THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST. The teaching that Jesus existed corporeally before he was born and his equality with the Father - illogical and unscriptural - is upheld by Rome and embraced by Protestantism. It is opposed to Bible teaching which presents Christ as "the Son of God" made "of a women" (Galatians 4:4), "approved of God" and obedient to Him in all things, for which cause he has been exalted to his Father's right hand in the heavens (Hebrews 5:7-9)

THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. Belief in a triune God - a God that is both one and three - is opposed to reason and the clear declaration of Scripture (Mark 12:29; 1 Corinthians 8:6). It was included in church teaching about 300 years after the death of Christ, and from Rome has found its way into the beliefs of nearly all communities of Christendom.

THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. This is a fundamental doctrine of both Roman and Protestant religion, and is accepted as established in truth. It is, nevertheless, a fiction of paganism, superimposed upon Bible teaching, and the root of the chief errors prevailing in Christendom. It has altered the whole plan of salvation, introduced false concepts in regard to the condition of man in death, has destroyed the power of the doctrine of the resurrection. The Bible teaches the mortality of the soul (Ezekiel 18:4) and lays emphasis upon the hope of a bodily resurrection, without which a man shall perish (1 Corinthians 15:13-18).

HEAVEN AS THE REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS. One will search the Bible in vain for this teaching, yet it is taught by the churches. It is contrary to the express declaration of the Lord that "the meek shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

ETERNAL TORMENTS IN HELL. A teaching subversive to every principle of justice and reason, and derogatory to the righteous character of the God of heaven. This sadistic nightmare, invented by paganism and Christendom alike, today seems to be losing its impact upon the minds of men, though still proclaimed by many churches. Merciful oblivion is the destiny in store for the wicked, and that takes place at death (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6). The grave is the hell of the Bible: a place of silence and utter destruction (cp. Acts 2:31 with 1 Corinthians 15:55, which has the same word in the original).

A SUPERNATURAL PERSONAL DEVIL. The Bible doctrine concerning the devil and satan has nothing in common with the popular view of the subject, which is obviously a pagan fiction adopted originally by Rome, and passed on to Christendom. The devil is that which has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14), which is elsewhere defined as "sin" (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:56). Sin, in its various manifestations, is the devil of the Bible.

THE SPRINKLING OF INFANTS. In many churches this takes the place of adult baptism commanded by Christ for believers (Mark 16:16). It is an invention of the Rominish Church, and contrary to the Word of God (see Acts 8:36-37), which knows nothing of any such practice.

These (and other) erroneous teachings constitute the foundation of Orthodox Christianity, but are actually ideas originally borrowed from Pagan mythology, and superimposed upon the Bible.

"Blot her (ie. the Catholic Church) from the pages of history, and the Bible as well as Christianity disappear from the face of the earth... And since the books of the Bible constituting both Old and New Testament were determined solely by the authority of the Catholic Church, without the Church there would have been no Bible..." (page 10)

"...Far from being hostile to the Bible, the Catholic Church is its true Mother. She determined which are the books of religion from the many writings circulated as inspired in the early Christian ages, assembled them all within the covers of a single book, shielded it from destruction by the hordes of barbarian invaders that pour into Europe, and translated it into many languages." (pages 142-143) Rev. John O'Brian, Ph.D., The Faith of Millions - The Credentials of the Catholic Church (Nihil Obstat, Imprimatur - 1938)

"In early times the Bible was read freely by the lay people...New dangers came in during the Middle Ages...To meet those evils, the Council of Toulouse (1229) and Terragona (1234) forbade the laity to read the vernacular translations of the Bible. Pius IV required bishops to refuse lay persons leave to read even Catholic versions of Scripture unless their confessors or parish priests judged that such reading was likely to prove beneficial." (Catholic Dictionary, p. 82).

"As it has been clearly shown by experience that, if the holy Bible in the vernacular is generally permitted without any distinction, more harm than utility is thereby caused..." (Great Encyclical Letters of Leo XIII, pp. 412-413).

"Since it is clear from experience that if the Sacred Books are permitted everywhere and without discrimination in the vernacular (in the common language of the people, D.R.) there will by reasons of the boldness of men arise therefrom more harm than good..." (Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent, p. 274).

"That if any one shall dare to read or keep in his possession that book, without such a license, he shall not receive absolution till he has given it up to his ordinary."

"It is evidence from experience, that the holy Scriptures, when circulated in the vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of men, produced more harm than benefit."

"against the publication, distribution, reading, and possession of books of the holy Scriptures translated into the vulgar tongue."

"We declare, define, pronounce it to be necessary to salvation for every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff". Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303), Unam Sanctam.

"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself hidden under the veil of flesh. Does the Pope speak? It is Jesus Christ who speaks. Does the Pope accord a favour or pronounce an anathema? It is Jesus Christ who pronounces the anathema or accords the favour. So that when the Pope speaks we have no business to examine. We have only to obey. We have no right to criticize his decisions or discuss his commands. Therefore everyone who would wear the crown ought to submit himself to divine right." Pope Pius X, quoted in The Catholique Nationale, July 13, 1895

"All the earth is my diocese, and I am the ordinary of all men, having the authority of the King of all kings upon the subject. I am all in all and above all, so that God Himself, and I, the Vicar of God, have but one consistory, and I am able to do almost all that God can do. In all things that I list, my will is to stand for reason: for I am able by the law to dispense above the law, and of wrong to make justice in correcting laws and changing them... Wherefore if the things that I do be said not to be done of man, but of God, what can you make me but God? Again, if prelates of the Church be called and counted of Constantine for gods, I then, being above all prelates, seems by this reason to be above all Gods. Wherefore, no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times: to alter and abrogate laws, to dispense with all things, yea, with the precepts of Christ: for where Christ biddeth Peter put up his sword, and admonishes His disciples not to use any outward force in revenging themselves, do not I, Pope Nicholas, writing to the Bishops of France, exhort them to draw out their material swords?" Pope Nicholas V, 1455

"The pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth. . . . He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth."

"Of all the advice that we can offer your holiness we must open your eyes well and use all possible force in the matter, namely to permit the reading of the gospel as little as possible in all the countries under your jurisdiction. Let the very little part of the gospel suffice which is usually read in mass, and let no one be permitted to read more. So long as people will be content with the small amount, your interest will prosper; but as soon as the people want to read more, your interest will fail. The Bible is a book, which more than any other, has raised against us the tumults and tempests by which we have almost perished. In fact, if one compares the teaching of the Bible with what takes place in our churches, he will soon find discord, and will realize that our teachings are often different from the Bible, and oftener still, contrary to it."

"The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the pope has supreme and full power in faith and morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by one, God himself on earth."

"Sitting in that chair in which Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, sat to the close of life, the Catholic Church recognizes in his person the most exalted degree of dignity, and the full jurisdiction not based on constitutions, but emanating from no less authority than from God Himself. As the Successor of St. Peter and the true and legitimate Vicar of Jesus Christ, he therefore, presides over the Universal Church, the Father and Governor of all the faithful, of Bishops, also and of all other prelates, be their station, rant, or power, what they may be."

"The Pope can make and unmake laws for the entire Church; his authority is supreme and unquestioned. Every bishop, every priest, every member of the Church is subject to him."

"The pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God. . . . Moreover the superiority and the power of the Roman Pontiff. . . are even over angels, than whom he is greater. . . The pope is as it were God on earth. . . (and) is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even divine laws."