Orthodox Christianity vs Catholic Church major differences?

Answer 1

The main differences historically sited are as follows:

1- The idea of Papal infallability and judicial supremecy, which the Orthodox do not adhere to

2- The clause in the Symbol of Faith," Who proceeds from the Father AND THE SON" is rejected as an inovation by the Orthodox, who believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father ALONE

3- The Orthodox believe grace to be an "uncreated energy" of God while the Latins usually hold to an idea of "created grace"

4- The Orthodox use leavened bread during celebration of the Eucharist and believe that the elements are transformed at the "Invocation of the Holy Spirit" while the Papists use unleavened bread or wafers and teach that the elements transform when Christs' "words of institution" are recited

5- The Orthodox reject the teaching of the immaculate conception as a papal innovation

6- The Orthodox Church allows priests to be married (as long as they marry BEFORE ordination) whereas the Latins demand celibacy for the clergy

7- The Orthodox do not hold to the Papal teaching of Purgatory

8- The Latins withhold the Sacrament of Unction for the dying, while the Orthodox bestow it upon anyone who is sick

9- The ideas of indulgences and "merits of the saints" and the "earning" of salvation through works are all foreign to Orthodox

10-The idea of Original Sin as "inherited guilt" is not held by the Orthodox. The Orthodox believe that we inherit only the effects of sin, namely corruption and mortality, from our first parents

11- There are of course many more that could be listed- down to the fact that the Papal church allows organs and even guitars in litugical worship while the Orthodox only allow the voice to be used

While some people on both sides of the division claim that the differences are only minor and can be overcome "easily", many others believe that due to the lenghth of seperation, the very "spirit" is different between the Churches and that there is no hope for reconciliation unless one of the bodies significantly changes.

Lastly, the Orthodox do claim catholicity, and would say that the "Roman Catholic" church is falsely so called. And of course the Latins claim orthodoxy, and would say that the "Orthodox" are not quite so. The difference between the two views is that the Orthodox reject, generally speaking, the efficasy of "catholic" "sacraments", while the Papists allow the idea that the Orthodox's sacraments are "valid, though irregular".

Hope this helps :)

Answer 2

Doctrinally and morally, the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches are virtually identical.

If you do the Beliefnet survey and come up with 100% for one, you'll come up with 100% for the other.

The Catholic Church has held 21 ecumenical councils, and the Orthodox Churches recognize the authority of these councils only up to the year 1054.

As another answerer correctly stated, the biggest difference is the primacy of the Bishop of Rome. Catholics believe in it while Orthodox do not.

Catholics and Orthodox can attend each other's Masses and still fulfill their Sunday obligations. We can also receive the sacraments from each other's priests.

Answer 3

they are a little like twins seperated at birth growing up with different character, but sharing alot

I believe the Eastern orthodox believe in the 12 line apostle creed but would not agree with the wording of all the parts of the 24 line Nicean creed...

so.. there is a fair agreement on some fundamentals
I think alot of the difference lies in the nature of Jesus and the nature of the holy spirit Protestants and Catholics say The HOly Spirit was sent from the Father and the Son, where an Eastern Orthodox might say sent from the Father... Protestants and Catholics theologians generally might agree with eastern orthodox that Jesus is eternally generated in person but view him as coequal in nature as the Athanasian trinity claims coetqual, coeternal and ceoexistant in essense (nature) but three in persons and with regard to persons the Son and Spirit may be eternally generated

Eastern Orthodox think Western people try and overextplain the infinite... and tend to emphasize biblical images of victory in Christ... the Western Protestant and Catholic views draw more heavily on jbiblical images of judicial ... both sets of images are Biblical

People like to study the eastern orthodox since they have many ancient beliefs from early christianty whereas some other views change

Answer 4

News flash...Traditional Roman Catholicism is Orthodox Christianity. There are many differences in the Eastern Orthodox
and Latin Rite Churches.....but they are in communion with one another...both are considered Catholic and both recognize the Pope. There is an Eastern Orthodox Maronite Rite Church that is part of my diocese which is in the US and is Roman/Latin.

Protestant denominations...some 40,000 to 50,000 of them....are for the most part, very UN-Orthodox.

Answer 5

There are also the following major differences:

1. Catholic doctrine condones the act of confession before a, for example, priest for the forgiveness of sins. Christians believe that only God can forgive sins, and that act results from a person repenting and asking for forgiveness directly from God. Conversely, Christians do not believe that any person (priest) has the authority or been given the authority to forgive sins.

2. Catholic doctine identifies a place of purgatory as a place that souls could find themselves after bodily death. There is absolutely no biblical basis for purgatory in the New or Old Testaments.

3. Perhaps the most disturbing issue is that Catholics directly and indirectly...perhaps even out of habit...practice that through certain works, whether sacraments or good deeds, one can earn more favor with God, even after death...for example, the last rights. Christians believe that no one can earn more favor with God. Christ alone earned all the favor we shall ever receive. We are all sinneres (Rom 3:23) and deserve death...justly. Yet, if we accept the sacrifice that Christ made for us through his death, and accept that He is risen and has authority over everything...we accept the gift from God of His Son. This way only are we justified by God the Father...not through what we do, but by what God did for us (John 3:16). It is through a daily faith in Christ for every moment of living and every decision made, that we are saved...and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers, and given the right to be called children of God.

4. The Catholic bible also integrates additional books, specifically kept out of the Old and New Testaments.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

The major difference is the supremecy of the Pope.

Otherwise, they are closer to each other than either is to any non-orthodox/catholic religion.

Answer 7

Orthodox Christianity is Faith = Salvation that leads to good works

Catholic Church is Faith + Good Works = Salvation.

Answer 8

orthodox christians, such as russian/greek/coptic orthodox don't recognize the Pope as the head of the universal church.

Answer 9

They all believe in the same thing. No difference. Catholics can't marry and worship idols but many christians worship pagan holidays. So, what's the difference?

Answer 10

If any church out there helps the elderly, children,and teaches the people to love God and all his children then they are true.
If any church practices religion (rites) (self-rightiousness) then these are of the anti-christ. In GOD I trust not religion of any kind.