21
votes
Accepted
Did Tertullian forbid Christians from being school teachers?
Prohibition on teaching
Tertullian does indeed forbid Christians from pursuing the profession of a school teacher, in De Idololatria, Chapter 10:
Undoubtedly Christians are not allowed to be ...
- 42.3k
14
votes
Accepted
Does Catholicism consider body building to be a sin?
The short answer is “no.”
First of all, the Church is not in the habit of listing all possible sinful behavior. The vast majority of possible behaviors are left to the prudent judgment of the ...
- 13.2k
11
votes
Accepted
What is the Catholic definition of meat for Lenten Fridays?
"Meat" in this sense means, and has historically meant, what used to be called "flesh meat", which St. Thomas Aquinas described as "the flesh of animals that take their rest on the earth" [including ...
- 18.5k
10
votes
Accepted
What is the history of silent prayer?
There is indeed much evidence that silent prayer was taught and practiced in the early church. Several examples from the first few centuries will demonstrate this:
Clement of Alexandria (150–215) ...
- 42.3k
10
votes
Does the Catholic Church have a list of Good Books?
Yes. They're called the Biblical Canon. The books of the Holy Bible were originally a number of separate documents that the Church leadership officially agreed to be the authoritative collection of ...
- 1,043
9
votes
How do the Seventh Day Adventist approach Old Testament laws?
We Seventh Day Adventists distinguish between three different kinds of laws in the Bible:
Moral laws.
Ceremonial laws.
We also believe that there were laws in the OT specific to Israel as a nation. ...
- 278
8
votes
Accepted
When Christians say "the Lord" in everyday speech, do they mean Jesus or the Father?
For most Christians "The Lord" or "Lord" will usually mean either God the Father or Jesus. Sometimes they may mean the Holy Spirit or just "God", meaning (for ...
- 31.5k
7
votes
Accepted
Does the LDS Church prohibit the use of caffeine?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that our bodies are temples where the Holy Ghost can dwell (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) and that they were given to us as a gift from God, therefore ...
- 1,775
7
votes
In Roman Catholicism, does an individual's history of miscarriage lead to different or more specific guidance on pregnancy prevention?
There are two ways of preventing miscarriages (spontaneous abortions):
Not conceiving at all
by abstaining from sexual intercourse (allowed)
by contracepting (forbidden)
Treating the underlying ...
- 38.6k
7
votes
What is the basis of not following Halakha?
Most Christians do not believe that they are changing or ignoring any law. However, there are many laws which certain Gentile Christians do not believe apply directly to them.
In the early days of ...
- 755
7
votes
What is the biblical basis for Christians NOT to quit their jobs, sell all their possessions, and preach the gospel?
You seem to be alluding to the account of the rich young man in the Gospels:
Matthew 19:16-22
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have ...
- 5,637
7
votes
What's the meaning of this quote by C. S. Lewis, regarding the heart and head?
Perhaps reading the context of the quote will help make more sense of it. It is from The Abolition of Man:
No emotion is, in itself, a judgement; in that sense all emotions and sentiments are ...
- 42.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Why is the ritual of baptism needed?
Catholic View
Baptism necessary for justification
Catholicism teaches that "without the laver of regeneration, or the desire thereof," (Council of Trent, Decree On Justification, Canon 4) ...
- 8,260
7
votes
Accepted
What's Christians take on pirating authors books, software, movies etc?
There are several arguments sometimes made why "piracy" as OP calls it may be sinful. The Bible itself does not directly address the issue.
Some say that it is stealing and therefore ...
- 7,852
6
votes
Accepted
What is the significance of the phrase "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi"?
I've also answered the cross-posted version of this question on the Latin Language Stack Exchange.
One common attribution for this phrase is Thomas à Kempis's Imitation of Christ (~1420), which reads:
...
- 42.3k
6
votes
According to the Puritans, at what time did the Sabbath start and end?
Puritans hold several different views regarding the exact timing of the Sabbath. Perhaps the most widespread view is that the Christian Sabbath begins on Saturday at sunset and continues until sunset ...
- 42.3k
6
votes
When Christians say "the Lord" in everyday speech, do they mean Jesus or the Father?
Seventh Day Adventist Christians - hold the Trinitarian view (I speak from that perspective because it is what I am most familiar with) that where the term Lord is used on its own, which one ...
- 514
5
votes
Accepted
Why did Justin Martyr speak so harshly about Christians who ate meat sacrificed to idols?
Justin Martyr (100–165), unfortunately, doesn't provide much additional insight into his position here or in his other writings. However, his view was a common one in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, so we ...
- 42.3k
5
votes
What specific good does Catholicism attribute to play and entertainment?
The Magisterium has not specifically addressed any of the O.P.'s specific question, but the Church would indeed affirm the fundamental goodness of play activities.
The need for play and rest is rooted ...
- 13.2k
5
votes
What is the Catholic definition of meat for Lenten Fridays?
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a Q&A about Lenten practices that addressed this very question, which also describes a world-wide Catholic view:
Q. I understand that all the ...
- 6,337
5
votes
Accepted
What is the Amish view on the use of social media?
Unfortunately, the Amish are a hard group to get a grasp on.
First you have to clarify which order of Amish. There are some super conservative groups which are more like what most people have been ...
- 2,134
5
votes
Accepted
Is there a study that has been done showing the transformational power of the Holy Spirit in people's lives?
The simple answer to your question is yes, there are many such studies, and here is a good place to start looking for them:
The Nature of Spiritual Transformation - A Review of the Literature, ...
- 12.5k
5
votes
Accepted
According to Catholicism, is it unlawful to cause others to work on Sunday?
At least as regards some of the activities mentioned in the O.P.—especially, eating out—it is not problematic for those who are dedicated to providing others with leisure to do so on Sunday or other ...
- 13.2k
5
votes
Accepted
In Reformed theology, are Christians still "totally depraved"?
Tullian Tchvidijian's vocabulary, if not his theology, is definitely not in line with the typical understanding of total depravity. We'll begin by explaining that, and then comparing Tchvidjian's ...
- 42.3k
5
votes
What is the biblical basis against seeking medical advice?
The overwhelming majority of Christians, based on their understanding of the Bible, see nothing wrong with seeking medical advice and help.
There are, however, a few passages which may deter people ...
- 7,852
5
votes
Accepted
According to Reformed Theology, what is the doctrinal basis for belief in New Testament tithing?
Based on the frequency with which the word "tithe" is mentioned in Reformed churches, one might expect that Reformed theologians overwhelmingly believe in an obligation for giving 10%. But ...
- 42.3k
5
votes
What is the biblical basis for Christians NOT to quit their jobs, sell all their possessions, and preach the gospel?
Yes, at least for the first two elements of quitting and selling. Let me explain. First, however, an illustrative anecdote.
Years ago I had the privilege of interacting in person with the now late ...
- 9,703
5
votes
Jehovah's Witness view on a potential member marrying a non-Witness
A person who is studying while living with someone is usually encouraged to marry so that they are no longer living in sin. If the person not studying (you in this case) is strongly opposed to the ...
- 7,083
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