Alton T. Johnson

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics: "to read church history is to cease to be protestant." (Protestant read church history) Also Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics: "You're QUOTE MINING!" You're CHERRY PICKING!" "All the fathers didn't agree!" "You gotta read the original Latin!" "We don't have to follow everything they say!!"

@PawleSardano Oops....

@AL_J82 In addition to the OOPS @AL_J82 made in the comment I’m quoting, attached are 4 other well known church fathers that make Alton’s post look foolish. Click to enlarge and scroll through. x.com/pawlesardano/s…

The early church's arguments for the Eucharist was ONLY about proving Him taking on a human form NOT whether or not we were consuming His literal flesh and blood.

Question for Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox: will the Eucharist still be served in the kingdom of God according to Luke 22:15-20?

@gonefishin1948 *not Greek, but "told"

But this is where it becomes confusing for those like me. I've had real-time interactions with those who claim to be Roman Catholic and Orthodox and Greek me they are eating the literal flesh and blood. For example, I had a few Catholics who argued for "Eucharistic miracles" to substantiate their claim.

@Almost_Sly_Bry I know you didn't, which I appreciate, but that's what I get called a lot

@AL_J82 I didn't call you that. Catholics are, or should be, a lot more eccumenical than you'll find online But accepting the authority of the church (which includes the councils) is part of your confession upon entering the church

This is coming from a Catholic, not me. So again, when I post that Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox are not considered "brothers" in the faith historically, you can't just pawn it off as "protestant propaganda"

@KuroasaSoftworx The fruits of "my church says so, therefore"

Don't be fooled. Majority of these Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox don't read church history or the fathers themselves. They depend on partial quotes fed to them by their favorite online apologist.

@Almost_Sly_Bry But how would I know that by being a dumb, protestant heretic?

@AL_J82 A Catholic who doesn't accept Vatican II is not Catholic...well, at least not a practicing one anyway

@TheRealDodah I probably have more of their writings than you do

@AL_J82 Like you would even read the Church father's 🙄

@88mph121 Oops....

@AL_J82 Did you even read this one?

Matthew 6 16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

@pzj1801 @DominusAD78 Because many false prophets and false teachers have gone out into the world, like the Bible says

@DominusAD78 @AL_J82 question you can’t answer: If sola scriptura actually produces unity in doctrine, why does it historically produce endless splintering instead? Unity of Faith. That is enough

This is where the "40,000 denominations" myth comes from. But the Catholics and Eastern Orthodox fail to even read how they came up with this number. Save this site so you can have something to refer to when you hear this argument: gordonconwell.edu/center-for-glo…

@DeiGratia64 @Faithful2Pray Only after you repent and show that you can have an honest conversing like an adult

@AL_J82 @Faithful2Pray So, for clarity, are you refusing to answer what church you are a member of?

@AL_J82 Fine. Let’s forget about countries, and variations in congregations. That still leaves you with: Lutheran Radical Pietist Reformed Presbyterian Congregational Anglican Anabaptist Baptist Methodist Evening Light Keswickian Quaker Shaker Plymouth Brethren Pentecostal Convergence Stone-Campbell lite Adventist Evangelical Eastern Protestant ….and several more. Each with their own hierarchy and theology.

@PopeDefendersX Oops.....youtube.com/live/ucwZh3Eu1…

@AL_J82 Protestant humiliating himself during debate in regard to Church history and Bible youtube.com/live/XH-h1ZlpW…

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics: "to read church history is to cease to be protestant." (Protestant read church history) Also Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics: "You're QUOTE MINING!" You're CHERRY PICKING!" "All the fathers didn't agree!" "You gotta read the original Latin!" "We don't have to follow everything they say!!"

@Faithful2Pray @DeiGratia64 So again, the "40,000 denominations" statement is inaccurate, correct?

From Grok when I asked him how many actual denominations are there in Protestant Christianity: **There is no single definitive number of Protestant denominations, as it depends heavily on definitions, geography (U.S. vs. global), and counting methodology.** Estimates range from a few hundred major ones to thousands (or tens of thousands in the broadest counts), but the often-cited “30,000+” figure is widely regarded as an exaggeration or misinterpretation. ### Key Distinctions and Counts - **Major Protestant families/traditions**: Most Protestants fall into a handful of broad groups, such as Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian/Reformed, Pentecostal/Charismatic, Anglican/Episcopalian, Adventist, Anabaptist, Congregational, Holiness, and Quaker/Friends. Nondenominational and independent churches are also significant but harder to classify. - **In the United States**: Reliable tallies put the number of distinct Protestant denominations or denominational families at roughly **180–200** (or more if including smaller groups). Sources like Pew Research and the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) support this after filtering broad categories. - **Globally**: The Center for the Study of Global Christianity (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) and World Christian Database estimate ~47,000–50,000 total Christian denominations/rites worldwide as of recent years (mid-2020s), up from earlier figures like ~33,000–45,000. Protestants form a large portion of this (one older detailed breakdown put Protestant denominations at ~8,000–12,000, with many more Independents often classified separately). These global counts treat each semi-autonomous church body, jurisdiction, or independent congregation as a “denomination” if it has its own governance, even if beliefs are nearly identical. This inflates numbers—for example, counting multiple independent Baptist churches or national branches separately. ### Why the Numbers Vary So Much - **Definition of “denomination”**: Strict counts focus on major organized bodies with shared doctrine and structure. Loose counts include every independent church, small split, or national variant. - **Independents and nondenominationals**: These are growing rapidly (hundreds of millions of adherents) and often aren’t tied to traditional denominations, complicating tallies. Some sources separate them from historic Protestants. - **Historical context**: Protestantism originated in the 16th-century Reformation and has fragmented over theology, governance, culture, and geography. Most Christians belong to a small number of large groups (e.g., Southern Baptist Convention is the largest in the U.S.), while thousands of smaller ones exist.

@CaesariteJoseph @eek4436 @AngloVarangian He literally uses the words "symbols" and "metaphors". What were those things in reference to?

@AL_J82 @eek4436 @AngloVarangian Greek word there I am pretty sure, I don't have the Greek text of that particular document handy I will admit I am not so familiar with him but that is used elsewhere in the Fathers, and it literally means "to put together," so it always implies their is two realities. Which-

The same arrogant protestants who make claims like this deny the Church Fathers taught Baptismal Regeneration and the real presence of the Eucharist which was universally agreed upon from the Church Fathers from day 1.

@Faithful2Pray @DeiGratia64 For clarity, are you defending the "40,000 denominations" argument as well?

He did say “and several more”💁🏻‍♀️ Just look at your town. Drive around and look at nearly every corner. Write down the names of all the different churches. The ‘First Congregational Church’ or the ‘New Life Church’ or ‘Upper Room Community Church’ or the many different ‘Church of Christ’ churches, that aren’t related at all.

@DeiGratia64 I figured repentance would be funny to you but THE Lord takes it seriously, enough to damn a person to eternity in Hell for refusing to do so.

@AL_J82 Repent? That’s funny. What church are you a member of?

@DeiGratia64 For clarity, are you willing to repent for your "40,000 denominations" comment?

@AL_J82 Any more than one is an abomination. Face it, you’re in a heretical church:

@Catholic_Iam No, we can't. We need "Bible" to be defined first.

@AL_J82 What is there to clear up? Let me make it easier for you. Give me a timeline for when all letters of New Testament were written. We can get to the question of “66, 72 or 81” afterwards.