or said another way, the common points of doctrine reveal themselves as those appearing in the several confessions
• the topical treatment lends itself to comparison against the Scriptures
• if you have a general sense of where each of the branches began, it will be much easier for you to regard later developments as enhancements to, fallings away from, or returnings to, the original teaching in the confessions

The Highway's front page has links to 2 of the most important of these "founding documents":

Presbyterianism's Westminster Confession of Faith

and the Reformed Church's The Canons of Dordt

More can be found at The Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics' Historic Church Documents page.

I doubt that I am alone in praying that your interaction with the material that has been recommended will be of greater profit to you than you can now imagine.