Short easy Descrptions/Distinctions

Re4mdant · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:16 PM

A friend of mine has asked for, what he called, an idiot proof discription of the Puritans, Presbytarians and baptist, espessially their likenesses and distinctions.
And as short as possible because he says he does not "get", I would say he does not like long theologically confusing statements.

Do any one of you know where I could find something like that or can you yourself do it?

(and while you are at it, can you tell me what it is he wants, because I do not seem to give the answers he is looking for)

Any help will be appreciated

Skyler · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:19 PM

Baptists baptize upon confession of faith, Presbyterians baptize upon either confession of faith or birth into a Christian family.

Scottish Lass · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:58 PM

Beyond the baptism distinction above, Baptists also generally work as independent congregations without any outside oversight from a regional group of leaders, preferring to be led by local leaders from the congregation. Presbyterians (whether Reformed or not) operate with a governing local body (session--think city council), a regional government (like an American state's government), and a national government.

Re4mdant · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 08:42 PM

Do anyone of you know why he asked specifically for those 3 and do you have anything on the Puritans.

MarieP · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 08:49 PM

Credos don't recognize the baptism of infants. Congregationalists don't recognize earthly hierarchy above the local church. Many Baptists don't recognize each other in the liquor store!

-----Added 11/3/2009 at 07:49:15 EST-----

Quote:

Originally Posted by Re4mdant

Do anyone of you know why he asked specifically for those 3 and do you have anything on the Puritans.

Dunno! Is he a new believer (or even one at all)? New to Reformed theology?

And it depends on which Puritans you are talking about. They were over a wide spectrum, including both paedos and credos, Presbyterians and independents, but they all were Calvinistic.

Re4mdant · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 08:57 PM

I think you could call him a new believer and he is definetly new to reformed theology.
But as said above I can not seem to give the answers he seems to be looking for.
And he keeps revolving around those 3 and I get the presbytarian/baptist-peado/credo controversy, but does not seem to be it and why bring up the puritans???
Maybe he does not even know.

I just wanted to see if any of you guys could figure it out.

If not I will have to reread some books on the Puritans and see if I can get the pictur.

P.S. This is kind of like a crimi-mystery only with theology instead

MarieP · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 09:20 PM

LOL! Yes, it is!

Hmmm...

You don't suppose he's trying to figure out where he stands on these things, do you?

He probably needs a better grounding in the Scripture (big picture of the relation of the Old and New Testaments and WHY one's view of the covenants matter). He may not really know what a covenant is...I didn't before doing a study of Hebrews at my Christian high-school (was still in the PCUSA at the time- VERY thankful for it, though it was not Calvinist).

Wayne · #8 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:36 PM

I thought he was dividing the Puritans into two groups, baptists and Presbyterians, which kinda, sorta would have been glancingly half-way accurate.

More accurately, the Puritans divided into Anglicans, Presbyterians and Independents. The Independents subdivided into Congregationalists and Baptist.

Hamalas · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 10:44 PM

It sounds like it may be more helpful for you to answer his question with a question. Perhaps you could talk to him about what his perception is of those three groups, I think that would tell you a lot.