1. REL 101REL 101
Roman Catholicism in theRoman Catholicism in the
Context of ChristianityContext of Christianity

2. Christianity
Eastern Church Western Church
Great Schism 1054 a.d.

3. The Eastern Orthodox ChurchThe Eastern Orthodox Church
 22ndnd
largest Christianlargest Christian
communion –approx. 300communion –approx. 300
million Orthodox Christian.million Orthodox Christian.
 Orthodoxy is the largestOrthodoxy is the largest
single religious faith insingle religious faith in
Belarus (85%), BulgariaBelarus (85%), Bulgaria
(83%), Cyprus (80%),(83%), Cyprus (80%),
Georgia (89%), GreeceGeorgia (89%), Greece
(95%), Romania (87%),(95%), Romania (87%),
Serbia (84%), Russia (80%),Serbia (84%), Russia (80%),
and Ukraine (80%)and Ukraine (80%)

4. The Eastern Orthodox ChurchThe Eastern Orthodox Church
 Patriarch of Constantinople “firstPatriarch of Constantinople “first
among equals.”among equals.”

5. Sources of DoctrineSources of Doctrine
 The Scriptures, both the Old andThe Scriptures, both the Old and
New TestamentsNew Testaments
 Sacred Apostolic TraditionSacred Apostolic Tradition
 The Seven Ecumenical CouncilsThe Seven Ecumenical Councils

6. Means of SalvationMeans of Salvation
 The acceptance of Christ as theThe acceptance of Christ as the
Savior through confession in ChristSavior through confession in Christ
as the True God is the highest giftas the True God is the highest gift
given to the believer by the Holygiven to the believer by the Holy
Spirit. ...acceptance is his own choiceSpirit. ...acceptance is his own choice
through his own free will. This is whythrough his own free will. This is why
one is responsible for his own fate.one is responsible for his own fate.

7. View of Other DenominationsView of Other Denominations
 The Orthodox Church continuouslyThe Orthodox Church continuously
and without interruption is the trueand without interruption is the true
keeper of the truths of the Undividedkeeper of the truths of the Undivided
Church, without omissions orChurch, without omissions or
additions.additions.
 Orthodox do not seek to proselytizeOrthodox do not seek to proselytize
non-Orthodox Christians, butnon-Orthodox Christians, but
Orthodox who join a differentOrthodox who join a different
Christian church are apostates.Christian church are apostates.

8. The Western ChurchThe Western Church
The Western Church
Roman Catholicism
Lutheran
Reformed
Evangelical
Reformed/Presbyterian Anglican/Episcopalian Methodist/Wesleyan
Baptist Pentecostal

9. Roman CatholicismRoman Catholicism
 Largest ChristianLargest Christian
communion—1.2 billioncommunion—1.2 billion
members.members.
 17.77% of the total17.77% of the total
population in Africa,population in Africa,
63.10% in the Americas,63.10% in the Americas,
3.05% in Asia, 39.97%3.05% in Asia, 39.97%
in Europe, 26.21% inin Europe, 26.21% in
Oceania, and 17.40% ofOceania, and 17.40% of
the world population.the world population.

10. Roman CatholicismRoman Catholicism
 The head of theThe head of the
church is thechurch is the
Bishop of Rome.Bishop of Rome.
He is consideredHe is considered
to be Christ’sto be Christ’s
vicar on earthvicar on earth
 The current popeThe current pope
is Benedict XVI.is Benedict XVI.

