Orthodoxy Was Challenged by Several Alternate Theologies Term Paper

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orthodoxy was challenged by several alternate theologies including multiple views of the Trinity and the nature of Christ. Different Christian religious orientations came to other conclusions about those elements, which have, in turn, become central parts of their Christian religious experience. These differences began in the 5th century, when the Orthodox Church parted ways with the Catholic Church. The initial differences were linked to cultural differences more than differences in ideology. Western Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages and was plagued by political, cultural, and spiritual upheaval as Constantinople threatened Rome's power in Europe. In Eastern Europe, Rome's power was unchallenged, so that there was greater stability in the area. "The Great Schism, which arose from a great variety of reasons -- some theological, but many cultural, linguistic, and political -- really happened because the two churches grew apart" (Davies-Stofka, p.1). As a result, Christianity as practiced by a modern Protestant or Catholic may differ substantially from Christianity as practiced by a modern Orthodox Christian. In order to understand those differences, it is important to first explore the elements of Orthodox thought.

While it is impossible to condense an entire religion down to a set of elements, because Orthodoxy is often considered in contrast to Catholicism and Protestantism, it can be described in terms of how it approaches some of the major underpinnings of modern Christianity. First, the Orthodox Church takes a very rigid approach to the teachings of Christ; it believes that Christ's teachings have not changed over time and should not be changed to fit in with changing social mores or values.

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This does not mean that Orthodox practices cannot be changed; cultural differences can be incorporated into the manner of worship, but not the subject of worship. Furthermore, there is no hierarchy of worship; This helps explain the second element of Orthodoxy, which is that Orthodoxy uses science to support the Bible, but does not allow for change in the Bible when it appears to be in conflict with science. In addition, Orthodoxy rejects attempts to bolster faith through philosophy and reason. Orthodoxy teaches that the knowledge of God is inherent in human beings and not the product of philosophy or human reason. Only through God's speech can humans begin to understand more about God. Furthermore, Jesus is the means by which God has chosen to speak to man. Orthodoxy believes in the Trinity, which suggests that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all the same being, but also distinct. Christ voluntarily gave his life to save others, not to satisfy the debt that was originally incurred with Adam's sin. The Orthodox Church believes that all of its bishops are the living icon of Christ and does not have a hierarchy among them. The Church believes that it is formed through the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Orthodox Church believes that Canons are guidelines for producing holiness, and though they do not have the….....

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