RELI 448N Week 6 Assignment: Comparative Religion Grid
RELI 448N Week 6 Assignment: Comparative Religion Grid
RELI 448N Week 6 Assignment: Comparative Religion Grid
| Number of world followers | Approximately 1.1 billion | Approximately 225-300 million | 800 million to 1 billion |
| Geographic distribution | Widespread across the world but mainly located in Europe and Latin America. | Mainly located in Eastern Europe | Protestantism remains the most popular religion in the countries that were the most affected by the Reformation, including Nordic countries and the United Kingdom. Besides, it has rapidly spread in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America. |
| One image that captures the essence of the religion |
2. History and Development
| Category or Question | Catholicism | Eastern orthodox | Protestant |
| Where and when did it originate? | 1st century CE in Judea | 11th century CE in the Roman Empire | 16th century in Germany |
| Identify any schisms or splits. | The Great Schism (July 16, 1054 CE), that split Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. | The Great Schism (July 16, 1054 CE), that split Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. | The Reformation of the 16th century marked the separation of Protestantism from the Roman Catholic Church |
| Identify two key historical figures. | Saint Peter, one of the apostles and considered the first Pope. Pope John Paul II, head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. | Gregory Palamas, 14th century Byzantine Greek ecclesiastic, known for his defense of Hesychast spirituality. Nicodemus the Hagiorite, greek monk and author, known for his ascetic prayer literature. | Martin Luther, the Augustinian monk who led the Reformation: and John Calvin, pastor during the Reformation and founder of Calvinism. |
| Identify two key historical events. | The Edict of Milan (33 CE) declared religious tolerance and, therefore, ending the persecution of Christians The foundation of the Inquisition (1229 CE) in response to heresy. | The second Church of the Holy Wisdom was built (532-537 CE) in Constantinople. It was the center of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly a century. The East-West Schism (1054 CE) caused the separation of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Church. | The publication of the ‘Ninety-five Theses’ by Martin Luther (1517). The declaration of the Edict of Nantes by Henry IV of France (1598), which declared religious tolerance towards the Protestant minority of the nation. |
| Describe historical relations with the two other religions. | It shared communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church until the Great Schism. | It shared communion with the Roman Catholic Church until the Great Schism. | Protestants separated from the Roman Catholic Church. |
3. Sense of the Sacred
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| Category or Question | Catholicism | Eastern orthodox | Protestant |
| Sacred text/book and how it is divided | The Catholic Bible with old and new Testament, including the deuterocanonical books. | The Eastern-Greek Orthodox Bible, with old and new Testament, is based on the New KingJames Version. | The Protestant Bible with old and new Testament, not including the deuterocanonical books. |
| Sacred scripture (two key quotations) | “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21) “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13) | “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 118 [119]:105) “God has seen everything; God has heard everything; God has listened” (Psalm 151:4) | “For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17) “Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30) |
| One key sacred symbol | Crucifix, that displays Jesus on the cross | The Russian Orthodox Cross | A naked cross |
| What sacred places of worship are called | Church, Basilica, Cathedral | Church, Cathedra, and Orthodox temple | Church, Temple, Cathedral, Chapel |
| Sacred places: two key specific sites | The Vatican and the Sepulchre in Jerusalem | St. George’s Cathedral in Istanbul Mount Athos in northeastern Greece | The Garden Tomb in Jerusalem The Holy Land |
| Sacred officials and who qualifies | Pope, bishop, cardinal, priest. Those who qualify are baptized, men. | Patriarch, a metropolitan, bishop, archbishop, who are unmarried men over 40 years old and members of the Church. | Minister, pastor, priest, deacon, elder, bishop. Requirements vary depending on the branch of Protestantism. |
| Role of the laity | “They contribute to the sanctification of the world by fulfilling their respective duties in the home, the workplace, and the public forum” (Bernardin, 1996). | “The laity are ordained to make the Church the acceptance of that gift [the gift of God]” (Schmemann, 2012). | “The the ideal role of the laymen is to act as assistants to the clergy” (Harrison, 1960) |
