Different ways of thinking about the church
Mediation (cf. media, mediation, medium)
Communion (cf. commune, communication, coming together)
Bishops as mediators
Bishops as communion
Saints as mediators
Saints as communion
Controversy
Extreme flesh/spirit dualism (flesh is bad)
Ranks of divinity
Ranks of humanity
Major Gnostic writer: Valentinus
As for democracy, I didn't understand the reading.
You said to be a Christian is to be a citizen of the Church. I was wondering was there ever arguments on which one is more important. Your citizenship to your country or your citizenship to the Church? I guess what I'm getting at is similar to the argument of allegiance that is talked about nowadays.
What sins could possibly have you permanently lose the holy spirit? Once someone loses the holy spirit will they be immediately shunned by Donatists?
So why after the persecutions have ended are those people now being excluded from the church when they were doing what they needed to survive?
Maybe the fact that bishops or individuals of higher ranking being forgiven for their sins was more favorable in the eyes of the masses. Almost like, will if he can be forgiven for his sins I certainly can be forgiven for sins.
(Augustine including sinners) ... was definitely good for the church in the long-run, as it kept spreading around the world like fire.
The church is based on people being good Christians and believing in the same thing.
The chruch is a place where people go for their prayers to be heard.
The church would not be a church without its followers.
Constantine, spread, power, standardization