Robert Barron is an American professional who focuses on theology and shares his knowledge through his books. Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith is one of his writings that discusses religion that is close to the author. Barron speaks about those features of Catholicism that provide it with an opportunity to distinguish itself from other religions.
Barrons book starts with the introduction that is focused on the identification of the Catholic thing (8). He considers that the enfleshment of God is the major element that should be discussed. In particular, Barron states that the Word of God turned into flesh and entered the world of bodies peacefully (8). While other legends and philosophies discuss the interaction between people and gods, they mention that divine figures are ruled by aggression and bring harm to human beings and nature.
In Catholicism, on the other hand, God comes to help the worlds population and to save everyone. He benefits people instead of hurting them. Moreover, He expects people to follow his example and start bearing some divine features. This religion presupposes the great humanism that is critical for the public. Even though some may believe that the doctrine of the Incarnation is the main feature that is to be considered when identifying Catholicism, it is vital to pay attention to the fact that it does not distinguish this religion from other Christian churches.
In addition to the identification of those features that make Catholicism unique, Barron outlines what will be discussed further in his book in the introduction to it (10). The author claims that he is willing to let readers acknowledge the artifacts of Catholicism. He speaks about his desire to reveal what separates Jesus from others and how his teachings lead people on the path to joy. Moreover, the author states that Catholic Church is a mystical body that is not only focused on the opportunity to praise God but also to make ordinary people holy.
Barron believes that God is willing to develop a friendship with human beings, and the way people respond to His divine love identifies how they will be treated eventually (12). Finally, the author makes readers realize that the Catholic tradition is full of various artworks (stories, images, and buildings, etc.) but has a technical nature, associated with well-grounded arguments and intellectual passages.
His first chapter, Amazed and Afraid, Barron starts with unexpected humor, which may make readers think that his writing is not academic and opposes generally accepted views on spirituality and its gravity (14). The author states that the fact that God became human has the essence of comedy because this powerful creator turned into a weak little baby by his will. In this way, Christianity presupposes that people should not be too serious. This approach is not strange, as Christianity is not a philosophy or ideology, considering its primary focus; it is a relationship to the change of Jesus as a man to Jesus as God.
Barron also attracts attention to the fact that even spiritual individuals do not know much information about Jesuss life before he started speaking to masses (16). Everyone acknowledges how he was born, but no one has an idea of what he was doing during the next thirty years. This fact makes the figure of Jesus even more mysterious. Moreover, he also wanted to get to know what others think about him. For instance, asking who do people say that I am, Jesus reveals that he is interested in the way people treat his identity (Barron 17).
He is not concerned of what they say about his teaching but focuses on his person. This element makes him different from many other religious founders because they urge their followers not to think of them as of some individuals but to consider their spiritual way and those moral recommendations they make. In comparison to the Buddha, Mohammed or even Confucius, Jesus seem to position himself as a man who attracts attention not to his words but to himself.
However, this fact does not mean that Jesus fails to treat his teachings appropriately, it means that he acts in the person of God and wants others to get to know more about Him. Further, Barron develops this idea, discussing Jesuss words and actions as those that live even after his death, focusing on Testaments and outstanding events.
In the second chapter, for instance, he speaks about Jesuss teachings, emphasizing that even though he shared them with the crowds, he was not eager to be treated as Messiah. Nevertheless, the power of his speech is undeniable because even when many of his disciples left, this inner circle rested to obtain more information about eternal life. Barron claims that Catholicism presupposes freedom, as those laws described by Jesus are aligned with joy, and people are not compelled to act in a particular way but have an opportunity to make their own decisions (37).
Moreover, regardless of the fact that some beatitudes seem to bear negative connotation, they can and should be interpreted differently. Even being on the cross, Jesus loved Gods will and was positively approached, he urged people not to harm each other and to love even enemies, developing a new vision.
Further, Barron discusses the mystery of God in the Catholic tradition, emphasizing that He is a being but higher than typical people are. He does not exist at any particular time or place in the world and does not belong to any cosmic objects but He can be observed through His creatures and effects (56). God is the one who knows what is good and what is bad while people do not have this information. As evil is there where there is no God, people are encouraged to follow Him.
Still, they are free to make any choices that is why they tend to repeat errors of their predecessors. Barron believes that God became a creator because he had no needs of his own but He had the love that He wanted to express (68). The Trinity also reveals a family of love.
In the sixth chapter, Barron reveals that the church means a lot for Catholics because they treat it as a sacrament of Jesus that shares his energy instead of being just a place for gathering people who have similar ideas. The church becomes Gods body with the help of which He reaches people that is why Catholics say that the church is one. Moreover, it is holy because it represents Jesus and his love. The term catholic reveals both the internal integrity of the church and its universal outreach (Barron 152).
Finally, it is apostolic, as it is grounded on those people who belonged to Jesuss inner circle. Thus, the Catholic Church is a body with all vital organs, the head of which is Jesus. Saying I am the vine, you are branches, he encouraged others to gather under his protection (Barron 133). In this way, it is not surprising that Catholics visit the church rather often, and reveal their willingness to be more than just a human institution.
In the sevens chapter, the author states that Catholic liturgical life is associated with gatherings of different people who forget about their diversity and focus on the desire to become closer to God (Barron 159). At the Mass, they sing and pray to Him, listen to His Word, receiving this message from priests. People focus on the real presence of God and Jesus, as they have an opportunity to try his flesh and blood. In this way, communion with the Lord that changes all people who participate in it is held. It is believed to the source of the Christian life that unites all pious Catholics.
Thus, Barron develops a guide to the Church that includes important information about theological tracts and even focuses on such controversial topics as abortion and sexuality. The author resorts to inspirational stories and shares information through his own narrative, which makes him closer to readers. He researchers Catholicism from different perspectives, ensuring that the newcomers to the faith receive an opportunity to obtain all information that may be needed. Moreover, he adds various images of those paintings, cathedrals, and other objects that were affected by religion.
Work Cited
Barron, Robert. Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith. Image Books, 2011.
Catholic nun Mother Teresa dedicated her life to helping the sick, elderly, and needy. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, in 1910 and adopted the name Teresa when she entered the Sisters of Loreto at the age of 18 (Alpion, 2021). For most of her life, Mother Teresa lived in India, where the woman started the nuns’ order known as the Missionaries of Charity, which is devoted to helping the weak and disadvantaged. The woman became one of the most well-known and revered figures in the Catholic Church as a result of her unselfish aid and compassion, and she still serves as an example for many people throughout the globe. The Catholic Church recognized her heroic virtues and her intercession in the Church by canonizing her as a saint; this event has been unique in recent years and is truly important for the Catholic Church.
Discussion
Mother Teresa was raised in a Catholic household and was the youngest of three children. She sensed a tremendous desire to help others and give her life to God from a young age. The woman left her home and family when she was 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto, a group of Catholic nuns with ministries in India (Alpion, 2021). Teresa finished her basic training in Ireland, where she also took her first religious vows and learned English.
Mother Teresa was dispatched to India to complete her training and start teaching in a Calcutta-area Catholic school. She spent a few years both teaching and learning about Indian culture. Her time in Calcutta strengthened her dedication to helping the underprivileged, and she felt a strong calling to work with them. The woman took her final religious vows in 1931 and changed her name to Teresa in honor of the French nun and mystic Saint Teresa of Lisieux, who had served as an inspiration to her (Alpion, 2021). Her strong faith and desire to help others defined Mother Teresa’s religious vocation. Teresa regarded her work with the underprivileged as a means to serve God and carry out her calling to become a nun. Her encounters with the poor and suffering people of Calcutta profoundly impacted her and influenced her spiritual and humanitarian vocation.
Mother Teresa was strongly called to provide more outstanding direct care for the sick and poor in Calcutta. Teresa was inspired to act by the poverty and misery she saw on the streets of Calcutta. The Mother felt called to live among the needy and provide direct assistance to them, leaving the comfort and protection of her convent. After receiving approval from her superiors, she left the Loreto Convent in 1948 and started helping the underprivileged in the slums of Calcutta (Alpion, 2021). Mother Teresa established the Missionaries of Charity, a nunnery devoted to assisting the needy, in 1950 (Alpion, 2021). The group started off by giving the underprivileged food, shelter, and healthcare before quickly expanding to other nations. The Missionaries of Charity promptly gained a reputation for their unselfish dedication and compassion by helping some of the world’s most neglected and underprivileged communities.
