Protestantism

Catholic, Orthodox ( who are of necessity celibate), Episcopalian, and in some cases Methodist and even some Lutheran churches. the State churches in say, Denmark are both Lutheran AND Episcopal being both Lutheran in doctrine and episcopal in church government. These Bishops have specific clerical costumes. In the Us, more businesslike terms as ( diocesan superintendent , or superintendent of Ministry are used. There are thus no Bishops or Cathedrals in American Lutheran churches, generally.
The Roman catholic churches have bishops. They normally live in Bishop's house.

I believe the Church of England also has bishops.

And the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has bishops; they are lay members.

A breastplate is a piece of armor used in battle to deflect an enemie's weapon from entering the heart or other vital organ in the chest area.

The Bible names the "Breastplate of Righteousness" as one piece of the "spiritual armor" God's elect must wear in the "struggle of life."

"Therefore put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph.6:13 NIV)

The Bible defines "Righteousness" as: "The Ten Commandments"; God's law.

"My tongue shall speak of Thy Word: for ALL THY COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Ps.119:172)

Peter tells us that Noah was a "preacher of Righteousness" [II Peter 2:5]... meaning, by biblical definition, that Noah preached to his generation the Ten Commandments [that the world today doesn't believe existed until Moses].

But, the spiritual piece of God's Armor, the Breastplate of Righteousness... "protects the heart."

It's a Spiritual safeguard of God's Wisdom, Knowlesge and Understanding of His law in one's heart against the verbal, hurtful "slings and arrows" of hateful persecution flung at God's elect in the world.

King David says of God's laws: "Through Thy precepts I get Understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Ps.119:104-105) The Commandments are designed to be our guide in life.

And: "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." (verse 97)

And: "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (verse 165)

God's Commandments seem to be a great offense to much of modern professing Christianity, today... ridiculing and belittling those who dare to utter King David's heartfelt words; "O how I love Thy law!"

Yet, God's Word commands His elect to "put on the Breastplate of Righteousness" -- instill in your heart the laws of God. For He tells us that every last Child of His WILL HAVE HIS LAWS WRITTEN THERE before He is done with mankind.

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the House of Israel after those days [after He returns to earth with His Kingdom], saith the Lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MIND, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for ALL SHALL KNOW ME, from the least to the greatest.

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness[their breaking of the Commandments], and their sins and their iniquities [the transgression of the law - I John 3:4] will I remember no more." (Heb.8:10-12)

Those whom God is calling now are having God's Commandments written in their hearts... that they might see beyond the persecution of the world against them... and not be offended by the world's ignorance of His Truth.

God's Commandments are summarized by the word; LOVE. Dedicated Love for God... and for one's fellowman. It's fulfilled through God's act of Mercy performed by Jesus Christ when He died for man, created in God's image -- to redeem man from the god of this world, to whom the first man sold himself in the beginning [see Gen.3].

The wearer of God's Breastplate of Righteousness "Loves" those who persecute him. The wearer of God's Armor was probably a persecutor once himself. But, filled with God's Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding... they are able to see beyond the verbal and physical abuse of others... and extend God's Mercy that they received, toward others.

God's Breastplate of Righteousness is "having the Love of God in one's heart" toward mankind -- which is contrary to selfish human nature.

It's overcoming one's nature... and yielding to the Commandments of God. And due to God's Selfless Love revealed in their heart... they Love others as all men naturally and selfishly love themselves.

The Breastplate of Righteousness is the "Selfless Love of God" in one's heart toward others. It's Loving and Keeping the Commandments of God [contrary to much of modern professing Christianity].

"...here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD, and THE FAITH OF JESUS." (Rev.14:12)

The Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS is the spiritual safeguard of God's Love around one's heart that reflects God's Love outwardly toward others.

Another piece of God's Armor, the Shield of FAITH, however, is more versatile [according to God's Word, ABOVE ALL]... and is held out away from the body, able to be swung around in all directions: "...wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Eph.6:16)

We're told to put "all" of God's Spiritual Armor on in order to successfully wage our personal war to overcome the world... as well as our own selfish nature, through Jesus Christ.

The Breastplate of Righteousness, however, is God's Commandments; Spiritual Heart Protection.

One answer from our community:

Demon possession is a very real thing: if a person doesn't believe in demons and therefore demon-possession in the first place then they are a prime candidate for it. You cannot be initially possessed if you don't allow it. You get possessed by inviting demons into your mind in the first place, through things such as ouija boards and (believe it or not) halloween,

Matthew 12

45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

Another answer:

You probably do not want to be possessed, but may want to know what could cause you to be possessed so that you can avoid it. Or maybe you are a little fascinated by the unknown.

