No...the original splinter was in following a man instead of the spirit of God: the rock, instead of the Rock.
And you
lose this argument because you
cannot point to the
beginning of the Catholic Church.
That's where you
ALL lose. If you're going to make a claim about the Catholic Church being a
"splinter" - then you have to give me
dates and
documented proof.
You see - I can
DO that with your Protestant sects - but
YOU can't do that with regards to the Catholic Church . . .
If you worship
Cornerstone Church, it was
founded by John C. Hagee in May of
1975 in San Antonio, Texas. Since then, several other churches have adopted this name.
If you are a believer at the
Vineyard Christian Fellowship, your denomination was started by
Ken Gullickson and Keith Green in Santa Monica, California in
1974.
If you are a member of
Calvary Chapel,
Chuck Smith began your congregation in Costa Mesa, California in
1965.
If you are a follower of the
Church of Scientology, your group owes is origin to
L. Ron Hubbard in Washington, D.C. in
1952.
If you are a worshipper at the
Iglesia in Cristo,
Felix Manalao instituted your sect in the in
1914.
If you are a disciple of the
Assemblies of God or other splinter
Pentecostal groups,
“Church of the Nazarene”,
“Holiness Church”,
“Pilgrim Holiness Church”, your religion is one of the hundreds of new sects founded by
men during
the 20th century.
If you are a
Christian Scientist, your organization was brought into existence by
Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy in
1879.
If you are a
Jehovah's Witness, your church was established by
Charles Taze Russell in Pennsylvania in
1879.
If you worship with the
Salvation Army, your sect began with
William Booth in London in
1865.
If you are a
Seventh Day Adventist,
Mrs. Ellen Gould White inaugurated your group in the in
1860.
If you are a
Mormon (Latter Day Saints), your religion was organized in New York by
Joseph Smith in
1830.
If you are a
Unitarian,
Theophilus Lindley founded your church in London in
1774.
If you are a
Methodist, your form of Protestantism is credited to
John Wesley in London in
1738.
If you are of the
Dutch Reformed church, you recognize
Michaelis Jones as founder, because he originated your religion in New York in
1628.
If you are a
Baptist, you look to
John Smyth as originator of your institution in Amsterdam in
1609.
If you are a
Congregationalist, your religion was originated by
Robert Brown in Holland in
1582.
If you are a
Presbyterian, your religion was founded when
John Knox brought the teachings of
John Calvin to Scotland in the Year
1560.
If you belong to the
Church of England, your religion was founded by
King Henry VIII in the year
1534 because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.
If you are a
Lutheran, your religion was founded by
Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the Catholic Church, in the year
1517.
If you are a member of the
Orthodox Church (Russian, Eastern or Greek), your church went into schism in
1054.
If you are a
Catholic, your Church was founded in Jerusalem by
Jesus Christ (Acts 2, 1 Tim. 3:15) with
Peter as its first Pope
(Mt. 16:18-19, Lk. 22:31-32, Jn. 21:15-17) in the year
33 A.D.