11. Sources of DoctrineSources of Doctrine
 There are four sources of doctrine.There are four sources of doctrine.
• The BibleThe Bible
• The church fathersThe church fathers
• The pope (ex cathedra declarations)The pope (ex cathedra declarations)
• The Seven Ecumenical Councils andThe Seven Ecumenical Councils and
other Catholic councilsother Catholic councils

12. Means of SalvationMeans of Salvation
 Received at baptism; may be lost byReceived at baptism; may be lost by
mortal sin; regained by penancemortal sin; regained by penance
 Prevenient grace helps one believe;Prevenient grace helps one believe;
efficacious grace cooperates with theefficacious grace cooperates with the
human will to do goodhuman will to do good

13. View of Other DenominationsView of Other Denominations
 The sole Church of Christ which in theThe sole Church of Christ which in the
Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic,Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic,
and apostolic, subsists in the Catholicand apostolic, subsists in the Catholic
Church... Nevertheless, many elements ofChurch... Nevertheless, many elements of
sanctification and of truth are foundsanctification and of truth are found
outside its visible confines. (Catech. 870)outside its visible confines. (Catech. 870)
 Those "who believe in Christ and haveThose "who believe in Christ and have
been properly baptized are put in abeen properly baptized are put in a
certain, although imperfect, communioncertain, although imperfect, communion
with the Catholic Church.” (Catech. 838)with the Catholic Church.” (Catech. 838)

15. REL 101REL 101
Roman Catholicism in theRoman Catholicism in the
Context of ChristianityContext of Christianity
Part IIPart II

16. Review: Three Patterns of ReligionReview: Three Patterns of Religion
 The Prophetic: Focuses on the appearanceThe Prophetic: Focuses on the appearance
of the sacred through a message.of the sacred through a message.
 The Sacramental: Emphasizes theThe Sacramental: Emphasizes the
appearance of the sacred through physicalappearance of the sacred through physical
means.means.
 The Mystical: Stresses the appearance ofThe Mystical: Stresses the appearance of
the sacred to individuals who havethe sacred to individuals who have
achieved an “enlightened” state.achieved an “enlightened” state.

17. The Western ChurchThe Western Church
The Western Church
Roman Catholic
Lutheran
Reformed
Evangelical
Anglican/Episcopalian Presbyterian/Reformed Methodist/Wesleyan
Baptist Pentecostal

18. LutheranLutheran
 87 million Lutherans world
wide.
 Countries with the most
number of Lutherans:
Germany 12,937,410
USA 7,504,244
Sweden 6,751,952
Indonesia 5,630,968
Tanzania 5,302,727
Ethiopia 5,299,822
Finland 4,493,994
Denmark 4,492,216
Norway 4,013,362
Madagascar 3,000,000

19. Lutheran ChurchLutheran Church
 Indentifies withIndentifies with
the theology ofthe theology of
Martin LutherMartin Luther
(1483-1546)(1483-1546)
 SometimesSometimes
considered theconsidered the
father offather of
ProtestantismProtestantism

20.  Sacred Text: Holy Bible (Sacred Text: Holy Bible (Old TestamentOld Testament
andand New TestamentNew Testament only).only). ApocryphaApocrypha cancan
be "useful" reading and can help tobe "useful" reading and can help to
increase one's faith.increase one's faith.
 Creeds and Confessions: Apostles' Creed,Creeds and Confessions: Apostles' Creed,
Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Book ofNicene Creed, Athanasian Creed, Book of
Concord (includes Augsburg Confession,Concord (includes Augsburg Confession,
Small Catechism, Large Catechsim)Small Catechism, Large Catechsim)

21. Means of SalvationMeans of Salvation
 Faith in Christ is the only way toFaith in Christ is the only way to
obtain personal reconciliation withobtain personal reconciliation with
God: that is, forgiveness of sins.God: that is, forgiveness of sins.

22. ReformedReformed
 Reformed Tradition can be dividedReformed Tradition can be divided
into three groups:into three groups:
• Anglican/EpiscopalAnglican/Episcopal
• Presbyterian/ReformedPresbyterian/Reformed
• Methodist/WesleyanMethodist/Wesleyan

23. ReformedReformed
 Indentifies with theIndentifies with the
theology of Johntheology of John
Calvin (1509-1564).Calvin (1509-1564).

24. Anglican/EpiscopalAnglican/Episcopal
 Approx. 80 millionApprox. 80 million
members of themembers of the
worldwide Anglicanworldwide Anglican
communion.communion.
 Head is theHead is the
Archbishop ofArchbishop of
Canterbury*Canterbury* (The formal(The formal
head is Queen Elizabeth.)head is Queen Elizabeth.)

