Module 4 Revision Flashcards
What is denominations?
Denomination commonly is associated with the divisions that exist within Christianity
Groupings of religions occur due to differences in priorities, interpretations of belief, differing approaches to leadership, history, culture and practices of the faith.
What does Ecumenical mean?
Ecumenical means general or universal and refers to the whole Christian Church
What happened in 325 AD?
In 325 A.D., the Roman emperor, Constantine, called a council in the city of Nicea. The council brought together bishops from all over Christendom in order to resolve some divisive issues and ensure the continued unity of the church.
Creation of the Nicene Creed; it is a prayer simplifying and listing the beliefs of all Christians. (Ecumenical)
What happened during the Great Schism?
In the 1054 the biggest split in Christianity occurred and the event was called the great Schism.
Christianity into two divisions, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox.
The difference in understanding Social, political, economical, cultural, and historical teachings and practices lead to misunderstandings and disputes which resulted in the Pope and Emperor both excommunicating each other from the church; formation of two new churches
Causes
- different understandings in practices and teachings Eg leavened vs unleavened bread
- disputes in authority Eg. God vs the pope (Apostolic Succession)
- disputes in supreme power Eg. Romans; God, Pope, Emperor. Vs Constantinople; God and equal power between Pope and Emperor
What happened during the European Reformation?
The Reformation occurred in between 1517 – 1648. And it was the major split or separation of the Western church. (16th century)
Political and Religious views of the church was challenged; When instability surrounding the papacy, the role of the pope as a temporal ruler and teachings of the church
Began with the father of the reformation; Martin Luther
When the bishops and priests abused their power in the Catholic Church; particularly through ‘INDULGENCES’ which were sales or free passes to heaven.
Martin Luther opposed this behaviour of the church and Printed the 95 THESIS stating his opposement, towards the church, the wrongs of the church and his interpreted beliefs of the Catholicism.
He began a new church called the Lutheran Church.
Who where others part of the Western Reformation
Martin Luther ( 1483-1546)
Ulrich Zwingli ( 1484-1531)
John Calvin (1509-1564)
What happened during the European Reformation?
In the 1530s King Henry the 8th declared himself authority and head of the new Church; Church of England; ANGLICAN church
- made new rules and practices
The English reformation resulted from the nationalistic aspirations of King Henry the 8th.
- wife was childless and Pope Clement VII did not grant annulment
What happened during the council of Trent?
The council of Trent was when held when the effect of the Reformation led Pope John Paul 3rd to call the bishops of the church to council which was held in Trent, city in 1545.
It addressed many of the abuses Luther, Zwingli and Calvin were concerned with. Made radical reforms and corrects errors of reformers, and developed a systematic outlined of beliefs and practices that expressed the teachings handed down by the apostles.
What makes the church Catholic ?
- Belief in the teachings of Jesus
* belief in teachings of Christ, as handed down by the apostles
* everything a catholic believes and how they interpret that specific belief is listed and described in the apostles creed - Celebration of the Seven Sacraments
* celebration of the seven sacraments instituted by Jesus through his life, death and resurrection. - Apostolic Succession
* bishops will have the same mission and spiritual gifts as Jesus gave the twelve apostles
Define Ecumenism
Ecumenism is the movement that addresses the important concern; to understand why divisions in the church occurred and how to work towards healing these divisions.
How is ecumenism promoted?
Ecumenism is promoted by the church
All churches of Christianity are working together to become what Jesus had intended
Ecumenism is encouraged by only Christ and the Holy Spirit
- Second Vatican Council had made it an important intention of Christianity to be unified once again as a unit of believers of Jesus
Non Catholic Churches formed together the World Council of Churches
Non Catholic and Catholic Churches are encouraged by the movement of the Holy Spirit
What are some similarities between denominations?
- All three denominations use the BIBLE as the SACRED SCRIPTURE
- teachings, beliefs, traditions are based from the teachings of rte bible
- they believe that the bible speaks the truth and it was inspired/ guided by the Holy Spirit.
* Catholic Bible composition= 39 OT books and 27 New Testament books
* Orthodox Bible Composition = same but also has books called Deuterocanonicals which are original collections of the Hebrew Bible
* Protestant; number of books differ but all contain skeleton books of O and N Testaments - Celebration of the Sacraments of Eucharist and Baptism
* Have similar rituals and readings within theses two sacraments and believe they are celebrations of initiation and growth - All pray the Nicene creed
* the Nicene creed is a prayer listing the similar beliefs that centre and acts a fundamental base of Christian Faith - All distribute the Eucharist
* all distribute and have common symbols of Eucharist which the bread and wine signify blood and body as per the last supper - Belief in the Holy Spirit and Trinity
* even though the understanding of the belief of the Holy Spirit is was a cause of separation, all churches believe in it. They all believe the Holy Spirit is a third proceeding the father and the son. - Belief in Jesus Christ
* that he was the son of god, sacrificial lamb and saviour brought to mankind so that salvation of sins for humans may be given
* New Testament teachings of Jesus - Water in baptism symbol is common
What are some differences between the denominations?
- Difference in leadership
* Roman Catholics believe in the infallibility of the Pope. That the pope is incapable of making mistakes or being wrong because he is guided by the Holy Spirit; which is what defines doctrines of faith and morals to held by the whole church. - Church is act upon these doctrines of faith
* Orthodox rejects the infallibility of the pope and the bishops act as a single unit of power guided by the Holy Spirit
* Protestants do not have supreme power and rejects the infallibility of the pope. They believe that only source of infallible teaching is the bible and the church must follow the bible.
- don’t believe in the apostolic succession - Difference in Practices of sacraments
* CATHOLICS believe that there are 7 fixed sacraments to be celebrated in one’s Christian life
* ORTHODOX also practice the same 7 sacraments but they are celebrated differently with different prayers and at different ages
* also additional practices
* PROTESTANTS only practice the sacrament of Eucharist and Baptism. They do not believe in the gifts received gifts of grace and other, because they believe everyone is born with them. They do not believe in the Transubstuation of the bread and wine into body and blood by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Only sees them as a signs and symbols - Beliefs such as the belief in Saints
* Catholics believe that an individual with faith in Christ who has performed two verifiable miracles resulted from the intercession of God makes them a saint
* Orthodox believes that a Saint is anyone whom are Intercessors between man and God evoked by prayer
* Protestants believe that only Christ can mediate between man and God. And that all Christians are born saints called to imitate Christ - Clergy and Qualifications
Orthodox
- bishops and priest must be male, however female deaconess are permitted
- priest’s May marry before ordination but not after
- all bishops must be celibate
Protestant
- clergy do not require celibacy to be elected
- pastors are the main clergy
- male and female ordination is included and allowed
Roman Catholic Church
- male and celibate priest and bishops
- exception to eastern rite Catholics and Anglican married clergy who subsequently converted to Catholicism
Why do the divisions exist?
- Great schism 1054 — leadership
- European reformation - Martin Luther, Calvin, Zwingli; dispute was about the corruption and Beliefs of the Catholic Church
- english reformation
- belief regarding marriage and divorce
Define Catholic
Catholic is defined and used as being a “UNIVERSAL” church
