rickyp wrote:SteveYour error: confusing the Roman Catholic Church with Christianity.
You always seem very able to finely parse the adherents to Christianity and exclude those who've not been ideal Christians.
Actually, I'm a great deal more charitable than the Catholic Church. In Vatican II, it pronounced "anathema" on virtually every Protestant sect. Reading the history of the Catholic Church is, for the most part, reading a history on a group that was determined to restrict or eliminate reading of Scripture, restrict or eliminate the grace of God, and limit heaven to those who would buy Rome's favor.
There are many Christians who are genuine Christians with whom I disagree on doctrine. However, I believe they understand the Gospel because they adhere to sola scriptura. Rome, on the other hand, condemns this approach.
There seem to be very few. At some points in history I wonder if for you and your sense of Christian purity there really existed a Christian church?
God has always kept a remnant, in spite of the RCC's best efforts.
Ifthe Catholic Church doesn't qualify as the standard bearer for Christianity in Europe for hundreds of years then for you was there really Christianity?
Yes, but it wasn't Rome. For a classic example, how about as many as three popes?
The Catholic Church constantly looked to put an end to "heresy" (what the Bible calls "the Gospel") whether it was by burning Hus, killing Huguenots, or whatever it took. This went on for centuries. For several centuries, the kings of Europe cowered in fear before the Pope--not for his godliness, but for his military and economic might. Given what Jesus said about His kingdom not being of this world, it seems a bit counter-intuitive that His (alleged) "vicar" would wield such power.
Why are you unable to provide the same context to adherents to Muhommed? There are as many versions of fidelity to the Quran within the Islamic umbrealla as there are versions of adherence to Christ within the Christian community.
That has precious little to do with the fact that tens of millions of Muslims believe it is perfectly legitimate to kill people with whom they disagree. If Ozymandias is correct, and Islam was once a religion of peace and tolerance, then what happened?