This is where it is frustrating to be a Christian Rationalist. Do you all think that denominations sprung out of the ground directly from the mind of the Enemy? That is a childish and uninformed view. Whether denominations are valid or not is a moot point since they do exist and do exist for a historical reason.
Most of the classic denominations arose from a clear and reasoned debate that could not be reconciled between believers, or arose because error crept into the existing congregations and a fracturing of the denomination was inevitable. That is not to say all denominations derive their validity from theological underpinnings. Take, for instance, the Northern and Southern Baptists. That schism was artificially created by politics (the slavery issue), not theology.
However, the original Protestant schism was on valid reasons, and not to form a new denominational hierarchy. Reforms were sought after in the Roman Church where legitimate abuses were discovered, those abuses Biblically verified, and reasonably addressed by the Reformers. But a hard line stance was taken by the Romanist ecclesiology against the persons rather than the issues and the results are what we are left with today.
So be careful when waving a dismissive hand at denominations. All you are really doing is waving your hands in the air proclaiming, "I have no understanding of history nor any inclination to alter that deficiency."
That is what you think and that's all.
I am not a RC but i was a protestant and i did have faith in what they said, but when looking into it all i found only a said story of fools jumping up and down about things they have no idea what they are talking about.
I went out to attack the R Catholic with all the information i had and as i put forward each one forward to attack i had to walk away looking like a stupid foolish dense dolt. as i found out i had no idea what the true Catholic position was.
As it was all mainly just lies the protestants were pushing, they are just simpletons that push a lot of senseless garbage on the masses as it is just a sad shame that they are happy to slander anything for there so called church, bagging Mary etc oh yes they nearly had me fooled to reject Mary or just to put her aside under and out of the way, and it took me a long time to fully understand that truth in her, an i use to scoff at her.
And oh yes a lot of RC are hopelessly lost in a lot of bull to.
And some protestants are fantastic in Christ.
Wow! All I can do is shake my head and laugh! Mr. Rosenberger, a lot of the things you've charged against Protestants (and I don't consider myself one.... I do not belong to any denomination, nor was I ever Catholic to begin with) the Catholic Church is also guilty of. Foolish ego of good works? The Roman Catholic Church doesn't fit that description too? They don't want money? They've started false doctrines in order to make money.
All Protestant Churches have their darkness, but the Catholic Church has them all beat! They've started wars, had inquisitions which make any Protestant inquistions look like ants next to elephants and a long list of other things which could take up plenty of time to cover.
I know all about it bro.
But some dipstick that seen a TV show and runs around saying he knows it all is just a joke as some of the fools that are just [edited by the mod] into the wind on the subject. maybe they are claiming they could of done better ? in hindsight. HA!