The modest yet practical mission of the Missionaries of Charity was to love and serve the poorest of the poor. The foundation of the group was benevolence, simplicity, and humility. Mother Teresa and her nuns made a commitment to serving the underprivileged and living among them without seeking praise or reward. The group was dedicated to upholding the customs and traditions of the communities they worked with. A pivotal moment in Mother Teresa’s life and the start of her humanitarian mission was the formation of the Missionaries of Charity. Teresa was able to help the sick and needy on a much grander scale through her organization, and she had a significant impact on the lives of many individuals who were in need. In more than 130 countries today, the Missionaries of Charity are still working to help the poor and defenseless, upholding Mother Teresa’s original goals and objectives.
Mother Teresa’s humanitarian work was distinguished by her unselfish commitment to helping the ill and underprivileged. The woman devoted the majority of her life to helping those in need by founding hospitals, orphanages, and other philanthropic organizations in India (Alpion, 2021). Teresa also promoted the rights of the poor and disenfranchised and tried to increase awareness of the pain and poverty that exist in the world. Many groups and governments applauded her work, and she was given various honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
Health treatment for the sick and impoverished was one of Mother Teresa’s key humanitarian goals. To help those in need, she founded hospitals, clinics, and health facilities in numerous locations around India and other nations. The doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel working in these hospitals and clinics gave the sick and poor free medical attention. Teresa also made helping the dying and the underprivileged a priority in her work (Alpion, 2021). The Mother started hospices and homes for cessation where the ill and poor were treated with respect. In order to care for children who had been abandoned or orphaned, she also founded orphanages.
Mother Teresa also made an effort to increase public awareness of global poverty and suffering. She advocated for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised at conferences, protests, and events all around the world (Alpion, 2021). Additionally, Teresa used her platform to advocate for causes like hunger, poverty, and war. People of different religions and backgrounds connected with her message of compassion and service, and numerous groups and countries honored her. Many groups and governments acknowledged Mother Teresa for her humanitarian work. Multiple people all across the world are still being inspired by her work and message of compassion and service.
The process through which the Catholic Church deems a deceased person to be a saint and states that they may be invoked and honored in the Church’s liturgy is known as canonization. The canonization procedure is drawn out and complicated, and it entails a number of phases, including an evaluation of the candidate’s life and writings, a review of miracles credited to their intercession, and final confirmation by the Pope. The Archbishop of Calcutta started the process of canonizing Mother Teresa in 1999, which was two years after her passing. Her beatification, which was the first step toward canonization, was approved by Pope John Paul II in 2003 (Alpion, 2021). A miracle credited to her intercession had to be verified in order for her to be declared beatified. The benefit in question was the removal of a tumor from an Indian woman named Monica Besra’s abdomen after she had a necklace with Mother Teresa’s image placed on it.
The Catholic Church’s recognition of Mother Teresa’s heroic characteristics and her intervention in the Church through the canonization of her as a saint is significant. Following the approval of a second miracle credited to her intercession—the recovery of a Brazilian man with numerous brain abscesses—by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis authorized her canonization as a saint of the Catholic Church in 2016 (Alpion, 2021). It also celebrates the influence she had on the Catholic Church and the broader world via her life and work. Her canonization is a source of encouragement for Catholics and people of all faiths since it serves as a demonstration of the effectiveness of kindness and selfless service.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mother Teresa was a nun who practiced Catholicism and devoted her life to helping the sick, elderly, and needy. Her strong faith and desire to help others were defining characteristics of her early life and convent vocation. In several nations around the world, she established the Missionaries of Charity, a nunnery devoted to helping the poor and vulnerable. Her humanitarian activity was distinguished by her unselfish commitment to supporting the ill and impoverished, founding hospitals, orphanages, and other benevolent organizations, as well as spreading awareness of global poverty and suffering. As a result of her heroic qualities, her fervent prayers on behalf of the Church, and the influence of her life and work on both the Catholic Church and the wider world, she was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. Through the work of the Missionaries of Charity, her legacy is still being carried on, and her message of kindness and service continues to motivate countless people all over the world.
Reference
Alpion, G. (2021). Mother Teresa: The saint and her nation. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Contemporary Roman Catholicism embraces a lot of biblical beliefs like most churches in the world do. Contemporary Roman Catholic Church has gone through several political, social, and religious tumults all over the world. However, their understanding of God through the Bible has grown very strong across the period.
Any religion in the world has its Bible, which governs and helps followers and believers in their everyday lives; the Roman Catholic Church has extraordinarily strong ties to their Bible, too. The Bible marks the foundation of Catholicism and Christianity grown on the pillars of the book’s contents, its translation, and importantly its interpretation among the believers.
The Bible as an inspired sacred writing has a divergent and varied understanding beyond scientific analysis. Roman Catholic Church has gone through difficult times like many Christians regarding Judaism faith and other sacred literature. Roman Catholicism uses the Bible as a divine book that God communicates with from old prophetic times to the times of Jesus’ reign. The Bible is a book under God’s own co-authorization.
The writers were inspired and directed by the Holy Spirit according to God’s plan. The book was written by God’s directions. The Contemporary Roman Catholic Church has remained united by their teachings and understanding of the Bible throughout difficult political times. The Biblical teaching and interpretation have remained the main tool that guides Christians and strengthens their faith in God.
Introduction
The paper focuses on Contemporary Roman Catholic Church in the Bible through their teachings, interpretations, and religious movements. To underscore its aim, the paper uses scripture guidelines and puts them side by side with Catholicism. This is very vital since Protestantism has influenced many Western countries in the modern society.
Consequently, Catholics’ identification of God has come mainly through the Bible. They have come to realize that God’s communications are set in the Bible. Additionally, the church believes that the Bible is uniquely written to meet every individual satisfaction without reliance on interpretation from any other party in the magisterium of the church.
However, Roman Catholics face difficulty in selecting materials to believe since the churches are flooded with scriptures of almost similar content. In creating catholic understanding of the Bible, the paper brings out some biblical aspects that guide and help catholic believers in their everyday lives. It also highlights reasons why Catholics have fought strong wars and political tensions in defense of the Bible.
Catholics strongly believe that only the word of God can unite the world as shown in the Holy Writ. Catholics take the Bible to be a revelation that God presents Himself through. The Bible hence makes people develop friendships between themselves and God. Without the Bible, there would be no freedom between man and God as strangers can never agree on similar terms. Revelation among Roman Catholics can be seen in different forms.
Catholicism Revelation
Natural revelation is seen from the creations of God and the development of the human mind. The Old Testament in the Bible is devoted to expressing natural revelation of God to man through the creation stories. Catholic believers acknowledge the power of God through the creation process. Consequently, the power of mind is revealed in the book of Wisdom. The book criticizes those who do not apply their rationality in almost its nine chapters.
The book emphasizes the openness of God’s revelation to man; those who do not believe hold no excuse. “They strive to comprehend them and fall victim to appearance, seeing so much beauty” Wisdom (13: 1-9). The verse continues, “Even so, they are not to be excused; if they are capable of acquiring enough knowledge to be able to investigate the world, how have they been so slow to find their Master?”
Wisdom (13: 1-9). St. Paul also denounces those who do not believe in God as His actions are enough massage to enable each and everyone to believe in Him (Rom 1: 18-23). Catholics believe in the Bible as their revelation to the Master as per the teaching of the verses.
Catholics understand the supernatural revelation of God to man through the Bible. Supernatural revelation is shown in the Old Testament when God directly or indirectly talked to ancestors through prophets as shown in Hebrews. In the recent days, God spoke to man through his son Jesus, the son who is the glory of God and His copy (Hebrews 1: 1-2).
From supernatural revelation, Catholics have come to believe in the Holy Trinity. God is presented as the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Son. This is a unique sign and practice within the Roman Catholic Church.
Roman Catholic Churches have their traditions, which are controlled by God’s past revelations as in the Bible. There are sacred traditions and ecclesiastical traditions that hold the Church together. Church traditions known as magisterium have been the tool that Roman Catholic Church fights with.
The Church sends instructions about God through apostles such as Roman Pontiff, who is seen as the successor to St. Peter. Also, The Pope is the Christ Vicar and the head of Catholic Church. Despite changes in doctrines, from Old Testament times there has been no significant change over divine revelation and accretion. The bible hence can be seen as a tool that has maintained Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church believes in and teaches God’s inspiration. According to prophet Hosea, the authorship of Pentateuch is ascribed to God himself (Hosea 8: 12). David’s Psalm is ascribed to His authorship as well, “Lord, you are He who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David …have said” (Acts: 24-25).