To get possessed by a demon, or at least to believe that you are possessed by a demon, you must first be a Christian or a Muslim. There is no evidence of an atheist or, for example, a Hindu ever becoming possessed. There are no clear rules for getting possessed, just as there are no clear rules for exorcism, as each denomination that believes in demon possession has its own ideas.

What is certain is that spooky forms of entertainment are just that - entertainment. For example, no one has ever become possessed because of Halloween. In fact there has probably never been a genuine case of possession at all.

Because they are both monotheistic or believe in one God....

In more elaborate terms, Catholics believe the Covenants the God of Israel made with that nation aren't dead: they are now held by the Gentiles and Jews within the Catholic Church which is the "New Zion". God still has a special plan for the Jewish people, but the Covenants of His Salvation and His Presence rest in the Temple of Christ in His Jerusalem: the Catholic Church.

*The first answer above would have contradicted the following

1. Yeshua's statement that "salvation is of the Jews". 2.Rabbi Shaul's statements that the covenants, the promises, the Offices, the Identity of the Congregation, Birthrights, Ranking, Authority, the Prophesies, the LAW, the Bible belongs to Israel.

1. It's okay to say God, you don't have to blank that word word out like it's a cuss word or something.

2. God created everything and he loves it all, not just Israel and the Jews. They are his chosen people, but he does love the Gentiles too.

3. Who is Rabbi Shaul?

Imagine the Russians claiming that America belongs to them. They would change the place names into slavic, Washington, Lincoln,et al would become Russian communist heroes. Any protestations by Americans would be dealt with accordingly. American freedom and liberty values would be interpreted according to communist ideology.

Scary. And yet, that's exactly what happened what happened to the faith of Israel when the church tried to usurped Israel's Mandate. Yshua once said to Israel, that He would bring down a veil across the eyes of Israel so that they would recognize Him until the last days. I believe that veil is the Deceptions of the church. I once asked a Jew why they find it hard to accept Yeshua as our Lord, and he replied "that's just it, He's your's, not our's".

It turned out that he is right. Yeshua is in fact their Maschiach, not ours gentiles. The Office of the Maschiach belongs to the Congregation of Israel, not the church's.

Yeshua and all of his disciples were not just Jews originally, they stayed Jewish till the day they died. For them to become otherwise is actually to repudiate their covenants, their promises, and Yeshua Himself. For Yeshua to become the Lord of the church, He would have to throw away the TORAH upon w/c His own Office is embedded into. The Office of the Maschiach of Israel is in the Tanak as the Office of the Presidency of the United States of America is embedded in the US Constitution. The US Con. is owned by the American People. The Torah-Tanak is owned by Israel. Take away Israel, you take away the Torah-Tanak. If the Torah-Tanak is gone, the Office of the Maschiach disappears.

By the way, the US President must be an American CITIZEN to qualify for this Office. Likewise the Office of the Maschiach. He must be from the Tribe of Yehudah, of the Faith of the Congregation of Israel. After all, He is going to assume the Mantle of the Kingship of the Kingdom of Israel, the Office of the High Priest of the Congregation of Israel, the Office of the Chief Prophet (Spokesman) of the People of Israel.

Indeed, He loves humanity. This is the reason why Israel's Mandate was to be redeemed. The Mandate is a proof that humans are capable of becoming citizens of Heaven in HIS own terms, not our's. The Torah is the minimum requrement that G-D had revealed to us to pass the QUALIFICATIONS for the Eternal Life. If Israel fails in that, then G-D has no reason to keep us humans in existence. Israel is suppossed to be the LIGHTBRINGER. The Adversary wants Israel to fail to prove that G-D, Lord and Master of the Universe, is not who He claims to be. Pls.read the hidden History of the church and antisemitism. I assure you, you will be stunned as Yokanan of the Book Revelation was when he was shown who and what the Queen of Heaven really is.

Catholicism is actually the opposite of the Faith of Yeshua. I know, I grow up as an RC.

Think of a 3-leaf clover. There are 3 leaves all connected to make the clover.

Or

3 people who are so united and have so powerful a love that they are as one.

