Similarities Between Catholicism and Father Divine

There are some similarities between Catholicism and 1930s religious leader Father Divine.

Catholicism has been one of the world's dominant religions for nearly 2,000 years; as of 2011 more than 1 billion people worldwide considered themselves to be Catholics. Father Divine, on the other hand, was an American religious leader who led a religious and social movement during the Great Depression that, at its peak, claimed 2 million adherents.

Catholicism

The history of Christianity lies with Jesus Christ and the writings of his followers and is the basis for what became the Roman Catholic Church. The spiritual leader of the Church is the Pope, who is chosen by election by bishops upon the death of the previous Pope. Catholics believe the Pope is infallible, and believe in the holy trinity of the Father (God), the Son (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit. The Catholic church has continually evolved over the centuries, and although certain dogma may change, the primary beliefs of Catholicism have remained consistent, that Jesus Christ died and was resurrected as a means of taking humanity's collective sins upon himself so Christians can be forgiven for their sins and enter Heaven in the afterlife.

Father Divine

Born George Baker, Father Divine was an African-American religious leader in 1930s America. He is best remembered for founding the Peace Mission, a Depression-era movement that is now seen as foreshadowing the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Father Divine's teachings were influenced by Christianity, Judaism, the Jehovah's Witness faith and American democracy, and he taught that all "true" religions are built upon the same fundamental truths. Members of Father Divine's movement were instructed to remain celibate and abstain from tobacco, alcohol and narcotics. In addition to religious teachings, Father Divine also instructed his followers on political, social, educational and economic issues. Father Divine was based in New York City's Harlem neighborhood until 1947, when he moved his headquarters to Philadelphia.

Perception

Early Christianity was seen as a cult by the Pharisees, the religious establishment in Israel after the death of Jesus. As Christianity grew in popularity, it gained social acceptance over time. This is also true of Father Divine, albeit to a lesser degree. Father Divine was accused by America's religious establishment of being a cult leader due to his unorthodox teachings. It was only after his death, however, that he was viewed in hindsight as laying the foundation for the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King.

Similarities

There are many more differences than similarities between the beliefs of Catholicism and those taught by Father Divine, although similarities exist. For example, just as Catholicism has a single leader in the Pope, Father Divine was the sole spiritual leader of his movement. In addition, Catholicism dictates specific rules to which followers must adhere, as did Father Divine. Perhaps the greatest similarity, however, is that both the Catholic Church and Father Divine's movement attracted followers throughout the world.

References

• Religion Facts: Roman Catholicism
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Father Divine
• Fallible Blogma: How Many Catholics Are in the World?
• Excerpts from Father Divine's Messages