God as the author of the Old Testament is also shown in the New Testament with St. Peters. Peter says, “No prophecy of Scripture is made private by interpretation. For the prophecy comes not by the will of man at any time, but the holy men of God spoke inspired by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2). Peter and Paul warned the Church against false prophets as the old prophets did. The Roman Church as well warns against false prophets from the biblical lessons.
Pope Clement 1 was the first pope to pronounce the sacred books to Corinthians as true words of the Holy Spirit (Letter to the Corinthians, 45). These words were later repeated by Pope Eugenius IV who combined the Old and New Testaments in the understanding of the Church of Rome as inspiration of Holy Spirit. Catholics believe in the Bible is the sacred book inspired by God.
However, the church as well has been facing a crisis of the Bible in regards to several issues. Believers have developed the so-called mind violence based on inerrancy. This comes out because of errors in the modern Bible made by scholars. it in its turn has made some of the Catholic believers take the Bible with less respect than they perceived before.
The Bible is expected to hold no contradictions that any form of such error raises doubts on its inspirational nature. In such stances, people tend to believe that the book was never inspirational rather it was a human authored. The challenges of many texts also raise many doubts as people get confused over the original text. This is difficult for some people as they fall into the confusion.
Roman Catholicism Doctrines
The Roman Catholicism is also identified by its biblical Canon. As a Holy and inspired book, the Bible’s canonical writing is used in the church as the only rule and standard in the Church for teaching and liturgy. The Bible, on the other hand, is a norm of practices and faith among the believers’ virtue. Contemporary Catholicism has canonized the Bible in their beliefs. The canons are found both in the Old and the New Testament as the foundation of sacred agreements between God and the man.
The Catholic canons, hence, owe their origin from the biblical during the Old Testament. Examples of the canons are the Alexandria and Palestinian canon and the Jewish Mosaic law found in the Testaments. The New Testament canons contain all the books that were released by Saint Damascus. These form the binding agreements between the catholic believers and their Church.
The Contemporary Roman Church owes its doctrines’ development to the Bible. The church doctrines are the beginning of God’s revelation and understanding. The dogmatic nature of the doctrines allows the church to grow not only by additional faith mysteries and accretions but also conferred insights by the Holy Spirit. The dogmas are authentically approved by Catholic Church to aid the believers in walking in the right path.
The church doctrines are traced back to God. They are opened by his creation stories and command to man. Consequently, they became more open in the Old Testament in Gods Revelation to the Jews through the prophets and other different means. These enabled the Jews to remain united and develop a stronger faith. Doctrines chronologically grew and got passed from generation to generation of the Church.
In the New Testament, the revelation of the doctrines developed immensely. This can be seen in the Last Supper when Jesus tells the disciples, “I shall not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know His master business. I call you friends because I have made known to you everything I have learned from my Father” (John 15: 15).
The Trinity is one of the most mysterious doctrines that was revealed and is practiced in the contemporary Catholicism. The church believes that Yahweh revealed himself through prophets in the Old Testament and through His only son in the New Testament. The fact that Jesus dwelt among men is a son of God’s revelation and redemption.
Catholic Epistles, which include letters of Apostle Peter, John, James and Jude have been studied by Roman Catholic Church since their inception from Lusebius from Caesarea. The books mark unique distinction of the church from other religions and the protestant groups. The contemporary church has continued with this practice by ensuring that the believers are provided by with the best Bibles for their study.
The Conception of the three-fold anointment practiced by the Catholic Church is biblically traceable. The Messiah was expected to be a priest, a teacher, and a King, who were anointed by God. These Old Testament versions symbolise the triad of code and the creed found in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Church has hierarchical system that bore its roots to the Testaments as well. The priests are ordained people who once served as Catholic deacons and teachers. They are highly respected people and serve as God’s messengers who bring the word of God to the Church.
Church Annunciation
The Catholic Church annunciation is one of most practices carried out by the contemporary church. Mary Magdalene is referred to as Hail Mary in the Catholic Bible. This translates to a person full of grace. According to Catholicism, Mary is blessed by God to be the mother of Jesus. God uses Mary for redemption of the world. This makes Mary a revered symbol in the contemporary Catholic Church.
Through Holy Mary, God was able to communicate to the world. Christmas celebration among the Roman Catholic Church includes teachings and praises over Mary. Catholics are strengthened to believe in God like Mary who had no doubt in angel’s message. The church’s teaching over the spiritual conception of Christ is of considerable importance. The believers are made to accept that God is not an ordinary person despite the fact that He lived among men.
Catholics carry prayers in reflection of Mary. The prayer is a long discourse in Mary’s heart. Mary’s prayer is the best show of humility, which is full of inspiration. Consequently, it is a humble adoration among the believers. The Roman Catholic Church carries out Magnificat as a liturgy from the early Church. It is also referred to as the prayer of consecration. Mary’s Magnificat is in four parts. In the first part gratitude is offered to God.
In the second part, God is praised for his holiness, power, and mercy. In the third part, the way God deals with the humble and the proud is compared. The fourth part refers to the fulfillment of prophecies. Catholic believers are taught the importance of each and every part of the Magnificat in the Bible.
By faith, they are able to adore God in the prayer through praise. Praise is the way the believers appreciate God’s interventions and acknowledge themselves. Catholic believers are able to understand how God works with the proud and the humble. The magnificent guides the believers when they pray as well as in their daily actions.
Biblical Temptations
Catholicism teaches about temptations and prepares the believers accordingly. Temptations are drawn in the Bible from the early lives of Abraham and later in Christ Himself. In the New Testament, Jesus’ temptations were the last message to the believers. Temptations are aimed at testing and strengthening hearts among Christians.
From the Bible, Catholics are prepared to meet tough moments while walking in the path of God. From the temptations of Jesus, Christians learn that temptations come from the world, the devil, and the flesh. Jesus was a revelation to believers on what is encountered while seeking eternal life.
Just like Moses and Elijah, Jesus was tempted for forty days and nights in the wilderness. The Roman Catholic Church practices Lent from the biblical understanding of preparation for temptations. The first temptation to Jesus came after His thirsty and hungry moments.
The devil’s aim was to make Jesus lose God’s confidence in providence. Catholics learn from this temptation that despite the level of mortification, God’s providence should never be doubted. Additionally, God’s powers should not be utilized by one’s personal gains. These temptations show the devil as a deceiver to Christians.
Roman Catholic Church’s teaching over the temptations consists in the fact that the Bible can be used as a weapon against the devil. Jesus was able to counter the devil from biblical quotes.
The second temptation was a test whether God does miracles for no cause. Jesus teaches the Christians not to test their God and to rely on biblical guidance in case of temptations. Catholics are taught to pray constantly since God, through his providence, can put the church in mysterious positions. Some of the tests might be too hard to cope with, but prayers always win God’s will.
The virtue of adoration is tested in the last temptation where Jesus is asked by the devil to worship it in exchange of the earthly possessions. Roman Catholic Church teaches the believers to fully adore their only God and recognize Him as the creator of the heaven and earth.
God should be adored by will and mind among the believers. Contemporary Catholic Church as well insists on service to church and God as a sign of adoration. Jesus sets the best example by stating that there is only one God. This acts as the best guidance to Christians during their temptations.
Unlike the early Church, contemporary Roman Catholic Church offers believers opportunity to make their own choices in matters relating to their faith. The believers are at free will to make their own biblical understanding and interpretation, despite, the lessons the Church teaches.
As a result, issues such as marriage have become contentious in the contemporary Church. The influence of growing technology offers some confusion in biblical interpretation since so many varied materials reach the believers. Nevertheless, the Bible has remained the main fighting tool in developing Catholicism across the world.
Conclusion
Despite many traditional beliefs in contemporary Catholic Church, the church holds several biblical truths. Most of the contemporary church practices are traditions carried down from the Old Testament as well as faith initiated from Jesus’ ministries. The Church’s development is founded on its strong inclination to the Bible through its interpretation, teaching, and usage.
Roman Catholic Church acknowledges the inspired and mystical nature of the Bible as God’s communication to man. As a result, following biblical teaching becomes an essential in acceptance of God. Churches mold their believers to fit the eyes of God through doctrines adopted in both the Old and New Testaments.
These include the teachings of the commandments as brought from Mosaic laws to Christ times. Roman Catholic Church rebukes poor practices in the church as directed in the Bible to enable Catholic followers to follow the clear path. Believers are guided from the lessons of the early prophets, Holy Mary, and Christ Himself as written in the scripture.
Bibliography
Coxon, H. B. Roman Catholicism: An Explanation of Catholic Belief Taken from Official Sources. South Carolina: BiblioBazaar, 2010.
