What are the differences between Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholic or Protestant
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The biiggest difference between the Protestants on the one hand and Rome/Eastern Orthodox on the other revolves around the basis of Church authority. Should Scripture have the last say in Ecclesiastical/Church matters of faith and practice or do Church Councils/Church Tradition/Church Fathers/ Popes etc. have the last say?
When it comes to the difference between the East and Rome, (around 900a.d.)there was a final parting of ways over the issue of whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Son or from both the Father and Son (go figure). Before that there were squabbles over whether one Bishop should preside over Church matters (Rome) or all twelve Bishops have a say (East).
When it comes to the difference between the East and Rome, (around 900a.d.)there was a final parting of ways over the issue of whether the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Son or from both the Father and Son (go figure). Before that there were squabbles over whether one Bishop should preside over Church matters (Rome) or all twelve Bishops have a say (East).
Oh yeah, the early Church. Well there were differences amongst the early Fathers and so who was right? The early Creeds to iron out the differences are decent e.g. Apostles,Nicene, Athanasius but even these need to be tested against Scripture. For example Google the Athanasius Creed, look at the last two sentences, hmmm.
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E
The only difference that I know of between orthodoxy and roman is the pope. One claims the pope has supreme authority, One deny's his authority.
The early churhc woul dhave been the churhces as found in the New testament letters. Anything after this would be sketchy at best. Since Rome destroys a bunch of the writtings which they considered heretical.
About 300 AD. the church went from a literal interpretation of the word. To a symbolic interpretation. Which they had to do to bring in their pagan heresies into the church and make it sound like it Came from God.
The protestants all differ. Many took some of the catholic sacraments with them. Some did not. And since then, it has just grown into many different churhces..
The only thing you can be sure of, is which gospel is being taught. The romans, the easters and some of the protestants teach a works based save yourself gospel. This is not from God and people should stay away from it.
Something as introduction.
When asked about Orthodox Christianity, I often like to remind my Protestant friends that Jesus left a Church – not a Book – and that it was the Church that gave us the Book. Trying to interpret the Book outside the context that produced it has resulted in tens of thousands of denominations, with five new ones being added every week! When Martin Luther’s protests against the Papacy and practices of the Roman Church resulted in duplicity of scriptural interpretation, he lamented that he had created a multitude of “popes” who had taken upon themselves the task of ‘truly’ interpreting scripture. Be that as it may, Orthodoxy claims to be universal—not something exotic and oriental, but simply Christianity.
The compound word “Ortho-doxy” means both “right belief” and “right glory” (which means both right worship and way of life). The adjective “orthodox” was used as early as the second century after Christ to describe and identify those who had maintained apostolic faith. A true knowledge of God results in a true glorification of God. True glorification of God includes an authentic knowledge of God. These two components belong together and are intertwined. As the popular early Christian saying goes: “We pray as we believe, and we believe as we pray.” Through many challenges and difficulties the Church has managed to maintain the integrity of both Christian doctrine and worship. As it has come down in history, this Church has come to be called by the name: the “Orthodox Church.”
When asked about Orthodox Christianity, I often like to remind my Protestant friends that Jesus left a Church – not a Book – and that it was the Church that gave us the Book. Trying to interpret the Book outside the context that produced it has resulted in tens of thousands of denominations, with five new ones being added every week! When Martin Luther’s protests against the Papacy and practices of the Roman Church resulted in duplicity of scriptural interpretation, he lamented that he had created a multitude of “popes” who had taken upon themselves the task of ‘truly’ interpreting scripture. Be that as it may, Orthodoxy claims to be universal—not something exotic and oriental, but simply Christianity.
The compound word “Ortho-doxy” means both “right belief” and “right glory” (which means both right worship and way of life). The adjective “orthodox” was used as early as the second century after Christ to describe and identify those who had maintained apostolic faith. A true knowledge of God results in a true glorification of God. True glorification of God includes an authentic knowledge of God. These two components belong together and are intertwined. As the popular early Christian saying goes: “We pray as we believe, and we believe as we pray.” Through many challenges and difficulties the Church has managed to maintain the integrity of both Christian doctrine and worship. As it has come down in history, this Church has come to be called by the name: the “Orthodox Church.”
G
"Orthodox Christians" is incredibly nuanced, and could could refer to anyone who is not unorthodox (i.e., anyone who does not hold to heretical doctrines), or to denominations, such as, Greek Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox. When I use the term "orthodox," I am most often using it to distinguish between two classes: the orthodox, and the unorthodox.
