The body of beliefs or teachings on a given topic, established or supported by a given group of people
6
votes
2answers
112 views
What must one do in order to lose his or her salvation?
Some Christian traditions believe that one can lose his or her salvation, even after a genuine conversion experience and years of faithfulness.
For those who teach this doctrine:
what ...
3
votes
3answers
121 views
What is the biblical basis for the doctrine of the loss of salvation?
In contrast to the doctrine of Eternal Security, many denominations believe that a person can, in fact, lose his or her salvation.
So, what is the biblical basis or biblical argument for the doctrine ...
4
votes
3answers
82 views
What is the biblical basis for the doctrine of Eternal Security?
The Doctrine of Eternal Security teaches that once a person truly experience salvation, that person's eternal destiny of eternal life is immutable.
What is the biblical basis or biblically-based ...
5
votes
3answers
285 views
Are Calvinism and Arminianism compatible?
This question may seem ridiculous at first glance, but bear with me... As I learn more about Calvinism and Arminianism I am struck with the notion that they are each based on Scripture, and each ...
3
votes
3answers
69 views
Would Calvinists classify themselves as determinists?
One of Joseph Arminius' arguments against Calvinism was that God's exhaustive foreknowledge does not require a doctrine of determinism.1
My question here is pretty straightforward: Do Calvinists ...
5
votes
1answer
51 views
What different acts do Catholic priests require of people who go to confession?
I understand that when people go to confessional in the Catholic Church, the priest will often prescribe certain things for them to do for penance in order for their sins to be forgiven.
I have heard ...
4
votes
1answer
72 views
If most of the Jehovah's Witnesses today are not a part of the 144,000, then what exactly are they?
I understand that the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that there are few of their members today who are part of the 144,000 mentioned in the book of Revelations. This implies that most of their members ...
6
votes
3answers
203 views
What is the Biblical basis against the Calvinist doctrine of Irresistible Grace?
The question of what the Biblical basis is in favor of Irresistible Grace has been asked here. However, the question regarding the Biblical argument against it does not seem to have been addressed ...
10
votes
2answers
243 views
Do Priests, Cardinals, and Popes have a confessional to which they themselves can/should/must go?
The confessional is a standard practice of the Roman Catholic Church where church members may (or must) go to confess their sins to a priest. As I understand it, the priest then decides whether or ...
5
votes
2answers
77 views
Is there such a thing as waiting too long to address personal issues?
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall
not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother ...
4
votes
1answer
50 views
What is the origin of the doctrine of perspecuity?
Fundamentally, Catholics and Protestants read Scripture differently.
Catholics believe that any private interpretation of Scripture is subject to the teachings of the church, whereas Protestants, ...
9
votes
4answers
334 views
“God desires all men to be saved” from a Calvinist perspective?
If I understand correctly, Calvinists believe that God selects certain people for salvation based solely on His will... that is, the selection has nothing to do with the people themselves.
My ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
When did “tithing” come to mean “giving 10% of your gross income to the Church”?
I know the word "tithe" has "tenth" built into it, and so some Christians assume that every usage of the word "tithe" in Scripture is referring to "giving 10% of your gross income to the church." But ...
3
votes
2answers
104 views
“Hell's Best Kept Secret” from a Calvinist Perspective
The Hell's Best Secret teaching is very popular, and is making an impact on Churches and Christians, crossing denominational borders, and having an influence on Christian movies, television, and ...
0
votes
3answers
96 views
Is it a sin to believe Jesus deceives us, to protect our souls?
Jesus ultimately cares about the judgement of our eternal soul.
Is it a sin to believe in a Holy deception that the reason He made His return unknown and mysterious is to keep us in line - or away ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
From a Fundamentalist viewpoint, what does it mean to “take the Bible literally”?
In my previous answer on this question, while discussing Biblical Inerrancy, I stated:
The doctrine of inerrancy does not imply hyper-literalism. As noted
above, in the second possible mechanism ...
