Archive for May, 2009
What are the major differences between Eastern Orthodox and Western Christianity and protestantism?
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 300 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago. The Church is composed of numerous self-governing ecclessial bodies, each geographically and nationally distinct but theologically and sacramentally unified. Each self-governing (or autocephalous) body is shepherded by a Synod of independent bishops whose duty is, among other things, to preserve and teach the Apostolic and patristic traditions and related Church practices. All Orthodox bishops trace their lineage back to one of the twelve Apostles through the process of Apostolic Succession.
Eastern Orthodoxy traces its history back to the Hellenized eastern portion of the Roman Empire, especially Constantinople or New Rome (now Istanbul). It shares the first ecumenical councils, concerning the Trinity and the Nicene Creed, with nearly all other Christians. After the Western Roman Empire fell, East and West slowly grew more separate. Meanwhile, internal schisms and the advance of Islam reduced Eastern Orthodox territory, but the faith spread to the Slavs to the north (including the Russians). Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism split in 1054 over theological issues concerning Western additions to the creed (the filioque clause) as well as the issue of Roman primacy. Later in 1204 Constantinople was sacked by crusaders enlarging the rift between the two. Reunification was attempted during two councils but they were rejected by the Eastern Orthodox people, being considered "robber councils". After Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, the Russian Orthodox Church became more powerful.
Efforts are under way to heal the division that since the Council of Chalcedon (451) exists between them and Oriental Orthodoxy in connection with the proper way to speak of the two natures (one human and one divine) of Christ. They use the Nicene Creed as endorsed at the First Council of Constantinople (381), and reject the Western addition to it of "Filioque", and the many additions used by the Armenian Apostolic Church in the East. They celebrate the same sacraments (called sacred mysteries) as in the other ancient Christian Churches, but have some differences in theology and many differences in practice. They teach the doctrine of theosis (deification), by which Christ makes it possible to partake of the divine, a teaching less prominent in the Western Church. Their Bible is close to that of the Roman Catholic Church: it includes the Deuterocanonical Books, which are generally rejected by Protestants, and a few texts that are not in the Western canon. Eastern Orthodox icons also reflect an ancient opposition to statuary. Most Eastern Orthodox Churches are members of the World Council of Churches, which includes most Protestants, but not Roman Catholics.
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May 25 2009 | Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
I’m 15. I go to Catholic school. I am Mormon, today my teacher and I got into a big arguement. She said that were not christians. We ARE! I explained and explained and explained but she wouldn’t budge. Plus now that she elaborated my beliefs, ppl think I’m a nut. How do I get accross that were Christians?
SImply tell them (him, her, they) that you believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world; you believe that Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of all mankind, and that by his name only can anyone get into heaven. Tell him that through the grace of Jesus Christ, eternal life is possible. Tell them that you believe in Christ, he is the center of your religious worship, and that you remember his sacrifice upon the cross when you partake of his sacrament every week in Church.
And, if they do not accept that you are Christian, it becomes their issue and their problem. Not yours. What matters is if Christ thinks you are Christian, not what any mortal man thinks.
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May 25 2009 | Catholic | 46 Comments »
The book of Revelations states that Christian men shall be as brides to Christ, their groom.
This polygamy sounds seriously like a gay marriage between Jesus Christ and Christian men.
Can any Christians explain this verse?
The bride of Christ is the 144,000 mentioned three times in Revelation. They are spirit anointed by God, chosen by God to serve in heaven as associate kings with Christ Jesus and rule over the earth during Christ's thousand year reign. They come from every nation, people, and tongue and are made up of both men and women. They will be as angels having no gender and are given immortality by God.
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May 25 2009 | Christian | 14 Comments »
It seems that some Christians oftentimes interpret the bible to merely serve their own sectarian agendas. This is obvious in the case of our Gay and Lesbian community. Bigotry is practiced by some Christians far more than “Love thy neighbor”. Why does the bible seek to single out minority groups in such a harmful and malicious manner?