Catholics consider that The God of Israel is the same God as that of the Catholic Church and that He has alreadylived up to His promise to redeem the Israelites, as was manifested in the very actions of the 12 Apostles, when Christ ordered them to go forth and teach all nations and so they did ... teaching all that Christ taught them; teachings which became the foundation of the Catholic Church itself. The 12 Apostles, (all previously Jews before their conversions) and their followers became the redeemed Jews as did everyone of the Jewish population who was baptised in the River Jordan, along with Christ himself, (baptised by John the Baptist), and thereby entered into the faith of Christ. In this way Catholics consider that the Jewish people received their redemption.

Those who did not convert and embrace the Sacrament of Baptism adhered to the old Jewish faith and denounced Christ and called for His crucifixion. Their descendants represent the current-day Jewish faith, which does not acknowledge that Christ was the Son of God, only that he was a prophet.

The Old Testament, (The Patriarchal Books) of the two religions are very similar, for they deal with the time before Christ and speak of the same Patriarchs for both religions. The Gentiles (founders of Catholicism) embraced Christ as their God, believing that he fulfilled the word of the Patriarchs of Israel, having been born through the line of the Patriarchs of Israel which both the Jewish and Catholic faiths acknowledge as their true Patriarchs. However the Books of the New Testament, which the Jewish faith does not accept, relate to the time following the birth of Christ, when the Jewish followers were split in their beliefs by the teachings of Christ.

The Lord never intended for His church to be divided up into hundreds of competing groups teaching vastly different doctrines. The Lord is not the Lord of confusion. It is man that has changed His doctrine and turned it into a mass of confusion and division. Much of this has be for filty lucre (1 Peter 5:2) and in Ephesians 4:5, Paul tells us that there is "One Lord, one faith,one baptism," not many Lords, many faiths and many different forms of baptism.

Christ set up His church while on earth and appointed Peter as the lead Apostle over his church. After Christ's death, Peter was to receive guidance from Christ to direct the church through a process called revelation. Christ established a particular leadership structure in His church, and this structure was to help unify the people within the church and to help avoid confusion on who was responsible for what components of the various roles within the church. In Apostle Paul's instructions to the Ephesian members of Christ's church, who were called Saints, he told them what the structure of the church should be. Christ's church was set up with apostles, prophets, evangelists (missionaries), pastors (bishops), and teachers and this structure was to help perfect the saints. Paul also told the members that this church leadership structure was to be the structure until there was unity in the faith and until the members were perfected [which would not be until the Second Coming of Christ ]. This leadership structure was designed to keep the saints from being confused about which doctrines were correct.

The reason there are so many different churches today is because the church Christ established was changed by men into a church that men wanted and the followers have become confused as to which doctrine is correct and where to find a church that teaches correct doctrine. We do know one thing and that is that Christ's church will have 12 apostles (the number in the original church), a prophet, a strong missionary component, and pastors (also called bishops) and teachers. If a church is missing these key leadership components, then it is not structured after the church that was originally established by Christ and described by the Apostle Paul as cited in Ephesians 4:11-14 below (KJV).

Ephesians Chapter 4 verses 11-14

11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Many factors have contributed to the development of new religious groups. Some have said that the various religions all represent different ways of presenting religious truth. But a comparison of their teachings and practices with the Bible indicates, rather, that the diversity of religions is because people have become followers of men instead of listening to God. It is noteworthy that, to a large extent, teachings they hold in common, but that differ from the Bible, originated in ancient Babylon.

Who is the instigator of such religious confusion? The Bible identifies Satan the Devil as "the god of this system of things." (2 Corinthians 4:4) It warns us that "the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God." (1 Corinthians 10:20) How vitally important, then, to make sure that we really are worshiping the true God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and that our worship is pleasing to him!

The real question is why are there denominations at all. The answer is the concepts of orthodoxy and heresy from the dark ages. Up until a few scant generations ago you could still be whipped publicly (in the American colonies) for refusing to go to church. Before that the punishments get even worse.

That is why there was one main church (the "holy church"/Vatican) for so long, it is only when they lost their hold on Christendom that other groups began to form, and now they have little real power, so these groups flourish.

The interesting thing is that today catholicism almost doesn't even exist. A study was done some years ago asking American Catholics 10 simple, basic questions like "is the devil a real being or a symbol for evil", etc, and only 7% answered all ten questions in-line with the catholic doctrine.

So only 7% of American catholics are actually Catholic, they just don't realize it.

I think in the future there will be no denominations, if Christianity even exists anymore eventually.

Different denominations wind up with different minor emphases in their services for these and other reasons. One person called them "house rules." This can work out well, as long as those separate "house rules" aren't used to build walls of self-righteousness against other Christians.

