Christianity Overview
Christianity is one of the world’s major religions practiced by around 2 billion people. At its center, it is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Christianity is (with some exceptions) practiced in the form of organized religion, with individual churches, denominations and sects affiliated to larger umbrella organizations. In addition to its numerous Protestant churches, there are three major types of Christianity: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism.
Orthodox Christianity
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the form practiced in areas of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Its theology emphasizes the notion of an incorruptible and infallible faith in God: Jesus Christ is believed to be the only path to salvation and the church is regarded as a divinely inspired by God. There are several unique rituals practiced: adults are baptized with triple immersion and weekly services involve a mix of prayer, incense and singing.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is hierarchical, with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, a city in Turkey, as its leader. This Patriarch can be traced back to the early days of Christianity and is considered one of the five ancient patriarchates. Other impressive historical sites associated with Eastern Orthodoxy are the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, Egypt and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
Catholicism
The Roman Catholic Church is the largest and most influential form of the Christian faith with an estimated 1.2 billion members worldwide and the Vatican City in Rome as its headquarters. Catholicism is sometimes referred to as the Universal Church, as it claims authority over all other Christian denominations, including Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism. Similarly to Orthodoxy, Catholicism also reaffirms the notion of an incorruptible word of God, as relayed to Jesus Christ.
Central to the Catholic faith are seven sacraments: Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, and Ordination. Other elements of Catholicism include veneration of Mary, the presence of a priestly hierarchy, Papal infallibility, and the belief in purgatory and limbo. Additionally, the Catholic Church adheres to seven organs of the church, such as a papacy, episcopacy, and monasticism.
Protestantism
Protestantism is the most decentralized form of Christianity, with an estimated 800 million adherents to a variety of distinct denominations. Protestantism is often seen as a modern and more liberal form of Christianity and is closely associated with the Reformation. At the center of Protestantism is the belief that each individual has direct access to God and can find salvation without the aid of a Catholic Church or priestly hierarchy. Furthermore, Protestants believe that salvation is eternal and that the Bible is the only reliable source of knowledge.
In general, Protestantism is divided into three main branches: Calvinism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism. Calvinism is the most influential with its belief in predestination, the idea that all people are predestined to be saved or damnation and there is nothing an individual can do about it. Lutheranism is based on the teachings and books of Martin Luther, and places a premium on the use of vernacular language as a means of worship. Lastly, Anglicanism is a form of Protestantism and is closely associated with the Church of England.
Theology and Teachings
Theological and moral systems of Christianity varies depending on the type, with Orthodoxy and Catholicism placing more emphasis on the notion of faith and tradition, while Protestantism is more focused on the interpretation and usage of the Scriptures.
The Orthodox Church believes that the Bible is seven books that were written by Apostles, while the Catholic Church believes that the Bible is composed of 73 Books. Additionally, Orthodoxy and Catholicism include additional teachings such as the Apocrypha and the Deuterocanonical books, which Protestants reject.
Theologically, Orthodoxy and Catholicism both accept the notion of meritocracy, the belief that individuals are rewarded for their good deeds and punished for their bad deeds in the afterlife. Protestantism, on the other hand, focuses on the idea of salvation by grace. This means that salvation is perceived as a gift from God and individuals are not rewarded or punished for their actions.
Structure and Organization
Structurally, the Catholic Church is considered to be the oldest organized Christian denomination with a single hierarchical head, the Pope, as well as other organized bodies such as councils and bishops. The Eastern Orthodox Church also has its own organized structure, with a single Ecumenical Patriarch and its own decrees, councils and bishops.
In contrast, Protestantism is decentralized and the various denominations may not even share the same beliefs. This is because the various Protestant denominations are each led by their own leaders and are independent from one another. In many cases, their beliefs and practices can differ significantly from group to group in the same denomination or even the same individual church.
Spiritual Practices
Spiritual practices, such as prayer and forms of worship, also differ significantly between the three main branches of Christianity. In the Roman Catholic Church, worship involves the usage of Latin vernacular language and often includes prayers, hymns, and incense as well as the celebration of Mass. The Eastern Orthodox Church has similar rituals such as prayers, hymns, and incense, but in the native Slavonic languages. In contrast, Protestant denominations are more tolerant of different languages and are more likely to focus on singing and informal prayer.
In addition to different approaches to worship, the three denominations also differ in their holidays and rituals. Roman Catholics celebrate the liturgical calendar year, marked by feasts, fasts and processions. Orthodoxy also recognizes the liturgical calendar year and promotes various holiday rituals, including the veneration of icons, and the celebration of feast days. Protestantism does not recognize the liturgical calendar and instead celebrates the “moveable feasts.” Certain Protestant denominations also observe one or two holy days, such as Christmas and Easter.
Culture and Society
Culturally, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism have each made their own contributions to the world, with Orthodoxy and Catholicism having a prominent presence in Eastern Europe, while Protestantism and Catholicism are dominant in Western societies. Each type of Christianity has its unique set of values and cultural norms and they often differ significantly, particularly regarding social issues.
When it comes to social issues, Orthodoxy is the most traditional and conservative, believing that society should adhere to the Bible and all its teachings. Catholicism, while still traditional, is comparatively more accepting, particularly of other beliefs and lifestyles. Protestantism’s outlook is, again, more open-minded, tolerant and accepting of different cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles.
Doctrine and Dogma
The doctrine and dogma of Christianity differs according to the type. Orthodoxy and Catholicism have a lot of similarities, such as the veneration of icons, the use of Latin, the veneration of Mary, and belief in Sacraments, while Protestantism is more focused on the Scriptures and rejects the ideas of veneration of Mary and Sacraments. Additionally, Orthodoxy and Catholicism embrace a more literal interpretation of the Bible, while Protestantism generally has a more liberal interpretation that allows for differences of opinion.
Orthodoxy and Catholicism also differ in their views on the afterlife, with Orthodoxy believing in the notion of the soul being sent to heaven or hell after judgement, while Catholicism believes in the concept of purgatory, where souls are purified before being allowed into heaven. In contrast, Protestantism generally does not believe in a literal heaven or hell, instead looking to Scripture to interpret the afterlife.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Christianity is a major world religion with several distinct forms, including Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Each form is based on the teachings and life of Jesus of Nazareth, but there are theological and cultural differences between them. These differences range from different rituals and practices to doctrinal and dogmatic beliefs. Beyond spiritual matters, each type of Christianity has also had significant and unique cultural contributions, with Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism all having distinct social and cultural heritages.
