Presbyterian--What I think it is

Once again remember: There are now bad religions, just bad churches.

Every thing I am quoting I got from the Presbyterian official Website www.pcusa.org

Presbyterian trace their history to the 16th century and the Protestant Reformation. Our heritage, and much of what we believe, began with the French lawyer John Calvin (1509-1564), whose writings crystallized much of the Reformed thinking that came before him.

I did not know this. Wondering why they don't call them a cult like many
people refer to the Mormon religion. Which by the way I don't agree with that
statement.

In the 1958 Statement of the PCUA, p. 537: The General Assembly: Affirms its conviction that neither the Church as the body of Christ, nor Christians as individuals, can be neutral or indifferent toward evil in the world; Meaning they can't sit quietly and watch the world destroy itself with evil. I agree with this statement. The only way to change the world for the better is to get involved. Affirms its responsibility to speak on social and moral issues for the encouragement and instruction of the Church and its members, seeking earnestly both to know the mind of Christ and to speak always in humility and love;

Good thing to to actually put in writing. I think this is the goal of all
Christians but this is the first time I have seen it in writing

Reminds the churches that their duty is not only to encourage and train their members in daily obedience to God's will, but corporately to reveal God's grace in places of suffering and need, to resist the forces that tyrannize, and to support the forces that restore the dignity of all men as the children of God, for only so is the gospel most fully proclaimed.

I like this statement but it doesn't say how they get God's will. Is it their
interpretation or is it directly from the Bible. I think all religious teachings
should start with the scriptures and then if necessary break them down for
clearer understanding and application in today's society

Baptism usually occurs during infancy, though a person may be baptized at any age. Parents bring their baby to church, where they publicly declare their desire that he or she be baptized. When an infant or child is baptized the church commits itself to nurture the child in faith. When adults are baptized they make a public profession of faith.

I don't agree with this. I thinkthat a public profession is necessary for the overall acceptance of Jesus Christ. I believe that it needs to be a decision of each person, not having the decision made for them when they are an infant. I do understand "sprinkling" but I see it as a request made to God to accept this infant until he/she is old enough to accept Christ into their heart of their own free will.

"The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) does not advocate the prohibition of alcohol, a policy which would appear to attribute the entire problem to alcohol itself. Responsible and non-problematic uses of alcohol have been part of human experience and the Judeo-Christian heritage since the beginning of recorded history. The considerable risks and immense suffering that follow from excessive and unwise uses of alcohol do, however, impose upon all Christians individually and corporately the responsibility to make and encourage judicious and well-informed choices regarding personal and social uses of alcohol.

This is a first for me. Stating that it is okay to use alcohol in
moderation based on the fact that alcohol has been used through-out the
centuries. Coming from the view point of, in the past, living with an
alcoholic--I strongly disagree. I don't think that in our current state of
development, humans, have the capacity to drink in moderation. It is an
addicting substance and should be avoided.

Presbyterians have struggled with the abortion issue for more than 25 years, beginning in 1970 when a General Assembly statement declared that "the artificial or induced termination of pregnancy is a matter of the careful ethical decision of the patient, . . . and therefore should not be restricted by law . . ."(1) The latest major statement on abortion by a Presbyterian General Assembly came in 1992. Here's an excerpt from that position statement:
. . . There is [both] agreement and disagreement on the basic issue of abortion. The committee [on problem pregnancies and abortion] agreed that there are no biblical texts that speak expressly to the topic of abortion, but that taken in their totality the Holy Scriptures are filled with messages that advocate respect for the woman and child before and after birth. Therefore the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) encourages an atmosphere of open debate and mutual respect for a variety of opinions concerning the issues related to problem pregnancies and abortion.

WOW....This one blows me away. They are saying that abortion is
okay??? The only time I agree on pregnancy termination is when the baby is
dead or will be born unable to live, ie without a spine. If there has to
be a choice between saving the mother or saving the child I think that decision
is up to the father of the baby and the parents of the mother and their choice
should be supported due to it's extreme complexity.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a thirty year history of support for gun control legislation. Beginning in the late 1960's, in response to the assassinations of public leaders, the General Assembly called for ". . . Control [of] the sale and possession of fire arms of all kinds."1 In 1976, this statement was re-affirmed, but also specifically worded to ". . .not cover shotguns and rifles used legitimately by sportsmen. . .".2 In 1988, these and other statements supporting gun control were again reaffirmed.

HHMMMM...they are for abortion and for gun control. It's okay to kill
unborn innocent babies but not public leaders (I won't comment on their innocence)???

". . . Homosexuality is not God's wish for humanity . . . We want this dialogue to continue. Nevertheless, we judge that it cannot effectively be pursued in the uncertainty and insecurity that would be generated by the Assembly's silence on this matter at this time. On the basis of our understanding that the practice of homosexuality is sin, we are concerned that homosexual believers and the observing world should not be left in doubt about the church's mind on this issue during any further period of study. Even some who see some forms of homosexual behavior as moral are concerned that persons inside and outside the church will stumble in their faith and understanding if this matter is unresolved."

I am guess that this is a standard through out the Christian world.
It does say it is a sin in the Bible.

Okay.....my outlook on the Presbyterian religion. I think they are very liberal and trying to keep up with "Modern Times". This is good and bad in my opinion. It is good because it almost guarantees the continuation of the religion in the future. It is bad because I think they are straying from the true teachings of the Bible. I don't agree with some of their philosophies, but that is my right -- and theirs. I still think that no matter how "modernized" our society becomes, we should show respect to God and be humbled before him. We should dress nicely to go to worship Him. We should follow the teachings of the Bible and try to implement them into our lives.

Presbyterian--What I think it is

http://peebugg.blogspot.com/2005/07/presbyterian-what-i-think-it-is.html