Because the Bible is made up of many books written by different people at different times, in languages that are not currently spoken as they were then, therefore we read translations. There are passages which are difficult to understand, some which contradict others in other parts of the bible. So every time people cannot agree on what something means, they form a new church to follow that way.

And the Final Answer is...

Jesus said "go and teach all nations". He did not say, sit down and write a book. Jesus started his Church when he said to Peter "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build MY Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." We see in Acts that Peter has taken the leadership role of the disciples. He is the one whom Jesus entrusted his power here on Earth. We then see numerous times when Paul mentions the Church in his writings. Now, from this time on, we have a written record of successors to Peter as the Head of Christs Church. We refer to that person as the Pope. The term "Catholic" means "Universal" and was used to describe the Church as early as 46AD by one of Johns disciple, St Polycarp. The Catholic Church spread to all corners of the earth and was "One body" until 1517 AD when Martin Luther broker away. Shortly after that, John Calvin started his own religious following and these two events are referred to as the "Protestant Reform". The Catholic Church put the first bible together in 325, long after the Church had been established, but Martin Luther had the idea that "solu scripturo" was the way to go. Meaning, by Scripture Alone. If you think about it, Jesus said "go forth and teach all nations". He did not say, sit down and write a book. So if you are going to believe in the bible alone, you are missing a lot of what Jesus taught. The bible is by far the greatest book ever written, but Jesus did not found his Church on the bible as most have today. You can research history and discover that the Catholic Church is the Church started by Jesus himself and over 1 billion Catholics worldwide celebrate the exact same Mass with each other following the teachings of Jesus throughout the bible as well as the traditions past down from generation to generation.

Because there are so many ways to interpret the bible, not all denominations agree upon everything said.

1. God became incarnate (flesh) in the man Jesus.

2. Christ atoned (paid for) man's sin through His death on the cross.

3. Christ rose in bodily form from the grave, conquering death and proving He is God.

4. The Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God.

These are the absolute basics of Christian belief. No non-christian religion, cult, or sect in the world agrees with orthodox Christianity at all on all these points. Unfortunately, not all so-called Christian churches follow them either, and some purport to follow them but do not obey them. These 4 points are straight-forward - you either believe them or you don't, and then you may go off and start your own church.

Beliefs are important, but it is so easy to say you believe something and not actually mean it. Even when we are doing the right thing, the intent of our heart is moreimportant than the actual deed itself:-

Mat 7:16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you shall know them.

Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then I will say to them I never knew you!Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

To avoid taking things out of context, I have included the entire section where Jesus said very plainly that obeying God was more important than following the traditions of men :-

Mat 15:1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,

Mat 15:2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

Mat 15:3 But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, "Honor your father and mother"; and, "He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die by death."

Mat 15:5 But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever you would gain from me, It is a gift to God;

Mat 15:6 and in no way he honors his father or his mother. And you voided the commandment of God by your tradition.

Mat 15:7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

Mat 15:8 "This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

Mat 15:9 But in vain they worship Me,teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Mat 15:10 And He called the crowd and said to them, Hear and understand.

Mat 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

Mat 15:12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?

Mat 15:13 But He answered and said, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.

Mat 15:14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

There is nothing wrong with tradition so long as it does not become ritualistic, and does not conflict in anyway with the spiritual intent of Christ:-

Col 2:8 Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world,and not according to Christ.

The sticking-point for many is the 4th and last point: that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given byinspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Scripture includes Paul's writings, as Peter said they were part of the Scriptures:-

2Pe 3:15 And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation (as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you according to the wisdom given to him

2Pe 3:16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction).

(By the time Peter wrote this in about 68AD, Paul already dead, beheaded by Nero about a year previously.)

God takes the Scriptures (which are His Words) very seriously and warns against changing them:-

Deu 4:2 You shall not add to the Wordwhich I command you, neither shall you take away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the LORD your God which I command you.

Deu 12:32 All the things I command you, be careful to do it. You shall not add to it, nor take awayfrom it.

Rev 22:18 For I testify together to everyone who hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add on him the plagues that have been written in this Book.

Rev 22:19 And if anyone takes away from the Words of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which have been written in this Book.

Any church that denies or does not teach all four of these points is not a Christian church and is therefore by definition heretical. This includes churches like the Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Christadelphians, Roman Catholic ( the 'Magisterium' takes precedence over Scriptures), and Scientology. However, just as a Christian church will have non-christians in it, so it is possible for a non-christian church have Christians in it.

