RS - Community and Tradition

Key Words
1. Anglican Churches
  1. Churches that are in communion with the Church of England
2. Apostolic
  1. The belief that the church can only be understood in light of the apostles.
3. Bishops
  1. Priests specially chosen by the pope who are responsible for all the churches in a diocese.
4. Catholic
  1. Universal or worldwide.
5. Holy
  1. of, or relating to, god, sacred
6. Celibacy
  1. Living without engaging in any sexual activity
7. Laity
  1. All of the people of the church who are not chosen to be priests, bishops or deacons.
8. Magisterium
  1. The pope and bishops interpreting the bible and tradition for Roman Catholics today.
9. Nonconformist churches
  1. Protestant churches separated from the Church of England
10. Ordination
  1. Making someone a priest, bishop or deacon by the sacrament of Holy Orders.
11. Orthodox churches
  1. National Churches which are in union with the Patriarch if Constantinople (e.g. the Russian orthodox church)
12. Papacy
  1. The office of the pope.
The Bible.
1. The product of a community of believers. Most vibrant when proclaimed to the community. It tells people what God is like and what they are like.
  1. A library/collection of books.
  2. Sacred to Christians and Jews.
  3. These books have come to us slowly after generations of revision and editing, and so it began as an aural tradition and has changed into written form. The collection of books is now set and sealed , cannot open any more.
  4. Written right to left
2. The Old Testament
  1. The inspired word of God. Open to editing so long as message remains within tolerance.
  2. First agreement between God and his people
  3. Law, History, Prophecy, Poetry, Stories
  4. Some history but not exclusive, only historical if we can prove and confirm it.
  5. Myths express in story not fact of how we came to be. jews and Christians tell us that we are made by God and we have it wrong but that God still loves us.
  6. There's poetry of love
  7. No historical evidence of before abraham
3. The New Testament
  1. Gives us a model of Jesus' life. A pattern for people to follow. GODS SELF-REVALATION.
  2. Reformed agreement between God and his people.
  3. New deal with humanity is expressed largely through historical Jesus, through this piece of literature.
  4. Finishes with poetry of someone's vision of the end of the world. Not supposed to be true - in the same way as the beginning. It's a prediction (Apocalyptic).
  5. Gospel = good news. Almost all in Greek, a few words in Aramaic (Jesus spoke Aramaic).
Male
1. 12 apostles were male
2. A woman (Mary Magdalen) was the first to witness the resurrection - but she was not an Apostle
3. Mary was close to Jesus but wasn't chosen to be an apostle.
4. Jesus was male and the priest is 'alter Christus'
5. St Paul in the bible says that women should be silent in Church!!!
6. 2000 years of male only tradition, and even the Pope says he can't make the change.
&
Female
1. God created male and female equally in his image.
2. A woman (Mary Magdalen) was the first to see the risen Jesus and then had to go and tell the others.
3. Jesus was only acting within his cultural limitations, we are now more enlightened.
4. St Paul in the bible says that in Christ male and female are equal
5. Women have equal qualities for caring.
6. The men who have authority in the Catholic Church are prejudiced.
Celibacy
1. Living without engaging in any sexual activity
2. In the Orthodox church both may be ordained, but must remain that way. Only celibates can become bishops.
3. In the early church there was no ruling about Clergy being celibate.
4. Now, normally Catholic men take a vow of Celibacy at Ordination, but Protestants and Anglicans don't.
5. AGAINST MARRIAGE
  1. They can give undivided attention to their job
  2. Cheaper
  3. Jesus said that some would remain unmarried for the kingdom.
  4. They are a sign of the kingdom where there is no marriage.
  5. Bishops can move more easily
  6. Jesus was unmarried
6. FOR MARIAGE
  1. Role models for Catholic family life.
  2. Vicars wife can play important role in the life of a Parish.
  3. It may inspire more vocations
  4. At least one apostle was married (Peter)
  5. It's unnatural to be celibate
  6. They can understand problems in families better
  7. Gods will for people to marry and have children
The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church
1. POPE
  1. CARDINALS - globally up to 150 cardinals, up to half in the Vatican. Others spread around the world. Where there is a catholic community there is a cardinal.
    1. BISHOPS - approximately thousands.
      1. PRIESTS - several thousands
        DEACONS - less than priests
        Essential to the parish because they fulfil the role of Jesus. They ensure that their 'flock' are cared for and looked after. Essential for the community. The catechism states that priests have signed a 'special character' so any priests can act in such a way with Christ leading them. Some people may disagree with me because they may think that bishops can do a good enough job and they may not agree with the catechism because ewe haven't got any proof that it is actually an official document.