Fergus, Kerr. Twentieth-Century Catholic Theologians. New York: Wiley, 2007.
Francis, Schüssler and John Galvin.Theology and the Sciences. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011.
Geisler, Norman, and Ralph MacKenzie.Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences. Michigan: Baker Academic,1995.
Gerard, Mannion. Church and Religious ‘Other’ Volume 4 of Ecclesiological Investigations. London: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2008.
Gillis, Chester. Catholic Faith in America. New York. Infobase Publishing, 2002.
Kelly, Kapic and Bruce McCormack. Mapping Modern Theology: A Thematic and Historical Introduction. Michigan: Baker Books, 2012.
King James Version Bible
Michael, Horton. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way: Roman Catholic Perspectives. London: Zondervan, 2010.
Noll, Mark, and Carolyn Nystrom. Is the Reformation Over?: An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2005.
Noll, Mark, and Carolyn Nystrom. Is the Reformation Over?: An Evangelical Assessment of Contemporary Roman Catholicism. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008.
Scott, Hahn. Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI. Michigan: Brazos Press, 2009.
Surhone, Lambert M., Mariam T. Tennoe, and Susan F. Henssonow. Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg. Saarbrücken: VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller AG & Co. Kg, 2010.
The name of Jesus Christ is well known all over the world. Not only is he revered by Christians of all denominations, but he is admired by people of all non-Christian religions, especially Islam that is ranked second in the world after Christianity in terms of followers; in fact, Islam considers itself so closely allied with Christianity and events in the Bible, that Jesus Christ and his mother Mary are mentioned several times in the Koran .
Origin
After the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ in 30 A.D, his followers created a Judaism group known as the Jewish Christian movement which had its headquarters in Jerusalem. Some years after this, Paul established a rival group called the Pauline Christian group whose main object was the conversion of Gentiles. The members of the Jewish Christian movement came under attack by the Roman Army when it demolished Jerusalem in 70 A.D. They were either massacred or forced to flee in all directions, effectively terminating their religious group once and for all (Religioustolerance.org).
Pauline Christianity eventually involved into the Church and was given official legal status in 313 A.D followed by official status of the Circa Empire in 380 A.D. The Church received a huge boost in 381 A.D when Roman Emperor Constantine converted to its faith. It started growing on the lines of the Roman Empire, wherein major provinces were formed on geographical lines and each was placed under the charge of a preeminent bishop. The situation remained stable for 6 centuries before a conflict between the Church’s east and west regional groups grew so intolerable that they formally split into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the year 1054 A.D (Religioustolerance.org).
During the following years, in addition to the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, six other meta-groups of Churches were formed. They were the Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Church, the Protestant Church, the Anglican Communion Church, the Pentecostal Church, the Restoration Church and a miscellaneous group of Churches containing various faith groups that are not affiliated to the other 7 meta-group Churches (Religioustolerance.org).
While the eight meta-groups of Churches are presently classified into more than 30,000 different Christian groups, the Roman Catholic Church has emerged as the premier one thereby elevating Roman Catholicism into the position of the largest Christian denomination.
Key Leaders
After Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, his apostles were entrusted with the spreading the religion. The leader of the apostles, St. Peter is looked upon by all Christians as the first spiritual leader called ‘pope’ (Religious Facts). Until 1054 A.D all the popes who succeeded St. Peter were considered as spiritual leaders by all Christians. But after the breakup of the Christians into various denominations, the pope has been considered to be the spiritual leader of Roman Catholics only.
Since its inception, Roman Catholicism has been subjected to reformation. There were many persons and events that are considered as milestones in the development of the denomination.
The first person is Thomas Aquinas , a Dominican theologian who wrote such a large number of impressive works on philosophy and theology that he was referred to as ‘the angelic doctor.’ He published a combination of ideas about Christianity and Aristotle’s philosophy that was adopted as the official system of beliefs of Roman Catholic theology in 1879 (Kemerling).
The second person is Clement VII who reigned as pope between 1523 and 1534 A.D. He is credited with firmly upholding the Roman Catholic refusal to allow married couples to divorce by rejecting the demand of the powerful British ruler King Henry VIII to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled (Gstohl).
A number of theologians were responsible for bringing about reformation in Roman Catholicism during the 16th century. Anna Bijns was a Belgian poet who published poetry between 1528 and 1567 about religious faith while attacking patriarchs and Lutherans. Ignatius Loyola of Spain established the Society of Jesus in 1540. Cesare Baronius was an Italian theologian and Cardinal who published ‘Ecclesiastical Annals’ from 1588 to 1607 which defended the status of popes against the ‘Magdeburg Centuries’ containing the Protestant version of history. Robert Bellarmine was a Jesuit theologian and Cardinal who published ‘Controversies’ between 1586 and 1593 containing arguments about important matters like papal authority, the holy sacraments and purgatory. Johannes Cochlaeus was a German theologian who strongly criticized Marin Luther and other Protestants. Albert Pighius was a Dutch theologian who published ‘Affirmation of the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy’ in support of the authority of the pope. Sylvester Mazzolini Prierias was a Dominican theologian who published ‘Dialogue’ that supported the infallibility of the pope as a response to Martin Luther’s ’95 Thesis.’ Teresa of Avila was a Roman Catholic nun who established the Carmelite Order (Gstohl).
Key Moments
The first major event that brought about reformation in Roman Catholicism was the First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. Summoned by Pope Pius IX, it was held between 8 December 1869 and 20 October 1870 and featured all the bishops of Roman Catholic Churches in the world. The Council instituted several important doctrines pertaining to Roman Catholicism which were contained in two constitutions. The first constitution, called Dogmatic Constitution of the Catholic Faith, featured 4 doctrines – on God in his role as creator, faith, revelation and on faith/reason; all the doctrines were officially passed as Canons. The second constitution, called First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ, contained the definition of the pope’s infallibility and 4 doctrines all relating to popes – the establishment of the apostolic primacy in St. Peter, the place of St. Peter among popes, the authority and ethical attributes of the pope, and the infallible teaching power of the pope (Vaxxine.com).
The second major event was the Second Vatican Council that also featured all Roman Catholic bishops from around the world. It was summoned by Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed by Pope Paul VI on 8 December 1965. The Council established 4 constitutions , 7 decrees and 3 declarations (Christusrex.org).
Conclusion
Today, Roman Catholics number more than 1 billion people and comprise nearly 50% of all Christians worldwide. In the U.S, nearly a quarter of the population is Roman Catholic (Religion Facts). The largest concentration of Roman Catholics in the world today lies in South America where countries like Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay and Columbia are predominantly Roman Catholic. The second largest number of Roman Catholics is found in all parts of Europe. Predominant among them are West European nations like Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Malta and Monaco; Central European countries like Hungary, Croatia, Poland, Austria and Slovakia; and East European countries like Lithuania. The third largest concentration of Roman Catholics is in African nations like Nigeria, Burundi, Congo, Gabon and Seychelles. Asia ranks last, with only the Philippines and East Timor having a predominantly Roman Catholic population.
Credit for the spread of Roman Catholicism to all parts of the world goes to the massive number of Roman Catholic missionaries. Some famous names include Alexander de Rhodes , Francis Xavier , Alexis Bachelot , Francisco Alvares , Luis de Bolanos and Evariste Regis Huc . Most of these missionaries have literally devoted their lives towards helping the people of the countries they travelled to and their exemplary piety and outstanding selfless service record has earned them worldwide admiration that has boosted the image of Roman Catholicism in the eyes of the world and has drawn more and more converts to it. An outstanding example is Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun from Albania who travelled to India, spent most of her life there taking care of the poor and downtrodden especially in the Indian city of Calcutta, and established a wide ranging network of help centers – the reason why sainthood has recently been conferred on her by the Pope Benedict XVI a few years after her death.
In addition to the exemplary lifestyle of Roman Catholic missionaries, the future of Roman Catholicism is also bright in view of the current malady that is plaguing the world – international terrorism sponsored by Islamic extremists. The inhuman atrocities perpetrated by the individuals trained by terrorist outfits like Al Qaeda has badly affected the following of Islam. In contrast, the peace loving, non-violent, tolerant principles of Roman Catholicism epitomized by Jesus Christ’s exemplary life, is attracting more and more non-Christian converts who are disgusted with international terrorists spreading their web of terror to more and more parts of the world and their undeniable close connection to Islam.