The two basic reasons for the names of different denominations in churches are convenience and disagreements, (where a person will leave that congregation and start another church with his adherents.) Other reasons are:-

1. Different locations

eg Churches of Smyrna, England, Creek St,

2. Differentiating beliefs

eg Baptist Church, Orthodox, Seventh-day Adventist

3. Named after people

eg Luther, Wesley, St Therese,

4. Type of teaching

eg Method(ism)

5. Type of structure

eg Congregational, Presbyterian

6. Distinguishing attribute

eg Grace, Bible-believing, True, United, Loyal, Evangelical

7. Splits and divisions among a church congregation

eg Baptist (Baptist & United Baptist), United (Methodist & Presbyterian),

Protestants do believe in Mary as the woman chosen to bear the infant Jesus. However she is not venerated as in Catholicism. Protestants do not see her as a mediatrix between God and man, seeing Jesus as the one mediator. They also do not see her as sinless and therefore she is considered wholly human although commanding respect as a woman who found favor with God.

They believe in the divine nature of His conception, and that Mary was a virgin at the time of Jesus' birth.

Protestants don't see her as anything more than Christ's mother and that she was a human as well. She later had more children with Joseph. On the other hand the word of God tells us that Christ is the and only mediator between God and man 1Timothy 2:5. Mary herself humbled before Jesus for she knew He was God.

As a starting point, it helps to first distinguish whatthe four central Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church are, so that it might be better understood where various Reformed denominations stand in relation to these dogmas; i.e. what are the salient objects of belief regarding Mary? The four central Marian doctrines held by, but not limited exclusively to, Catholics are:

• the Immaculate Conception of Mary
• the Divine Motherhood of Mary (Mary is Mother of God)
• the Perpetual Virginity of Mary
• the Assumption of Mary into Heaven

Beliefs in Protestant communities vary widely on these Marian dogmas. On the one hand, many communities hold only to Mary as mother of God. On the other hand, some Protestant communities hold to all four. Notable examples here, not to the exclusion of others, include various Anglican communities who seek ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church.

Martin Luther

Many of Martin Luther's own statements also provide a path for ecumenical discussion between contemporary Lutherans and Catholics. Regarding the Immaculate Conception, Luther writes:

• It is a sweet and pious belief that the infusion of Mary's soul was effected without original sin; so that in the very infusion of her soul she was also purified from original sin and adorned with God's gifts, receiving a pure soul infused by God; thus from the first moment she began to live she was free from all sin (Sermon: On the Day of the Conception of the Mother of God, 1527) This is found in Hartmann Grisar's book, Luther Vol. IV. Grisar cites the source as "Werke," Erl. Ed., 15 Page 58.
• . . . she is full of grace, proclaimed to be entirely without sin. . . . God's grace fills her with everything good and makes her devoid of all evil. . . . (Luther's Works, American edition, vol. 43, p. 40, ed. H. Lehmann, Fortress, 1968).

There is also the possibility for ecumenical dialogue between contemporary Lutherans and Catholics on Mary's Perpetual Virginity when Luther writes:

• in childbirth and after childbirth, as she was a virgin before childbirth, so she remained. (Sermon on the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Luthers Werke 52:688- 99,quoted in Jaroslav Pelikan, Mary Through The Ages, 158.)

and again when he comments on John 2:12 as follows:

• I am inclined to agree with those who declare that "brothers" really means "cousins" here, for Holy Writ and the Jews always call cousins brothers. (Luther's Works, 22: 215.)

Ulrich Zwingli (founder of the Swiss Reformed Churches)

Ulrich Zwingli provides ground for dialogue on both the Immaculate Conception and Perpetual Virginity of Mary when he writes:

I esteem immensely the Mother of God, the ever chaste, immaculate Virgin Mary. (E. Stakemeier, De Mariologia et Oecumenismo, K. Balic, ed., (Rome, 1962), 456.)

and again on the Perpetual Virginity of Mary when he writes:

I firmly believe that Mary, according to the words of the gospel as a pure Virgin brought forth for us the Son of God and in childbirth and after childbirth forever remained a pure, intact Virgin. (Zwingli Opera, Corpus Reformatorum, Volume 1, 424)

John Wesley (founder of the Methodists)

John Wesley also provides ground for dialogue between Methodists and Catholics on the Immaculate Conception and Mary's Perpetual Virginity when he writes:

• I believe that He was made man, joining the human nature with the divine in one person; being conceived by the singular operation of the Holy Ghost, and born of the blessed Virgin Mary, who, as well after as before she brought Him forth, continued a pure and unspotted virgin. (To a Roman Catholic, Dublin July 18, 1749. Emphasis added.)