-3
votes
2answers
95 views
What is the Christian perspective on survival needs not met?
Let me clarify, this is not an attack on beliefs in any way. I changed the title as I see how it came off and it is due to my personal frustration with not understanding how things work - I apologize ...
7
votes
4answers
303 views
How do we make sure that we are on the rightful religion/path? [closed]
I borrowed (with permission) a question from Ahmed Han
Which is:
People of every religion claim that they are the ones in the right
path. Even the people of sects in these religions think that ...
3
votes
2answers
209 views
Were Annanias and Saphira guilty of the “unforgiveable” sin?
In Acts 5 we are presented with the account of Annanias and Saphira.
Summary
they sold a piece of property, and then determined to lie to the Apostles and the Holy Spirit about its value, and give ...
5
votes
2answers
200 views
According to mainstream Christianity, what happens after one dies?
Old Belief [held for decades]
After a person dies, the person sleeps until Judgment day, and is then awakened and goes into either heaven or hell.
New Belief (realized only yesterday)
Immediately ...
7
votes
2answers
80 views
Pre-Crucifixion Transubstantiation
The Roman Catholic church teaches the doctrine of transubstantiation--that the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus. It seems that the sacrament of taking the body and blood ...
4
votes
3answers
88 views
Biblical support of a Quadrichotomous view of Man
There are two common views of the Nature of Man - the Dichotomous, and the Trichotomous.
However, a Quadrichotomous view can also be drawn from Jesus' answer to the challenge of what is the greatest ...
6
votes
2answers
683 views
What doctrines teach that people are inherently good or bad?
Are we "basically sinful" or "basically good" (Are we born fundamentally sinful, or are we born holy but then 'fall' to temptation?).
What I really want are the names of the doctrines associated with ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
Does the Church in general need to revisit and revise its strategy in maintaining the faith? [closed]
Is it a high time that we need to impart the young Christians (children) a comprehensive knowledge of all the doctrines of Christianity, or do we tend to raise them as unconvinced Christians ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
What is the basis of the Jehovah's Witnesses' belief that Jesus died on a Stake instead of a Cross? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Crucifixion — torture stake or cross?
I understand that the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus died on a Stake (a vertical pole) instead of a Cross. What is ...
11
votes
2answers
354 views
Do the dietary prohibitions in Acts 15:20 apply to Christians today?
An answer to this question references Acts 15:20, which says --
(19) Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, (20) but should write to them to ...
11
votes
1answer
211 views
Are there any Protestant beliefs which have their roots in Mormon doctrines?
Protestants often associate Mormonism with outlandish1 doctrines like innumerable Gods, people living on the sun, or special underwear that you can't take off2. But I am curious what lies at the ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
What is Lordship Salvation?
I have heard the term "Lordship Salvation" several times now, including in an answer I read recently.
Can anyone explain to me what this is?
Is this the official position of any major churches?
Is ...
5
votes
4answers
479 views
Does every sin affect other people?
Clearly Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden affected everyone. And clearly if you murder someone, or commit adultery, it affects others. But are there sins which do not affect other people?
What I am ...
5
votes
3answers
70 views
What makes a Council's conclusions authoritative?
I was just reflecting on an answer to a question I recently asked, and began to wonder... How do we know the conclusions of a given Council were true? Are all findings by Christian Councils ...
4
votes
2answers
161 views
What is the Biblical argument against Limited Atonement?
The "L" in the "tulip* acronym for reformed theology stands for limited atonement, which is defined as follows:
Sometimes called 'particular redemption,' the view that Jesus' death
secured ...
7
votes
4answers
123 views
What is “heresy”?
I have seen the word "heresy" used on this site a lot recently (and have used it myself a couple of times in jest) but I was wondering if someone could explain the meaning of this term as it is used ...
6
votes
1answer
58 views
What is a “Pentecostal Catholic”?
One of my new neighbors is a "Pentecostal Catholic" from India. I have heard of this denomination before, during an Evangelical Missiological Society conference, but didn't have a reason to ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
When did Satan get cast out of heaven? Or is that yet to come?
