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Javagirl
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Username: Javagirl

Post Number: 99
Registered: 6-2005
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 9:21 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Put in your answers, and see what denomination best matches your beliefs.

http://selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=christiandenom

This was fun and interesting. I did not know how to answer the following questions yet though:

Predestination
Pacifism
Christ Physically present in communion

I ran it twice, with slightly different answers. Dont forgot to put in your level of importance. Recommendations for me were:

Presbytrian and Reformed churches were high, also assemblies of God!! and Methodist/Wesleyan.
And menonite?? Is that christian? I'll have to look them up.

SDA was #9 one time, and #10 the other.
Interesting, that was surprising. Guess I am further away than I thought.
Riverfonz
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Username: Riverfonz

Post Number: 1029
Registered: 3-2005
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 10:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Javagirl, that was fun. Mine came out similar to yours with Reformed and Presbyterian churches in top 3, and SDA was 14th for me with RCC number 20.

Stan
Belvalew
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Username: Belvalew

Post Number: 772
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 11:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Very interesting. My top three were Presbyterian, Reform Baptist, and Assemblies of God. SDA was #6 -- a little too close for comfort for me. RCC was 19, Jehovah's Witness #20, and Mormonism #21. I do regularly attend a Presbyterian congregation, so I guess I'm in the right place. Thanks for that test -- very interesting!
Ric_b
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Username: Ric_b

Post Number: 367
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 3:13 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That was fun. My top churches (6 of the first 8) were some type of Reformed, Presbyterian and Lutheran. Not too surprising since I would describe most of the beliefs that are most important to me to fall somewhere between Luther and Calvin. Although a question or two about views of the Law might have flipped some of the Westminster Confession groups with the Lutheran ones, which were #6 and #8.

SDA was #16 on my list. Right next to Methodist. The other cults were even lower.
Heretic
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Username: Heretic

Post Number: 222
Registered: 2-2005
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 6:08 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Pretty cool. I wonder how they tabulate the results, especially when you leave a few "No Preference." My top 5 were Reformed Baptist, Presbyterian, Orthodox Presbyterian, Reformed Churches, and Southern Baptist. SDA was #11 and RCC #21. Not sure how the Lutheran churches ended up on the other side of SDA.

Heretic
Jerry
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Username: Jerry

Post Number: 488
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 7:04 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am soooo bad . . .

So, I wondered, what DOES it take to make SDA #1.

Answer: just disagree strongly that Sunday is the "sabbath."

Then I wondered what would happen if I also agreed strongly that one must belong to a particular organization.

  1. International Church of Christ
  2. Jehovah's Witness
  3. Mormonism
  4. Roman Catholic
  5. SDA
  6. United Pentecostal


Then I added strongly agree with spiritual gifts occur today.

  1. SDA
  2. United Pentecostal
  3. Assemblies of God
  4. International Church of God
  5. JW
  6. LDS
  7. RCC
  8. Unity Church


Then I added strong agreement that authority is invested in one person/small group.

JACKPOT

  1. SDA
  2. JW
  3. LDS
  4. RCC
  5. United Pentecostal
  6. Assemblies of God
  7. Eastern Orthodox
  8. Unity Church


Fun!

(Message edited by Jerry on November 24, 2005)
Chris
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Username: Chris

Post Number: 1069
Registered: 7-2003


Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 8:54 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That was fun! Thanks Jave Girl!

Evidently I should be a Southern Baptist, that or a member of The Assemblies of God. Sounds about right.

Chris
Flyinglady
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Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 2036
Registered: 3-2004


Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 7:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Mine are in this order:
Presbyterian church USA
Reformed Baptist
Presby church America/Ortodox
SDA
There is still a lot I have to learn.
Diana
Jeremiah
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Username: Jeremiah

Post Number: 14
Registered: 1-2004


Posted on Thursday, November 24, 2005 - 8:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Guess I've been reading too much of the early Christian writers lately...

I took the test twice... to make sure I thought about my answers.

SDA was #14, then #15

Eastern Orthodox was #2, then #1

RCC was #1, then #2

Hmmmmm...

