Da’wah To Christians – Basics

Catholics are the oldest – the earliest split was the Eastern Orthodox (Greek and Russian Orthodox churches have different organizational structure, but essential beliefs the same).

Protestants split over Catholic hierarchy: Pope, bishops, etc and saint worship.

After a bitter struggle with church leaders leading to the excommunication of many reformers, a number of communities throughout Europe broke off and formed new churches in which Mary, the mother of Jesus, was no longer worshipped, and intercession through saints was no longer sought. Priests were allowed to marry, and the infallibility of the authority of the Pope was totally rejected. Rites like communion, in which little pieces of bread were served to the congregation in the belief that the pieces were somehow transformed into the body of Jesus Christ, were dropped along with the use of Latin in church rites.

Scriptural Difference

The Protestant Bible has seven less books than that of the Catholics.

Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

4.5 Million followers with 30,000 missionaries gathering 200,000 converts yearly (1980 figures)

Founder: Joseph Smith (1805-1844 killed) 1822 Angel Moroni came

Book of Mormon: published 1830

Smith’s closest disciple, Brigam Young (1801-1877), took followers to Utah, and took 25 wives and promoted unrestricted polygamy, until the USA government threatened to revoke statehood.

Mr. Young received revelation that polygamy was abrogated!

Unusual Beliefs

Adam actually Allah incarnated who came to Eden (in Missouri) with one of his heavenly wives, Eve. Had sexual relations with Mary to produce Jesus.

Allah physically a huge man along with mother-wife begat all human spirits Until 1978 blacks could not enter the priesthood (age 14 males enter Aaronic priesthood and at age 20 they enter the higher office of Melchezdec), thus all 17 temples of the sect were off-limits to blacks. Then First President, Spencer Kimball got revelation to include blacks.