When I was younger, I remember our helper's daughter say to me when we were on our way to the church, "Ate Nina, 'di ba sila (insert names of some of my Protestant relatives here) lang ang totoong Kristiyano?" ["Ate Nina, aren't (insert names of some of my Protestant relatives here) the only true Christians?"] I was very young then; I was only in elementary, but what she said really irritated me and obviously has affected me so significantly that I can still remember our conversation very well.

My immediate reply was, "Sino'ng nagsabi sa'yo n'yan!" [Who told you that!], already assuming that she had heard it from someone else; I mean, as young as she was, she wouldn't have come up with such a ridiculous idea by herself.

So she told me about her Bible Study classes at a nearby Protestant Church, which, by the way, I also used to attend when I was a kid. But my mom stopped me from going there when she noticed that I was starting to get confused between the Protestant and Catholic Teaching. For instance, when I got home from class one day, I told my mom, "They asked me to lead the prayer today! But why was I the only one who made the Sign of the Cross?"

And she replied, "Good thing you didn't say the Hail Mary."

Going back to my conversation with our helper's daughter, I would have answered her better if I only knew the next things you'll read. I hope that through this post, people will just stop classifying one another as true or false Christians and instead promote their faith by stating facts and not by bad-mouthing other religions. Is it really that hard to do?

Only the Facts:

Protestant Church. Founded by Martin Luther on October 31, 1517 in protest against the Roman Catholic Church's abuse of power by selling indulgences to people to rebuild St Peter's Basilica in Rome. He argued that money could not buy freedom from God's punishment of sin. He turned his back on his vow of celibacy and married an ex-nun, Katherine Von Bora. The church he started also fell apart and was divided into several groups, each having its own different teachings. Luther called the Pope an "Anti-Christ," and allowed the "Landgrave of Hesse" to have two wives at the same time. He introduced the concepts: "Sola Scriptura" and "Sola Fide" (The Bible alone is the basis of faith and Faith alone is the basis of salvation-- two of the false doctrines that are commonly used by different sects, which have brought about division among Christians.)


Church of Christ (Mormons). Founded by Joseph Smith in the USA on April 6, 1830. He claimed that his Church was the true church and that he was sent by God to rebuild the true Church that people once turned their back on. Those who want to be saved must worship the Bible and the "Book of Mormons." According to Smith, the New Jerusalem, the heavens, shall be built in America. His Church permits polygamy. In fact, Smith's successor, Brigham Young, had 27 wives and 52 children! Now, this Church is already divided into different groups. Four of them bear the same name-- "Church of Christ" or "Iglesia ni Cristo."





Iglesia ni Cristo (Manalo). Founded by Felix Manalo in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila on July 27, 1914. He registered the Church as a uni-personal corporation on July 27, 1914 at the Bureau of Commerce and it was given a trademark. Manalo also said that his church was the true church because he was an angel sent by God to rebuild the original church. He followed the Protestant teaching, Sola Scriptura (Bible Alone Theory), but denied Sola Fide (Faith Alone Theory). It was forbidden in his religion to create images and statues, except for the statue of Manalo at the Head Office of INC in Quezon City and the images of Manalo in all of their ministry offices. According to them, only the followers of Manalo can enter heaven.








Dating Daan of Eli Soriano. He is still exerting efforts to build a new religion in the Philippines. He also believes that the Bible is the sole basis of Faith. He claimed that the Catholic Church and the other churches are wrong.








Aglipayan Church. Although founded by Isabelo de los Reyes, it was named after its Supreme Bishop, Fr. Gregorio Aglipay, who was born in Batac in 1860. This church was officially declared in Quiapo Manila, as Iglesia Independiente Filipinas on October 3, 1902.











Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. He claims to be the Son of God, that he is Jesus Christ. He says that the New Heaven shall be built in Davao.










Anglican Church. Founded by King Henry VIII of England when Pope Clement VII did not tolerate his adultery with Anne Boleyn. After building such church, he further had 6 wives or more.










Methodist Church. Founded by John Wesley (1703-1791) and Charles Wesley (1707-1788) in England. They modified the Anglican faith and removed the Apostle's Creed.








Jehova's Witnesses. Founded in 1874 by Charles Taze Russell, who was born in Pittsburg, Pensylvania, USA. The church had changed its name several times until it settled with the name, "Jehova's Witnesses" ("Mga Saksi ni Jehova") in 1931. Just like Manalo of the Philippines, Russel introduced himself as an angel sent by God. This angel died in a train accident in 1916.







Baptist Church. Founded in England by John Smith, an Anglican minister (1554-1612). Not very long, a similar church was built in America by Roger Willian in 1939. He says that they come from John the Baptist.










Seventh Day Adventist or Sabadista. Founded by James and Ellen White in Michigan, USA in 1863. They go to church on Saturdays. They accept the theory, Bible Alone, but alongside this, they believe in Ellen's ability to prophesize.








Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church. Founded by Jesus in AD33 in Jerusalem upon the "Rock," Peter. The Church, which put the Bible together! The other churches were built only by humans who gave false meaning to that Bible. The acceptance of Peter's Papacy, which is clearly taught in the Bible, is the only way to avoid confusions and contradictions in Christianity. This is the only Church that has true apostolic succession, that already has members in all the corners of the world; this is the definite way to salvation. Welcome to the Church that was founded by Jesus, where he truly resides in the Holy Eucharist.





I honestly do not believe that belonging to any religion (Catholic and non-Catholic alike) already guarantees salvation. I don't know where exactly a "DEAD FAITH" is going, but I'm quite sure it has no room in the "Land of the Living" :-P

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also, FAITH OF ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD."