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Chapter 12- Orthodox Christianity Teaching Tips Approach To Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013) Chapter 12- Orthodox Christianity Teaching Tips Approach to Teaching Christianity is very diverse. Three of the major divisions within Christianity are Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant. The average student of religion, taking an introductory class might find these divisions confusing. This might be a good class to approach from a comparative view of all three divisions. It is important to bear in mind that this is an introductory class and therefore focuses on history and basic teaching. The following comparison provides a bit more details but it can inform the curious student, or at least shape some possible discussions. Here is a suggested outline to get your started: Doctrinal or Practical Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Protestants Emphasis Apostolic Succession All Popes must have They believe that this Most protestants focus some direct line to doctrine ensures an on continuity with the either Peter or Paul, unbroken line from teachings of the the early apostles Christ to church apostles as opposed to leaders direct succession from the apostles Clergy A very patriarchal Priests and Bishops Most Protestants do system where all must be male, but not require celibacy as clergies are males. deacons can be a condition to become They must also be women. This order a minister. Some celibate. however is dormant. churches practice Priests and deacons female ordination, may marry before including some ordination but not Anglicans. after. Bishops, on the other hand, must be celibate. The Eucharist Catholics believe In the Orthodox For most protestants similar to Orthodox church the Eucharist the Eucharist is seen on the Eucharist. The takes on heightened as an ordinance. This Eucharist is known as mystery. In fact it is is something that the 'Holy sacrifice of called the 'Mystic requires obedience to Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013) the Mass'. It is usually Supper' or 'Divine an ordinance as taken weekly Liturgy' - It borders opposed to conferring on a concept known grace as a sacrament. as transubstantiation In most Protestant in which the elements traditions the are believed to sacrificial nature of become the body of the Eucharist is Christ. In this act rejected. people find forgiveness and encounter Christ The Holy Spirit Catholics view is The Holy Spirit is The Holy Spirit similar to the believed to proceed proceeds from both Protestants. They only from the Father. the Father and the believe that the Holy This was one of the Son. The Nicene Spirit came from both chief reasons the East creed affirmed this Father and Son- a started breaking from position in the middle process that is the west. In the and late fourth sometimes called original Nicene Creed century. The double procession. of 325 AD this procession of the position was upheld. Holy Spirit from the The Father sends the Father and son came Spirit at the to be known as the intercession of the filioque clause. (Latin: Son. The Son is 'and the son'). therefore an agent only in the procession of the Spirit. Marriage and Divorce Marriage is an Marriage is a union Most protestants see unbreakable contract between a man and a marriage as a that should not be woman. It is seen as a covenant. If the broken. Divorce, in sacrament, similar to covenant is broken general is not the Catholics. Divorce divorce is permitted. permitted except is only permitted on There is much through annulment. the ground of variation among This is a process that adultery. protestants as to the can last up to seven acceptable reasons for years. divorce. Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013) Immaculate Catholics believe in Immaculate Only Christ is Conception immaculate conception is rejected. considered sinless conception. Orthodox churches According to this hold that the guilt of doctrine Mary, was at original sin is not conception 'preserved transmitted from one immaculate from all generation to the next. stain of original sin' Hence there is no and should not be need to claim that confused with the Mary was sinless. virgin birth. Pope Catholics see the Pope The Pope is the Protestants do not as both have orthodox Bishop of Rome and accept the Pope as the leadership over the has primacy of honor leader of the church. church and full when Orthodox, not Each church and jurisdiction. of jurisdiction. This denominations have is an important their leader. These distinction. This might come in the means each local form of Pastors, Priest and Bishops Priest, Bishops, or have authority over District the local churches, not Superintendents. the Pope. Furthermore Orthodox believe that, at present, the Pope’s primacy is not effective since the papacy needs to be reformed. Purgatory Purgatory is seen as a Orthodox accepts the Protestants do not place of cleansing and belief in purgatory. believe in the concept preparation for Cleansing however of purgatory. heaven. This is also needs to take place in where punishment is this life not in meted out for venial Purgatory. Purgatory sins. is seen as an in between place between heaven and Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013) hell where a person goes once dead to await judgment. Sacraments Catholics believe in Orthodox also Typically Protestants seven sacraments. believes in seven only accept one These are the same as sacraments. sacrament- the in the Orthodox Sacraments are beliefs sacrifice of Christ. Church, with the to be practices that exception of impart grace to the Chrismation. This is person. These called confirmation in sacraments are called Roman Catholicism. “Mysteries”. They are; Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Holy Orders, Holy Unction, Marriage and Penance Liturgy For Catholics the The 'Divine Liturgy' is There are a wide focal point of worship the centre of variety of worship is Mass. Following Orthodox spirituality. styles. These range the Vatican II council Worship is usually in from contemporary to (1962-5), greater the language of the traditional and emphasis was placed people, though Greek spontaneous to on worship in the is also used. planned. vernacular, though the traditional Latin ('Tridentine') Mass is also used. Videos Kingdom of Heaven This film was produced in 2005. It was directed by Ridley Scott. It is a story about the Crusades in the 12th century. It features a French Blacksmith who was inspired to fight Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013) for the city of Jerusalem against the Kurdism Muslim. Though the film is fictional, the student will get a sense of the motifs behind the crusades and the role of Christianity in the Crusades. Ostrov Ostrov is a Russian film that was created in 2006. It is both fictional and biographical. The story line is created around a fictional character by the name of Anatoly. In World War II, the sailor Anatoly and his captain, Tikhon, are captured by the Nazis when the boat on which were traveling was overtaken. Anatoly was ordered by the Nazis to shoot his Captain Tikhon. That he did, but the Nazis blew up the ship. Anatoly managed to escape and was found by a Russian Orthodox monk. He worked at the Monastery from that point. The film gives an inside look at the Monastery in the Eastern Orthodox Faith. From the Little Mountain This documentary gives a unique perspective on monasticism in the Orthodox Church at the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in West Virginia. It captures some of the daily routines of monastic life. The student will gain valuable information on monasticism from one of the senior monks at the monastery. http://vimeo.com/channels/108050/page:2 This resource features a number of short documentary type videos on Eastern orthodox Churches. Some groups that are documented are the Russian Orthodox, the Georgian Orthodox among others. The student will find Theological lectures on various theological themes within Orthodox Christianity. Of particular interest might be a feature on the ancient monastery of St. Catherine. This is a monastery that dates back to the seventeenth century. Articles http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7064/ This site was produced by the Greek Archdiocese of America. It gives an in depth look at the Orthodox Churches, in terms of history, practices and doctrines. The student will find helpful information on icons, liturgy, Eucharist, art and architecture among other main emphases. There is also a multimedia link with very helpful videos. http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/Resources.htm Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013) This site is a repository of Orthodox resources on the Internet. It addresses such questions as what is the Orthodox Church, Orthodox history, text, icons, liturgy, music and architecture, to name a few. The student will also find important links to main academic Orthodox sites. http://www.orthodoxnet.com/ Orthodox Net is populated with great articles that cover a wide range of issues. Resources can be found featuring key historical issues that have been controversial within the Eastern Orthodox Church, such as their understanding of liturgy, the Eucharist and their stance on church polity. If the goal is to explore contemporary concerns of the Orthodox faith the student will also find this site helpful. Some subjects that are featured are ethics, politics, morality, economics and the current state of the Orthodox Church in the world. http://www.equip.org/articles/the-eastern-orthodox-church/ This is a very helpful article on Orthodox issues written by Paul Negrut, president of the Baptist Union in Romania, as well as the president of Emanuel University of Oradea. It speaks to the interest that Orthodox churches are generating among people. He argues that some of the reasons for this rise in interest surround the mystical emphasis of the Orthodox churches.
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