Contents

1 Background 2 Pre-Reformational distinctions 3 Post-Reformation distinctions 4 Present-day distinctions 5 See also

Background

NEUTRALITY IS DISPUTED

Theological differences have been with us almost since the time of Jesus Christ. History is littered with examples of conflict between people of God over the way of interpreting the meaning of scripture. It is probably the most common reason for the variety of differing denominations in the Christian faith.

The study of Scripture, while it is the role of every Christian to carry out in order to educate themselves, has become a profession of repute in the development of learned offices of theology. These should be distinguished from the offices of a local church or denomination, not all of which are concerned with scholarly knowledge and its application to the Scriptures.

One part of our difficulty is to find the meaning of the original languages that were used to author the scriptures. If we are speaking in a different language from the original, in order to have a full understanding of the original writing we might either rely on imperfect translations, or learn that original language in order to have a fuller understanding of it. Translational difficulties occur in part because of the non-literal meanings that many words have, and the difficulting in transliterating their context into a different cultural setting.

Another part is discovering the context in which the original words were spoken. The context of a passage of Scripture can be more fully understood by reading through the entire chapter or book. However it also behoves us to gain an understanding of the historical context that would have applied at the time that the passage or book was written. It is generally accepted, for example, that the New Testament authors incorporated references to cultural and religious practices of the era into their writings. These practices in some cases need to be taken into account when making an interpretation because of differences in the modern era.

A number of differences arise over parts of Scripture that use imagery or concepts that are difficult to express in human ways. For example, the Book of Revelation contains a great deal of imagery and the varying views of this book have led to several major theologies. The concept of the Trinity, or Godhead, and that of the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, are examples of tricky concepts that have also brought division.

The following sections list some of the areas of theological distinction or difference that have occurred in the history of the Christian church. It will immediately be seen that heresies, schisms or minor points of dissention are by no means uncommon.

In modern times, a number of organisations known as "Discernment Ministries" (Discernmentalists) have sprung up to counter perceived heresies, mainly in Protestant teaching. They generally appeal to "traditional" scriptural interpretations, although some of these are at odds with Scripture. The question for Christians is what weight or importance ought to be given to the views of these ministry organisations.

Pre-Reformational distinctions

This section lists (in roughly chronological order) key areas of distinction or differences that arose in Christian theology of the era. In the early years of the Christian church, these chiefly took the form of small sects or movements; as time went on, key doctrines were established, most of which are still taught in the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) and the Eastern Orthodox Church (EOC). Most of the RCC and EOC doctrines listed here are considered heretical in Protestant theology. Some Episcopalian doctrines persist in certain Protestant churches but not in others. Some doctrines initially considered heretical persist in certain Protestant churches but not in others.

• Absolution: sacerdotal remittance of sin. RCC doctrine.
• Apostolic Succession: early Episcopalian, EOC and RCC doctrine.
• Arianism: doctrines regarding Christ's divinity; main ones shared by Jehovah's Witnesses and a few other Protestant churches.
• Gnosticism: Generally rejected the goodness of the physical to emphasize the spiritual, also emphasized "hidden teachings"; some ideas persist in some Protestant churches.
• Iconodulism: key RCC and EOC doctrine connected with affirming the Incarnation.
• Indulgences: RCC doctrine.
• Inquisition: RCC institution used to counter heresy.
• Monarchianism: doctrines regarding Christ's divinity.
• Monasticism: RCC and EOC Holy Orders ascetical practice.
• Monophysitism: doctrines regarding Christ's divinity. Subject of Council of Ephesus (431).
• Montanism: fostered Nicolationism and doctrine that no salvation was found outside the Church institution. Great emphasis on end-times prophecy and miracles comparable to some Pentecostal churches today.
• Nicolationism (priestly supremacy): early Episcopalian doctrine.
• Papism: key RCC doctrine. Rejected in Celtic, Eastern and Reformational churches.
• Pelagianism: denial of original sin and helplessness of sinner to save himself, affirmation of free will.
• Sabellianism: doctrines regarding the Trinity, also known as "modalism"; shared by many Protestant churches.
• Sacerdotalism : priesthood as intermediary and sacred office. Key RCC and EOC doctrine.
• Sacramentalism: rituals/works as means of grace essential or helpful to salvation. Key RCC and EOC doctrine.
• Sainthood: canonization a key RCC and EOC doctrine.
• Theotokos: Mary the "Mother of God" / perpetually virgin, affirming Christ's full divinity and single personhood. Key RCC and EOC doctrine.
• Traditionalism: tradition of near equal authority to scripture. Key RCC and EOC doctrine.
• Transubstantiation: key RCC doctrine.
• Vicarianism: Pope as Vicar of Jesus Christ. Key RCC doctrine.

Post-Reformation distinctions

Since the Reformation reaffirmed the rights of Christians to freely expound their own views of theology, most theological distinctions have occurred between the various Protestant denominations. Some new RCC doctrines however have been promulgated since that time. The differences between many of the denominations are relatively minor and have helped ecumenical efforts in recent times.

