They exist to teach
a certain set of doctrines / beliefs to people who want to be indoctrinated in that system, which will convince certain types of churches that they are «experts» in doctrine and perhaps Bible and therefore should make a valued employee who will perpetuate the beliefs of the group.
Not exact matches
What's so wrong with picking and choosing
certain ideas from multiple different backgrounds and sources to create a
set of principles and
doctrines that works for you individually or your small community
of spiritual colleagues?
The Church may
set certain boundaries — may declare as anathema
certain theories about the dawn and evolution
of man — but she can only do so where such theories directly contradict a
doctrine of faith.