Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholicism questions and answers
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Q: I need help please: To compare and contrast Roman Catholicism with Christianity Protestants ?
I am writing a Report on Chistianity. Part of the report is to compare and contrast my religion of choice with another religion.
I would like to compare and contrast Roman Catholicism with Christianity Protestants
What I want to know is how I can do these effectively compare and contrast? Any ideas are welcome!
A: How Christendom Became a Part of This World
IN TIME the Roman Empire, in which early Christianity began, collapsed. Many historians claim that that collapse was also the time of the final victory of Christianity over paganism. Expressing a different viewpoint, Anglican bishop E. W. Barnes wrote: “As classical civilization collapsed, Christianity ceased to be the noble faith of Jesus the Christ: it became a religion useful as the social cement of a world in dissolution.”—The Rise of Christianity.
Before that collapse, during the second, third, and fourth centuries C.E., history records that in many ways those who claimed to follow Jesus kept themselves separate from the Roman world. But it also reveals the development of apostasy in doctrine, conduct, and organization, just as Jesus and his apostles had foretold. (Matthew 13:36-43; Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; 2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-22) Eventually compromises came to be made with the Greco-Roman world, and some who claimed to be Christian adopted the world’s paganism (such as its festivals and its worship of a mother-goddess and a triune god), its philosophy (such as belief in an immortal soul), and its administrative organization (seen in the appearance of a clergy class). It was this corrupted version of Christianity that attracted the pagan masses and became a force that the Roman emperors first tried to stamp out but later came to terms with and endeavored to use to their own ends.
Conquered by the World
Church historian Augustus Neander showed the risks involved in this new relationship between “Christianity” and the world. If Christians sacrificed their separateness from the world, “the consequence would be a confusion of the church with the world . . . whereby the church would forfeit her purity, and, while seeming to conquer, would herself be conquered,” he wrote.—General History of the Christian Religion and Church, Volume 2, page 161.
This is what happened. In the early fourth century, Roman emperor Constantine tried to use the “Christian” religion of his day to cement his disintegrating empire. To this end, he granted professed Christians religious freedom and transferred some of the privileges of the pagan priesthood to their clergy class. The New Encyclopædia Britannica states: “Constantine brought the church out of its withdrawal from the world to accept social responsibility and helped pagan society to be won for the church.”
State Religion
After Constantine, Emperor Julian (361-363 C.E.) made an attempt to oppose Christianity and restore paganism. But he failed, and some 20 years later, Emperor Theodosius I banned paganism and imposed Trinitarian “Christianity” as the State religion of the Roman Empire. With adroit precision, French historian Henri Marrou wrote: “By the end of the reign of Theodosius, Christianity, or to be more precise, orthodox Catholicism, became the official religion of the entire Roman world.” Orthodox Catholicism had replaced true Christianity and had become a “part of the world.” This State religion was vastly different from the religion of Jesus’ early followers, to whom he said: “You are no part of the world.”—John 15:19.
French historian and philosopher Louis Rougier wrote: “As it spread, Christianity underwent strange mutations to the point of becoming unrecognizable. . . . The primitive church of the poor, which lived by charity, became a triumphalist church that came to terms with the powers that be when it was unable to dominate them.”
In the early fifth century C.E., Roman Catholic “Saint” Augustine wrote his major work The City of God. In it he described two cities, “that of God and that of the world.” Did this work accentuate the separation between Catholics and the world? Not really. Professor Latourette states: “Augustine frankly recognized [that] the two cities, the earthly and the heavenly, are intermingled.” Augustine taught that “the Kingdom of God has already begun in this world with the institution of the [Catholic] church.” (The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Macropædia, Volume 4, page 506) Thus, whatever Augustine’s original purpose may have been, his theories had the effect of involving the Catholic Church more deeply in the political affairs of this world.
A Divided Empire
In 395 C.E., when Theodosius I died, the Roman Empire was officially divided in two. The Eastern, or Byzantine, Empire had its capital at Constantinople (formerly Byzantium, now Istanbul), and the Western Empire had its capital (after 402 C.E.) at Ravenna, Italy. As a result, Christendom became divided politically and also religiously. With regard to relations between Church and State, the church in the Eastern Empire followed the theory of Eusebius of Caesarea (a contemporary of Constantine the Great). Ignoring the Christian principle of separateness from the world, Eusebius reasoned that if the emperor and the empire became Christian, Church and State would become a singl
Q: Roman Catholicism?
