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This section, "Christianity"
will answer questions about the biggest religion on earth. For the sake
of classification, you can also find answers about Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses
and other faiths that are commonly debated as to whether they are Christian or
not. At R+F, they are commonly given the benefit of the doubt as classified
as such.
Remember, if you're searching
for something specific, hit "control F" at any time to do a keyword
search on this page.
Q.
Why do Catholics/Protestants have a different bible?
A. When the Protestant church
split from the Catholic Church, Martin Luther (founder of Protestantism) removed
certain books of the original scripture because he felt they were unbiblical.
These 12 book are usually called the Apocrypha. It is still a much debated topic
today as to whether the Apocrypha is Biblical or not.
Q. Why wont non-Christians
accept the bible as proof of Christianity?
A. It makes for a circular argument.
If non-Christians believed the bible was true, they wouldn't be non-Christians,
now would they? They take it no more as proof of God or Jesus then you would take
"Peter Pan" as proof of faeries like Tinker Bell. Most non-Christians
are open to accepting *other* evidence that Christianity (or the Bible) is true,
but do not believe either one is evidence of the other.
Q. Was Mary a
perpetual virgin?
A. East Orthodox Christians,
Catholics and Muslims believe it so, while most other branches of Christianity
(Protestant) believe that she and Joseph had children following Jesus' virgin
birth. There appears to be evidence to support either case, so neither position
can be proven.
Q. Why don't
Christians keep Kosher?
A. The Kosher Laws -- or Kashrut
-- are part of the Old Covenant, which was fufilled (accourding to Christian doctrine),
and replaced with the New Covenant, which Christians are still under today. The
New Covenant does not include the Kosher Laws.
Q. Do Mormons
have many wives?
A. No. Mormons have to follow
the law, just like everyone else. At one time, though, certain Mormons often did
take on several spouses, but this is no longer practiced, and is now reason for
excommunication from the Church.
Q. I've heard
a couple people say that Christmas and Easter are actually Pagan holidays; is
this true?
A. No, but it is easy to see
how that can be misconstrued. There are Pagan holidays close to the dates of Christmas
and Easter, and the Church chose to place the celebration of Christ's birth and
resurrection on those days for easier conversion of the pagans. Some symbols of
various holidays also have pagan origins due to the closeness of dates. However,when
you celebrate Easter and Christmas, you are celebrating your intention, not accidently
something else..
Q. What the heck
is Purgatory?
A. Purgatory is a Catholic belief,
and is a place one goes to purge away sins before Heaven. It is not necessarily
eternal, like Hell. A person might stay a very long time or short time, depending
on the degree of their sins.
Q. Are Catholics/Mormons/Jehovah's
Witnesses Christians?
A. Depends on your definition
of a Christian. Because these sects of Christianity are different from ordinary
Protestant Christianity, some people do not consider them Christians. But, they
do fit the most common definition (believing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour)
of a Christian. R+F stays on the safe side and gives these sects the benefit-of-the-doubt,
and says they are. To learn more about the different branches, go Here.
Q. Do Catholics
really worship Mary and Saints? I thought they claimed to be Christians?
A. Contrary to popular belief,
Catholics don't worship Mary or Saints (or statues <chuckle>). They honour
Saints, and ask Mary to pray for them. They do not hold Mary or Saints higher,
or even equal to God.
Holy Scriptures
v
The
Holy Bible, George M. Lamsa's Translation
• The
Holy Bible, King James Version
• The
Book of Mormon by
Joseph Smith
• The
Holy Bible, Catholic version
Other Important Scriptures
and Texts
v
The
Other Bible (ancient alternative scriptures). Edited by Willis Barnstone.
• The
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Intro Texts
• Don't
Know Much About the Bible (Everything You Need to Know About the Good Book But
Never Learned) by Kenneth C. Davis.
v
What
Would You Like to Know About the Catholic Church? by Father Kenneth
Ryan and Monsignor Conway.
• The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Catholicism by Robert O'Gorman.
v
Why
Do Catholics Do That? A Guide to the Teachings and Practices of the Catholic Church
by Kevin Orlin Johnson.
• 1001
Suprising Things You Should Know About Christianity
Analysis, Support and Criticism
• The
Encyclopedia of Biblical Errancy by C. Dennis McKinsey
• Classic
Christianity (Life's Too Short to Miss the Real Thing) by Bob George.
• Compelling Reason, by C.S. Lewis
• The
Problem of Pain, by C.S. Lewis
v
Mere
Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
• The
Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
• A
Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel
• A
Case for Faith, by Lee Strobel
v
Why
Christianity Must Change or Die by John Shelby Spong
• Mormon
America by Richard and Joan Ostling.
v
Breaking
Faith: The Pope, The People, and the Fate of Catholicism.
Magazines, Journals, Essays
• Newsweek, July 16, 2001
History/Culture-related Texts
• The
Bible Almanac by Anna Trimiew.
• Early
Christian Heresies by Joan O'Grady.
• A
Short History of the Early Christian Church by Harry Boer.
v
Historical
Jesus, John Dominic Crossan
• The
Birth of Christianity: Discovering What Happened in the Years Immediately After
the Execution of Jesus, John Dominic Crossan
v
The
Way of the Pilgrim (translated by RM French, introduced by Huston Smith).
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