Eastern Orthodox Christianity And Roman Catholic Christianity Religion Essay

eastern Orthodox Christianity And papist Catholic Christianity Religion EssayUntil 1054 AD east Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism were branches of the same physical structure the One, Holy, Catholic and portentous Church. This date marks an important moment in the history of all told Christian denominations. It designates the very first gear major division in Christianity and the first gear of denominations. Disagreement betwixt these two branches of Christendom had long existed, but the gap among the Roman and Eastern churches increased throughout the first millennium.In 1054 AD, a numberal split occurred when Pope Leo IX, leader of the Roman branch, excommunicated the patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius. He was the leader of the Eastern branch. Michael Cerularius, in return, condemned the Pope in uncouth excommunication. Two primary disputes at the time were Romes claim to a cosmopolitan papal supremacy and the adding of the filioque to the Nicene Creed.To the present date, the Eastern and Western churches die hard divided and separate. However, in 1965, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras concur to formally remove the mutual excommunication of 1054.Religious contraventions 3The Difference between Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholic ChristianityThe PopeThe primary(prenominal) difference between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity has to do with the recognition of the Pope. Roman Catholics recognize the Pope as infallible. The Pope has self-governing authority over all churches, and he can usurp the major power of a lower ranking church leader, such as a priest, bishop, or cardinal (OConner, 1997).The Eastern Orthodox as well as has various bishops with bingle being the highest bishop, called the first among equals, but the Eastern Orthodox Church does non believe the highest ranking bishop, or archbishop, to be infallible, nor do they grant him with tyrannical authority over all churches (Collins Price, 1999).PurgatoryAnother main difference is in the teaching of Purgatory. According to Roman Catholic morality, those souls destined for heaven must(prenominal) endure a state of purification. They must be cleansed of sins committed on earth. The rest go to hell for eternal punishment. Also from a form of merits or extra grace accumulated by the virtue of Christ, the pure Mary, and the saints, indulgencies may be granted. The grace is applied to those in purgatory in tell apart to shorten their time there (OConner, 1997).Eastern Orthodoxy teaches that after the soul leaves the body, it journeys to the rest home of the dead (Hades). The soul pass on remain in this condition of waiting. Because well-nigh relieve oneself a prevision of the glory to come and others a apprehend of their suffering, the state of waiting is called Particular Judgment. When Christ returns, the soul rejoins its risen body to be judged by Him, and the good and faithful servant will inherit life . The unfaithful will spend eternity in hell. Their sins and their unbelief will torture them as fire (Chadwick, 1995).Religious Differences 4Doctrinal cultivationIn reference to Doctrine, in order to justify new doctrine, Roman Catholicism developed the theory of Doctrinal Development. Roman Catholicism presents this theology as growing in stages to higher and more clearly outlined levels of knowledge. It teaches the idea that Christ gave us an original deposit of faith, and a seeded player which grows and matures over the centuries. They believe that tradition is just as important as the Bible (OConner, 1997).Eastern Orthodoxy does not endorse the view that the teachings of Christ have changed from time to time. They believe that Christianity has remained unaltered from the moment that the Lord delivered the Faith to the Apostles (Mat.2818-20). Eastern Orthodox of the twenty first century believes precisely what was believed in the first century.Nicene CreedA major disagreement between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism centers around the adding of the filioque to the Nicene Creed. This particular conflict is too known as the Filioque Controversy. In Latin, this word means and from the Son. It had been inserted into the Nicene Creed, ever-changing the phrase pertaining to the origin of the Holy Spirit from who effect from the Father to who proceeds from the Father and the Son (Collins Price, 1997, p. 27). Roman Catholicism made this change on the authority of the Pope. Eastern Orthodoxy believed this spurned the Apostolic Tradition which always taught that divinity the Father is the single Source of the Son and the Spirit (Collins Price, 1997).Conclusion there are many other differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. in that location are differences in how faith is taught, the essence of God, the work of Christ, the Holy Canons, the mysteries, the nature of man, and the Virgin Mary. One more would be the icons of Orthodox wors hip, and the statues of Catholic worship.It should in addition be noted that while there are many differences between Eastern OrthodoxyReligious Differences 5and Roman Catholicism, there are also many similarities between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism that should be analyze as well.Religious Differences 6