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Original poster

Whats the difference between Baptist, Methodist, Anglican, Reformed churches?

83 replies

lovecloud · 24/07/2005 22:56

Sorry for being thick and ignorant but I am ashamed to say that I do not know the difference between different christian faiths. I have not listed them all, I would really appreciate it if you could tell me. I was just reading the thread about the person new to christianity and I suddenly thought that I dont know the difference. I have always felt too embarassed to ask anyone in case they go "duh"

OP posts:
QueenOfQuotes · 24/07/2005 23:08

They're all the same faiths (ie Christian), just with slightly different 'takes' on certain (unimportant IMO) points.

katymac · 24/07/2005 23:08

I think
Anglican is Church of England - quite formal
Methodist - don't need a vicar anyone can preach, anyone can take communion (not just confirmed)
Baptist - adults make a consious decision to be baptised rather tan babies

But I could be wrong

jangly · 24/07/2005 23:08

I have put some web links on the thread you refer to. Hope this helps.

QueenOfQuotes · 24/07/2005 23:12

I think
Anglican is Church of England - quite formal NO not formal at all, expect in some 'high churches' - most are just as modern as any other church out there.

Methodist - don't need a vicar anyone can preach, well not 'anyone' they have to go through training to become a "local preacher" - they do have 'vicars' who usually take a communions service once a month. Anyone can take communion (not just confirmed)

Baptist - adults make a consious decision to be baptised rather tan babies. They don't baptuse babies at all.

katymac · 25/07/2005 09:21

So I'm nearly rigt?

happymerryberries · 25/07/2005 09:23

Baptists believe in one adult baptism for the remission of sins. Baptists may well 'dedicate' their child as a baby. But that is a promise made by the parents to raise the child as a christian, rather than any promices made on behalf of the child IYSWIM

saadia · 25/07/2005 10:03

Is it true that Methodists don't drink alcohol? or is that just Quakers?

NotQuiteCockney · 25/07/2005 10:19

Anglican is C of E. It's a single church, fairly consistent, internationally.

The others aren't so consistent - and there are different flavours of them all around, from what I know. I think some of all of those groups don't drink - certainly some Baptists don't, too.

Here is a page of links to various sects.

NotQuiteCockney · 25/07/2005 10:22

Here 's a link to a Canadian Baptist page, calling alcohol "satanic slop". So some baptists are certainly anti-alcohol.

QueenOfQuotes · 25/07/2005 10:30

"Is it true that Methodists don't drink alcohol? or is that just Quakers?"

Yes and no. They're not 'supposed' to. But my mother was a local preacher in the methodist church and enjoyed a port and lemon or glass of wine quite frequently.

And the minister in our church near Bedford used to drink. We know that for a fact as we had a join Alpha course with the C of E church in the village and after the each meeting everyone (including him) would descend on the village pub for a drink

happymerryberries · 25/07/2005 10:40

The wine at communion at the baptist chapel I went to was non alcoholic. Most of the people that went there used to drink alcohol! My Dad was a deacon in the church for over 50 years and he liked the odd tipple

In fact, about the last thing he did before he died was to try to roll a cigarette and he did have a whisky.

Ameriscot2005 · 25/07/2005 11:20

The faith of the Anglican church is the faith of the original and undivided church - so what you read in the bible. The faith is equally based on scripture, tradition and reason.

Many of the other main churches have either expanded what it says in the bible, or narrowed their view of what it says, so they tend to have a lot more "rules" about how you should live your life.

Some churches have different expressions of faith leading to distinct worship styles, but you can find almost any style within the Church of England, and even multiple styles within single parish churches.

Blu · 25/07/2005 11:34

The Methodist church has Ministers, who are the leaders of the church, but other members of the church are invited to be 'lay preachers'.
Many methodists do not drink, having signed the temperance pledge - but it is not a condition of being a member of the fellowship.
The Methodist church is based on the teachings of John Wesley, and has a strong social emphasis. The style is quite 'basic' and minimalist - the chapels are quite bare and simple (compared to anglican, C0E or catholic) and there is a strong emphasis on your personal, quite private, relationship with your conscience rather sharing it with the clergy. Lots of emphasis on your own personal responsibility / lots of 'calvinist' guilt! Also, I think there is less emphasis on mary - a Methodist, for e.g would not offer prayers to the Virgin Mary.

It has a very 'low church' ethos - no incense, no robes, and crosses tend to be wooden without a statue of Christ on them.

I was brought up in the Methodist church, but am not a practising religious Christian now.

My granadmother used to host the 'ecumenical' coffee mornings, and used to get the wedgewood out 'so that the catholics wouldn't have anyhting to say'!

saadia · 25/07/2005 16:39

Thanks all for explaining. Does anyone know what Unitarians believe?

QueenOfQuotes · 25/07/2005 16:42

info

They're not regarded (by the 'mainstream' denominations) as being Christian Churches (despite the term "free church").

Kelly1978 · 25/07/2005 16:44

quick hijack but does anyone know why soem christians don't drink when accordign to the bible, Jesus was supposed to have been a drinker?

QueenOfQuotes · 25/07/2005 16:47

Not sure about the 'heavy' drinker bit - as he taught not to get 'drunk'

There are several reasons why some don't drink.

Some because of the risk of addiction - the same groups tend not to smoke or gamble either - as it could be the stepping stone to addiction

Some because of the 'reasons' that people drink alcohol (escapism etc etc)

Some because of passages in the bible which have reference to drunkness

this is a simplfied verision

Kelly1978 · 25/07/2005 16:49

oh right, thanks for that explanation. I didn't mean to imply Jesus was a heavy drinker, just that he did partake alcohol.

QueenOfQuotes · 25/07/2005 16:51

lol that's ok

saadia · 25/07/2005 16:52

Thanks QoQ

NotQuiteCockney · 25/07/2005 17:18

I had a small dig and found some Christians saying that "wine" in the bible means water + wine mixed. And apparently the bible comes out against strong drink.

Original poster
lovecloud · 25/07/2005 21:16

Thank you for your explanations... right I have some reading to do.

x

OP posts:
snailspace · 26/07/2005 21:38

Message withdrawn

Ameriscot2005 · 27/07/2005 10:16

Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine, so it does hold a lot more value than just lack of bacteria.

QueenOfQuotes · 27/07/2005 10:17

True - but there's a lot more to that incident than just providing good booze for the party