[zippy2006]

Originally Posted by Traditio

Actually, "Roman Catholic" distinguishes the Catholics who celebrate the Roman liturgy from the various Catholic communities which are in communion with the bishop of Rome, but celebrate one of the Eastern liturgies.

The Maronites, for example, are Catholics, but not Roman Catholics. They don't celebrate the Latin liturgy.

Right. There are a number of non-Latin (Roman) Rite Churches which are in communion with the Pope of Rome.

As far as I understand it the Catholic churches are in communion with Rome. I would call mikey Orthodox, and Orthodox catholic. This is nothing more than a matter of definitions, but this is the common usage among Catholic and Orthodox alike where I have grown up. Similarly I consider Catholics orthodox.

[mikeymikey]

Originally Posted by Quincy

That is still a big difference though right? I mean adding "and from the son" greatly changes the context. But I guess that is going off topic, so I'll just say I get what you mean.

The schism between the Eastern and Western parts of the Church occured mainly for political and cultural reasons, drifting apart over centuries, with Rome having been sacked by the Barbarians, and coming under their influence.
The major differences are not theological at all. The divide came about through human falability and sin, not because of difference in belief.

[Cruciform]

Originally Posted by zippy2006

As far as I understand it the Catholic churches are in communion with Rome. I would call mikey Orthodox, and Orthodox catholic. This is nothing more than a matter of definitions, but this is the common usage among Catholic and Orthodox alike where I have grown up. Similarly I consider Catholics orthodox.

Concerning a proper historical understanding of the term "Catholic," see this and this.



Gaudium de veritate,

Cruciform
+T+

[mikeymikey]

Originally Posted by zippy2006

That is actually fairly accurate as far as I understand it.



To elaborate using more neutral terms: the (Roman) Catholic Church has shaped and been shaped by Western civilization much more than the Eastern Church. That in itself gives it a much more "academic" and philosophical aspect than Orthodoxy, but the fact that it was forced to respond to the Reformation while the Orthodox Church was relatively uninvolved adds another reason why the theology of the Roman Catholic Church is more precise and developed than that of the Orthodox Church. Basically, we have more doctrine and structure than the Orthodox for a variety of reasons.

What we have in common is really quite substantial: the 7 sacraments in their fullness is already immeasurably more than any other denomination can say. As far as I understand it, the Roman Catholic Church recognizes only one other Christian group as a real and true "Church," and the Orthodox Church recognizes only one other Christian group as a real and true "Church." (they recognize only each other as having the fullness of the sacraments and Apostolic succession necessary to be truly called a Church) These are core elements of Christianity that can be easily traced from the time of the Apostles right down to our present day.

That's basically right.
Orthodoxy went through a period under 400 years of Muslim rule, where there was little room for theological clarity. The Church was greaty restricted, as you can imagine. The main activity moved from occupid Greece to Moscow, where the Peter the Great attempted to westernise Russia. This introduced a more Roman mindset to Orthodox thinking and helped to stimulate the Church. In the 18th Century, there was a blooming of Orthodox rediscovery of it's theological and ascetic roots.
By the time Greece began to emerge from Islamic rule, the Russian Church was under Stalin, and religion was outlawed and persecuted for the following 70 years.

The Orthodox Church has undergone a great deal of oppression and persecusion, but when it remained strong in the people. When Communism fell, the Church once again began to flourish in Russia.

There are more martyrs from Soviet Russia in the 20th century than there are in the whole of the Church from all the previous centuries back to Christ!

The more recent problems facing the Church in Russia since then has been the influx of Protestant evangelists, wishing to convert them to 'Christianity'... ... such arrogance.

[Traditio]

Originally Posted by mikeymikey

By the time Greece began to emerge from Islamic rule, the Russian Church was under Stalin, and religion was outlawed and persecuted for the following 70 years.

The Orthodox Church has undergone a great deal of oppression and persecusion, but when it remained strong in the people. When Communism fell, the Church once again began to flourish in Russia.

It's a good thing that at least a couple of the popes have consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart, isn't it?

[mikeymikey]

Originally Posted by Traditio

It's a good thing that at least a couple of the popes have consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart, isn't it?

hehe... indeed....
Off to bed. You've worn me out!

[Traditio]

Originally Posted by mikeymikey

hehe... indeed....
Off to bed. You've worn me out!

Good night!

[OMEGA]

Oh,

Sorry

Spitfire,

I forgot our charming young lady .

=====================

[AMDG]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

I feel so left out.

I feel your pain.