There are huge differences between the West and the East from our view on the Doctrine of the Trinity, salvation, baptism, et al.
What exactly about the Early Church are you wanting opinion on?
There are huge differences between the West and the East from our view on the Doctrine of the Trinity, salvation, baptism, et al.
What exactly about the Early Church are you wanting opinion on?
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History
For the first thousand years of her history, the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers covering the territory of the known world—Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople— formed a cohesive whole and were in full communion with one another due to common faith, worship, and discipline. There were occasional heretical or schismatic groups going their own way, to be sure, but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events culminating in A.D. 1054, the Roman Patriarch pulled away from the other four, pursuing his recently-developed claim of universal headship of the Church. Today, nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates remain intact, along with nine other Church regions, in full communion and unity with one another, maintaining that Orthodox apostolic faith of the inspired New Testament record. The worldwide number of Orthodox Christians today is about 250,000,000. At the same time that Rome and Western Europe was experiencing a “renaissance,” most of the major centers of the Orthodox faith had fallen to occupiers hostile to its beliefs and mission. Later in the 20th century many Orthodox regions fell under Soviet rule. With more than 20 million martyrs in Russia alone, the Orthodox Church claims more martyrs for the Christian Faith than any other body.
For the first thousand years of her history, the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers covering the territory of the known world—Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople— formed a cohesive whole and were in full communion with one another due to common faith, worship, and discipline. There were occasional heretical or schismatic groups going their own way, to be sure, but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events culminating in A.D. 1054, the Roman Patriarch pulled away from the other four, pursuing his recently-developed claim of universal headship of the Church. Today, nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates remain intact, along with nine other Church regions, in full communion and unity with one another, maintaining that Orthodox apostolic faith of the inspired New Testament record. The worldwide number of Orthodox Christians today is about 250,000,000. At the same time that Rome and Western Europe was experiencing a “renaissance,” most of the major centers of the Orthodox faith had fallen to occupiers hostile to its beliefs and mission. Later in the 20th century many Orthodox regions fell under Soviet rule. With more than 20 million martyrs in Russia alone, the Orthodox Church claims more martyrs for the Christian Faith than any other body.
J
Is this your propoganda source?
http://stelizabeth.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/timelinepdf.pdf
http://stelizabeth.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/timelinepdf.pdf
What’s the Difference?
The following are summaries of some of the differences in faith and practice between the Orthodox Christian Church and the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches.
The Orthodox and the Roman Catholic
• While the early Church bestowed upon the Roman Bishop the honorary title of “first among equals,” the infallibility of the Pope is rejected by the Orthodox along with the Pope’s claim to universal authority over the whole Church. For the Orthodox, the Head of the Church is Jesus Christ alone, and the infallible authority in the Church is the Holy Spirit. Bishops are not “over” the Church, but within Her. Through the grace of ordination they are called to be the guardians of the apostolic faith and have “authority” only inasmuch as they are faithful to this confession of faith and to purity of life. In the Orthodox Church all bishops are vested with the same authority and are accountable to all other bishops and to the church membership.
The following are summaries of some of the differences in faith and practice between the Orthodox Christian Church and the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches.
The Orthodox and the Roman Catholic
• While the early Church bestowed upon the Roman Bishop the honorary title of “first among equals,” the infallibility of the Pope is rejected by the Orthodox along with the Pope’s claim to universal authority over the whole Church. For the Orthodox, the Head of the Church is Jesus Christ alone, and the infallible authority in the Church is the Holy Spirit. Bishops are not “over” the Church, but within Her. Through the grace of ordination they are called to be the guardians of the apostolic faith and have “authority” only inasmuch as they are faithful to this confession of faith and to purity of life. In the Orthodox Church all bishops are vested with the same authority and are accountable to all other bishops and to the church membership.
