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Examined Doctrine

Church & Sacraments

3 questions in this part of the map. Each one shows the views side by side, who holds each view, and their own words wherever they can be quoted.

  1. Who should be baptized, and what does baptism actually do?

    Baptism

    Every Christian tradition on this map baptizes. They split over two things: whether babies should be baptized, and whether baptism itself changes the person or marks a promise God has made. That gives three views.

    3 views: Believers only; Babies too, as a sign; Babies too, and it brings new birth · 31 figures placed

  2. When Christians take Communion, is Jesus actually in the bread and wine?

    The Lord's Supper

    At his last meal Jesus said of the bread, “This is my body.” The views split over what that makes the bread and wine: his body in place of bread, his body together with the bread, a means by which faith receives him, or signs that call him to mind. A fifth view, from early writers, calls it his body plainly and never asks how.

    5 views: The bread becomes his body; His body with the bread; Received spiritually, by faith; A sign to remember him; His body, without asking how · 23 figures placed

  3. Do miraculous gifts like tongues, prophecy and healing still happen today?

    Continuation of spiritual gifts

    The New Testament describes believers speaking in tongues, prophesying and healing the sick. The views split over whether those gifts are still given today, have ended, or remain possible but call for caution. That gives three views.

    3 views: Yes, they continue; No, they have ended; Possibly, but with caution · 23 figures placed