Protestantism and Non-Christian Religions

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. A religion which can trace its roots to Hinduism, Jainism was founded by Vardhamana Mahavira (599-527 B.C.). Despite its small number of members, about 2 million, it has had a large influence on Indian society. The symbol of Jainism is a swastika under three dots in a horizontal row. […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Organized in 1962, the Lutheran Church in America is a consolidation of four Lutheran denominations whose origins go back to the middle of the nineteenth century. It began to function as a new juridical institution on January 1, 1963, and represents one of the principal Protestant mergers in the […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The first Lutherans to make a permanent settlement in America came from Holland in 1623 to the Dutch New Netherlands (Manhattan Island), now part of New York City. The first Lutheran congregation in the Colonies was formed about l5 years later at Ft. Christina, now Wilmington, on the Delaware […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. The term Lambeth Conference refers to the congregation of Anglican bishops which meets, usually every 10 years, to discuss matters of faith and doctrine. The conference does not issue decrees but only expresses the general opinion of the hierarchy of the Anglican church. Sponsored by the archbishop of Canterbury, […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. In a broad sense, the expression “lay reader” refers to laymen within certain Protestant churches who lead the people in services where the regular minister needs help or is not available. It is an office that is most commonly associated, however, with the Anglican Communion. See. Anglicanism. Lay readers […]

by John Kurzwell [Father Hardon Responds – What Swaggart Doesn’t Know About the Church] [More Hardon Answers to Swaggart] Baton Rouge – based fundamentalist evangelist Jimmy Swaggart boasts that his is “the most watched” religious television programming in the world. “Presently,” according to a press release from the Jimmy Swaggart Crusade, “he is seen weekly […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Those churches which follow the system of religious faith and practice originally promoted by John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother Charles (1707-1788) are called Methodist. The name was probably derived from the methodical way Wesley’s disciples applied themselves to Bible study and prayer. Moral laxity among the clergy and […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Originally, nonconformity meant refusal to conform to the doctrines, policy, or discipline of the Established Church of England. Thus both Catholics and Protestants were nonconformists. They were variously called recusants, separatists, and dissenters, to emphasize their failure to agree with the teachings and practice of the Anglican Communion. At […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. A federation of Protestant, Orthodox, and National Catholic churches in the United States, the National Council of Churches was organized in 1950. The Federal Council of Churches and a number of specialized agencies had resulted from almost a century of effort toward the unification of the Christian churches in […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. A new spirit has entered the body of American and world Protestantism. For the first time since the Reformation, leaders in every denomination are deeply concerned about their cleavage in doctrine, worship, and practice and are seriously trying to heal what they brand as the sin of disunity. Their […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. A federation of Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and National Catholic Churches affiliated with the *World Council of Churches. Its membership (reported as 40,605,228 communicants in 1964) represents about two-thirds of the total Christian church population in the U.S. that is not Roman Catholic. Historical Development. The American counterpart of the […]

By Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Both nationally and locally the question of implementing the teaching of religious values in public schools has engaged many groups recently. It is fitting that Father Hardon should survey the present thinking, for he has made a special study of the Church and State question, especially legislation and Supreme […]