| Sacred times: two important holy days | Christmas and Easter | Christmas and Easter | Christmas and Easter |
| Sacred day weekly | Sunday | Sunday | Sunday |
| Sacred ritual: weekly | Mass or Eucharist | Divine Liturgy | Sunday worship services |
| Number of sacraments | Seven (Baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriage, holy orders) | Seven (baptism, chrismation, Communion, holy orders, penance, anointing of the sick, and marriage) | Most protestant churches practice only two sacraments (baptism, eucharist) |
| Sacrament of initiation | Baptism | Baptism | Baptism |
| Sacred objects | Paten and chalice | The Holy Table | The Cross |
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4. Theology (Beliefs)
| Category or Question | Catholicism | Eastern orthodox | Protestant |
| Three central teachings | The Bible is the revealed word of God Jesus died to redeem humanity’s sins One can attain salvation with faith, charity, and righteousness. | “Almighty God created man after His own image and likeness (cf. Genesis 1:26), and bestowed upon him endowments to fulfill his destiny” (Mastrantonis, 2015) “Almighty God in His compassion and love prepared for this regeneration of man by sending His Son, Jesus Christ the Savior” (Mastrantonis, 2015) Jesus Christ is “the only Redeemer by Whom and in Whom man’s personal salvation is wrought” (Mastrantonis, 2015) | The Holy Scriptures are the only foundation for faith and practice. Individual are justified by faith alone Salvation comes by grace alone (Montgomery, 2019) |
| Nature of the divine | There is only one God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, and in his unity, there are three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has two natures: human and divine. | There is only one God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, and in his unity, there are three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has two natures: human and divine. | There is only one God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, and in his unity, there are three persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has two natures: human and divine. |
| Is there a central sacred story that is the most important one? | The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. | The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. | The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. |
| Creation story | God created Heaven and Earth in 7 days, as told in the book of Genesis. | God created Heaven and Earth in 7 days, as told in the book of Genesis. | God created Heaven and Earth in 7 days, as told in the book of Genesis. |
| Belief in afterlife | Life after death for everyone after the Final Judgement, with “good” people going to Heaven and “bad” people going to Hell. Catholics also believe in Purgatory. | Life after death for everyone after the Final Judgement, with “good” people going to Heaven and “bad” people going to Hell. There is no Purgatory. | Life after death for everyone after the Final Judgement, with “good” people going to Heaven and “bad” people going to Hell. There is no Purgatory |
| Problem of evil | “Sin is an abuse of the freedom that God gives to created persons so that they are capable of loving him and loving one another” (John Paul II, 1992) | “God did not create anything evil: both Angels and humans, as well as the material world, are good and beautiful by nature. However, rational creatures, possessing free will, can direct their freedom against God and thereby engender evil” (Father George, 2017) | According to John Calvin, “God regulates and directs the actions of each individual to the specific and proper end by his will, so that each person’s every action is disposed by God’s deliberate will, ultimately to achieve the divine purpose (…) We sin under the necessity imposed by the evil and perverse nature which we have inherited from Adam”. (Reichenbach, 1988) |
| Violence and non-violence | Emphasis on nonviolence: “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:39) | Emphasis on nonviolence: “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:39) | Emphasis on nonviolence: “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:39) |
| Belief in Martyrs? Provide an example. | Yes, Justin Martyr, the early Christian apologist | Yes, St. George who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith | Yes: Thomas Hitton, considered to be the first English Protestant martyr of the Reformation |
| Is there a messiah figure? Explain. | Jesus Christ is considered the Messiah, the Saviour of Humanity | Jesus Christ is considered the Messiah, the Saviour of Humanity | Jesus Christ is considered the Messiah, the Saviour of Humanity |
