what is mainline christianity (disciples, America, churches, LDS, protestants)

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by kai

yes i agree the trouble is each denomination defines the parameters for themselves, but hey thats people for you! but do you know what as a seeker i see there are more similarities than differences, i guess i dont have any blinkers --------yet

Maybe the differences are only illusions...

[Halcyon]

I think instead of mainline you mean traditional Christianity?

Traditional Christians believe God incorporeal and is triune in form, and that Jesus is one third of this triple natured God.

LDS differ from this in seeing God as three separate persons, two of which have physical bodies, in a kind of divine tribunal - one in intent and mind but not strictly one God as such.

JWs belief Jesus is/was the Archangel Michael, not a part of a triune God, and that the Holy Spirit is simply the energy of God's interaction with humanity.

My Gnostic beliefs are probably the most different from traditional Christianity, i won't go into them as they are too complex.

Even though the traditionals, the LDS the JWs and myself all would consider ourselves Christian, our views (the latter three) of God are so different from one another, and so different from the dominant traditional form that, IMO, they can't be considered the same religion, but are several different Christian religions not denominations of one religion.
This is what i think causes so much confusion and why the LDS in particular seem to get so much flak and are labelled as a cult. The LDS consider themselves Christian, the Traditionals see massive doctrinal differences and say "no you're not" and a massive argument insues that could, i think, easily be resolved if people would view the LDS and Traditional forms as two separate, but similar religions centred on Christ. Remove the competition for the "Christian" title, but maintain the link in Christ.

Like, there's the whole "the LDS Christ isn't the same as the Traditional Christ", well no he's not. But there was only one Jesus Christ, even if two groups have differing views of the man, it ends there - different views not different Christs.

Traditional Christianity is by far the oldest form of Christianity (unless you count mine, which most people do not) and has, for obvious reasons, become synonymous with the term Christian. When other, theologiocally different groups arise later claiming to also be Christian, some understandable confusion and upset results.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by sojourner

"Mainline" is a term used in the U.S. usually to designate certain protestant groups as ones that fall within the "norm" of orthodox (little "o") belief. Such groups include:
Disciples of Christ, United Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), UCC, Episcopal, ELCA and Missouri Synod Lutherans, American Baptist. This designation serves to differentiate these churches from churches that are "looser" in terms of denominationalism, or that are more evangelical in nature, such as Southern Baptists, Freewill Baptists, Pentecostals, non-denominational churches, etc.

I'm surprised that you have excluded Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy from mainline Christianity. Why is that? I would pretty much consider any denomination that accepts the Nicene Creed as mainline.

(LDS falls outside "mainline" because the theological stances, definition of clergy, and other practices fall outside the "norm" of orthodoxy.)

I'd say that's a pretty accurate statement.

[kai]

so its not the belief in christs teachings that makes a christian its the argument over godhood,triumvate etc with jesus pushed to the back during the forore, no wonder people get dissenchanted with christianity , looking at it i am getting more confused by the day, i have read the bible, and jesus seems so simple, whats happened? his message seems to have been emboldened,embellished and adorned almost beyond recognition.
can i ask you something halcyon i have heard that the gnostic church was the original train of thought but was superceded by the pauline version am i on the right track here.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by kai

so its not the belief in christs teachings that makes a christian its the argument over godhood,triumvate etc with jesus pushed to the back during the forore, no wonder people get dissenchanted with christianity , looking at it i am getting more confused by the day, i have read the bible, and jesus seems so simple, whats happened? his message seems to have been emboldened,embellished and adorned almost beyond recognition.
can i ask you something halcyon i have heard that the gnostic church was the original train of thought but was superceded by the pauline version am i on the right track here.

Actually, kai, you started out by asking what "Mainline Christianity" is. That's really a different question than asking what "Christianity" is, don't you think?

Just my own opinion, but I believe Jesus Christ to be so much simpler to understand than "mainline Christianity" has made Him. That's why I am an LDS Christian instead of a mainline Christian.

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by kai

i have read the bible, and jesus seems so simple, whats happened? his message seems to have been emboldened,embellished and adorned almost beyond recognition.

I agree 100%. The Bible portrays him as the son of God, plain and simple, not part of some mysterious entity that encompasses manifestations of three beings who are distinct yet of one substance. He's simply the Son of God.

[kai]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Actually, kai, you started out by asking what "Mainline Christianity" is. That's really a different question than asking what "Christianity" is, don't you think?
not to an outsider like me, you have all contributed to the creation to this fractured and splintered ,once greatest story ever told, christians are christians to me
Just my own opinion, but I believe Jesus Christ to be so much simpler to understand than "mainline Christianity" has made Him. That's why I am an LDS Christian instead of a mainline Christian.

jwith respect always, but jesus christ is so much simpler to understand than christians!

[kai]

oops still not mastered it

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by kai

can i ask you something halcyon i have heard that the gnostic church was the original train of thought but was superceded by the pauline version am i on the right track here.

This is entirely my own opinion, from what i have read and what i believe.

I know Gnosticism predates Christianity. I know that Jesus's teachings fit perfectly with Gnostic thought, so i believe that Jesus was Gnostic.
During the first century CE I know that there were three forms of Christianity, the Jewish biased Church of James the brother of Jesus - what would become the Ebionites.
The Gentile biased proto-orthodox Church, based partially on the writings of Paul and partially on the writings of early Church fathers and forgers.
And there were also the Gnostics.

I believe though that Paul was a Gnostic and that the orthodox Church was essentially a Roman creation that didn't fully acquire a sense of self until the time of Constantine.