• The doctrinal confession of faith agreed upon by the whole Church in 325AD (the “Nicene Creed” ) was altered by the Roman Church in the 9 th century. Jesus Christ Himself taught that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father” (John 15:26). But to His words the Roman Church added the words “and the Son” (Latin: filioque). The Orthodox believe the addition to the Creed undermines the revealed doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the relationship among the Persons of the Trinity. • Original sin is understood differently by the Orthodox, who do not see it as the inheritance of guilt passed down from generation to generation, but rather an inheritance of a fallen condition of humanity. This difference affects the Orthodox understanding of baptism, the Virgin Mary, the Atonement, and the whole approach to sin and salvation. • After Rome’s separation from the rest of the universal Church in 1054AD, it adopted a new, previously unknown view of Christ’s atonement for sin called the “Satisfaction Theory of Atonement.” Following the theology of Anselm of Canterbury (1109AD), the view holds that God was offended by man’s sin and required reparation (satisfaction) to be made before He could forgive man. Since man’s crime was committed against the infinite God, the payment would also have to be infinite. Therefore, Jesus Christ made satisfaction through the Cross, restoring God’s honor and undoing His being offended. This teaching is rejected by the Orthodox who view Christ’s voluntary sacrifice as the expression of God’s love and a means of rescuing man from death, not God from being offended. The Satisfaction Theory makes God the problem, not man. The focus becomes God’s need to be appeased rather than man’s need to be healed. In effect, it turns the atonement on its head, requiring God to change, not man! The Orthodox hold that it is man who needs repentance not God.
J
This is propoganda too.
You should cite your sources.
What’s the Difference?: Between Orthodox and Catholic or Protestant <--- click
You should cite your sources.
What’s the Difference?: Between Orthodox and Catholic or Protestant <--- click
• The dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (that Mary was born free from the effects of Adam’s sin or “original sin”), has never been held by the Orthodox. The doctrine was officially declared in Rome only recently (1870AD) and was influenced by a faulty view of “original sin” – that all born into the world are not only affected by the consequences of Adam’s sin, but are personally guilty of Adam’s sin. • The Roman doctrine of Purgatory is rejected by Orthodox Christians, along with those teachings that proceed from it, such as the doctrine of indulgences, which states that even when God forgives sin there is still a “punishment” required for sin. This punishment is seen by Rome as requiring a temporary place after death where it can be purged before one may enter heaven. According to the teaching an indulgence may be given to lessen one’s time in Purgatory. (The doctrine and practice of indulgences was largely responsible for the Protestant Reformation). • The Orthodox do not believe in an exclusively celibate clergy . Following the ancient practice, married men are ordained to the priesthood. Marriage is a God-ordained Sacrament and a blessed path toward salvation when used as a means to follow Christ. The Orthodox, as from earliest times, also maintain great esteem for voluntary virginity and a minority of priests remain unmarried.
Doctrinaire differences between eastern orthodoxy, catholicism and protestantism:
1. The Apostolic succession
a) It is definitory for the eastern orthodox belief because ensures the continuity with the Church based by Jesus Christ.
b) for catholicism is also definitory.
c) with the exception of the anglicans and some lutherans, protestantism in general refutes the apostolic succession. For the protestants, it is more important the continuity of the apostolic teachings rather than the succession of the Holy Spirit.
2. The Bible
a) The eastern orthodox church accepts 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 of the New Testament, but, in plus, it accepts a collection of books that aren`t in the hebrew Bible. These books are known as the "deuterocanonical books".
b) In catholicism is the same as in the eastern orthodox church.
c) The protestants reject these deuterocanonical books as being uninspired and they call them "apocrypha".
3. The priesthood (ministry)
a) In eastern church, the bishops, the priests and the deacons must be men. They can get married before becoming priests, but not after. The bishops must be celibataires.
b) In catholicism all the clergy must be men and they must be celibataires.
c) In protestantism also, the ministry is formed by men, but there are also exceptions. The protestants can get married before or after becoming pastors.
4. The Eucharist (signification)
a) In eastern orthodox belief it is also called The Saint Body and The Saint Blood of Christ. It is the real communion with the body and blood of Christ (that died and ressurected), for the forgiveness of the sins and for the eternal life.
b) In catholicism it has the same meaning as in orthodoxy. It is also called The Eucharistic Sacrifice or Missa.
c) For the protestants, The Eucharist, just like the Baptism, is a symbol of the Grace. The nature of sacrifice of the eucharist is rejected.
5.The presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
a) During the Holy Lithurgy the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to transfigurate the bread and the wine in the Holy Body and the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ. The precise manner by which this happens is a divine mystery.
b) Same as in orthodoxy, the catholic priest invokes the Holy Spirit during Missa. However sanctification of the bread and wine becomes effective through the priest acting in the person of Christ. The bread and wine actually change into the Body and Blood of the Savior, and this change is called transubstantiation (the gifts remain the same but their substance is changed).
c) In protestantism, the bread and wine are symbolic and do not change the substance.