25. Anglican/EpiscopalAnglican/Episcopal
 Tends toward aTends toward a
liberal interpretationliberal interpretation
of Scripture.of Scripture.
 Tends towardTends toward
liturgical formalityliturgical formality
andand
sacramentalism.sacramentalism.

26. Presbyterian/ReformedPresbyterian/Reformed
 Originated inOriginated in
Switzerland andSwitzerland and
Scotland.Scotland.
 Approx. 75 millionApprox. 75 million
membersmembers
worldwideworldwide
(40 million(40 million
Presbyterian & 35Presbyterian & 35
million Reformed)million Reformed)

27. Presbyterian/ReformedPresbyterian/Reformed
 Tends toward a conservativeTends toward a conservative
interpretation of Scripture.interpretation of Scripture.
 Emphasizes a congregationalEmphasizes a congregational
structure.structure.
 Retains traditional ChristianRetains traditional Christian
sacraments and liturgical settings butsacraments and liturgical settings but
emphasizes proclamation.emphasizes proclamation.

28. Methodist/ WesleyanMethodist/ Wesleyan
 Founded by JohnFounded by John
Wesley (1703-Wesley (1703-
1791).1791).
 Approx. 75 millionApprox. 75 million
membersmembers
worldwide each.worldwide each.

29.  Sacred Texts: Holy Bible (Sacred Texts: Holy Bible (
Old TestamentOld Testament andand New TestamentNew Testament
only)only)
 Creeds and Confessions: Apostles'Creeds and Confessions: Apostles'
Creed, Nicene Creed, WestminsterCreed, Nicene Creed, Westminster
ConfessionConfession
 Tends to retain some of theTends to retain some of the
sacramental/liturgical heritage ofsacramental/liturgical heritage of
Anglicanism.Anglicanism.

30. Means of SalvationMeans of Salvation
 "We are able to choose God because"We are able to choose God because
God first chose us."God first chose us."
 ““The final destiny of each person isThe final destiny of each person is
determined by God's grace and thatdetermined by God's grace and that
person's response, evidencedperson's response, evidenced
inevitably by a moral character whichinevitably by a moral character which
results from that individual'sresults from that individual's
personal and volitional choices.”personal and volitional choices.”
(Wesleyanism.org)(Wesleyanism.org)

31. EvangelicalEvangelical

32. BaptistBaptist
 Traces beginningsTraces beginnings
back to early 17back to early 17thth
century.century.
 Approx. 90 millionApprox. 90 million
worldwide (47worldwide (47
million in U.S.)million in U.S.)

33. BaptistBaptist
 Theology of believer'sTheology of believer's
baptism (as opposedbaptism (as opposed
to infant baptism).to infant baptism).
 Salvation through faithSalvation through faith
alone.alone.
 Scripture alone as theScripture alone as the
rule of faith andrule of faith and
practice.practice.
 Stresses the autonomyStresses the autonomy
of the local church.of the local church.
 Rejects use ofRejects use of
authoritative creeds.authoritative creeds.

34. PentecostalismPentecostalism
 There are anThere are an
estimated 250estimated 250
million Pentecostalsmillion Pentecostals
world wide.world wide.
 There is no oneThere is no one
founder offounder of
Pentecostalism. ItPentecostalism. It
grew out of thegrew out of the
WesleyanWesleyan
movement in themovement in the
late 19late 19thth
and earlyand early
2020thth
century.century.

35. PentecostalPentecostal
 Places a specialPlaces a special
emphasis on immediateemphasis on immediate
or direct personalor direct personal
experience of God.experience of God.
 Stresses a baptism inStresses a baptism in
the Holy Spirit andthe Holy Spirit and
extraordinary spiritualextraordinary spiritual
gifts.gifts.
 Pentecostalism covers aPentecostalism covers a
wide range of groupswide range of groups
and theologies. Someand theologies. Some
are Trinitarian; othersare Trinitarian; others
are non-Trinitarian.are non-Trinitarian.