2007-10-29 04:58:33 · 8 answers · asked by james easy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This has no quick and simple answer, no matter how much some may wish to reduce it to a single point. The Orthodox and the Papalists differ on several things, the least of which being the status of the Patriarch of Rome (Pope of Rome). We see the Pope of Rome as being one Patriarch among many. His office would be deserving of highest honor, if it were not fallen into schism and heresy, but beyond the ability to sit at the first seat at an Ecumenical Council, the office grants no other special ecclesiological priviliges.
Christians who follow the Pope have unilaterally changed the Nicene Creed in violation of an Ecumenical Council's order to not do so. They teach that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father and the Son", while we Orthodox adhere to the correct wording of the Nicene Creed and teach that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father"
We teach that Original Sin is not some kind of "inherited guilt" from Adam. That doctrine is an innovation from St. Augustine, one of his errors. We do not teach that we are all born guilty of Adam's sin. However, while we are not guilty of it, we are damaged by it. We, therefore, see salvation as a healing process rather than the Western/Papal favored legalistic process.
We do not accept the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We do not accept Purgatory.
We do not consider priests to be ontologically different from the laity. Among the Papalists, it is impossible for a priest to cease being a priest. He can be defrocked and prohibited from ever exercising his office, but he remains a priest, internally and permanently altered in nature from the laity. Among the Orthodox, this doctrine does not exist. If a priest is stripped of his office, then the is no longer a priest.
When we confess our sins, we do not confess them to a priest, we confess them to God in the presence of a priest (or elder). The priest is there more to keep us from playing a bit of shuck-and-jive with ourselves (very easy to do when attempting to confess to God alone) and provide pastoral counseling while we confess.
We have many other significant differences with the doctrines promulgated by Rome. I suggest you look at http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/inq_rc.aspx for more information.
2007-10-29 05:13:55 · answer #1 · answered by Hoosier Daddy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main difference is most Roman Catholics adhere to the pope and the Eastern Orthodox Christians do not.
2007-10-29 05:01:41 · answer #2 · answered by enarchay 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you're interested, this is a forum for Orthodox Christians, you could try asking here...
http://foru.ms/f145-the-ancient-way-eastern-orthodox.html
2007-10-31 07:44:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
two main differences are the greeks dont have a pope or say hail mary on their beads, or dont require baptism soon after you are born. Just to name a few, oh and the greeks dont have the four extra books of the old testament like the catholics do.
2007-10-29 05:05:56 · answer #4 · answered by piscean_psychic7 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Cathorlics listen to the pope, what the pope says is the law. And Orthodox don't listen to the pope, hence why they split up a long time ago.
2007-10-29 05:01:55 · answer #5 · answered by avalones 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Orthodox is so strict only the preacher walks on the alter
2007-10-29 05:03:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
There is only an "iota" of difference.
In Christ
Fr. Joseph
2007-10-29 05:07:03 · answer #7 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A different way of belief or worship!
2007-10-29 05:06:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