6. Receiving the Holy Eucharist
a) In orthodoxy, Holy Eucharist is offered only to those baptized, after confession of their sins through the Sacrament of Confession and after receiving the spiritual blessing. Christians partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord at once while the orthodox clergy partake with each, the Body and the Blood, separately, from the Holy Disc and from the Holy Grail.
b) In catholicism, Holy Eucharist is offered to the baptized without making the confession through the Sacrament of Confession. Christians receive only the body (bread) and priests receive the blood (wine). Some Catholic churches partake of both.
c) In protestantism, Eucharist is offered to all Christians who feel ready to receive it. The vast majority of Protestants partake with both bread and wine.
7. The Holy Spirit
a) In orthodoxy, it is the third Person of the Trinity, proceeding from the Father according to the Nicene Creed (I and II Ecumenical Council). Father sends the Holy Spirit through the Son.
b) In catholicism, The Holy Spirit proceeds both from the Father and the Son (filioque dogma, which means "from the Son, also").
c) Protestants believe the same as the catholic church.
8. Holy Mysteries (or sacraments)
a) The Orthodox Church has seven Sacraments and several religious services. These sacraments are: Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Extreme Unction and Ordination.
b) The Catholic Church has the same sacraments as the Orthodox Church just that the Chrismation is called Confirmation and is not officiated immediately after the Baptism, but after the age of 7 years.
c) Protestant churches have two Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper.
9. The Effect of the Holy Mysteries
a) Through the Holy Mysteries, the orthodox christians share God's grace and become stronger in making the good, with the ultimate aim of deification.
b) The Holy Mysteries are effective signs of grace. They are instituted by Christ and handed over to the Church; they grant eternal life in the catholic belief.
c) There are many opinions about Holy Mysteries in Protestant churches. However, most Protestant theologians see the sacraments as symbols and reminders of Grace that was already given to us.
10. Salvation
a) Salvation is love expressed through good works and is seen as a long process. The highest purpose of orthodox christian is deification. This communion with God is reached through ascesis (leaving sins, fasting, praying, reading the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers etc.)
b) Catholics are saved by grace and through the merits they obtain by pleasing to God and practicing the charity (love for the other one). As in Orthodoxy, salvation is seen more as a long-term process than an event.
c) In protestantism, Salvation is a free and an undeserved gift given by God to man. Is obtained only through faith in Christ and by leaving the sin.
11. The Saints
a) In orthodoxy, saints are people that pleased God with their lives and people that reached a high spiritual state. Saints are intercessors before God for those on earth.
b) Catholics have the same belief as the orthodox christians.
c) In protestantism, all Christians are saints, called to follow (imitate) Christ. Only Christ is the mediator between man and God.
12. Mary - Mother of God - The Ascendence to the sky
a) The orthodox church affirms that Mary was born by her parents in a human way. She suffered physical death, like all people, but her body and soul have been raised by Christ up to heaven, to the Holy Trinity.
b) The catholic church believes in the "Immaculate Conception" of Mary. They say she was born not from the phisical communion between man and woman but from the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus Christ.
c) Protestants reject both both orthodox and catholic beliefs. The only one whitout is Jesus Christ.
Folks, my work here consists only in translating what I have read on a romanian orthodox site. Please, forgive the inherent mistakes; there are a few more differences that I have left outside out of laziness so, again, please forgive.
To be continued.
1. The Apostolic succession
a) It is definitory for the eastern orthodox belief because ensures the continuity with the Church based by Jesus Christ.
b) for catholicism is also definitory.
c) with the exception of the anglicans and some lutherans, protestantism in general refutes the apostolic succession. For the protestants, it is more important the continuity of the apostolic teachings rather than the succession of the Holy Spirit.
2. The Bible
a) The eastern orthodox church accepts 39 books of the Old Testament and 27 of the New Testament, but, in plus, it accepts a collection of books that aren`t in the hebrew Bible. These books are known as the "deuterocanonical books".
b) In catholicism is the same as in the eastern orthodox church.
c) The protestants reject these deuterocanonical books as being uninspired and they call them "apocrypha".
3. The priesthood (ministry)
a) In eastern church, the bishops, the priests and the deacons must be men. They can get married before becoming priests, but not after. The bishops must be celibataires.
b) In catholicism all the clergy must be men and they must be celibataires.
c) In protestantism also, the ministry is formed by men, but there are also exceptions. The protestants can get married before or after becoming pastors.