This answer explains that it happened after Jesus ascended, and might even be something that will happen in the "End Times", but this answer says that it happened before Adam and Eve sinned.
What ...
6
votes
2answers
410 views
What is meant by “God is Omnipotent”?
I'm questioning my own understanding of the term "Omnipotence" in response so a comment on one of my answers.
In the comment, the poster included a definition of Omnipotence taken from the Wikipeda ...
2
votes
1answer
56 views
Is it sinful to prophesy using the Bible?
My pastor correlates any event going on in the world as a sign of getting closer to the return of Christ, using all different quotes from the book of Revelation.
I remember Jesus saying something ...
4
votes
3answers
251 views
How do we identify false teachers?
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, ...
1
vote
2answers
541 views
What place does Lilith have in Christianity?
There was a show on the History channel stating that some scholars believe Adam and Eve were alive with a third human, Lilith. Lilith disobeyed Adam and Eve, so God sent her to live on earth as a ...
3
votes
3answers
126 views
Do the people God sends to challenge His people (for His Glory) have salvation?
Romans 9:17
17 In the Scriptures God says to Pharaoh: “I made you king so that you
could do this for me. I wanted to show my power through you. I wanted
my name to be announced throughout ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
What is the biblical basis for restitution?
What is the New Testament Biblical basis for making restitution? I've read the story of Zacchaeus, and it's not completely set in stone as to what the structure is. The biggest question I have is if ...
3
votes
2answers
596 views
What are the expected results of sexual sin?
Was listening to K-WAVE yesterday and there was a lot of talk about sexual sin.
What are the expected results of sexual sin?
(More specifically focusing during this life, not the after life or going ...
-1
votes
1answer
241 views
What is the correlation between cosmic energy and Christianity? [closed]
At Church (Calvary Chapel) I don't remember exactly what the pastor was talking about but he mentioned the phrase "cosmic energy" when relating to what it is to be in Christ.
I was surprised just by ...
8
votes
3answers
229 views
What is the Calvinist perspective on regeneration?
When do Calvinists consider an elect person to be regenerate?
If it is at birth, then is it odd that someone who is "regenerate" is living in sin, up until the point of faith in Christ?
And if it is ...
7
votes
5answers
217 views
What is stopping Christians from having just one doctrine/interpretation?
As far as I know, there is only one God, one Jesus, and one Holy Spirit, and they are ONE. But, what we have here is dozens of different doctrines (I'm not sure if "doctrine" is the right word for ...
18
votes
13answers
2k views
What is a Christian's justification for a legal prohibition of homosexual marriage?
Today President Obama came out as the first U.S. president to support gay marriage. In his address, he even quoted scripture to support his change of view.
Love him or hate him, it seems clear that ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views
What Bible verses support infant baptism?
I've studied the Bible and am a fundamental independent bible believing Baptist who believes what the scripture says about Baptism is clear.
It is an ordinance after salvation, i.e. believers ...
4
votes
5answers
186 views
Is Matthew 28 saying something about Baptism?
On our sister site I asked a question about what the correct grammatical interpretation of Matthew 28:19 is with relation to baptism.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing ...
10
votes
1answer
194 views
Which doctrines are based solely on the apocrypha?
What Roman Catholic doctrines are based only in the 7 books canonized by the Roman church, but not accepted by Protestants. (e.g., Tobit, Judith, Maccabees, the additions to Daniel and Esther, etc...)
...
9
votes
1answer
170 views
Origin of “The Marks of the True Church”
In Reformed Theology, "the marks of a true church" are often delineated, to the effect of:
Church discipline
Teaching/preaching
Administration of the sacraments
(These are the marks often denoted ...
2
votes
2answers
449 views
What is the Christian perspective on deceptive brain messages?
What is the Christian perspective on deceptive brain messages?
Modern science now shows us proof that we can rewire our brains, so that it works in more beneficial ways. The concepts in a new book by ...
