Christianity pt2

Unitarianism

a Christian theological movement named for its belief that the God in Christianity is one entity, as opposed to the Trinity which defines God as three persons in one being; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. - Unitarians believe that other Christian denominations are not practicing monotheism because their focus on the Trinity is too much because Jesus did not proclaim himself to be God.

Martin Luther

a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation His efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation in the German-speaking territories of the Holy Roman Empire. He even translated the Bible to German which had been done before, but incorporated his own doctrine into the translation.

The Great Schism

separation between Eastern and Western Roman Empires. Western Church remained firmly in support of the use of religious images. The empire in the west became known as the Holy Roman Empire. East became the Orthodox Church (now Eastern Orthodox Church), and the west became the Catholic Church (now Roman Catholic Church).

Dogmas

system of beliefs declared to be true by a religion; Catholics reaffirmed their doctrines/dogma

Transubstantiation

the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining. Catholic belief that communion actually becomes the body and blood of christ

The Roman Catholic Reformation

the period of Catholic resurgence initiated in response to the Protestant Reformation, beginning with the Council of Trent (1545-1563)

The Orthodox Church "Eastern Orthodox Church"

East Roman Empire; wear black clothing and have long beards;

Congregationalism

"decentralized Calvinism" - believe in the spiritual equality and priesthood of all believer - more liberal than other denominations like Lutheranism and Catholicism - self-governing churches that are autonomous so they have the freedom to teach different practices within their own individual churches

Protestant

- Emerged from the Reformation - Do not make up one united church and do not have a single leader -- their churches are self-governing - Beliefs come only from the Bible, but there are different interpretations of the Bible, leading to different denominations

Catholic

- Universal; one united church under the leadership of the pope - Indulgences

Purgatory

A place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven

Anglicanism

A separate, independent Church - Emphasis on scripture: the "sufficiency of scripture" which says that "Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation." - Comparing with Catholicism- Retains many of the Roman Catholic rituals but rejects the authority of the Pope Allows priests to marry

The Pope

Bishop of Rome with the greatest responsibility and authority

Episcopalianism

Center of teaching is the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. - He died and was resurrected from the dead. - Jesus provides the way of eternal life for those who believe. - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit, are one God, and are called the Holy Trinity ("three and yet one"). - The Old and New Testaments of the Bible were written by people "under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit." - The Apocrypha are additional books that are used in Christian worship, but not for the formation of doctrine. - The two great and necessary sacraments are Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist. Other sacramental rites are confirmation, ordination, marriage, reconciliation of a penitent, and unction. - Belief in heaven, hell, and Jesus' return in glory. - Emphasis on living out the Great Commandment to love God and neighbor fully, as found in the Gospel of Matthew 28:18 - Differences from Catholicism: - "Protestant, yet Catholic" - Only has 2 sacraments: baptism and communion - Does not recognize the authority of the Pope as the head of the Church. - Episcopalians believe that only faith and the bible are necessary for a relationship with God. - Episcopalians also believe that they can have a direct relationship with God. - Catholic Church sees itself as the only true church worldwide, under the leadership of the pope. - Catholic Church reveres the Virgin Mary, the Episcopal Church does not. - Protestant priests are allowed to marry, do not need to be celibate.

What makes the Quakers distinctive?

Central to the Quakers' belief is the doctrine of the "Inner Light," or sense of Christ's direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject both formal ministry and all set forms of worship.

Baptists

Christians distinguished by baptizing professing believers, and doing so by complete immersion (as opposed to affusion or sprinkling).Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the tenets of soul salvation through faith and scripture alone; differ from other Christians in that they believe in adult baptism because ...

Excommunication

Cutting someone off from the redemption of the Church, as well as from the benefits of the church's secular power

major differences between the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church?

In prayer, the Orthodox Church does not say The Son. It's in the name of The Father and The Holy Spirit, and Roman Catholics are in the name of all three

What were Luther's primary criticisms of the Catholic Church?

Luther strongly believed that the Catholic Church was conning the people of Wittenberg into believing they could pay off their sins. Indulgences are a remission of the purgatorial punishment due for sins according to the Roman Church.

Presbyterianism

Origins of Presbyterianism are from Calvinism. Distinguish themselves from other denominations by doctrine, institutional organization (or "church order") and worship; often using a "Book of Order" to regulate common practice and order. Emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures, and the necessity of grace through faith in Christ. - Governing body is based on a system of elders -Historically a confessional practice - Equal education for all - Belief that there are 2 sacraments - Baptism and Communion

Why are there so many Protestant denominations yet only one Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church has a dogma that the pope determined the truth, but in the Protestant Church the bible determines as the truth, so because of this many different denominations has arose because the bible can be interpreted in different ways

Which sacraments are emphasized in Protestantism?

Traditionally Protestantism has rejected five of the seven sacraments accepted by Roman Catholicism. The two that Protestants accept are Baptism and Eucharist (The Lord's Supper). The reason for rejecting the other five is that Protestants are convinced that there is no biblical basis for them, as sacraments. That is to say, though there is a biblical basis for the ideas of confirmation, marriage, ordination, anointing with oil and repentance, there is no biblical basis for considering these matters sacraments.

The Roman Catholic Church

West Roman Empire

Lutheranism

a major branch of Protestant Christianity which identifies with the theology of Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German friar, ecclesiastical reformer and theologian

Quakers

a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement founded by George Fox c. 1650 and devoted to peaceful principles

Jesuit

a member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests who do missionary work. Opposed the Reformation

John Calvin

a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. aspects include the doctrines of predestination and of the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and eternal damnation

Pentecostal Churches

a renewal movement within Protestant Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism with the Holy Spirit

The Protestant Reformation

a schism in Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther and continued by John Calvin

Council of Trent

council of the Roman Catholic Church. Prompted by the Protestant Reformation reaffirmed doctrines of good works of purgatory and indulgences of transubstantiation of the hierarchy of the priesthood of the role if church tradition and teaching

Predestination

divine foreordaining of all that will happen, especially with regard to the salvation of some and not others