4. The Eucharist (signification)
a) In eastern orthodox belief it is also called The Saint Body and The Saint Blood of Christ. It is the real communion with the body and blood of Christ (that died and ressurected), for the forgiveness of the sins and for the eternal life.
b) In catholicism it has the same meaning as in orthodoxy. It is also called The Eucharistic Sacrifice or Missa.
c) For the protestants, The Eucharist, just like the Baptism, is a symbol of the Grace. The nature of sacrifice of the eucharist is rejected.
5.The presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
a) During the Holy Lithurgy the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to transfigurate the bread and the wine in the Holy Body and the Holy Blood of Jesus Christ. The precise manner by which this happens is a divine mystery.
b) Same as in orthodoxy, the catholic priest invokes the Holy Spirit during Missa. However sanctification of the bread and wine becomes effective through the priest acting in the person of Christ. The bread and wine actually change into the Body and Blood of the Savior, and this change is called transubstantiation (the gifts remain the same but their substance is changed).
c) In protestantism, the bread and wine are symbolic and do not change the substance.
6. Receiving the Holy Eucharist
a) In orthodoxy, Holy Eucharist is offered only to those baptized, after confession of their sins through the Sacrament of Confession and after receiving the spiritual blessing. Christians partake of the Body and Blood of the Lord at once while the orthodox clergy partake with each, the Body and the Blood, separately, from the Holy Disc and from the Holy Grail.
b) In catholicism, Holy Eucharist is offered to the baptized without making the confession through the Sacrament of Confession. Christians receive only the body (bread) and priests receive the blood (wine). Some Catholic churches partake of both.
c) In protestantism, Eucharist is offered to all Christians who feel ready to receive it. The vast majority of Protestants partake with both bread and wine.
7. The Holy Spirit
a) In orthodoxy, it is the third Person of the Trinity, proceeding from the Father according to the Nicene Creed (I and II Ecumenical Council). Father sends the Holy Spirit through the Son.
b) In catholicism, The Holy Spirit proceeds both from the Father and the Son (filioque dogma, which means "from the Son, also").
c) Protestants believe the same as the catholic church.
8. Holy Mysteries (or sacraments)
a) The Orthodox Church has seven Sacraments and several religious services. These sacraments are: Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Extreme Unction and Ordination.
b) The Catholic Church has the same sacraments as the Orthodox Church just that the Chrismation is called Confirmation and is not officiated immediately after the Baptism, but after the age of 7 years.
c) Protestant churches have two Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper.
9. The Effect of the Holy Mysteries
a) Through the Holy Mysteries, the orthodox christians share God's grace and become stronger in making the good, with the ultimate aim of deification.
b) The Holy Mysteries are effective signs of grace. They are instituted by Christ and handed over to the Church; they grant eternal life in the catholic belief.
c) There are many opinions about Holy Mysteries in Protestant churches. However, most Protestant theologians see the sacraments as symbols and reminders of Grace that was already given to us.
10. Salvation
a) Salvation is love expressed through good works and is seen as a long process. The highest purpose of orthodox christian is deification. This communion with God is reached through ascesis (leaving sins, fasting, praying, reading the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers etc.)
b) Catholics are saved by grace and through the merits they obtain by pleasing to God and practicing the charity (love for the other one). As in Orthodoxy, salvation is seen more as a long-term process than an event.
c) In protestantism, Salvation is a free and an undeserved gift given by God to man. Is obtained only through faith in Christ and by leaving the sin.
11. The Saints
a) In orthodoxy, saints are people that pleased God with their lives and people that reached a high spiritual state. Saints are intercessors before God for those on earth.
b) Catholics have the same belief as the orthodox christians.
c) In protestantism, all Christians are saints, called to follow (imitate) Christ. Only Christ is the mediator between man and God.
12. Mary - Mother of God - The Ascendence to the sky
a) The orthodox church affirms that Mary was born by her parents in a human way. She suffered physical death, like all people, but her body and soul have been raised by Christ up to heaven, to the Holy Trinity.
b) The catholic church believes in the "Immaculate Conception" of Mary. They say she was born not from the phisical communion between man and woman but from the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus Christ.
c) Protestants reject both both orthodox and catholic beliefs. The only one whitout is Jesus Christ.
Folks, my work here consists only in translating what I have read on a romanian orthodox site. Please, forgive the inherent mistakes; there are a few more differences that I have left outside out of laziness so, again, please forgive.
To be continued.