I’m leaving the Church of England in search of (little “o”) orthodox Christianity. I’m finding it really hard to choose between Catholicism and Eastern Orthdoxy. I also have some pro-protestant sympathies with regard to sola-fide (pretty much as per Pope Benedict’s words on Martin Luther a few days ago). Please could people advise me on the truths and shortcomings of each. Just so you know, although there is a Greek Orthodox archdiocese in the UK, it is very small, and if I were to become an Orthodox Christian, I would only have access to the Liturgy about once a month.
Thanks folks
John Augustine,
I’m an Evangelical Protestant currently looking into the claims of the Roman Catholic Church but I have spent some time in the past looking into the Eastern Orthodox Church. Here are some of my thoughts.
Prior to my enquiry into Orthodoxy, I had supposed that the Eastern Orthodox Church would have considered itself nearer to Roman Catholicism than to Protestantism. It isn’t necessarily so. Within Orthodoxy, the pope has been referred to as “the first Protestant.” The Eastern Orthodox Church regards Roman Catholicism and Protestantism as different sides of the same (bad) coin.
As far as structure is concerned, the Eastern Orthodox Church seems to me to be closer to Roman Catholicism than it is to Protestantism in that Orthodox Christians, like Catholics, view ultimate Authority as being in the Church rather than in the Bible. However, there is no equivalent of the papacy in Orthodoxy. Instead they have a senior Patriarch who is called the “first among equals.” In Orthodoxy, then, there is no such thing as papal infallibility.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is sometimes called the
Church of the Seven Councils since Orthodoxy endorses only the first seven of the twenty-one Ecumenical Councils. Therefore the Eastern Orthodox Church does not subscribe to the doctrines that have been developed in the West since the Schism of 1054, e.g. the doctrine of purgatory, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception and papal infallibility. I was unable to get a definitive answer as to the Orthodox view of the doctrine of the Assumption. It apparently depends upon whom one asks.
Surprisingly, despite the fact that Orthodoxy declares purgatory to be an imaginary place, Orthodox Christians still pray for the dead. One priest I asked about this told me that they did this because they’d always done it.
Fair enough, I thought. People vote for conservatives using the same logic.
The Orthodox understanding of salvation is similar to the Roman Catholic one. In Orthodoxy, it is a gradual process called
theosis that takes place over the period of a person’s life with no assurance as to the final outcome.
Like the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that there are seven sacraments. However, the sacrament that Catholics called
Confirmation is called
Chrismation by Orthodox Christians.
The Divine Liturgy, which I’ve attended in English, is ethereal. It’s certainly a million miles from the sort of egotistical antics we Protestants who reside Stateside have come to expect to be foisted on us by our “worship leaders” who’ve allowed the remnant of aging guitar players surplus from the late sixties and early seventies who weren’t good enough to turn professional to harass us every Sunday morning with torrid tunes and lackluster lyrics.
I don’t know what goes on at a Mass but if it’s been taken over by this same crowd, then you may rest assured that Orthodoxy has the monopoly on beautiful worship.
I decided against Orthodoxy for two reasons.
Firstly, it has a problem with ethnic snobbery, which in turn has led to difficulties with unity (google the word “phyletism” to discover more about the problem). It’s impossible for me to believe that Orthodox Christians are united over doctrine when it’s clear that they can’t even agree about who is in charge of what based on the ethnicity of the individuals concerned.
Secondly, the Eastern Orthodox Church sees error in the West in terms of the way westerners think (apparently westerners ask too many questions which is annoying to the eastern mindset which defaults to the notion that many things should be taken on faith). That’s not an approach to which I’m particularly drawn.
Incidentally, the Eastern Orthodox Church has singled out your famous namesake, Saint Augustine, as the individual responsible for unduly and negatively influencing western thought.
A book that I found helpful is “Orthodoxy for the non–Orthodox” by John Garvey. And
Ancient Faith Radio broadcasts very engaging and informative podcasts:
ancientfaith.com/
However, as you’ve already entered into a Catholic forum, it seems to me that you might as well continue to check out the Catholic Church. And if you find yourself faced with insurmountable difficulties, only then turn to face east.
But, most importantly, I would encourage you to pray to the Lord for guidance as you proceed on your spiritual journey.
Grace and peace,
Mick
to only being able to go to the Divine Liturgy once a month if you become Orthodox. I don’t know if you will have to make more of an attempt, but, I bet whatever you decide, you will make an effort to get to the Divine Liturgy whenever you can.