      2. Look after and in charge of the priests in their diocese. Only people who can ordain priests within their own diocese. Must make sure everyone is aware of the catholic teachings. Cardinals are chosen from bishops. They are a bridge between the parishes and the Vatican. Allows the pope to keep in contact wit the whole church -- it would be impossible for all priests to be in touch with the Vatican.
The Apostolic Succession
1. This chain has been unbroken since the time of Jesus
2. This authority has been passed on through successive leaders (popes) until today
3. Jesus gave his mission to the Apostles and appointed Peter as their leader
4. Why is it important?
  1. It roots Catholic teaching in the teaching of Jesus
    1. It gives authority to statements made by the Pope
      1. It is proof (for Catholics) that they have a link back to the person of Jesus.
5. How is the gospel message to be handed on?
  1. SCRIPTUE - Old testament, new testament and letters
    1. TRADITION - Apostolic succession, preaching's, teachings, councils, worship
The Blessed Virgin Mary
1. Her main role is to act as a middle person between Catholics and God. They want her to pray for them and watch over them She is a role model for many Christians as she shows how to live a pure life.
2. The Catechsism says that Mary was free from all sin and when she finished her life on earth her body and soul were taken into 'heavenly glory' and she was 'exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things'.
3. She is important for Catholics because she was chosen by God to be the mother of Christ so she must have been sinless. Christians also believe that she makes their prayers more effective and gives them more chance of God's help.
Faith and Salvation
1. The Church is the means to faith means that Catholics believe that the Church is means to faith as it is through the church that people come to believe in Christianity.
2. The Church is means to Salvation through the sacrament of baptism, the sacraments of reconciliation, the penitential rite and the sacrament of confirmation.
3. It is important for Catholics to believe that the Church is means to faith because then what the church teaches is the 'one true faith' handed down from the apostles through the Church. Also the church brings salvation as belief in Christ leads to eternal life in heaven.
4. It is important for Catholic to believe the Church is the means to salvation because without salvation a person's sins will prevent them form having a close relationship with God in this life and send them to hell or purgatory after death.
The Mass in Different Traditions
1. ROMAN CATHOLIC: THE MASS - Transubstantiation. Catholics attend mass to be in the real presence of Christ and receive the body and blood of Christ. they are strengthened in their faith so that they can grow closer to God and be joined with Jesus.
2. EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCH: DIVINE LITURGY - The bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus - holy mystery. Heaven comes to earth in the body and blood. It gives spiritual nourishment to the congregation filling them with the presence of Christ and every grace and blessing from God.
3. NONCONFORMIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES: HOLY COMMUNION/LAST SUPPER - Holy communion is a commemoration of the last supper and God's mercy. Bread and wine are the symbols of Christ. It brings together the unity of worshiper. It is a reminder of the last supper and the crucifixion of Christ.
4. CHURCH OF ENGLAND: EUCHARIST - Anglicans in C of E believe in priests and 7 sacraments have similar beliefs to Catholics. Anglicans who believe in minister and 2 sacraments have nonconformist beliefs about the Eucharist.
5. SALVATION ARMY AND QUAKERS: NO EUCHARIST AND NO SACRAMENTS - They believe Jesus is the only priest, no need for rituals, worship should be direct contact with God. Lead spiritually holy lives without sacraments.
The Catholic Church
1. THE GREAT SCHISM - This was the first split in the history of the church. It was a division roughly along geographical lines. East - with its centre in Constantinople , the orthodox church. West - with its centre in Rome, the Catholic Church under the leadership of the Pope.
2. FOUNDATION - Jesus instructed his followers to continue his work. "Go baptize all nations in the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit" "Do this in memory of me" - by which they were to remember him in the breaking of bread. But there is no evidence that he ever intended his followers to break away from their Jewish roots. Until the council of Jerusalem cAD50.
3. THE 16TH CENTUY, PROTESTANT REFORMATION - The Reformation started in Germany, Martin Luther challenged the authority of the church because of what he thought of as abuses of power and position. In England the figurehead was Henry VIII. he had been a very loyal catholic - rewarded with the title 'defender of the faith'. When he wanted to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon, the pope objected and excommunicated him. He declared himself the head of a new church, thereby founding the Church of England. Protestants reject the authority of the pope and took the bible as the sole source of authority.

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RS - Community and Tradition

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	Created by Fran Hunt about 9 years ago