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The Orthodox Church
Roman Catholic Church
Anglican Church
(Greek
(Greek or
or Russian)
Russian)
At
At aa Glance
Glance
Major Features Elements of
The Orthodox Church
1) A very strong sense of historical continuity with the early
church. Strongly associated with the idea of tradition –
particularly the writing of the Greek fathers ( Gregory of
Nyssa). Tradition is seen as a living entity, remains
unchanged while capable of meeting the new challenges of each
age.
2) Orthodoxy recognizes only seven Ecumenical Councils and
does not accept any council after the Second Council of Nicaea
in 787 CE, as having binding authority on the church.
3) Orthodoxy does not have one central authority figure, such
as the Pope, rather it has a council of leaders, patriarchs,
usually 15 in number, who function as a council of leaders,
providing leadership to the universal aspect of the church.
Major Elements of the Orthodox Church
4) Theological distinctive ideas include the following:
an insistence that the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the
Father alone, rather than from the Father and the Son.
salvation is seen as deification, “God became human in
order that humans might become God. Its theological
foundation is in the doctrine of incarnation – God taking on
human flesh in Jesus Christ and humanity in general. As a
consequence, all humanity is able to share in the deification
which results from the incarnation. Important idea – sharing in
the being of God, but not becoming God themselves. God is
still transcendent (totally other and different from humanity).
Athanasius
Major Elements of the Orthodox Church
5) The use of icons – pictures of Jesus, Mary, or some other
religious figure – is important. The strong emphasis on the
incarnation of the Son of God is understood to have
consequences for prayer and spirituality.
Icons = “windows of perception”, through which the Xn believer
may catch a glimpse of the divine reality of God.
6) Monasteries = a critically important role in the proclamation
and defense of the Orthodox Church. Mt. Athos – example.
Most bishops are drawn from the monasteries.
7)Orthodox clergy are permitted to marry (providing they do so
before ordination) unlike their Roman Catholic colleagues.
Bishops are generally unmarried (monastic background)
Only males may be ordained to the priesthood.
Roman Catholicism
Major Elements/Features
1) A tradition of a strong hierarchical understanding
of church government, focusing on the Pope as the
supreme ruling head, along with cardinals & bishops.
Pope has considerable influence over the
appointments of bishops, while the College of
Cardinals meet in secret sessions following the death
of a pope, to elect his successor.
A cardinal is a priest or bishop, who is entrusted with
special administrative responsibilities.
Roman Catholicism
Major Features/Elements
2) Due to the importance of the Pope, Rome has a significant
place within the Catholic religious faith. The Vatican City is the
spiritual epicenter of Catholicism. Many Catholics will make a
pilgrimage to Rome due to its historical and religious
significance (the apostles Paul & Peter are believed to be
martyred in Rome.)
3) The church is viewed as a visible divine institution, whose
structures are grounded in divine reality. The teaching office of
the Church is viewed so highly, that no one is free to interpret
Scripture “contrary to the Church’s interpretation of Scriptures.
(The Council of Trent).
Roman Catholicism
Major Features/Elements
4) Catholic clergy (priests) are of crucial local importance in everyday
Catholic life. Priests are not allowed to marry. Males are only allowed
to be priests, though women are permitted to perform some ministerial
tasks (pastoral & liturgical).
5) Catholicism is very liturgical. The forms of worship used by the
Church are fixed. The liturgy is seen as a public statement of the
beliefs and values of the church, and is in continuity with the apostolic
tradition upon which it is founded.
6) Catholicism is strongly sacramental (meaning the benefits of Christ,
which result from his death and resurrection are communicated to the
church through the sacraments. Seven sacraments are practiced by
Catholics;
Mass (Eucharist/Communion), Baptism, Confirmation, Penance,
Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick (formerly known as
Extreme Unction or Last Rites).
Roman Catholicism
Major Features/Elements
7) Monastic life (religious orders). Present day main function –
to establish and maintain educational centers (particularly as a
retreat center).
8) Emphasis on the role of the saints in general and the Virgin
Mary in particular. They are understood to act as intercessors
for both the living and the dead. The doctrine of the immaculate
conception of Mary states that Mary was conceived without her
sharing in the common human condition of original sin, thus
providing a theological formulation for the high place of Mary in
Catholic life and devotion. Note an important distinction, here,
Mary is venerated (a title of honor), worship is due to God and
to Jesus as the Son of God.
Anglicanism
The Protestant Episcopal Church
(USA)
Major Features/elements
1) Anglicanism is an episcopal church, which sees the
episcopacy (bishop led church governance), as a means of
demonstrating historical continuity with the early church.