Should the churches re-unite?

[naomi24]

I've just heard a report that the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches may be planning to re-unite. Should they?

[Illyria54]

I have just listened to a radio discussion about this subject, and they were saying that it couldn't just 'be done' ie they couldn't just say that by 31st March (for sake of argument) the 2 churches would re-unite, rather people on a 1-1 basis would have to actually convert to catholicism , I for one would not be among them as I am sure a lot of people would be against it also, so it won't ever happen.
My answer to your question then is, no they shouldn't re-unite!

[brionon]

Unite and Disband would be my choice.

[Theland]

This is what the Ecumenical movement is all about. Alas, the Roman church sees those that broke away from it as heretics, and is willing to forgive and welcome them back. So, a reunited church would mean the catholicising of the Anglican churches, something that many Anglicans have some sympathy for.
Personally, I would be against such a move.

[Llamatron]

I'm somewhat ignorant of the differences between the two.
Do they believe different things?

[Theland]

The Anglican church is supposed to believe in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ only.
The Roman church believes in salvation by faith and good works, and belonging to the "mother" church.
Anglicans believe in the authority only of scripture, but the Roman church gives equal authority to its, "holy tradition."
There are also many other doctrinal differences.

[Llamatron]

If they believe different things how can they possibly merge?
How are they even thinking about it?

I don't get it.

[Lighter]

This is something that has been on the agenda for many years, and as Theland said is what the ecumenical movement is all about.

Rome is in all favour of it, although at the moment is distancing the CofE because of uncompatible issues such as women ministers, gay clergy etc.
The Anglican's stumbling point is that of papal supremacy. There is no way if the two ever did combine, or rather that the CofE was absorbed into the RCC, that the pope would not still be the head.

But as Llamatron said, it's hard to imagine that, supposedly being so different, they would unite.
Unfortunately the CofE has over the years gradually discarded it's belief in Biblical teaching and is now something that is quite removed from true Christianity.

[naomi24]

And I presume the Queen would have to give way to the Pope as head of the church? I imagine that a lot of people on both sides will be unhappy with the proposal and I can't really see how the two faiths can be reconciled.

[Theland]

They could only be reconciled if both threw out of their articles of faith, anything that did not agree with the bible.
That would be their comon ground, but, it won't happen.

[naomi24]

I agree. Can't see that happening, but they'll probably spend millions of pounds (or Euros!) debating it. It would be a more worthwhile exercise to agree to remain separate and to spend the money feeding the starving.

[Theland]

Interestingly, the bible prophecies refer to a "one world religion," in the latter days, prior to the return of Jesus.

[naomi24]

I presume the prophecy doesn't give an indication of which religion will reign supreme, and if not, as the likelihood of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches merging seems pretty remote and with the world at is it as present, perhaps it means that the Christian churches will eventually disappear.

[Lighter]

I agree with you there Theland, I too believe that there will be a one world religion (and government) in the end days.
It will be a terrible time for Bible believing Christians, look how bad it already is for our brethern in Muslim and Communist countries.
Though in a way it will be kind of interesting to see how how Roman Catholicism and Islam will unite!

[naomi24]

Dream on lighter!

[Lighter]

Naomi - I suppose each religion will change or drop some of it's beliefs or a 'common' religion incorporating much of what the other religions believe will develop. (Most of the religions do have features in common).
Btw, biblical Christianity is different to all other world religions. In every other religion you can work your way into heaven, that man does something to merit salvation. However the Bible teaches that it is Christ's merit that gives us salvation, that we are 'justified by faith, and not by works'.

[Lighter]

Dream on about what? That born again Christians are being persecuted in Muslim and Communist countries?
Or about a one world religion/government?

[naomi24]

Nice idea, but I've got my doubts. Would you drop some of your beliefs? No? And neither will anyone else.

[naomi24]

Lighter - I meant dream on about the Roman Catholic Church and Islam uniting. It just won't happen.

[Lighter]

Well you say that no one would drop their beliefs. But sure as already discussed the CofE have. And the RC church's doctrines have changed over the centuries, with popes adding on or removing various beliefs.
Islam, I think, is awaiting another prophet or something, and who knows what new beliefs he may bring.
Buddists have many deities, so their beliefs could be open to change.
And of course with New Age anything goes.
And there is common ground and doctrines in all these religions and others.

A former assistant secretary general of the UN said that this was the goal, a one world religion.
Of course none of these people intend it to be biblical Christianity!

Personally I believe there only are two religions in this world. God's religion and the Devil's.
God's religion is to save men through the redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Devil's anything that blinds men from admitting they're sinners and trusting in Christ.

[naomi24]

Lighter, if religious leaders decreed that your personal beliefs would not be encompassed in the new combined religion, would you be willing to believe otherwise to further the cause of a united religion? Say, for example, they took the Islamic line and said that Jesus wasn't the son of god, he wasn't the redeemer - he was just a respected prophet? Would you be able to go along with that?