GXC: I was familiar with the list of breakdowns beforehand, so this is not new knowledge for me.

Student: It depends on how you define denominations. There are different sets of beliefs, different hierarchies, different liturgies, etc.

And you're right, I just need the claim that there shouldn't be more than one religion.
What's your response to that?

Why is your god's plan to intervene so unsuccessful after 2000 years? Is this god's plan, or, I would submit, a poor rationalization invented by humans?

... Now this could almost suggest a reductio ad absurdum to me. Your proof, if valid (I cannot say this) would suggest that the most powerful, wise thing is the most simple. Then this simple thing is somehow able to be attributed many descriptors, abilities, intentions, etc. So it has many properties. It is more complex than something that lacks those properties. You are claiming that these properties are just different versions of the same facet, yet they are clearly distinct properties. I would argue that this conclusion is a contradiction. List any attribute of your god. If it is more than nothing, than it is not the simplest it can be. Thus by rejecting the conclusion, I would have to deny a premise. I would get off at the first stop, rejecting your idea that there is such a thing as causation or change.

We are humans.

We have human brains

Obviously when God created us he made it so that we could never know if he existed.

Catholicism represents the smartest of the smart kids who pulled their theological brillance together to fashion a beautiful faith based on divine revelation through sacred scripture.

Can we ever know if the scripture is really sacred, of course not, that is why we are called to have faith.

Living the Faith however provides opportunities for an individual to live in harmony with the divinity in nature, others and most importantly, our own souls.

Its not a knock out drag you out answer to the mystery of life, but it is a highly functional one.

Pax: It's interesting that you agree that there shouldn't be more than one religion. Was it not god's plan to intervene to spread a message, and perhaps to start a religion? How could god have a plan that failed? Isn't he too powerful to make such a rote mistake?

Greg: Thanks for the support. I'm not sure I understand the relevance of the quote. Perhaps you can share your interpretation.

Pax: It's interesting that you agree that there shouldn't be more than one religion. Was it not god's plan to intervene to spread a message, and perhaps to start a religion? How could god have a plan that failed? Isn't he too powerful to make such a rote mistake?

GKC: The figure is not inaccurate, though you don't seem to like that usage of denomination. I shared the source which explains the figure, and the source stands. If we're talking about representing varieties of belief, perhaps you are annoyed that I would refer to denominations as exemplifying differences because each denomination may not be substantively different from another. I can turn this on its head. The versions of god that people hold are countless, well beyond 33,000. As such, there would be perhaps millions of versions of religions and gods. So the spread of denominations is shorthand for the spread of competing versions of religion and god. Which all go to the same point. Why do you think your god would allow such a failure of his plan to spread his message? 2000 years later, and there is more divergence than ever.

Greg: Thanks for the support. I'm not sure I understand the relevance of the quote. Perhaps you can share your interpretation.

Birdpreacher: It would be odd for a god to create us in such a way that we could never know it existed, and then simultaneously ask us to believe in it and follow its wishes. I see tahat you are admitting to faith, that is a 'leap of faith' over a gap of non-evidence. This, what others might call blind faith, is, I think, the worst reason to believe in something. How is it different from wishful thinking, from gullibility? As another point, one does not need unsubstantiated faith to live in harmony with nature, other persons, animals, and one's own self.

Student: It depends on how you define denominations. There are different sets of beliefs, different hierarchies, different liturgies, etc.

And you're right, I just need the claim that there shouldn't be more than one religion.
What's your response to that?

Why is your god's plan to intervene so unsuccessful after 2000 years? Is this god's plan, or, I would submit, a poor rationalization invented by humans?

Why do you say it is God's mistake? There has only ever been one true revealed religion, from Adam to Pope Benedict XVI. That men forsake this religion, or live in ignorance of it, is the mistake of men, not God.

I am fortunate enough to have an OED subscription:

2.
a. A characteristic or qualifying name given to a thing or class of things; that which anything is called; an appellation, designation, title.
?a1475 (1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1865) I. 267 Storyes expresse that Gallia or Fraunce hathe denominacion of the whitenesse of peple.
1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Fasting i, in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) ii. 284 Works‥which‥are‥neither good nor evil, but take their denomination of the use or end whereunto they serve.
1659 J. Pearson Expos. Creed (1839) 1 The first word Credo‥giveth a denomination to the whole confession of faith, from thence commonly called the Creed.
1778 E. Burke Corr. (1844) II. 217, I most heartily disclaim that, or any other, denomination, incompatible with such sentiments.
1815 Scott Guy Mannering I. vii. 102 The tribes of gypsies, jockies, or cairds,—for by all these denominations such banditti were known.
a1871 G. Grote Fragm. Ethical Subj. (1876) i. 17 The virtuous man or vicious man of our own age or country, will no longer receive the same denominations if trasferred to a remote climate or a different people.

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†b. (See quot. 1737) Obs.
1737 H. Boulter Let. 9 Aug. (1769) II. 234 Five, six, or seven parishes (denominations we commonly call them) bestowed on one incumbent.

You should also concede that, within Catholicism, there are hundred or thousands of interpretations. Different versions of god, of god's abilities, of an afterlife, of souls, of exclusivity of religion, of abortion, of homosexuality, of birth control, and on and on.