Are There Theological Differences Between Easter and Western Catholicism?

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normbetland

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I was just wondering if there were real differences between Eastern and Western Catholics and their theology. I had always assumed that those eastern churches which came to return to communion with Rome would have dropped the theology that separates the Orthodox from the Church. Liturgical and canonical practices were the only differences that I thought existed between the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches. But after reading a few threads, I question that. Can anyone clarify?
 
Yes, there are differences. Eastern Catholics think Eastern, we just share the Pope.
 
normbetland said:
I was just wondering if there were real differences between Eastern and Western Catholics and their theology. I had always assumed that those eastern churches which came to return to communion with Rome would have dropped the theology that separates the Orthodox from the Church. Liturgical and canonical practices were the only differences that I thought existed between the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches. But after reading a few threads, I question that. Can anyone clarify?
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My understanding is that there are several acceptable models of theology in Catholicism. An example is Molinism versus Banezism. Catholics can adopt either theological model without contradicting Church doctrine, because both models are attempts to integrate Catholic doctrine in different ways. Similarly, there are Eastern models of theology that integrate all Catholic doctrine but are not the same as the models of theology that are common in Western Christendom.

In short, I think you can have differences in theology in some matters without having differences in doctrine, and that’s what the Easterns do. But any Catholic can adopt any theological model that does not contradict Catholic doctrine, whether it comes from East or West.
 
This is my question too! Anyone want to tell us some of the theological differences?
 
I don’t know if this counts as a theological difference, but the East and the West really have a quite different understanding of the function of sacred images. The East considers icons to be not simply artworks, but ‘windows into Heaven’, making present the saint depicted in a supernatural, almost sacramental way. In the West, however, we historically paid more focus on the practical functions of images: their decorative, teaching, and commemorative functions. We also venerate images, but our understanding of the mechanics behind them work quite differently from the East.

We don’t so much say that the saints are ‘present’ via their images and share in their holy essence and miracle-working power; for us Westerns, it’s more like images are reminders that help the worshiper concentrate and call to mind the subject portrayed, hence the common line used by (Latin) apologists comparing sacred images to photographs. (You might say that the Protestant view of images is the Western one taken to radical extremes.) I suspect that from an Eastern POV, the icon isn’t so much like a photograph or a commemorative monument, to which Latin apologists usually compare images to, but more like a shop window that allows you to see ‘the other side’.

That’s really the reason why Eastern iconography have a strictly-defined canon the iconographer must subscribe to and have layers of symbolism attached to even the smallest detail, while Western iconography is much looser in how sacred subjects should be portrayed and has a generally more literalistic, down-to-earth approach. From a Western POV, as long as the image can remind you of and fix your mind on Jesus, it doesn’t really matter what way you portray Him.
 
zaida said:
This is my question too! Anyone want to tell us some of the theological differences?
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One of the easiest to explain, from a non-theologian point of view, is in the theology of marriage. In Western theology, the man and woman confer this sacrament upon each other. In Eastern theology, the priest confers the sacrament upon the couple.
 
Really interesting stuff! Intriguing to me, about “images”…I need to learn more about that…Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut…and that blog post is wonderful…
 
zaida said:
Really interesting stuff! Intriguing to me, about “images”…I need to learn more about that…Thank you all for your (name removed by moderator)ut…and that blog post is wonderful…
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You may also want to consider the website of Eastern Catholic theologian Dr Anthony Dragani

east2west.org/
 
Thanks for the responses. I especially enjoyed the blog post.

As a Roman rite Catholic I think we sometimes equate theology and doctrine as being interchangeable, but now I see that they aren’t exactly the same thing. So doctrinally there are no differences, but how those doctrines are taught, expressed, etc., are different. Would that be a correct statement?
 
normbetland said:
I was just wondering if there were real differences between Eastern and Western Catholics and their theology. I had always assumed that those eastern churches which came to return to communion with Rome would have dropped the theology that separates the Orthodox from the Church. Liturgical and canonical practices were the only differences that I thought existed between the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches. But after reading a few threads, I question that. Can anyone clarify?
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I am an Eastern Orthodox Christian that grew up living first in the Catholic world. My perspective in living in both worlds that is both Churches and having a better understanding towards psychology I believe our differences can be met in how we could learn to experience and taste God. The two Churches actually go about it differently but complimentary. The Catholic Church to my observations and living in it for some time is a very orderly disciplined type of Church. The Church of Rome is very good in disciplining. However good this is for we all need discipline there is a trait or virtue which sometimes the Church of Rome is lacking in and it is precisely what is the strengths of what is in the Eastern Churches. The Eastern Churches are very good at nurturing/mentoring. What the Eastern Churches seem to be lacking at times is the strength of the Church of Rome which is its discipline character. These two characteristics disciplining and nurturing/mentoring are the foundation of what every child needs. Every child needs the proper balance of both discipling and nururing/mentoring into their lives if they are to find this (spiritual) maturity just like they need it while growing up in their homes. It was interesting that the Church of Rome excels at disciplining while the Eastern Churches excel at nurturing/mentoring. One Church excels at telling you what to do while the other Church excels at listening to you. To me these two great Churches have inherited the two best qualities that makes parenting excel. The problem though in our Churches though is one Church has one parental quality better than the other Church. Perhaps this is the reason why God has made the Eastern Church different than the Catholic Church and the Catholic Church different from the Eastern Churches so that in time each Church would exhibit a parental quality virtue to it. This would actually point us to this need to become united in order to put both those parental qualities of disciplining and nurturing/mentoring into a better balance for each child growing up. This is my understanding that our two Churches were ordained by God to help each other by giving what is the best strength each Church can give to each other. If I wanted my child for instance to learn plenty of discipline I will send them to a boot camp which I see as the Catholic Churrch. When the child receives enough discipline than the next stage of growth is determined by nurturing/mentoring and here I will send the child to the parent which is very good at this, the Eastern Churches. This is how I see what differences we have in both our Churches. It is a very good recipe for us coming together to learn the best of both parental skills.
 
