One cannot help but be Catholic?After reading great portions of J.N.D.Kelly's boo

[tralon]

After reading much of J.N.D.Kelly's book, "Early Christian Doctrines" how can one not be a Catholic? His book completely covers the early sacrament beliefs of the early church, concerning baptism, the Eucharist,the communion of the saints, penance, etc. It is the most interesting, easy to read and complete book I ever read. The question remains, how can one remain a Protestant at all, after reading his book. What do you say? Thanks

Ron

[brother vinny]

After reading much of J.N.D.Kelly's book, "Early Christian Doctrines" how can one not be a Catholic? His book completely covers the early sacrament beliefs of the early church, concerning baptism, the Eucharist,the communion of the saints, penance, etc. It is the most interesting, easy to read and complete book I ever read. The question remains, how can one remain a Protestant at all, after reading his book. What do you say? Thanks

Ron

The first thing I'd say is, "Why is this in the Admissions Dept.?"

The second thing I'd do is look at you funny and ask how you can defend both dispensationalism and Catholicism.

[Jaltus]

This was moved because it was in the wrong area.

- Jaltus

[Solly]

This is a duplicate thread. Faramir just moved the other one to ecclesiology

[George Murphy]

After reading much of J.N.D.Kelly's book, "Early Christian Doctrines" how can one not be a Catholic? His book completely covers the early sacrament beliefs of the early church, concerning baptism, the Eucharist,the communion of the saints, penance, etc. It is the most interesting, easy to read and complete book I ever read. The question remains, how can one remain a Protestant at all, after reading his book. What do you say? Thanks

Ron

Your question would be more to the point if you would (a) write catholic with a small c and (b) use a term more precise than the now extremely nebulous "protestant." Plenty of Lutherans (such as myself), Anglicans, & of course EOs would agree with you feel that their beliefs & practices, are at least as congruent with those of the early church as are RC ones.

Having said that, it's also important to note that not all the beliefs & practices of the early church are normative & some were rather unhealthy - e.g. the tendencies to legalism that one sees in some texts of the 2d century.

Shalom,
George

[Cyrus of Persia]

I have not read the book, but Early Catholicism (aka Early Christianity) is not the same as today. Catholicism has developed many beliefs and doctrines that Early Christians did not held (at least they were not dogmas), so saying that one cannot be anything, but Catholic after reading the book, is bit misleading.

Both Catholicism and Protestantism are different from Early Church, and no one of them helds more truth than another IMHO.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Tralon you Catholic?

[Maxentius]

Hello Pr. Murphy,

Your question would be more to the point if you would (a) write catholic with a small c and (b) use a term more precise than the now extremely nebulous "protestant." Plenty of Lutherans (such as myself), Anglicans, & of course EOs would agree with you feel that their beliefs & practices, are at least as congruent with those of the early church as are RC ones.

Having said that, it's also important to note that not all the beliefs & practices of the early church are normative & some were rather unhealthy - e.g. the tendencies to legalism that one sees in some texts of the 2d century.

Shalom,
George

I made a similar reply in his other thread in Theology. I do think some churches have more continuity with the early Church than others, and they are not necessarily the RCC and EO; it depends on what doctrine or practice one is speaking about.

[George Murphy]

Hello Pr. Murphy,

I made a similar reply in his other thread in Theology. I do think some churches have more continuity with the early Church than others, and they are not necessarily the RCC and EO; it depends on what doctrine or practice one is speaking about.

I agree. I realized, on looking at the your quote of my post, that my point may have been obscure, partly because of a typo. I should have said, "Plenty of Lutherans (such as myself), Anglicans, & of course EOs would agree with you that one should be catholic and feel that their beliefs & practices are at least as congruent with those of the early church as are RC ones.

Shalom,
George