Aineo wrote:MorphRC wrote:As for the centuries of bloodshed this has been caused by both sides. Id say even if the Protestant sect didnt begin, their still would have been wars, just have to look 100yrs earlier, when Europe was almost 100% Catholic. Man has many weaknesses as we know, and obviously greed, power, money and conquest are just some.
The history of the RCC is filled with political intrigue, bloodshed, crusades, and inquisitions. The first schism in the universal church was with the Coptic Orthodox Church in the 6th century, which was aggravated with the irreparable split of the Byzantine Church when Catholics invaded and sacked Constantinople during the 4th Crusade. The first "Protestant" church to split from its Orthodox roots was the Moravian Church (15th century) followed by the Lutheran and other Protestant reformers in the 16th century. The Wycliffe Bible (1382 A.D.) helped fuel the Protestant Reformation. John Wycliffe held views that were later taught by Luther, Calvin, and other reformers.
The Protestant Reformation was a direct result of the excesses of the Roman Catholic Church and the imperial aspirations of the RCC hierarchy. The goal of the RCC was to establish a theocracy headed by the Pope, which contradicts the words of Jesus:
John 18:35-36
35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what have You done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." NAS
The Crusades and the inquisitions violate the direct teachings of Jesus:
Matthew 5:43-48
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? 47 "And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. NAS