| Is it a universal or local religion? Explain. | “Catholic” means “universal”. It is called that way due to its worldwide extension. | It is universal because it has members all over the world who share the same faith regardless of their nationality or local customs. | It is universal because it has members all over the world who share the same faith regardless of their nationality or local customs. |
| A theological issue of debate currently | Can Catholic women become Deacons? | The formation of the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) | Should homosexuals be allowed to get married? |
| Belief in Apostolic succession | Catholicism poses that the ministry of the apostles continues in the Church, and they have been transmitted through ages | “It is through Apostolic succession that the Orthodox Christian Church is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ that was composed of the Holy Apostles. This succession manifests itself through the unbroken succession of its bishops back to the Holy Apostles” (Father George, 2014). | Protestants do not believe in Apostolic succession. |
| Presence of Christ in Eucharist and who may receive it | They believe in the transubstantiation, in which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Only members of the Church may receive it. | They believe in the transubstantiation, in which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. Only members of the Church may receive it. | The wine and bread act as symbols. There is no transubstantiation. They are offered to any Christian. |
| Role of Mary | Mother of God and Mother of the Church | Mary is venerated as Theotokos (Greek: ‘God-bearer’). | A holy woman who was chosen to bear the son of God. |
| Authority of Pope | The Pope is the supreme authority, considered the ‘vicar of Christ’ and successor of Saint Peter. | Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is considered the spiritual leader of the Church but he has no direct jurisdiction outside the Patriarchate of Constantinople | There is no centralized figure of authority. |
5. Social Issues Beliefs and Engagement
| Category or Question | Catholicism | Eastern orthodox | Protestant |
| Social justice work | The Catholic Church actively participates in charitable initiatives | The Eastern Orthodox Church actively participates in charitable initiatives | The Protestant Church actively participates in charitable initiatives |
| Gender beliefs | Patriarchal system | Patriarchal system | The Reformation encouraged women to impose themselves in society |
| Beliefs regarding homosexuality | Recently accepted by Pope Francis. | It is considered a sin. | Some churches accept it. |
| Care of environment | Destroying the environment is a sin | Humans are responsible for taking care of the environment. “Christian love is manifest through ‘the right use of material things’” (Theokritoff, 2009). | Caring for the environment is a virtue |
| Searching for common ground with other religions -ecumenism and inter-faith | In 1980, The ‘Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church’ was established in 1980 by the Vatican and 14 autocephalous Orthodox churches | In 1980, The ‘Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church’ was established in 1980 by the Vatican and 14 autocephalous Orthodox churches | The Protestant Church remains distrustful of the Catholic Church. |
| Contemporary controversies | Sexual abuse controversies | Cultism controversies | Views on gay marriage |
6. References
| Bernardin, Joseph. (1996), 21: The Laity the Church, and Society. Center for Migration Studies special issues, 13: 151-156. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2050-411X.1996.tb00128.x Father Joseph. “The Origin of Evil According to the Orthodox Christian Church,” October 3, 2017. http://saintandrewgoc.org/home/2017/10/3/the-origin-of-evil-according-to-the-orthodox-christian-church?fbclid=IwAR022y1IH9E0G5-O14ikZzvEbOvHGoM26sGH0nTlEfknJeuTEqYauIBY_ZA. Harrison, P. M. (1960). Church and the Laity among Protestants. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 332(1), 37-49. John Paul II (1994). Catechism of the Catholic church (p. 2215). London: Geoffrey Chapman. Mastrantonis, George. “The Fundamental Teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church – Introduction to Orthodoxy Articles – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.” Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, August 12, 2015. https://www.goarch.org/-/the-fundamental-teachings-of-the-eastern-orthodox-church?fbclid=IwAR3LPpWzZ_sT5_TW9ONsIYOaJf25AR93xKy7AcDKnqlRot4rtOsilQss1m4. Montgomery, Guyton E (2019). “An Introduction To The Reformation Period”. An Examination Of Religious History: 1500-1700 AD. Reichenbach, B. (1988). Evil and a Reformed View of God. International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, 24(1/2), 67-85. Retrieved November 28, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40024794 Theokritoff, E. (2009). Living in God’s creation: Orthodox perspectives on ecology. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press. |