Catholic vs Orthodox: What's the difference?

[Leoreth]

Seven rings for the Dwarves in their halls of stone ...

 

[NBAfan]

The biggest difference is the traditions, other then what Jehoshua and Plotinus said, their beliefs are very similar.
It's also very possible that the schism will end in the near future.

 

[Veles]

Late to the party, chief.

Veles is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to


Y U NO give me clothes?

In Russia Orthodoxy also has a certain pagan flavour

 

[Tahuti]

It's also very possible that the schism will end in the near future.

I doubt that. The Roman Catholic-Anglican schism may have some decent chance to end in a foreseeable future.

 

[Plotinus]

You mean the [wiki]filioque[/wiki] controversy, which is basically the reason behind the split, otherwise the two churches are nearly identical in doctrine.

The Filioque thing isn't exactly the reason for the split. It is, depending on how you look at it, just one of the reasons, or just one of the rationales. Remember that the schism of the eleventh century was about whether the bread used in the Eucharist should be leavened or not (at least, that's what it was about if you want to identify any theological issue).

Plus of course, from a theological point of view, the doctrine of dual procession is hardly alien to Orthodox theology; you can find something very like it in Gregory of Nyssa, who's one of the major authorities on the Trinity for the Orthodox. If the Filioque had been the only point of difference between east and west I can't believe it would have led to schism. I would say it was more of a symptom of the split than a cause.

I doubt that. The Roman Catholic-Anglican schism may have some decent chance to end in a foreseeable future.

That's never going to happen. The Anglican churches are barely avoiding schism with themselves at the moment - they're hardly in a position to end a schism with another, bigger church entirely, especially when any such reunion would in effect mean being simply swallowed up by Rome. If they can't manage reunion with the Methodists they're not going to manage it with the Catholics.

In fact reunions of this kind are extremely rare in Christian history. It's happened sometimes - India and Canada have both seen notable examples in modern times - but as a rule, once two religious groups have developed separate histories and distinct identities, that alone is enough to keep them distinct permanently, never mind whatever doctrinal or other disagreements led to the split in the first place.

FUS RO DAH!

I really want the embroidered outfit.

 

[NBAfan]

I doubt that. The Roman Catholic-Anglican schism may have some decent chance to end in a foreseeable future.

No, the traditionalist Anglicans are joining the Catholic Church fast, but Anglicanism's moral ideas are far different from Catholicism's.

 

[Plotinus]

That depends on what you mean by "traditionalist Anglican". From an Anglican point of view, Catholicism (of the Anglo-Catholic variety) is an innovation, not tradition. In the nineteenth century there were riots when parish churches started putting candles on the altar, so shockingly new (and shockingly Catholic) was it. (Even today the Church of Ireland specifically forbids the use of candles in church unless they are necessary for illumination.)

I believe that there are just as many converts from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism as there are the other way around, although they're never as well publicised. I think the real threat of mass defections, from Anglicanism's point of view, is on the evangelical side, not the Catholic one.

 

[Virote_Considon]

One of the major differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy is that masturbation is allowed under the latter. (Source: Heretic Cata, somewhere on these forums I do believe).

Also, the Orthodox still use the Chi Rho a lot I think, whereas I haven't really seen the Church of the Bishop of Rome nor any of the major Protestant Churches emphasising its use.

EDIT: Wait, thought I'd entered the actual OT (The Tavern), not the Chamberpot...

 

[Cutlass]

That depends on what you mean by "traditionalist Anglican". From an Anglican point of view, Catholicism (of the Anglo-Catholic variety) is an innovation, not tradition. In the nineteenth century there were riots when parish churches started putting candles on the altar, so shockingly new (and shockingly Catholic) was it. (Even today the Church of Ireland specifically forbids the use of candles in church unless they are necessary for illumination.)

I believe that there are just as many converts from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism as there are the other way around, although they're never as well publicised. I think the real threat of mass defections, from Anglicanism's point of view, is on the evangelical side, not the Catholic one.

