Question

Identify basic beliefs and practices of the various forms of historical Christianity. Focus upon the three main groups within Christendom (Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy). Do you identify with these?

Answer 1

• Protestantism, Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy are the three major divisions with Christianity.
• Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism are the two oldest forms of organized Christianity. They began in two different regions of the Roman Empire - the Eastern and the Western. The eastern part was known as Byzantium and largely used the Greek language, whereas the western part was centered in Rome and used the Latin language.
• Protestantism - which includes Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Congregationalists and dozens of others - begins to develop in the 15th and 16th centuries in Europe, mostly in Germany and in Britain where the languages were German and English or other vernacular languages.
  
• Marriage rules for clergy differ among the 3 main groups. Eastern Orthodoxy allows many of its clergy to marry, especially in the lower ranks of priests. Certain restrictions on marriage begin to apply as priests move up the ranks. Catholic priests, bishops, etc. must remain celibate and are not allowed to marry. Protestant ministers are allowed to marry.
• Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism are both sacramental in a way that most Protestant churches are not. This has to do with the theological meaning and importance of certain rituals practiced in these churches. A "sacrament" is a visible form of grace. The sacraments in a Christian church are rituals that, in themselves, are a window through which the worshipper directly encounters God. The famous "seven sacraments" include baptism, eucharist, marriage, ordination, confirmation, confession, and last rites.
• Both Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism affirm these sacraments with a few distinctions.The sacramental nature of these rituals means that they are vital for salvation and that only priests may perform them; therefore, membership in the church is vital for the Christian life. There is no access to the sacraments (or salvation) without the church and its priests.
  
• Protestantism views things differently on the whole. Some denominations take a sacramental approach to baptism and to eucharist (sometimes called communion) ; others avoid the "priestly" connotations of the sacraments altogether. They view some of these rituals as important, but they see them as merely symbolic or commemorative of Christ, God, etc.
• Salvation does not come through these rituals, they say, but through God's grace and faith in Christ. The rituals are not necessary for salvation. Therefore, for example, Catholics will conduct the Mass, or eucharist, every week while Protestants may conduct a eucharist or "communion" ritual once a month or even once a quarter.
• The 'Divine Liturgy' is the center of Orthodox spirituality. Worship is usually in the vernacular, though Greek is also used.
• Protestant-There are a wide variety of worship styles. Examples include the spontaneity of the Pentecostal churches, and the more traditional worship of the Anglican churches in the Catholic tradition.
• Roman catholic-Worship is centred around the Mass. Following the Vatican II council (1962-5), greater emphasis was placed on worship in the vernacular, though the traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass is also used.
• Roman Catholics believe that the pope is the head of the worldwide Church. As the “vicar of Christ,” the pope stands as the earthly representative of Christ in the world and acts in his place to lead the Church in determining what is true, right, and proper for all Catholics.
• Protestants, on the other hand, do not believe in a hierarchical structure that culminates in one individual who could speak definitively and proclaim truth without error.
• Mary plays a different role for Catholics than for most Protestants. Because Mary was the instrument through whom God brought his Son into the world, Catholics honor Mary with the titles “Mother of God” and “Mother of the Church.”Catholics regard her as an example of faith and holiness. According to tradition, Mary was conceived and born without the stain of original sin and remained sinless throughout her life.
• For various reasons, though Protestants may have a high view of Mary, they do not hold her in the same regard. As such, they typically do not pray to Mary or make her a focal point of artwork or iconography in the same way Roman Catholics do.
• Both Protestants and Catholics agree that one is justified—made righteous or put in right relationship with God—through grace. The differences in their beliefs are a matter of degree.
• Roman Catholics believe that a person’s actions play a significant role in one’s standing with God because actions are external expressions of one’s inner faith. For Catholics, good deeds can achieve penance for sins or limit one’s time in Purgatory after death.
• Protestants believe that justification by grace through faith is the only way for a person to enjoy a righteous standing before God. In this view, good works are done out of gratitude and are seen as a result of faith, but alone can earn no merit with God.Catholics believe this as well but continue to emphasize works as demonstrations of faith.
• Roman Catholics embrace mystery, hierarchy, rituals, liturgy, structure, and more symbolic actions in worship. Protestants, on the other hand, developed worship services that are plain and straightforward, focusing on Scripture.
• For Catholics, the focus of the Mass is the Eucharist or Holy Communion. For Protestants, the central moment of worship comes with the sermon—when the minister stands to preach from the Bible.
• A typical evangelical Protestant worship service today could consist almost entirely of singing modern songs with modern instruments in an auditorium with few religious symbols. But a Catholic service will likely contain numerous elements that are complex, elaborate, and deeply meaningful to participants.
• Roman Catholics regard certain practices and beliefs—such as papal infallibility, Mary’s Immaculate Conception, the doctrine of Purgatory, the celibacy of priests, and the distinction between mortal and venial sins—as important to their faith, while Protestants do not necessarily agree.
• When one walks into an Eastern Orthodox church, one of the first things a non-Orthodox person will notice is a large screen or iconostasis at the front of the nave or auditorium. This often beautiful structure is not merely decorative. It serves an important purpose within the Orthodox system by marking off the boundary between the common area and the sanctuary. Whereas the Roman Catholic mass is usually celebrated in full view of the congregants, Orthodox priests pray over the elements on the altar which is located in the sanctuary behind the iconostasis and therefore set apart from the congregants. The sanctuary is sometimes compared to the “Holy of Holies” in the Jewish Temple.
• Another difference between the Roman Catholic practice and that of the Orthodox has to do with the reception of the elements themselves. Whereas Roman Catholic laity may only partake of the bread, in the Orthodox service congregants partake of both elements (wine and bread).
• As in Roman Catholicism, within Orthodoxy icons are viewed as means that can assist people in their worship. Both traditions make use of images or icons as aids to worship. And so, churchgoers in both traditions often venerate and pray to images of Jesus as well the apostles and other saints. Both church traditions also make use of relics for similar purposes.