I'm going to a monastery this summer and I know nothing about Catholicism! I want and need to know something before I spend time there. I do have a monk friend there but I don't want him to know I don't know a thing about his religion! Any Catholics please help!
A: I recommend (oddly, again to another person) that you read The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus. It is the 'handbook' of monastic life.
Q: If Queen Elizabeth II converted to Roman Catholicism, what would happen? Would she have to abdicate?
Okay, I know that there is very little chance of this happening. But then again, with all the changes and conflict in the Church Of England right now, you never know...
If the Queen all of a sudden converted to Roman Catholicism, what would happen?
A: It's an interesting question and I'm afraid the law isn't very clear about it.
It is certain, of course, the heir must belong to the Anglican Church UPON successioin, however it doesn't specify what would happen if he/she were to convert.
I guess the decision of the kind would be so controversial that the Monarch would have to abdicate, unless the Parliament clarified the matter in a way that would prevent that.
There is also a possibility that should any such thing happen, it would have been a perfect occasion to change the current laws and allow equal rights to Anglicans and Catholics.
This said, I still believe that while the current law that prevents people in the Line of the Succession marrying Catholics will be abolished some time in future, it would always be desirable that the Monarch himeslf/herself does belong to the Anglican Church. He/She would be the Head of the Anglican Church, after all.
Q: In Roman Catholicism, what is believed to have happened to babies that were in Limbo prior to Vatican II?
In the past the Roman Catholic Church considered babies who died unbaptized to be in Limbo, not in heaven, not in hell. After Vatican II, any babies like that went automatically to heaven. Did they make any stipulations about babies previously deceased?
A: I'm pretty sure the Vatican doesn't ultimately decide who goes to heaven or not...
Q: What is the difference between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy? ?
When i mean this I mean the beliefs of each and how they differ, not their history. Be as detailed as possible.
A: Orthodox wont allow anyone on the altar but the priest...
Q: What are the main differences between Roman Catholicism and the Russian Orthodox Church?
Apart from the location of where the majority of worshipers of each Church live...
A: Roman Catholic Church was part of Orthodox Church before it split away from the true church established by Jesus' disciples. In orthodox churches, holy communion is given to kids immediately upon baptism, but RC churches do it in a separate function after kids grow to an age of 7-8. Orthodox churches believe that every clean person, who is a baptized member of the church is eligible to receive holy communion and that is why they give it to kids immediately after their baptism.
Priests are not allowed to marry in RC, while in Orthodox churches priests are allowed to marry, before ordainment. Married Priests can not become Bishops.
Orthodox Churches do not give holy communion to anyone except their members; whereas in RC no such restrictions.
RC gives lot of importance to Idolization of Jesus and saints, while orthodox churches use only paintings to remember them. They do not consider such pictures holy, but are used only for remembrance. But in RC, they carry idols of saints and Jesus on celebrations.
Orthodox Church consider all saints including mother of Jesus equally. But in RC, Mary is placed above all saints, and they teach to chant "hail mary" prayer continuously for 40-45 times. Orthodox churches do not teach ranting and Mary is honored as the mother of Jesus.
RC uses cross with Jesus hanging on it, while Orthodox churches use empty cross. RC gives importance to crucified Christ and also infant Jesus. But in orthodox churches, they only consider resurrected Christ. The Church believes that without resurrection, there would not have been Christianity. It is the resurrection of the Christ that gives hope to everyone and if he wasn't resurrected, his crucifixion would have been worthless.
All RC churches are under Pope, while orthodox churches are having their own regional Catholicos or Patriarchs.
Q: Is there any evidence of Christians existing outside of roman catholicism prior to the reformation
It's generally accepted that Christians followed the teaching of Christ up until Constantine making it the official religion of Rome. And thereafter, that was the only form of Christianity known to men until the Reformation. And that being a Christian automatically meant being Catholic. Is there any evidence of individuals, groups, cultures or societies during that time who rejected the corruption that catholicism brought to the Bible?