I don't know how this translates to the European experience, but in much of the US, except where there are a lot of new Hispanics immigrants, the Catholic Church is fading because people just stop going to it, and even more, people stop becoming priests. It was more than a but surprising to me to be in a church in small town Vermont, and the priest was African. Not African-American, African. Apparently that's where they have to recruit priests from now.

 

[warpus]

It's also very possible that the schism will end in the near future.

Have you seen how different their hats look?

 

[Traitorfish]

Perhaps this could provide the basis for a new, even greater form of hat? There is precedent.

 

[Cutlass]

All their hats are bad enough. Don't give them ideas!

 

[Traitorfish]

Link to video.

(Less-than-safe-for-work.)

 

[warpus]

Perhaps this could provide the basis for a new, even greater form of hat? There is precedent.

I don't know man, these people can't even agree on the divinity of Jesus! How are they going to agree on something as complex as hat design?

 

[NBAfan]

That depends on what you mean by "traditionalist Anglican". From an Anglican point of view, Catholicism (of the Anglo-Catholic variety) is an innovation, not tradition. In the nineteenth century there were riots when parish churches started putting candles on the altar, so shockingly new (and shockingly Catholic) was it. (Even today the Church of Ireland specifically forbids the use of candles in church unless they are necessary for illumination.)

I believe that there are just as many converts from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism as there are the other way around, although they're never as well publicised. I think the real threat of mass defections, from Anglicanism's point of view, is on the evangelical side, not the Catholic one.

By traditionalist, I mean those who still things like Gay Marriage and Contraception to be wrong. They also have very liturgical services. There are many these traditionalist Anglican priests that are bringing their whole church with them to the Catholic Church.

I don't know how this translates to the European experience, but in much of the US, except where there are a lot of new Hispanics immigrants, the Catholic Church is fading because people just stop going to it, and even more, people stop becoming priests. It was more than a but surprising to me to be in a church in small town Vermont, and the priest was African. Not African-American, African. Apparently that's where they have to recruit priests from now.

The shortage of priests in America won't stay for long, seminary attendance rates are at an all time high across the country.

 

[Jehoshua]

The shortage of priests in America won't stay for long, seminary attendance rates are at an all time high across the country.

Actually this is true, and the same thing is occuring in Australia. Of course I wouldn't say seminary rates are soaring to pre- VatII heights but a generation shift is rapidly developing in the Church, and the signs are that the younger generation, although smaller is much more orthodox than the baby-boomer 60's children.

I believe I have heard this trend called the "biological solution" in regards to certain less than faithful trends amongst many in that generation.

 

[Leoreth]

You say low seminary rates are a result of the second Vatican council? Can you elaborate on that?

 

[GamezRule]

In the Catholic church, doctrines are changed with the word of the Pope. Is there any method to universally change the doctrines of the entire Eastern Orthodox community?

 

[ParkCungHee]

Link to video.

(Less-than-safe-for-work.)

Makes perfect sense to me, but then, I play Team Fortress.

 

[Jehoshua]

In the Catholic church, doctrines are changed with the word of the Pope. Is there any method to universally change the doctrines of the entire Eastern Orthodox community?

Actually the pope cannot change doctrine on a word. The Pope is bound by the dogma of the faith and the ordinary and universal magisterium of the Church just as everyone else is, he doesn't have the authority to change Church teaching.

What the pope can do is proclaim in rare instances that something is dogmatic (on matters of faith and morals) officially in an ex-cathedra capacity, in the knowledge that he would be preserved from error by the grace of the Holy Spirit (Papal Infallibility). However here he is still bound by Church teaching, it is simply impossible in Church teaching for the pope to revoke dogmatic teaching. That power is not within his or anyones authority

You say low seminary rates are a result of the second Vatican council? Can you elaborate on that?

No I did not say that, I said they were higher before the Second Vatican Council which is a statistical fact. I suggest that you not try and say that I said things that never came off my keyboard.