Catholicism is a general word that describes the universality of Christianity in doctrine, morality, theology, liturgy, and spirituality. What is not in dispute is that Christianity is a religion spread all over the world and practiced by people with varying cultures. The impact of these cultures on the nature of Christianity is also diverse. As Christianity seeks to remain relevant in this constantly transforming world, it has to deal with the faithful of other religions.
This paper looks at the Catholicity of Christianity as well as the need to incorporate aspects from other religions and cultures in its practice. It begins by looking at the nature of Christianity as it is now, followed by an analysis of the comparability between Christianity and other religions. The paper concludes by assessing what the future holds for Christianity.
The Nature of Catholicism
Christianity has come a long way from the early days of “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” (Lin 11). Doctrinal divisions in the church have resulted in the existence of many denominations in Christianity with varying doctrines and practices (Lin 19).
Some of these doctrines are related since they have a common origin while others are introduced with changes in lifestyles, culture and technology. Religious pluralism (or tolerance of several religious viewpoints) is one of the issues that Christianity and many other religions have to deal with as globalization and amalgamation of world cultures become persistent. A section of Christians perceive religious pluralism as conflicting with the biblical teachings.
This view of Christianity sees pluralism as an impossible undertaking, and that there can only be one true religion. This view is largely inaccurate since even within Christianity there exist various denominations with varied degrees of traditions. Roman Catholicism, a denomination within Christianity, perceives itself as the most absolute and accurate revelation of God to mankind (Martin 29). The Roman Catholics perceive other Christians as having authentic (but limited) revelation from God.
Some Christians who support pluralism believe that God is enough to be shared by all and that there are many paths that lead to Him. Even the Catholic Church now admits that it is possible for followers of other denominations other than Roman Catholicism to enter heaven. Today, Christianity consists of many denominations such as Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Eastern Orthodox faithful, Mormons, Unificationists, among other sub-groups of Christianity (Robinson 14). These denominations practice different rituals and hold beliefs that vary significantly from one group to another.
For instance, the reverence of icons practiced in Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodoxy is not acceptable among many Protestant Christian churches. These variations make comprehending the Christian faith as a whole difficult. The diversity that exists in these denominations appear so different that reconciling the denominations is not easy. However, these variations are needed to incorporate the different cultures in which Christianity is practiced.
It is biased to practice Christianity based on Western European cultures in an Asian or African setting. African members of the Roman Catholic Church incorporate their own traditional dances and songs in their worship (Dhavamony, 42). Though this is not a different denomination, it is not the same as the mainstream Roman Catholic service as practiced in the Vatican.
This trend of integrating culture in Christian worship is a clear sign of the diverse nature of Christian worship. The only unifying factors that are universal about Christianity are their use of the Bible, belief in Jesus, and the faith they share in God. Other than that, Christianity is as diverse as the different denominations and the areas in which they are practiced. The next section assesses the degree to which Christianity is compatible with other religions and their points of divergence.
Compatibility between Christianity and other Religions
In the world that we live in today, interactions between people from different cultural and religious backgrounds are becoming increasingly common. Globalization ensures that anyone can live anywhere in the world. For this reason, the need for religious integration and tolerance is now higher than ever. Christianity can no longer afford to dismiss other forms of religion as non-significant. On the contrary, many conventional Christians perceive their religion as the only valid faith.
They see others as either flawed or not religious at all. Some Christians believe that those who do not possess the Christian faith will burn in hell upon death (Uhalley and Wu 34). In some extremities, they possess the belief that even other Christian denominations other than their own are pagan. These Christians hold that the deities worshipped in these religions are essentially evil spirits. To them, there is little difference between non-Christian religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Neopaganism.
What these conservative Christians do not realize is the closeness in essence that exists between Christianity and these other religions. Some of these religions such as Judaism even share part of their scriptures with Christianity. The ‘Tanakh’ used by Judaism is the same as the Christian Old Testament (Lin 38).
Besides resemblances in creed and scripture, Christianity ought to assess its relationship with Judaism since Christ and his disciples are Jews. Their lives and practices conform to the Jewish religion and tradition. Christ and his disciples only criticize the Jewish traditions from within the system. It is not possible to understand the teachings of Jesus Christ without taking them in the context of the Judaist religion that existed in his time.
History shows that the relationship between Christians and Judaists is not a pleasant one. Some Christians even blame Jews for killing Jesus Christ and hold that the entire Jewish community ought to shoulder shared guilt for the murder. This religious animosity was evident in the case of the momentous German Holocaust in which many Jews were killed. Despite this history, there are several lessons Christianity can learn from Judaism.
For instance, in the Jewish religion, every child is taught to recite Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (Shema) at the beginning and end of each day (Robinson 110). The Shema teaches children to obey and love God and grow up loving Him. Christianity and other religions can certainly learn to improve their love for God and love for neighbors from this practice.
Islam is another religion that shares a number of philosophies with Christianity such as positions on “heaven, spirits, monotheism, angels, judgment, hell, and impending resurrection” (Ernst 7). Muslims also recognize and admire Jesus as one of the prophets (Isa). Christians seem to take issue with this and perceive it as lessening of the status of Jesus from the son of God in the Holy Trinity to a prophet.
Christianity and Islam have the same conceptions on the virgin birth of Jesus, his resurrection and ascension, and the miracles he performed. However, Islam disagrees with the Christian notion that the supreme and perfect God can transform into a weak human and die. Christians and Muslims also disagree on the issues of the Trinity and Jesus’ crucifixion.
The Muslims believe in a single God who neither takes the form of human flesh nor is capable of death (Ernst 8). They view reverence of icons as idolatry. Among the things Christianity can learn from Islam are dedication to prayer, alms-giving and fasting. Muslims also provide important lessons for Christians concerning respect to the family institution and hospitality towards strangers.
Christian practice is quite liberal concerning marriage, divorce and morality. In religion, there is a need to provide an ideal, strict code that governs the adherents’ lives. Christians can also learn tolerance for other religions from Muslims who view Christian and Jewish traditions as important in the development of Islam.
The author of this paper, believes that Buddhism and Christianity disagree on views concerning hell, reincarnation, heaven as well as other fundamental beliefs. One depiction of such difference is evident in the conflict between Buddhism and Christian Protestantism (in the 19th century in Tibet and Sri Lanka) during the Younghusband Expedition (Martin 53).
Despite these differences in doctrine, the relationship between Buddhists and Christians is often cordial. Several Buddhist practices (such as meditation) and theology have been incorporated into Western Christianity. As a matter of fact, meditation is practiced by Eastern Orthodox faithful and some members of the Roman Catholic Church.
The kind of spiritual meditation practiced to relieve stress in Buddhism can be important to Christians who wish to seek spiritual elevation with their deity (Dalai Lama 115). The distinct moral code taught by Buddhism for those who wish to attain Nirvana can also be productive to Christians who are often accused of being slightly liberal on morality. Christians can learn from the spirituality taught by Buddhism, which includes distancing oneself from worldly pleasures.
Impact of Inclusivity on Christianity
If Christianity is to remain relevant in this era of globalized cultural interaction, it has to incorporate cultures of the people it targets into its practices and theology. As it gains acceptance in Asia, Africa and the previously predominantly Muslim Middle East, Christianity must change its outlook to be more inclusive.
If people are to feel part of the religion they practice, then that religion should identify with some aspects of their culture to which they can relate. The era of forcing Asians and Africans to recite most parts of the mass in Latin is long gone. Today, there are many religions in the world that provide alternative sources of divine inspiration if a person feels that Christianity is foreign and non-inclusive.
Another need for inclusivity stems from the relationship in origin and beliefs that Christianity shares with other religions like the ones outlined in the previous section. Since the gospel of Jesus Christ (who was Jewish by the way) demands reaching out to the gentiles and the unchurched, this section looks at the impact of such inclusivity on the essence of Christianity. Can Christianity remain the same while incorporating different cultures into its tradition and practice?
The problem of inclusivity and tolerance is not a new concept in Christianity. Mathew 12:21 teaches that, in Jesus’ name, the Gentiles trust. Even during the early days of Christianity, the apostles often taught other Christians to spread the word of God to the gentiles. In Acts 11:1, the Bible talks about the apostles in Judea receiving the good news that the gentiles had accepted the word of God.
The early church was tasked with preaching the word of God to those who had not received it. If we look at Christianity in its original sense, the Romans who at some point are seen as the custodians of Christianity are indeed gentiles. This shows that Christianity as we know it today has transformed over time by incorporating different cultures and traditions. Has it changed in essence?
In incorporating different cultures in its tradition and theology, Christianity (like any other religion) must be careful not to change its fundamental principles (Elnes 23). The basic principles that govern Christianity are founded on the Bible and should not be altered to suit modernity simply in the name of being popular. Changing certain guiding principles such as the teachings of Christ and the disciples can mean altering the essence of Christianity.
