Figure 1.--.

The major denominations of the Christian faith are the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox or Eastern churches. There have been other denominations of considerable importance, some of which like the Eastern Catholic Maronites in Lebanon and the Copts in Egypt still exist. There are operhaps more religious traditions in the Christian Church than any other major religion. This is primarily because Christianity became the accepted religion in so many different countries. In addition, some Christian theologians, especially Protestant scholars argued that salvation was a personal matter and promoted Bible study and personal reflection. This of course necesitated mass literacy and was one reason why the Protestant states of Europe and America led the Catholic states of Europe in providing free public education.

Early Church

Great Schism

The Wastern and Western Churches for centuries had been moving apart it was in the 11th Century that the Great Schism occurred. Pope Sergius wrote a confession of faith which included the controversial filioque in the creed (1009). The Church in Constantinople removed the pope the Roman Church from the diptychs, the official list of sister churches and bishops. The division between the Churches had reached crisis proprtions by mid-century. The major issues were the filioque, the authority of the pope, and varying liturgical practices. The issues had been simmering for some time. The differences reached crisis proportions. The Pope suppressed Eastern (Greek) liturgical practices in southern Italy and Patriarch Michael Cerularius of Constantinople suppressed Latin practices in the East (1052). The Pope dispched a mediator (1053), but mediation failed and the Pope excomunicated the Partirach (1054). Most historians date this as the formal split in the Christian Church. Although the Eastern and WesternChurches were essentially separatre Churhes before the Great Schism, after 1054 there were in fact as well as practice a Western Catholic and a Eastern Orthodox Chyrch.

Catholicism

Orthodoxy

The fundamental theological differences between Roman Catholocism and Orthodoxy was the use of the word Filoque in the creed meaning "and from the son" which was part of the issue of supremecy of thec Father in the Holy Trinity. Other issues were pergutory, efficacy of prayers for the dead, and the authority of the pope. Orthodoc Churches also allow married priests, although bishops are chosen from celibate monks. The Zantine Empire became the center of Orthodoxy. Backed by the power of the Empire, the Orthodox Church became dominant in the East. This meant Greece and the Balkans. This included the Middle East until the rise of Islam in the 7th cebtury. The conversion of the Rus left the Orthodox Church dominnt in Russia as well. The fall of Constantinople (1458) meant that the Patriarch good no longer function as the head of the Orthodoc Church. It was at this time that the Tsar in Russia provclaimed Moscow as the Third Rome. With the European emmigration in the 19th century, Orthodox communities were established in America and other countries like Australia.

Protestantism

The Protestant Reformation began whem Martin Luther posted the 95 Thesis on the door of the Witttenburg church. But there were many different theological trends among Prptestants. There are so many Protestant Churches that it is difficult to even count them. There are of course substantial differences among countries as to the importance of these groups. More Protestant churches exist in America because of the level of religious freedom there especially after the doctrine was enshirned in the First Amendment of the Constitution. There are some Protestant Churches, however, of particular importance. We have begun to develop information about some of the more important denominations.

Communion

One of the many points of differences, and in some ways one of the most important, between Catholics and Protestants is the sacrement of Communion. Here there are not only differences between Catholics and Protestants, but also differences among the different Protestant faiths. The Cathloic Church believes that God is present in the Holy Host. Here the Anglicans are in agreement. Most other Protestant Churches, however, believe that Communiin is a more symbolic act which is how Luther interpreted it. In the Gospel, it is written: "Do this in memory of Me" This passage was interpretated as a menorial by Luther. The last supper was in actuality the First Communion. The sacrament of First Communion is the first major step of a child in joining the Church. Perhaps because of the way Catholics view Communion, it tends to be a more important event in the Catholic Church than in other churches.

Sources

Halévy, Elie.

Hattersley, Roy. A Brand from the Burning: The Life of John Wesley (Doubleday, 2003), 353p.

Wacker, Grant. Heaven Below: Early Pentacostals and American Culture (Harvard University Press, 2001), 364p.

Created: July 22, 2003
Last updated: April 29, 2004