| a.k.a. | Friend | |
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| Number of Members | 400,000 | 2,000,000 |
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| How does one get saved? | Varies widely | Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and be baptized. |
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| Who gets saved? | No established doctrine | Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved. |
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| Can one lose his salvation? | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. | Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy. |
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| Who gets baptized and why? | Baptism not practiced. | The believing but unsaved get baptized as part of their salvation. |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism not practiced. | Baptism should be by immersion. |
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| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | There is "that of God in everyone". | The Holy Spirit is received at baptism. |
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| What is the trinity? | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. | The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. |
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| What is the human nature? | There is "that of God in everyone", making humans inherently good. | Most believe human nature tends to sin, but it's not depraved. |
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| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | No established doctrine | No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, nor did we inherit a sinful nature from him, but we did inherit the consequences.[1][2][3][4] |
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| Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws? | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. | No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus. |
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| Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life? | Christian perfection is possible and a major goal of Quakers. | |
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| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | Communion not practiced. | No, the elements merely symbolically represent the body and blood of Christ. |
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| Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died? | No, the dead cannot be baptized. | No, the dead cannot be baptized. |
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| What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect? | Perfection must take place during life, not after death.[5] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies. |
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| Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. |
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| What spiritual gifts are available today? | Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers. | Cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[6] |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church does not have any ordinances more sacred than any other practice.[7] | The church has two ordinances: Baptism and Holy Communion.[8] |
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| To whom do Christians need to confess their sins? | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins. | Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.[9] |
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| How should a church be structured? | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. |
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| What day of the week should Christians worship? | Christians worship on Sunday. | Christians worship on Sunday. |
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| How does God's revelation come to us today? | Varies widely[10] | Sola scriptura: The Bible is the only infallible source of God's revelation, sufficient for all faith and practice. |
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| How was the Bible written? | | Verbal plenary inspiration: The Bible was written by men who had every word supernaturaly inspired by God. |
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| How many books are in the Bible? | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. | There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. |
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| Was the Bible written inerrantly? | Varies widely[11] | Yes, the Bible was written without any error. |
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| Who can speak with God's authority today? | | Nobody today can speak for God. |
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| How was the earth created? | The earth was formed by gravity pulling dust together, which ultimately came from the Big Bang. | Creationism: The earth was spoken into existence by God. |
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| What is marriage? | Varies widely | Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.[12][13] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | Varies widely | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[14][15] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | | Most believe divorce is only permissible for adultery.[16][17] |
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| When does a fetus become human? | Most believe humanity begins sometime between conception and birth.[18] | Humanity begins at conception. |
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| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. |
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| Are blood transfusions permissible? | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. | Yes, blood transfusions are permissible. |
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| Should women cover their heads? | | Most believe no, women's long hair is enough of a covering. |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | No, alcohol should be totally avoided.[19][20] | Most believe no, alcohol should be totally avoided. |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | No, Christians should never fight.[21][22] | |
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| How should Christians musically worship God? | | Worship should be a cappella. |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | No established doctrine | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die. |
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