Have any of you seriously studied the one about the "Real presence of Christ" in the communion?

Jeremiah
Raven
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Username: Raven

Post Number: 330
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 8:15 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I took the test twice. The first time, I gave instant answers, with little thought, and was not happy to see that SDA was so high at #2! (Methodist was #1.) I don't think those results were the least bit accurate. I'm sure the reason SDA was so high was because I answered that I strongly disagreed about Sunday being the day of rest and it was highly important to me. They don't seem to account for those who believe no day at all is "THE" day of rest, and it's important not to promote one day above another.

Then I re-took the test and tried not to be so dogmatically opinionated, and also thought my answers through more carefully. That time ELCA came in first, can't remember what 2nd and 3rd was, but Lutheran Missouri Synod was 4th and SDA was 5th. Wonder how many years I have to be away from SDA for it to be near the bottom of the list? Oh well, I think the test is flawed... but it was fun!

(Message edited by Raven on November 25, 2005)
Snowboardingmom
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Username: Snowboardingmom

Post Number: 5
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 8:29 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What's interesting is that about 5 years ago, I was forwarded this link (at least I think it was this same link, pretty similar anyway). When I took the test back then SDA was ranked #1. Which made sense to me, since I was definitely SDA at that time in my life. Now, as I take it, Church of Christ is ranked #1. This is really interesting because it was a Church of Christ person that first studied with me about the New Covenant. There is a lot of beliefs within the Church of Christ that I'm not really theologically bound to, so I was quite surprised to find that they were a first rank for me (and my husband too!). SDA slipped to a #5 spot. I guess I'm still pretty SDA in some thoughts... My husband did better :-), in that SDA was #15 for him.

My husband and I have been attending the Church of Christ church, as well as other churches in search of a church family. We are really looking into an evangelical non-denominational church, but we are continually drawn to the Church of Christ (it's the church we visit the most). I don't know if it's the conservative traditional style of it that we're drawn to because we're used to it? Or if it's just because it's the first non-SDA exposure we got? Or maybe we're just really influenceable (which is a scary thought)?

Any thoughts from those of you who know about the Church of Christ? I know the International Church of Christ is quite cult like and different from the regular Church of Christ.

Grace
Ric_b
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Username: Ric_b

Post Number: 368
Registered: 7-2004


Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 9:12 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Jeremiah, I'll add my 2 cents worth on the subject of "real presence". There are two main views of sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper). One is that these are strictly symbolic the other is that there something actual about these acts. Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Reformed theology all teach that the sacraments are more than symbolic acts of man, but that God literally works through these acts. Many other protestant churches teach that the acts are only symbols. For instance baptism is seen primarily as a public profession of faith and communion as symbols by which we acknowledge Christ's death.

To suggest that those who teach a sacramental rather than symbolic view (I guess I gave away my leanings with my earlier use of the word sacrament) can be grouped as one would cause many to flinch. To the Catholic, bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. To Luther, the body and blood of Christ are with the unchanged bread and wine. To Calvin, the body and blood of Christ remain in heaven but are Spiritually present in communion. The RC and Lutheran view bring Christ to the believer, Calvin's view takes the believer to Christ in heaven. Calvin believed in a "real presence" but not in a physical presence.

Luther and Calvin argued against each other, against RC church and against another reformer, Zwingli. Most of Protestantism has followed Zwingli's view that the bread and wine only symbolize Christ's body and blood, that communion was a memorial.
Jeremiah
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Username: Jeremiah

Post Number: 15
Registered: 1-2004


Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 9:47 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I studied with a Church of Christ minister for awhile, because I was impressed with just how much the CoC people try to imitate NT Christianity. At that point in time, I thought that it was a race between Eastern Orthodox and CoC for who was the closest to what we would see if we lived in the time of the Apostles. Now, I think that if it is true that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are more than symbolic, the ancient churches (EO, RCC, Oriental Orthodox, etc) win for sure. I certainly find the study of these churches fascinating!

Certainly, the use of icons wasn't what it is today, in NT times... however, the theology behind the use of icons may have been present, even if not fully developed.

