Protestants are those who reject the doctrine as told by the Mainstream Church. A belief in Jesus and the "Resurrection of Christ" but have different interpretation of scripture.
The word Kathos comes from the Greek word for Pure, early Christians used it to describe the universal Christian faith. It was also used in later history to describe a group with distinctively different views to Modern Christians as we know them and they were called the Cathars based mainly in the Languedoc region of France and other parts of Europe from the 11th - 13th century who were Christian but believed in dualism.
Christian denominations are Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic. The word Church originally means community.
Orthodox
Egyptian Coptic, Ethiopian and Syrian.
These three are probably the oldest churches in the world created immediately after the death of Jesus.
Protestant Orthodox churches
Greek, Armenian, Serbian, Russian etc can mainly be seen as having arisen from the great schism in 1054 AD.
The west retained this term and became known as Roman Catholic.
Churches in the East are known as Greek, Eastern or Russian Orthodox.
Protestant
The main groups of Protestant churches arose from Calvinism & Lutherianism, many other Churches have sprung from these
Calvinists
Believe only a chosen few (predestination) will go to heaven & the absolute sovereignty of God.
Calvinism was created in Switzerland by John Calvin in 1520 and in 1560 was Reformed by Ulrich Zwingli/Theodore Beza.
Mainly in Germany, Netherlands Scandinavia
Huguenots, Presbyterian, Puritans are based on Calvinism.
Jehovah's Witnesses
I don't really know about their beliefs but as many of us know them from their prostelysing (banging on your door and trying to convert you I thought I'd say something).
Witnesses rely on the authority of the Bible, worship only one God, and trust in Jesus' death and resurrection for salvation.
Some other beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses differ from mainstream Christianity, they reject the Trinity and the existence of Hell. Witnesses also have strong apocalyptic ideas Witnesses have been expecting the imminent arrival of Armageddon and the end times.
Lutherians
Believe any one can attain salvation through faith & therefore some control over his life. Each man is allowed his own interpretation of the bible Holy Bible (Old Testament and New Testament) and some parts of the Apochrya.
Church of England is based on Luthers teachings.
The Church of England was created after King Henry VIII had requested permission to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon and under the influence of King Philip II of Spain the Pope said "No".
Anne Boleyn Henry mistress introduced him to the idea of Lutherianism and in 1534 by an Act of Supremacy he became the Supreme ruler of the Anglican church and divorced his Wife.
Gideons
An Evangelical church whose main task is distributing free Bibles, The Gideons principally use the King James Version for their Bibles. The Gideons also distribute New King James Bibles and Testaments, which they refer to as "Modern English Version" (MEV). Gideon, their namesake was from the tribe of Manasseh, he helped free the people of Israel and condemned their worship of idols. He was also called the Judge of hebrews.
Methodists
Were created by John Wesley 1787 and exported to most of the English colonies (Africa and West Indies) by missionaries. Also based on teachings from Dutch Calvinists.
Mormons
Say that conventional Christian churches have lost the authority of God. They believe that conventional Christian beliefs are a mixture of the truth and of errors that have been added over the centuries.
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose on the third day. They believe that there would be no salvation without his atonement. They believe Christ will return to earth to reign and rule and they practice Polygamy.
They do not accept the idea of original sin their idea of baptism is different. Mormons believe people are baptised for the remission of their own sins.
One point of note is that the founder Joseph Smith was a Freemason and when Mormons worship in the temple the ritual is very similar to Freemasons.
The symbols, signs, vocabulary and clothing are the same as Freemasonry, including robes, aprons, handshakes, ritualistic raising of the arms, etc.
Mormons also learn Masonic handshakes but these must be given to sentinel angels only, so they can be allowed into heaven. The symbols and signs all have a different meaning to Freemasonry.
Mormons
Say that conventional Christian churches have lost the authority of God. They believe that conventional Christian beliefs are a mixture of the truth and of errors that have been added over the centuries.
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose on the third day. They believe that there would be no salvation without his atonement. They believe Christ will return to earth to reign and rule and they practice Polygamy.
They do not accept the idea of original sin their idea of baptism is different. Mormons believe people are baptised for the remission of their own sins.
One point of note is that the founder Joseph Smith was a Freemason and when Mormons worship in the temple the ritual is very similar to Freemasons.
The symbols, signs, vocabulary and clothing are the same as Freemasonry, including robes, aprons, handshakes, ritualistic raising of the arms, etc.
Mormons also learn Masonic handshakes but these must be given to sentinel angels only, so they can be allowed into heaven. The symbols and signs all have a different meaning to Freemasonry.
Rastafari
Believe in the Judeo-Christian God, whom they call Jah. In general, Rastafari beliefs are based in Judaism and Christianity, with an emphasis on Old Testament laws and prophecies and the Book of Revelation. Allegorical meaning is often sought in the Holy Piby (Rastafari Bible) and the Kebra Nagast (Ethiopian Orthodox Bible)..
Jah was manifested on earth as Jesus, who Rastas believe was black, and Emperor Haile Selassie (as opposed to the European view of blond with blue eyes). Selassie is referred to as His Imperial Majesty or H.I.M. (pronounced "him") he is worshipped as divine.
Rastafari do not believe in an afterlife, but instead look to Zion/Africa as a heaven on earth. True Rastas are believed to be immortal, both physically and spiritually, a concept called "everliving."
An important Rastafari concept is "I and I," which is said instead of "you and I." It concerns the oneness between humanity and God as well as the equality of all humans.
They Believe in a concept called Babylon, which refers to the white power structure of Europe and the Americas. Rastafari seek to resist Babylon, which once cruelly enslaved blacks and still continue to hold them down through poverty, illiteracy, inequality, and trickery.
The greed and conceit of Babylon is contrasted with the humble simplicity and naturalness of the Rastas'
Roman Catholic Church
Was founded by St. Peter now mainly in France, Italy, Spain, Americas although historically was throughout Europe until Luther stuck his notes to the door of the Church in Augsburg. They believe in the Holy Bible (Old Testament, New Testament, and Apocrypha).
Holy Trinity
I'm going to write this as I remember it;-)
The Trinity is the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
God exists as three persons but is one God, meaning that God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have exactly the same nature. Whatever attributes and power God the Father has, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have as well. They are eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, infinitely wise, infinitely holy, infinitely loving and omniscient.
Confusing huh?! Keep in mind my understanding of it is different to other denominations as I went to a Church of England school.
Original Sin
All humans are born not only with a predisposition to sinful behavior, but with an inherently sinful nature. The result is that every person is born deserving eternal damnation, whether or not they have actually committed a sin yet.
Purgatory (Only Roman Catholics believe in this).
A temporary place of punishment for those who have died with unconfessed sins.
The Pope
Catholics believe in the Pope's interpretation of the Bible as they believe the Pope is God's representative on Earth. Jesus said to St Peter "Thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build My church". The whole argument between Protestants and Catholics concerning the Pope's authority is largely due to the interpretation of the word Peter. Peter in Greek is Petros. Rock is Petra and the New testament was originally written in Greek (The Eastern part of the Roman Empire covering Israel/Judea spoke Greek).
The Great Schism of 1054D
Cerularius was the head of the Eastern Church of the Roman empire in Constantinople although it had fallen to the Ottomans in 1024AD. To insist he recognise the Pope head of the Church of the Western empire as the head and mother of both churches. When he refused to do so he was excommunicated so, he excommunicated the Pope of the Western Church. And, ever since the has been split along doctrinal, linguistic and theological views.
Confession
Admission of sin, either directly to God in prayer, generally to the congregation, or privately to a priest.
Love & Light to you - whatever your faith;-)
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