A: There were all sorts of heresies during the entire Christian era. Among them were the Manichaean heresy, the Albigensian heresy, the Monophysite heresy, and many more. And of course there was the Great Schism, in which the Eastern and Western churches split.
Of course, heresy is always defined by the people who win the war and wipe out the "heretics."
Q: How many are aware of the war raging between Roman Catholicism and Freemasonry?
A: It can hardly be called a war because it is one-sided. The Roman Catholic Church, officially, is intolerant of Freemasons and will refuse communion to a Catholic who joins.
But the masons have never forbidden Catholics to join, and in fact, despite the official church prohibition, quite a number of Catholics are Freemasons.
Q: What is meant by "good works" in Roman Catholicism?
Martin Luther protested the Church's use of good works for salvation.
What is an example of a good work?
A: being kind, giving to charity, helping the sick.
Q: Did Roman Catholicism borrow from Ancient Egyptian paganism?
There are so many similarities between the two religions. Dan Brown highlighted this in his book The Da Vinci Code. For example, the halos of Christian saints were said to have been copied from Ancient Egyptian sun disks on the heads of deities. Also, u have Isis & Horus & Madonna & Child. The Egyptians had parton gods for many things - the sun, sky, household, river, earth etc. Similarly, Catholics have patron saints for all sorts of items.
How do u explain the similarities?
A: While Dan Brown did research for The DaVinci Code, it's not the best source for comparison. Anything the church adopted must be seen in the light of it's spread after becoming the official faith of the Roman Empire and the influence of the Greeek scholars that interpreted much of the ancient world for their Roman students.
Q: How Roman Catholicism relate to the development of Christianity
A: Christianity started with Jesus' earliest followers as recorded in the Gospels and the book of Acts.
In the first few hundred years after this, the church in the East and the Church in the West started to separate some, especially as the bishop in the west started asserting more authority.
Ultimately, you find a break and you get teh West: Roman Catholicism and the East: Orthodox Church.
Then about 1500, you get Martin Luther and company who were part of the Roman Catholic Church who break away with the Protestant Reformation and start the Protestant Church ... which is probably what you are referring to when you say "Christianity."
Hope that helps,
mike
Q: whats the difference between irish and roman catholicism?
just wondering what the major differences were.
A: The Irish beat their wives and the roman's beat off to child pornography.
Q: What is the main difference between Roman Catholicism and The Church of England?
I just was wondering because I am Roman Catholic and wanted to know what the difference was.
Please say the difference in beliefs, worship and so on.
Thanks
N3xtG3nGam3r99
A: The Roman Catholic Church is ruled by the Pope from Rome.
The Church of England is a protestant church that does not recognise the rule of Rome and has as it`s figure head the ruling Monarch.
There are no real differences of belief, but not so much emphasis is placed on the BVM and the Saints and the grandeur has been somewhat `toned down` in the CofE, but that is a bit debatable at times !
CofE Vicars are mostly married, RC Priests take a vow of celibacy.
There a few differences in ritual, but, that is the essence of the differences.
Oh and the split from Rome was much more complicated than a `divorce` issue and had rather more depth to it than Robin Williams could portray.
It was much more about that good church thing .. Money.. and the huge amount of tax paid to Rome when Henry had a war going on and a navy to build.
I assume a bit of philosophy was applied to the matter as
the CofE was not the only Christian Church to split from Rome.
Q: Following upon my question about Roman Catholicism, a lay preacher friend of mine who I regarded as the only ?
truly Christian I have met, told me that only baptised people may get in to heaven, in other words he told me for instance that a baby born unbaptised, or races who are not Christians cannot enter heaven. I just can't reconcile this with my beliefs that hell is here on earth if you let it be. I would really welcome your comments, as religion causes so much war and suffering.
A: Oh, Camilla!
You've opened the floodgates.
There is no God.
Q: Is it hypocritical for Sunday keeping Christians to deride Roman Catholicism?
A: I am confused by your question. did you mean Seventh Day Adventists which worship on Saturday?
Or, is a "Sunday keeper" somehow a more righteous or theologically correct Christian?
In any event, Romanism should be derided for the heresy it is, killing Christ every Sunday to keep paying for sins He paid for once and for all.
Ath