chimo said:
I am an Eastern Orthodox Christian that grew up living first in the Catholic world. My perspective in living in both worlds that is both Churches and having a better understanding towards psychology I believe our differences can be met in how we could learn to experience and taste God. The two Churches actually go about it differently but complimentary. The Catholic Church to my observations and living in it for some time is a very orderly disciplined type of Church. The Church of Rome is very good in disciplining. However good this is for we all need discipline there is a trait or virtue which sometimes the Church of Rome is lacking in and it is precisely what is the strengths of what is in the Eastern Churches. The Eastern Churches are very good at nurturing/mentoring. What the Eastern Churches seem to be lacking at times is the strength of the Church of Rome which is its discipline character. These two characteristics disciplining and nurturing/mentoring are the foundation of what every child needs. Every child needs the proper balance of both discipling and nururing/mentoring into their lives if they are to find this (spiritual) maturity just like they need it while growing up in their homes. It was interesting that the Church of Rome excels at disciplining while the Eastern Churches excel at nurturing/mentoring. One Church excels at telling you what to do while the other Church excels at listening to you. To me these two great Churches have inherited the two best qualities that makes parenting excel. The problem though in our Churches though is one Church has one parental quality better than the other Church. Perhaps this is the reason why God has made the Eastern Church different than the Catholic Church and the Catholic Church different from the Eastern Churches so that in time each Church would exhibit a parental quality virtue to it. This would actually point us to this need to become united in order to put both those parental qualities of disciplining and nurturing/mentoring into a better balance for each child growing up. This is my understanding that our two Churches were ordained by God to help each other by giving what is the best strength each Church can give to each other. If I wanted my child for instance to learn plenty of discipline I will send them to a boot camp which I see as the Catholic Churrch. When the child receives enough discipline than the next stage of growth is determined by nurturing/mentoring and here I will send the child to the parent which is very good at this, the Eastern Churches. This is how I see what differences we have in both our Churches. It is a very good recipe for us coming together to learn the best of both parental skills.
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Wow. Genius. God grant you many years. Thank your for sharing your wisdom.
 
Casilda said:
Wow. Genius. God grant you many years. Thank your for sharing your wisdom.
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Anytime Casilda. God bless you too. I noticed you are now growing up in a Maronite community. Where I live there is a large Maronite community living alongside the Orthodox community and we have a great relationship between the two groups for as long I as could remember. It is a great blessing we can share our faith together. I have often been to the Maronite Mass when I was invited to (the Maronite priest comes once a month so most of the Maronites attend to the local Catholic Church at the other times of the month) and they have often shared their time with the Orthodox when able. The Maronites are a wonderful Eastern Church community.
 
chimo said:
Anytime Casilda. God bless you too. I noticed you are now growing up in a Maronite community. Where I live there is a large Maronite community living alongside the Orthodox community and we have a great relationship between the two groups for as long I as could remember. It is a great blessing we can share our faith together. I have often been to the Maronite Mass when I was invited to (the Maronite priest comes once a month so most of the Maronites attend to the local Catholic Church at the other times of the month) and they have often shared their time with the Orthodox when able. The Maronites are a wonderful Eastern Church community.
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I am here because the Orthodox didn’t want me because I am Catholic and the Roman Catholic didn’t want me because I think like an Orthodox, lol. God found a place I can be. I have Catholic AND Orthodox friends (and Lutheran, and Baptist, and Church of Christ, and Brethren, and Methodist…)
 
Casilda said:
I am here because the Orthodox didn’t want me because I am Catholic and the Roman Catholic didn’t want me because I think like an Orthodox, lol. God found a place I can be. I have Catholic AND Orthodox friends (and Lutheran, and Baptist, and Church of Christ, and Brethren, and Methodist…)
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For the present times we all have to go through this cross of rejection and misunderstandings because many people in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are very uniformed about each other thinking too much that the other Church is in the wrong. God must be very displeased at these behaviors for He founded One Church but is characteristically different in East and West. The problem for majority of the Orthodox and the Catholic is they do not see each other as brothers and sisters as they would in their own particular Churches. However this may be for the present I am an optimistic that in time these two great Churches will get over their misunderstandings of each other to find they are truly brothers and sisters without these restrictions they have created from the past. In the meantime it is good that you have found a home in the Maronite Church. They will give this understanding which you will need. Someday all Catholics and Orthodox (and the rest of Christendom) will rejoice when this misunderstanding of their respective Churches ends. For the present the Cross is present to those who are searching for this unity.
 
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