do the orthodox and the lutheran protestant churches also teach that the things akramat mentioned in his post are wrong?

-- sdqa (sdqa@sdqa.com), December 22, 2004

Answers

Response to orthodox and lutheran teachings

1: Irthodox aren't Protestnat, btu resulted fromt he schism of 1054. They teach nearly identical doctorines and practices as the roman Catholic Chruch.

Differences are on matters such as the supremacy of the Bishop pf rome, wich the Orthodox chruch rejects in faovur of a series of Patriarchs.

2: Lutherens beleive in the Five sola's. They also teach the sacramanets as outward signs of inward Grace.

The Five sola's are presented below.

SOLA SCRIPTURA, or Scripture Alone

SOLA GRATIA, or Grace Alone

SOLA FIDE, or Faith Alone

SOLUS CHRISTUS, or Christ Alone

SOLI DEO GLORIA, or Glory Of God Alone

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), December 22, 2004.

Response to orthodox and lutheran teachings

Dear sdqa,

I do not know what post you are referring to.

However, I do know that, as Zarove said, the Orthodox are substantially the same in teaching as the Roman Catholic Church, except that they tend to see an Ecumenical Council and/or the agreement of the five patriarchs (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem) as being the final authority in the Church. They see the Pope of Rome as being "first among equals," having a primacy of honor but *not* immediate jurisdiction over the whole Church. Some Orthodox see the Pope of Rome as being a heretic, and thus outside the Church. The Orthodox also see the Holy Spirit as proceeding only "from the Father," not "from the Son", and have a few different practices (they have married priests, use unleavened bread in Communion, and prefer the use of flat ikons--images of saints and angels--in the church rather than statues).

As for Lutherans, they accept the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds just like Catholics, and also believe Christ is truly present in the Sacrament of Communion. (However, instead of Transubstantiation, they believe Christ is present "in, with and under" the bread and wine, rather like the presence of God filling the burning bush of Moses). Lutherans also have infant Baptism. The differences are: Lutherans believe the Pope can err in teaching; they have married clergy, and sometimes women clergy as well; private confession to a pastor is optional; and they have no Canon Law as such, so each Lutheran is free to fast or not to fast in Lent as his conscience dictates, and most pastors allow remarriage after a divorce.

The Catholic Church does not accept the validity of Lutheran pastors as full priests; but the Catholic Church does accept the validity of Orthodox priests.

Hope this helps.

-- Michael (edwardsronning@prodigy.net), December 22, 2004.

Response to orthodox and lutheran teachings

By the way, Lutherans generally do not ask the prayers of Mary, though they do acknowledge her as Mother of God. It is their custom to pray directly to God. Orthodox, on the other hand, do rely on the intercession of God-birthing Mary.

Lutherans tend to leave to the individual couple whether to use contraception or not. They are presently arguing whether to allow homosexual unions--like their Anglican counterparts, Lutherans are badly divided in North America and Europe on the homosexual question, but tend to be very traditional in their views on Marriage in Africa, Asia and South America. On the other hand, Orthodox are united in seeing homosexual relationships as clearly a sin. Traditionally, Orthodox frowned on artificial contraception, but some allow it now.

-- Michael (edwardsronning@prodigy.net), December 22, 2004.

Response to orthodox and lutheran teachings

The Orthodox allow divorce and remarriage leaving justice to the wind, nice for successors to the Apostles, but not fundamentally different than the Catholics who look the other way when they say you can't get married. Both are sunful brothers who continue to justify their sins.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), December 22, 2004.