Let me turn that question over to the well known Roman catholic Cardinal John Henry Newman who calls what Constantine did in creating Roman Catholicism, a new religion.

-------------------------
"We are told in various ways by Eusebius that Constantine, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, transferred into it the outward ornaments to which they had been accustomed in their own. It is not necessary to go into a subject which the diligence of Protestant writers has made familiar to most of us. The use of temples, and those dedicated to the particular saints, and ornamented on occasion with branches of trees, incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness, holy water, asylums, holy days and seasons, use of calendars, proces­sions, blessings on the fields, sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant and the Kyrie Eleison are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by adoption into the Church."
 
Source: J. H. Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, Chapter 8.
----------------------


Once again, I am going to have to suggest that you start a new thread. The topic of this thread is non-denominationalism. I am neither Catholic nor Protestant.

I have posted my views.

I usually find that it is of value to go back to the start of a thread to get the gist of the discussion. Go back and read the 1st and 2nd messages of the thread (even further may be of value), and perhaps that will help avoid us going back over the same territory, and it may help you understand. BTW, since there were no denominations in the 1st century, Christianity is, in its essence, non-denominational. The body of Christ is not a denomination.

I meant, after you read posts 1 and 2, you may want to go further, i.e. posts 3, 4.....


First, let me once again suggest that you read post #2. That addresses part of your question. Since I went into some detail, I do not wish to repeat it.

No one is saying that Anabaptists are not necessarily non-denominational (though they can be) but they are neither protestant nor Catholic, as are other Christians. Anabaptists were merely an example.

What separates me from a protestant? Perhaps the fact that I am not a protestant. I am a Christian who is not a protestant. What are you expecting?


Again, the definition of denomination should handle that one.

BTW, I would suggest that there is only ONE Christian belief system - the one that Christ taught and which is defined by the Bible. There are organizations created by men that are sometimes representative of that one belief system, or sometimes men choose to add to it, creating a belief system which is in part Christian, and in part manmade.

Again, if you are not going to read what I posted, then how can we have constructive interaction?


You are wrong.

This is why I think that it is good to read what others say - it helps avoid serious mis-understandings.

to anyone :  is there a whole new group of Christians out there that i don't even know about who consider themselves to be neither Protestant nor Catholic?  and if so, do they have a name i could look up to find out more about them.  there has been a lot of rapid change within the protestant sector lately, so i may have missed something.

how did i know you would say that tj3?  what do you want me to do, go look up "Christians"? (rhetorical)
i specifically said NEW group, as in organized (or reorganized if you will) sometime in the 21st century. i think i kinda understand where you're at, i just don't have words for it.  obviously i know what a Christian is, what i am interested in here is a church, or maybe a modern movement, beyond the resources and information that i already have.  i'm starting to think non-denominational means do not name, nice try.  i am also trying to get back to the roots, but to do that means exploring the Catholic history as far as i can tell. 

i appreciate your argument, i just find it ephemeral.  i have a bible, and i am keenly interested in the early Christians, but i think you are attempting to bypass millenia of intervening years in a hypothetical history.  but i've heard of Foxes, i'll have to check it out (martyrs are fascinating), and i've heard this is a great resource about early christians, here's another i found here CHURCH FATHERS: Home .   i find the catholic church to be a treasure trove of info, and with all due respect, for somewhat who purports to be non-protestant, me thinks he doth protest too much.