What sets Christianity apart from other religions should not be compromised. In recent times, the desire to reach out has seen Christians become more liberal by entertaining some concepts that do not agree with biblical teachings. Such concepts as a black Christ are contradictory and only raise more questions than answers. New scientific discoveries often force many religions to review their positions on certain issues such as evolution.
If applied properly, inclusivity does not necessarily mean that the essence of Christianity is going to change. What the author proposes is providing room for different cultures to incorporate their traditions in worship without compromising the teachings of the Bible. Changing doctrinal principles such as church position on contraceptives or the service procedure does not spell doom for Christianity.
The Future of Catholicism
With the imminent changes expected to result from incorporating different cultures into Christianity, the future of the concept of universality of Christianity is bleak. Changes in the nature of services are bound to increase with the incorporation of technology as well as diverse cultures. This is the only way Christianity can stay relevant in this day and age. Christianity must reach out to other religions if it is to remain globally relevant.
However, the only way Christianity will survive in the face of these changes is if it will preserve the fundamental principles and biblical teachings. Christians must not lose themselves in their quest to reach out and spread the gospel. Any attempt to alter biblical teachings will leave Christians with a totally different religion. The author believes that the future of Christianity is bright as long as its inclusivity and liberalism are governed by proper understanding and interpretation of the Bible.
Conclusion
There is no universal Catholicism since many denominations with varying doctrines exist within Christianity. However, the Bible and the teachings of the early church are the unifying factors for all Christian denominations. Christianity should be tolerant to other religions and learn some important lessons from them.
Christianity must also incorporate different cultures and practices in its doctrines since it is no longer just a Western religion. These changes are bound to alter the way Christians worship. Therefore, the only way Christianity is to retain its essence amidst these eminent changes is by staying faithful to biblical principles.
Works Cited
Dalai Lama. The World of Tibetan Buddhism: An Overview of its Philosophy and Practice, USA: Wisdom Publications, 2005. Print.
Dhavamony, Mariasusai. Jesus Christ in the Understanding of World Religions, Rome, Italy: Gregorian Biblical BookShop, 2004. Print.
Elnes, Eric. The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity, San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Print.
Ernst, W. Carl. Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World, USA: University of North Carolina Press, 2003. Print.
Lin, Jan. Shaking the Fundamentals: Religious Plurality and Ecumenical Movement, New York: Rodopi, 2002. Print.
Martin, David. The Future of Christianity: Reflections on Violence and Democracy, Religion and Secularization, Surrey, England: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2011. Print.
Robinson, George. Essential Judaism: A Complete Guide to Beliefs, Customs & Rituals, United Kingdom: Simon and Schuster, 2008. Print.
Uhalley, Stephen, and Xiaoxin Wu. China and Christianity: Burdened Past, Hopeful Future, USA: M.E. Sharpe, 2001. Print.
The question of opposition between religions is rather controversial because religions are based on the system of beliefs which are associated with the human spirituality, but not with any rationales and efforts to achieve the definite goal. In reality, religions in their association with such institutions as churches have more similarities with the market brands than with the aspects of the people’s spirituality.
From this point, modern churches compete within the market of the people’s beliefs, and this statement is not a metaphor because the victory in the competition guarantees the progress of the church not only in the religious sphere but also in the social and economic fields. Today, churches are closely connected with the social aspects of the people’s life within communities. As a result, it is possible to speak about ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of the religious competition.
This idea is discussed in detail in the book The Churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy written by Finke and Stark. According to the authors, traditional religions or mainline denominations lost their positions when upstart sects developed in the field as ‘winners’ (Finke & Stark, 2005).
Although Catholicism is one of the largest and most popular religions in the USA, it is losing its position because of conservative ideals and norms which cannot be relaxed immediately with the help of definite reforms; on the contrary, Pentecostalism develops and attracts more followers because of the orientation to the people’s interests.
In spite of the popularity with the public and a great number of followers, Catholicism in the USA can be referred as the ‘loser’ in the rivalry of religions and churches which become “competitive organizations prepared to seek souls” (Finke & Stark, 2005, p. 75). Catholicism can be discussed to be effective as the traditional religion oriented to help people save their souls.
As a result, the principles and strategies of Catholicism are ineffective to compete within the church market. In their work, Finke and Stark explain the causes for the decline of those religions which were popular during a long period of time as, for instance, Catholicism which was the first religion spread by the Europeans at the American territories.
The authors state that the mainline denominations “were failing to offer credible religion … they had become so accommodated to the secular culture that people could no longer satisfy their need for the sacred by attending services” (Finke & Stark, 2005, p. 245). On the one hand, Catholicism remains to be one of the largest religions in the country, and it is a controversial point to speak about its decline.
On the other hand, the Catholic Church in the USA undergoes a lot of transformations and reforms associated with the necessities to respond to the social changes or people’s vision in relation to the religion’s function. Today, Catholicism is not stable, and many new currents appear along with the significant assimilation of the church within the society. It is possible to speak about these factors as contributing to the religion’s progress, but Catholicism in its pure form is declining.
Catholicism is based on the strict developed doctrine, and much attention is paid to the church’s organization. The main focus is on stability and tradition. Finke and Stark state that these features are characteristic for the mainline denominations, and the concentration on these aspects is the first step toward the decline because present-day energetic sects have more chances to become popular with the public.
The problem is in the fact that many sects are at risk of declining when they become the mainline churches (Finke & Stark, 2005). The Catholic Church operates the beliefs and norms which are shared by the significant part of the American population because it focuses on the human dignity and moral principles which are valued within society. Nevertheless, Catholicism is characterized by the definite features which are discussed by the public as too conservative.
During a long period of time, the services in the Catholic Church were strictly organized and regulated, and priests’ speeches were performed in Latin. These aspects were reformed later in order to meet the interests of the religious communities. However, there are a lot of aspects associated with the religious and moral principles which are rather difficult to follow in the modern society.
For instance, Catholics are against abortion, euthanasia, and death penalty which are supported in the modern American society by a lot of people (Ahlstrom, 2004). Focusing on the ideals of the human dignity, moral fairness, and family life, Catholics may be challenged by the realities of the American society.
Today, many people join the definite religion in order to receive the support. From this point, Catholicism provides more limitations than support (Corbett & Hemeyer, 1997). As a result, people are inclined to choose the modern sects according to their interests and principles.
The Catholic Church does not provide the effective ‘promotion’ for the organization and religion in general. Thus, people choose to follow the religious movements which organizational principles are correlated with the rules typical for the market or which are more close to the aspects of the social life.
The next important factor is the ‘market value’ of the church. According to Finke and Stark, “the high membership costs and clear group boundaries produce these collective goods by example and exclusion” (Finke & Stark, 2005, p. 250). People need to feel the exclusion of their church and community. Following the market patterns, the cheapness of the services, including the religious services, can provoke questions about their reliability.
Pentecostalism in the USA is the religious movement which developed from the sect, and it can be discussed today as one of the ‘winners’ in the religious market. Pentecostalism differs from Catholicism not only in the aspects of the religious vision because the followers of Pentecostalism emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit but also in the approaches of organizing the public’s meetings.
According to Hemeyer, “the experience of highly emotional worship and religious ecstasy is the foundation of Pentecostalism” (Hemeyer, 2010, p. 198). The followers of Pentecostalism are not afraid to demonstrate their emotions because their religion is the way to understand their role in this life and society. Pentecostals believe that their actions are directed by the God with references to the Holy Spirit. From this point, it is important to listen to oneself and follow the inner intentions.
The religious vision is studied through experience, but not through much consideration. Focusing on these few details, it is possible to state that Pentecostalism can be more effective in the modern society than Catholicism because of the connection with the people’s contemporary approaches to organizing their life.
Thus, it is possible to determine two main factors which can explain the decline of the mainline denominations and popularity of the new churches not during a long historic period, but today. Modern people are used to think according to the market and business categories, and their life is more dynamic than it was earlier. From this perspective, it is not enough today to declare religious norms and interpret the Bible in order to treat the soul.
It is more effective today to state the value of the religion with references to the membership costs. Moreover, the Bible should be interpreted in relation to the public’s interests because joining the definite church, people seek for achieving the certain purpose. In modern churches, God as well as priests is closer to followers (Hemeyer, 2010).
