| a.k.a. | Friend | |
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| Number of Members | 400,000 | 77,000,000[1] |
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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 | Those who God chooses to call and who don't resist Him will be saved and no one else. |
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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 unsaved, typically as infants, get baptized as the first sacrament of Christian initiation, cleansing them of all sins. |
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| How should baptism be done? | Baptism not practiced. | Baptism should be by pouring water on the head. |
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| When does one receive the Holy Spirit? | There is "that of God in everyone". | The Holy Spirit is received at the moment of salvation. |
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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. | Bondage of the will: Human nature is corrupt, naturally inclined to evil, and incapable of choosing God on his own. |
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| Are we guilty of Adam's original sin? | No established doctrine | Federalism: Yes, Adam represented all of the human race, and all are guilty of his sin. |
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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. | No, although Christians can and should sin less, they can never become sinless in this life. |
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| Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ? | Communion not practiced. | Sacramental union: No, the elements do not become the body and blood of Christ, but Christ's body and blood are non-physically joined to the elements. |
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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.[2] | Once Christians leave their sinful bodies, nothing else is needed to receive glorified, sinless bodies.[3][4][5] |
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| Did Mary ever sin? | Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus. | Most believe that, 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. | Most believe cessationism: Spiritual gifts used for serving are available today, while gifts used as signs have ceased.[6] |
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| What is the gift of tongues? | | The gift of tongues is the ability to speak foreign human languages without knowing how.[7][8] |
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| What are the requirements for clergy? | | Varies widely |
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| How many church ordinances/sacraments are there? | The church does not have any ordinances more sacred than any other practice.[9] | The church has two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. |
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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. | General sinfulness should be confessed to a priest. This is usually done as a group during a service. |
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| How should a church be structured? | Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members. | Varies widely |
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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? | | Varies widely[11][12] |
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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[13] | Varies widely[14][15] |
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| Who can speak with God's authority today? | | The church as a whole speaks with God's authority at ecumenical councils.[16] |
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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. | Varies widely |
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| What is marriage? | Varies widely | Varies widely[17][18][19] |
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| Is sex permissible outside marriage? | Varies widely | No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.[20][21] |
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| When is divorce permissible? | | Divorce is permissible for adultery or desertion.[22][23] |
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| May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive? | | The innocent party to the adultery may remarry. |
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| When does a fetus become human? | Most believe humanity begins sometime between conception and birth.[24] | Most have no established doctrine. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod believes life begins at conception.[25][26][27] |
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| Is contraception permissible? | Yes, contraceptives are permissible. | Yes, contraceptives are permissible.[20][28] |
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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? | | No, head coverings are no longer required due to cultural changes.[29][30][31] |
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| Should Christians drink alcohol? | No, alcohol should be totally avoided.[32][33] | Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk. |
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| Should Christians fight in wars? | No, Christians should never fight.[34][35] | Yes, Christians should fight in just wars.[36][37] |
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| Whom does the Holy Spirit come from? | | The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.[38][39] |
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| Where does a Christian's soul go after death? | No established doctrine | Christians immediately go to heaven when they die.[3] |
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