That is a manipulative premise. That says that “unless people condone the BEHAVIOR that I want to do – they hate me”. It’s not hating child molesters if they are told that that BEHAVIOR is not legal. It isn’t hating people to say that our society says it’s not ok to have sex with animals – it’s condemning the BEHAVIOR. But oh no, these groups want to manipulate society’s approval by saying if you don’t accept us doing this then we’re gonna say, “You hate us”. My kids gave up that transparent argument when they were about 8 years old and said, “You hate me” when they weren’t permitted to stay up past bed time. Or how about this ? Gay/Lesbian community – unless you let the majority of society have laws they way they see fit – then YOU hate them !” How bigoted !
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May 23 2009 | Bible | 9 Comments »
Why is the Catholic Church so widespread in the Philippines? How did Roman Catholicism become the predominant religion, with 81% of the population belonging to this faith in the Philippines?
I don't know, especially as the people of the Phillipines have asked for permission to use contraception from the church many, many times and their pleas have fallen on death ears and poverty has spiralled out of control.
You never know, it is still not beyond the realms of possibility that the catholic church in the Phillipines could still go the way of other large entities that haven't conceded to the will of the people.
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May 23 2009 | Catholic | 12 Comments »
I mean within the same day as soon as a cross examination is over.
1) redirect
2) re-cross
3) repeat until done.
4) Witness dismissed but subject to recall still under oath until both prosecution and defense rest.
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May 23 2009 | Cross | 2 Comments »
How many people you know are in marriages like they have in the bible? You know , Traditional marriages? Marriages described in the bible.
I've got a harem, if that's what you mean.
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May 21 2009 | Bible | 15 Comments »
Orthodox churches and services are so beautiful and majestic, its hard not to experience the glory of God. Its the closet thing to heaven on earth.
Really? I believe so and I agree with you too.
I am an Orthodox Christian. I was Catholic for a little while but I did not enjoy being a Catholic as much as being an Orthodox Christian. That is because us Orthodox Christians kept the true and pure Christianity and Christian traditions.
Orthodox Christianity is Eastern, and that is what makes it special, remember that Christianity started in Palestine and not in The Vatican.
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May 21 2009 | Uncategorized | 7 Comments »
How do confessions work at a Catholic church? Also, how does Communion work?
What I mean is, do you come at a certain time, or do you just tell the Father you wish to confess? I mean, if you tell him who you are, doesn't that defeat the purpose?
I'd be most obliged if someone could explain this to me.
when you enter a "confessional" at the catholic church you start with "forgive me father for I have sinned and it has been a really long time since my last confession." If you want to confess and aren't in a catholic church you can just talk to Jesus and tell him you are sorry for what you have done.
The time you take communion in the catholic church, the church teaches it (the wafer) is the actual body and blood of Christ. Remember He said "as oft as you do this, do it in remembrance of me." Actually, some churches do it once a month so I guess it should be "as seldom as you do it, do it in remembrance of me."
oops—forgot something. In catholic church the priest assigns penance for you–actually telling you how sorry you are for doing the sins you are confessing. In your heart, you know what you have done and God allows you to repent without repetitive prayers. Just be honest and mean it when you say you are sorry for your deeds.
Hope this helps.
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May 21 2009 | Catholic | 4 Comments »
I'm not a Christian but my friend who is one brought up this subject a few minutes ago when we were having a religious discussion. He started talking about the belief system which he believes is the most inferior to Christianity and explained in detail why. But he concluded by saying that basically pretty much all of them are. I would be interested to know what some opinions are on here.
Thanks.
I agree with your friend. From the Christian perspective all other belief systems are inferior to Christianity. No other belief system makes the claim of the divinity of its head and of exclusivity ( Jesus is God and salvation only through Jesus Christ).
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May 21 2009 | Christian | 11 Comments »
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