The main belief shared by Pentecostals is that the Holy Spirit can contact them even physically and provide with the definite knowledge. God is close to believers and can be felt with references to experience provided. That is why, action is necessary during the worship. Hemeyer states that “Pentecostal worship is emotional and enthusiastic” and it is based on the energetic action which is associated with experience (Hemeyer, 2010, p. 204).
Pentecostals feel that they belong to the community which is directly ruled by God. The choice of Pentecostalism as the religion to follow is based on the decision of a believer to follow God’s will and share the knowledge provided by the Holy Spirit. Adult baptism supports the idea of the conscious choice.
The upstart sects became the leading religious movements in the USA because they connect the idea of innovation with spirituality. In spite of the fact Finke and Stark’s argument is rather controversial and provocative, it is correlated with the modern social tendencies. The number of people who join the church in the USA increases each year.
Is this the reason to speak about the growth of the public’s spirituality? It is possible to state that people need concentration on their spiritual life and morality, but the real causes for the process can be more ordinary. People join the church because the modern church satisfies the needs of the community in relation to the spiritual and social life (Ahlstrom, 2004). Furthermore, modern churches are more flexible in their doctrines and principles as any other contemporary institutions.
Catholicism is grounded on stability, and it is rather difficult for this religion to reform the basic norms and services to respond to the modern people’s needs (Corbett & Hemeyer, 1997). The life changes and those churches succeed which can change along with the followers to meet their interests. From this point, it is possible to speak about a lot of similarities of religions with market brands which develop according to the rules of the market economy.
The opposition of Catholicism and Pentecostalism can be discussed as the opposition of the outdated and new approaches to regulating the spirituality of the public. Although Catholicism is followed by a lot of believers, it cannot compete effectively in comparison with Pentecostalism because the strategy of attracting new followers is not correlated with the modern tendencies.
It is inappropriate to speak about the decline of spirituality in the US society. People need to join the church and become closer to God, but they are inclined to choose churches which ideals are more understandable for them.
References
Ahlstrom, S. (2004). A religious history of the American people. USA: Yale University Press.
Corbett, J. M., & Hemeyer, J. C. (1997). Religion in America. USA: Prentice Hall.
Finke, R., & Stark, R. (2005). The churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and losers in our religious economy. USA: Rutgers University Press.
Hemeyer, J. C. (2010). Religion in America. USA: Prentice Hall.
The eighteenth century saw British enter a rather active period characterized by religious awakening and the rise of Protestantism. The period featured rebellion against powerful and perceived autocratic religious influence that had taken over the reign power during the 17th century and the early 18th century. During this period, there was a high population growth in Britain, which was characteristic of an increasingly complex society at the time (Colley 135). Amidst religious movements and the call for religious intolerance, Britain faced challenges of reshaping its own identity.
The religious awakening and the rise of Protestantism had numerous implications on the country’s social, cultural and political structures (Colley 83). There was a shift in the customs that dictated how people, religion and the state related to one another. At thas time, the norms of civility and the state governance structure were influenced by a rather heightened religious struggle that threatened to tear the long-held culture of the nation. As such, the mid-set and the reasoning of the people were overhauled with the change by the then ongoing religious wars that played in the public gallery.
A Movement toward the British Identity
The revival of the rivalry between protestants and the unforgiving authoritarian catholic rules was a major defining moment for the British. Some religious pundits believed that the happenings in the religious sphere and the delicate balance between religious freedom and the persistent spread of catholicism meant that the state had to begin finding a new form of power that was distinct from religion (Colley 135). Thas meant that no single ideology, whether of the state or the church, had the power to direct the identity of the people.
As religious leaders traversed one town after the other, sections of the church begun to form, paving the way for Protestant denominations to grow (Colley 117). Religious dominance, especially of the Catholic church that had vast power, led to splinter groups. The introduction of a new sense of looking at religion and the doctrines that shaped the notion around the nation’s national values were the real game changers. Britain started to experience a renewed sense of reasoning, political and social realignment that was different from the old religious order.
It is worth mentioning, however, that the ongoing dereligionization and the split of the religious frameworks served as a unifying factor that saw Britain created a new form of national consciousness (Colley 67). This meant that both the people, the church and the state started to realize the need for an all-inclusive national effort to redefine the nation’s identity that was free from religious influence.
Anti-Catholicism and the movement toward decentralization of religious power (of influence) was a predominant aspect that shaped the country’s new found values. The new way of life was completely different from the Old England’s lifestyle. A heightened religious situation gave way for the media personalities, religious scholars and stakeholders in the political arena to start a discourse that would later help shape Britain’s identity.
During this time, the media, with the help of the crusaders for a change in religious formations, became the center of the Awakening period and the discourses that were taking place in Britain and its neighboring nations (Colley 103).
Although political, religious and social differences were apparent, there was one fundamental point that everyone found important: opposition to the mighty Roman Catholicism. Thas meant that Catholicism with its powerful doctrines began to lose its feet as the new found anti-Catholicism became a redemptive force.
The change of guard within religious ranks explained by the Great Awakening provided an invaluable inspiration for a need to create a nation that had a fairly strong political and military influence. This informed British thinking about the extent to which religion must exercise its power to shape the state agenda. A call for the separation of religion from the state was evident during the eighteenth century (Colley 89).
The crusade that focused on downplaying the position of Catholics provided Britain with the basis on which the country’s identity was to be established.
People started to assert their control over Britain’s identity.
The other key implication of this period was the establishment of the notion of the state as the ultimate source of power through which the sovereignty of the people was to be exercised. Initially, the established Roman Empire under the watch of the Catholic church served as the key player in the country’s political arena. The state was to begin to act on behalf of the people by signing a contract with the populace (Colley 112).
The politics of the nation began to take shape with people realizing that power was vested to them and not to the church. Scholastic movements served to inform the people of the role of the state and of the church in which the former had contractual power to act for the people, while the latter was charged with shaping the nation’s social values (Colley 76). There nation began to share common sentiments, especially the fear of the domineering Catholicism (Colley 76). No doubt, the new sense of religious freedom played a significant role in destabilizing the hierarchical order in and the central power of the Catholic church.
Anti-Catholic attitudes and the Protestant spirit furthered the agenda to unite the people in calling for a slowdown in Catholicism. It also rallied the people toward changing their mindset in a way previously unimaginable. People were able to perceive religion as being communitarian—a tool that would be essential in forming social uniformity as opposed to competition envisioned in the ordinary sense of the business world. People, especially Christians developed a sense of self-sacrifice, and this formed the basis for a multi-dimensional approach to issues that affected the society.
Conclusion
The effects of the great religious awakening provided a fertile ground for the British society to form a new attitude that changed from differential thinking that had taken over Britain’s religion and political spheres. The fact that people developed new ideas, notions and norms meant that every individual was rushing to embrace the new way of thinking. A different interpretation of the Bible and religious teachings gave the people a new impetus and a feeling that they were capable of turning around Britain’s identity using a religious platform.
The flow of power was never to move from the center to the periphery, but rather from the periphery to the center. Proponents of religious revivalism echoed this seemingly timely call for radical religious thinking and the search for free will with respect to forming and attending churches other than Catholic. It was through religious crusades and Protestantism during the first half of the 18th century that the Britons managed to move from the protectorate of the powerful Catholic Church (Colley 68).
Reference
Colley, Linda. Britons: Forging the Nation, 1707-1837. New Haven, Conn: Yale Nota Bene, 2005. Print.
Conducting research on different religions, cultural anthropologists usually prefer having different perspectives on the phenomenon under study. One of the most effective of them is the view from etic and emic perspectives. Etic perspective requires to look on the religion as “outsider” of it. It means that the researchers should detach themselves from this religion to analyze it at an objective and scientific level. Emic perspective means the view on the religion as “insider”, that is the view of a person who engaged in it. In this essay, the catholic church will be discussed from these two sides with the use of credible sources.
Etic
The objective view on Christianity requires elaborating a specific paradigm that will allow looking at it more systematically. Molloy (2020) recommends to researchers studying any religion consider three main patterns: view of the world and life, the focus of beliefs and practices, and views of male and female. In fact, the general worldview of Catholics does not differ from the common Christian paradigm (Alva, 2017). They believe that all that exists in the world was produced out of nothing by God. The people were created because of the incredible love of God. These basic explanations will vary from one culture to another, but all religions have such kinds of answers to the questions of world creation, the purpose of life, and human beings’ existence.
As for the practices and sacred things, Catholicism has some specific peculiarities. They worship through prayers and rarely through songs, while it is distinct from other branches by the practice of Veneration of Mary, mother of Jesus. Catholicism slightly adjusts the Bible phrase “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, 1 Timothy 2). The sacred symbols in Catholicism are cross and rosary which are used during worship. Concerning the position of women and men, in the Catholic church, they are equal and complementary.