Back to the subject of this thread... I took this same test a couple years ago, and as I recall, Pentecostal was #1. Interesting how things change, isn't it?

Jeremiah
Benevento
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Username: Benevento

Post Number: 63
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 2:47 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What a fun thing to do, but I agree it is flawed.
I did it once and came up with SDA as second, and
I know that isn't right, so I redid it with putting feel moderately, the middle one, instead
of feeling strongly and SDA went dow to 16 or17
that is better--
I have been attending an Evangelical Covenant
church, I gather that isn't on the list, any of you have any ideas about it? Its roots are Swedish, revolt from state Lutheran, actually I
think they were Swedish immigrants to the U.S
It is fairly small I gather, but not in the
Scandinavian Northwest, it is pretty good size and active!!
Flyinglady
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Username: Flyinglady

Post Number: 2038
Registered: 3-2004


Posted on Friday, November 25, 2005 - 3:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I took this test 3 times. The first time SDA scored 3rd, the second time it scored 5, and the 3rd time it scored 8. I still have a lot to learn and yes, it was a fun thing to do and I, also, agree it is flawed.
Diana
Colleentinker
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Username: Colleentinker

Post Number: 2959
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 12:47 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, I took it twice. The first time, SDA ranked (cough!) #4--the second time, #8 or 9 (I can't remember for sure). Like you, Raven, I first voted that I strongly agreed with my conclusion that Sunday is not the Sabbath--and then I redid the test and re-thought it; I checked "no preference" (meaning that I didn't think any day was preferred) and strongly agreed with myself on that. It seemed to help. I changed a few other intensity votes as well.

Oddly, and to my consternation, Reformed Baptist came up #1 both times, even though I checked that I strongly do not believe baptism is in itself regenerative. I did, though, strongly feel water baptism should be practiced--because it is clearly a NT command of Jesus as well as an apostolic practice. (Now that I think of it, was the question about "baptism" being regenerative, or "water baptism"? If it were simply "baptism", I might have to vote differently. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is definitely what regenerates us.)

Yes, I agree--the test is flawed. There are too many assumptions and semantic problems. Yet it was fun, and it made me think. Thanks for the link!

Colleen
Dd
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Username: Dd

Post Number: 578
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 7:34 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Has anyone checked to see who is behind this site? Could it be an SDA "witnessing" tool? I would like to see what would pop up for someone who has absolutely no idea about Adventism. I wonder if SDA would still be in the "running"? It was also #4 for me and for my husband - #3. It just seems that too many of us have high numbers! Something doesn't smell right.
Leigh
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Username: Leigh

Post Number: 54
Registered: 2-2003
Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 9:29 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Reformed baptist came up #1 for me also, with Presbyterian Church in America/Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Reformed Churches, Assemblies of God in the top 5. SDA was 10th. I put "no preference" for the Sunday question.

Colleen, isn't John Piper Reformed Baptist?

Dd, it would be interesting to see who is behind the site.
Loneviking
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Username: Loneviking

Post Number: 393
Registered: 7-2000
Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 11:40 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm just about certain that it isn't Adventist. The site has been there for at least a couple of years---I found out about it over on Crosswalk. I think the reason SDA comes up frequently is that some aspects of SDA theology and Reformed theology are quite close---especially in the area of the law and Sabbath keeping.

SDA didn't even show up on my list.........
Insearchof
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Username: Insearchof

Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2005
Posted on Saturday, November 26, 2005 - 1:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think I have been corrupted by the Reformers...

1. Presbyterian Church/Orthodox Presbyterian Church
2. Reformed Baptist
3. Reformed Churches
4. Assemblies of God
5. Presbyterian Church USA

Methodist came in at #9, CoC at #10.
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at #11.
SDA came in at #13, RCC at #19, JW at #20, Mormonism at #21.

An interesting thing to do. I marked no preference on the Day of Worship, so that would explain why SDAism ranks 13 (as well as marking NO I don't think authority resides in one person or group of people).

I have definately been reading to much Scripture. Not to mention Martin Luther, John Calvin, John MacArthur, RC Sproul....

InSearchOf

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