• Adventism: typified by SDA church. Some beliefs considered heretical in mainstream Protestantism and by RCC and EOC churches.
• Agnosticism: existence of God is unknown.
• Anabaptism: early reformationalists, denied humanity of Christ and infant baptism.
• Anglo-Catholicism: reactionary high church theology of Anglicanism.
• Arminianism: reaction to Calvinism. Key doctrine of Anglican and Methodist churches, adopted by some Baptists and Congregationalists.
• Assumption of Mary: RCC doctrine.
• Believer's Baptism : doctrine of only immersional baptism of believing adults. John Bunyan the most famous adherent.
• Brethrenism : Anabaptist-Pietist. Open and Exclusive streams.
• Calvinism: early reformationalist doctrine.
• Charismatism: charismatic move in traditional Protestant and RCC churches, often associated with glossolalia.
• Claphamism : movement promoting abolition of slavery. Founded British and Foreign Bible Society, helped to found Church Missionary Society.
• Congregationalism: form of governance used in Congregationalist, Baptist and Pentecostal churches in which each congregation is self-governing and indepedent of all others.
• Counter-Reformation: RCC response to Reformationalism.
• Creation Spirituality: Panentheist theology. Heretical to most Protestants, RCC and EOC.
• Deism: replaces faith with reason, believes God does not intervene in earthly affairs. Also Enlightenment, Encyclopaedism , Rationalism
• Ecumenism: move to reunite churches, esp. Protestant / RCC. Denounced as heretical by anti-Papist Protestants and by some Orthodox.
• Episcopalianism: form of governance chiefly used in the Church of England (Anglican Church).
• Evangelicalism: conservative Protestant theology. Some churches have evangelical and liberal streams.
• Immaculate Conception: RCC doctrine rejected by EOC and Protestants
• Keswickism : evangelical movement.
• Latitudinarianism: broad church theology of Anglicanism.
• Liberalism: reinterpretation of doctrine according to modern knowledge. Shattered by First World War but revived and commonplace today.
• Low church: puritanical / Evangelical theology of Anglicanism.
• Methodism: form of governance and doctrine used in Methodist Church.
• Moderatism : Scottish ecclesiastical schism.
• Mormonism: LDS church. Doctrines considered heretical / cultic in mainstream Protestantism and by RCC and EOC churches.
• Neocalvinism : reaction to liberalism. Denies divine inspiration of Scripture. aka Neo-Orthodoxy.
• Nonconformism: advocacy of religious liberty. Includes Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists and Salvationists.
• Papal Infallibility: key RCC doctrine rejected by EOC (see Great Schism) and Protestants
• Pentecostalism: doctrine that charismatic gifts have been restored to the church.
• Pietism: stream of Lutheran thought.
• Presbyterianism: form of governance used in Presbyterian and Reformed churches.
• Puritanism: anti-Episcopalian movement. Inspired the Pilgrim Fathers of the US.
• Salvationism : Salvation Army. Offshoot of the Methodist Church
• Scientism: Christian Scientists. Doctrines considered heretical / cultic in mainstream Protestantism and by RCC and EOC churches.
• Tractarianism: Oxford Movement. Led to Anglo-Catholicism.
• Ultramontanism: French RCC reaction to church-state separation.
• Unitarianism: rejects Trinity and divinity of Christ.
• Wesleyanism : stream of Methodism. Title reintroduced by schism in New Zealand church.

Present-day distinctions

Most present day controversy revolves around the Pentecostal / Charismatic movements, largely a product of the 20th Century. Conservative Evangelical / Reformed theology typically teaches that the charismata, or "sign gifts" of the Holy Spirit, were only given to the early church, and died out permanently after that. These views are thus in opposition to the many Pentecostal denominations and churches which are a growing feature of modern Christianity as well as charismatic movements in mainline Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic Church. Roman Catholic and Orthodox theology generally denies that the "sign gifts" died out permanently, and many stories of the saints and others include various miraculous signs.

Other key areas of difficulty focus around:

• The ordination or place of women in ministry.
• Eschatology and the book of Revelation (Preterism, Historicism, Futurism, Idealism).
• Worship styles and especially the modern style of lyrics.
• Parachurch organisations.
• Sexual morality, especially sexual orientation. On the one hand, the push by gay activists for equality, particularly in church leadership, has split many churches. On the other hand, the reactionary anti-gay movement epitomised by Westboro Baptist Church and others is viewed with distaste even among conservative Evangelicals.

Discernmentalists typically focus on perceived heresies in Pentecostalism, Charismatism and Ecumenism, among others. They defend their actions citing Scriptural injunctions regarding the testing of scripture and caution of false teachers. Some Pentecostal / charismatic theologians claim divine inspiration in the interpretation of passages. Other Discernmentalists reject this claim. Many outside the movement regard them as judgemental legalists who have absented themselves from teaching the grace that is a key Christian doctrine.

Discernmentalists should not be confused with anti-cult ministries, who work primarily in alerting Christians to the supposed dangers posed by churches they considered to be cults.

Some areas attacked by discernmentalists include

• Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" film. Over 13,000 words of rebuttal on one site, on account of Gibson's Catholicism and other Catholic involvement in production.
• Widely regarded parachurch organisations such as "Promisekeepers", "Alpha", "Focus on the Family", etc.
• The Toronto blessing and similar "hyper-charismatic" movements.
• Many streams of Pentcostal thought.
• Denunciation of many noted Christians based on supercritical evaluation of their activities, including those long dead. In addition, reliance upon sole sources of information does not meet normal standards of historical research. Without having in some way been able to record every single thought, act or word of every noted Christian it is impossible to know whether they should be condemned for something they may have later turned away from.

Most discernment ministry organisations are small but have achieved greater influence through the Internet. In summary, the purveyors of these ministries seem to proclaim themselves as ultimate authorities on all of the subjects which they publish an opinion on.

See also

• Criticisms of Pentecostal and Charismatic belief
• Heresy
• Theology
• Eastern Orthodoxy
• Roman Catholicism
• Protestant Reformation
• Biblical canon
• Ecumenism