Emic
The emic perspective requires the look of the people who engaged in Catholicism and can speak from the position of its active member. For instance, concerning crucifixes, the etic approach has quite a rational and objective approach. In contrast, Pope Francis brings some personal feelings in it: “Crucifixes are found all around us: on necks, in homes, in cars, in pockets. <…> Let us not reduce the cross to an object of devotion, much less to a political symbol, to a sign of religious and social status” (Rome Reports, 2021).
In this phrase, Pope Francis promotes the political and social message to the Catholics about the way how crucifixes should be perceived. One of the limitations of the emic perspective is that it can create an “emic bias” (Mostowlansky & Rota, 2016, p. 323). People’s thoughts and activities who engaged in a particular religion sometimes cannot objectively evaluate some aspects of their religious teaching.
Contribution of Etic/Emic Perspectives
The dichotomy of emic/etic perspectives helps analyze different cultures and religions in a more complex way. The researcher should distinguish these views in her study to not assume some emic biases as objective truth and to not relate objective scientific information to the mindset of religious people. As for patient care, it is really the critical rule that the attitude of outsider and insider is different. It will be wrong to judge different religions as some systems with a specific structure and form. Without having a deep emic perspective, the physician should be very attentive to any her judgments about patients’ religion.
Conclusion
To sum up, the analysis showed that the picture of insider and outsider to religion has its own features. Etic perspective analyses Catholicism as a system through scientific methods creating objective information about it. Emic paradigm is related to the view of an “insider” who has a deep understanding of the Catholic church through experience and personal feelings. As for me as a student, this distinction will guide me in further work with different people for whom religion plays a major role in life.
References
Alva, R. (2017). The Catholic Church’s perspective of human dignity as the basis of dialogue with the secular world. Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 3(2), 221-241.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. Web.
Molloy, M. (2020). Experiencing the world’s religions (8th edition). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Mostowlansky, T., & Rota, A. (2016). A matter of perspective?: Disentangling the emic–Etic debate in the scientific study of religions. Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, 28(4-5), 317-336.
The martyrs were Jesus Christ followers who suffered from the heathens and were killed by them. The martyrs did not disavow from Christ until their death in spite of the tortures, agony, and torments. They were followed by the words of Jesus Christ who said that those who were persecuted for him would be blessed and therefore happy and pleasing to God.
The church ranks them among the saints. In their lives, they tried to spread Christianity all over the world, preaching the Gospel and teaching people. The evidence of their deed made people come to believe in Christ. The death of martyrs was interpreted as the beginning of a better life and the entrance to the spiritual life.
The Nicene Creed is the symbol of Christianity meaning the consubstantial of the God-Father and God-Son. Jesus Christ is the son of God and he is “of the same substance” with him. He is the God embodied in a man. The Nicene Creed is a doctrine in Christianity which was finally agreed at the time of the First Council of Constantinople.
The Nicene Creed raised discussions within the Christian church. Namely, Christianity was divided on those who supported the unity of the divinity and humanity in Christ and those who claimed that these natures were independent in him, though they were represented equally.
Nestorians did not believe in the unity of divinity and humanity in Jesus Christ (“What is Nestorianism” par. 1).. According to them, humanity and divinity were represented equally in the nature of Jesus Christ but they were distinct and separate (“What is Nestorianism” par. 1).
The Nestorians interpreted the coexistence of the God-Father and the man Jesus Christ rejecting the unity of the divinity and humanity in Christ. Such interpretation is not supported by Orthodox Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church supports the unity of divinity and humanity in Jesus Christ (“What is Nestorianism” par. 1). Nestorius claimed that Jesus Christ was comprised of “two natures and two persons” (“What is Nestorianism” par. 6).
Works Cited
Apokatastasis. Web.
Apostolic Succession. Web.
Bishop. Web.
Christian Apologists. Web.
Divine Logos. Web.
Donatist. Web.
Heresy. Web.
Homoousion. Web.
Jesus Christ. Web.
Origen. Web.
Pharisees. Web.
Plato. Web.
Saint Antony. Web.
Second Adam. Web.
Second Coming. Web.
Second Temple. Web.
Symphonia. Web.
What is Nestorianism? Who were the Nestorians? Web.
The religious believes of both Christianity and Catholicism has some common features and differences as well. The research paper will focus on both sides in trying to compare and contrasting the two denominations (Marstensen 205). Although they are termed as two different religions, they share the most common believes of all Christian.
God the creator
Some of the similarities that both the Catholics have with Christianity are about only one God who is in trinity. God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit is what has been there, today and forever (Christian Century Foundation 116). They pray to this one God through Jesus who is the son in human flesh. God who is in three forms is the sole creator of everything found in universe both living and non-living things, and He is the one who sustains the whole of his creation.
Final Judgment
Another similarity is about God who is rightly angry with his people who do not work according to his will. They believe after death, God will make everyone to resurrect and come back to earth where judgment will take place. The way people live on earth deserves either a reward or a punishment from God.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross and resurrected on the third day he paid for the sins, but those who keep on repeating their sins will be punished (Chilson 314). Everyone has a chance to repent his or her sins on earth to avoid the punishment on the judgment day, when sinners would be punished. The repentance may be speaking to God either directly or through the priests for the Catholics, for those people who mind the life after death.
The Bible
Another similarity between the Catholicism and Christianity is about the bible, well known as the words of God. They both know that bible is the collection of different works written by men, God inspired most of them. The bible contains information about the will of God, through which we are supposed to follow to be rewarded in heaven.
The bible contains the views of men and the words of God through his people (Anatolios and Brown 287). Whoever does according to the will of God declared in the bible shall be rewarded in heaven and be saved from everlasting punishment of the sinners. The good things believers are promised in heaven are contained in the bible that Christians are supposed to follow. All in all Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics.
Pope and his system
The first difference is Catholicism has Bishop of Rome who is the pope, and they believe is the spiritual leader of their entire church system. The Catholic Church is centralized with the head controller being the pope, who they follow in most of their practices. The pope guides other catholic leaders as well as the church followers as he is the spiritual leader. However, for other Christians who are non-Catholics, believe that Jesus is the spiritual head of the church (Marstensen 210).
This makes them not to have other religious figures since they believe with Jesus Christ all the religious requirements of the church are fulfilled. Catholics allow the pope to speak on behalf of the church about the morals or dogma assuming that he cannot make mistakes because the holy spirits guides him. Other Christians cannot allow anyone to speak for the church, because, it was only Jesus who could present the church.
History of the two religions
The history of the two religions has some differences especially about the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden. According to the Catholics, despite the fact that human being race was stained by sins, they still believe some original innocence and goodness was left with humanity (Chilson 318). However, other Christians have a view that nothing good was left with humanity because the entire race was very depraved. The entire humanity was stained by the original sin of Adam and Eve.
Difference in doctrine and believes
The doctrines of the Catholicism are very different with that of Christianity. For instance, Catholics believe that the bread and wine in the Eucharist are changed through the power of the Holy Spirit that appears unseen to real body and blood of Christ. According to what other Christians believe, they assume that the bread and the wine taken during Eucharist are just symbols of the blood and the body of Christ.
The Catholics still believe in seven sacraments that represent holy moments of their followers, while most of other Christians believe in two types of sacraments only baptism and Eucharist (Chilson 383). Catholics believe in requesting saints to pray for them, but Christianity believes that, it is only Jesus Christ, who can intercede between them and God almighty. This act is viewed as idolatry by most of non-Catholics Christians.
The way they work in today’s world
In today’s world, there are some differences in how Catholics practice their faith from other Christians (Marstensen 364). For instance, there is celibacy of the clergy in Catholics where the priests are not supposed to be married. They do this because Jesus Christ himself was not married as he dedicated his full life in service of God his father.
Another difference in today’s life is about their act of verbally expressing their sins to the priests. It is their believe that their sins are fully forgiven by Christ through the priest. They do this as a way of strengthening their faith, as well as adding happiness and joy in their peaceful lives.
Works Cited
Anatolios, Khaled and Brown Stephen. World Religions. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2009.
Chilson, Richard. Catholic Christianity: a guide to the way, the truth, and the life. New York: Paulist Press, 2003.
Christian Century Foundation. The Christian Century. Michigan: Christian Century Foundation, 2006.
Marstensen, Hans. Christian dogmatics: a Compendium of the doctrines of christianity. New York: T. & T. Clark, 2003.