Special rites

Bap­tists

In radical Reformation objections to infant baptism, demands for church-state separation; John Smyth, English Separatist in 1609; Roger Williams, 1638, Providence, R. I

Congregational, I.e., each local church is autonomous.

Scripture; some Baptists, particularly in South, interpret the Bible literally.

Baptism, after about age 12, by total immersion; Lord's Supper.

Church Among evangelical Presbyterians

of in Ky. (1804) and Penn. (1809), in

Christ distress over Protestant

(Dis- factionalism and decline of fervor.

ciples) Organized 1832.

Congregational.

"Where the Scriptures speak, we speak: where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent"

Adult baptism, Lord's Supper

(weekly)

Epis- Henry VIII separated English copal- Catholic Church from Rome, ians 1534, for political reasons.

Protestant Episcopal Church in

U.S. founded 1789.

Bishops in apostolic succession, are elected by diocesan representatives: part of Anglican Communion, symbolically headed by Archbishop of Canterbury.

Scripture as interpreted by tradition; esp, 39 Articles (1563); not dogmatic. Tri-annual convention of bishops, priests, and laymen.

Infant baptism, Holy Communion, others, Sacrament is symbolic, but has real spiritual effect.

Luth- Martin Luther in Wittenberg.

erans Germany, 1517, objected to

Catholic doctrine of salvation by merit and sale of indulgences; break complete by 1519.

Varies from congregational to episcopal: in U.S. a combination of regional synods and congregational polities is most common.

Scripture and tradition as spelled out in Augsburg Confession (1530) and other creeds. These confessions of faith are binding although interpretations vary.

Infant baptism, Lord's Supper. Christ's true body and blood present "in, with, and under the bread and wine."

Metho- Rev. John Wesley began

dists movement, 1738, within Church of

England. First U.S. denomination

Baltimore, 1784.

Conference and superintendent system. In United Methodist Church, general superintendents are bishops—not a priestly order, only an office — who are elected for life.

Scripture as interpreted by tradition, reason, and experience.

Baptism of infants or adults, Lord's Supper commanded. Other rites, inc. marriage, ordination, solemnize personal commitments

Мог- In visions of the Angel Moroni by mons Joseph Smith 1827, in New York, in which he received a new revelation on golden tablets: The Book of Mormon

Theocratic; all male adults are in priesthood which culminates in Council of 12 Apostles and 1st Presidency (1st President, 2 counselors).

The Bible, Book of Mormon and other revelations to Smith, and certain pronouncements of the 1st Presidency.

Adult baptism, laying on of hands (which confers the gift of the Holy Spirit), Lord's Supper. Temple rites; baptism for the dead, marriage for eternity, others.

Ortho- Original Christian proselytizing in dox 1st century; broke with Rome,

1054, after centuries of doctrinal disputes and diverging traditions.

Synods of bishops in autonomous, usually national, churches elect a patriarch, archbishop or metropolitan. These men, as a group, are the heads of the church.

Scripture tradition, and the first 7 church councils up to Nicaea II in 787. Bishops in council have authority in doctrine and policy.

Seven sacraments: infant baptisrr-and anointing, Eucharist (both bread and wine), ordination, penance, anointing of the sick, marriage.

Pente- In Topeka, Kansas (1901), and costal Los Angeles (1906) in reaction to

loss of evangelical fervor among

Methodists and other

denominations.

Originally a movement, not a formal organization, Pentecostalism now has a variety of organized forms and continues also as a movement.

Scripture, individual charismatic leaders, the teachings of the Holy Spirit.

Spirit baptism, esp, as shown in "speaking in tongues": healing and sometimes exorcism: adult baptism. Lord's Supper.

Pres- In Calvinist Reformation in 1500s; byter- differed with Lutherans over ians sacraments, church government. John Knox founded Scotch Presbyterian church about 1560.

Highly structured representational system of ministers and laypersons (presbyters) in local, regional and national bodies (synods).

Scripture

Infant baptism, Lord's Supper; bread and wine symbolize Christ's spiritual presence.

Roman Traditionally, by Jesus who Catho- named St. Peter the 1st Vicar; lies historically, in early Christian

proselytizing and the conversion of imperial Rome in the 4th century.

Hierarchy with supreme power vested in Pope elected by cardinals. Councils of Bishops advise on matters of doctrine and policy.

The Pope when speaking for the whole church in matters of faith and morals, and tradition, which is partly recorded in scripture and expressed in church councils.

Seven sacraments: baptism, contrition and penance, confirmation, Eucharist, marriage, ordination, and anointing of the sick (unction).

United By ecumenical union. 1957, of
Church Congregationalists and
of Evangelical & Reformed

Christ representing both Calvinist and Lutheran traditions.

Congregational; a General Synod, representative of all congregations, sets general policy.

Scripture.

Infant baptism, Lord's Supper.

RELIGION 209

Practice

Ethics

Doctrine

Other

Denom­ination

Worship style varies from staid to evangelistic. Extensive missionary activity.

Usually opposed to alcohol and tobacco; sometimes tends towards a perfectionist ethical standard.

Wo creed; true church is of believers only, who are all equal.

Since no authority can stand Baptists between the believer and God, the Baptists are strong supporters of church-state separation.

Tries to avoid any rite or doctrine not explicitly part of the 1st century church. Some congregations may reject instrumental music.

Some tendency toward perfectonism; increasing action programs.

Simple New Testament faith; avoids any elaboration not firmly based on Scripture.

Highly tolerant in doctrinal and Church
religious matters; strongly of

supportive of scholarly education. Christ

(Dis­ciples)

Formal, based on Book ol Common Prayer (1549); services range from austerely simple to highly elaborate.

Tolerant; sometimes permissive; some social action programs.

Apostles Creed is basic; otherwise, considerable variation ranges rom rationalist and liberal to acceptance of most Roman Catholic dogma.

Strongly ecumenical, holding talks Epis-
with all other branches of copal-

Christendom, ians

Relatively simple formal liturgy,vith emphasis on the sermon.

Generally, conservative in personal and social ethics; doctrine of "2 kingdoms" (worldly and holy) supports conservatism in secular affairs.

Salvation by faith alone through grace. Lutheranism has made major contributions to Protestant theology.

Though still somewhat divided along ethnic lines (German, Swede, etc.), main divisions are between fundamentalists and liberals.

Luth­erans

Worship style varies widely by denomination, local church, geography.

Originally pietist and perfectionist; always strong social activist elements.

No distinctive theological development; 25 Articles abriged from Church of England's 39 not binding.

In 1968, United Methodist Church Metho-
joined pioneer English- and dists

German-speaking groups. UMs leaders in ecumenical movement.

Staid service with hymns, sermon. Secret temple ceremonies may be more elaborate. Strong missionary activity.

Temperance; strict tithing. Combine a strong work ethic with communal self-reliance.

God is a material being; he created the universe out of pre­existing matter; all persons can be saved and many will become divine. Most other beliefs are traditionally Christian.

Mormons regard mainline churches as apostate, corrupt. Reorganized Church (founded 1860) rejects most Mormon doctrine and practice except Book of Mormon.

Mor­mons

Elaborate liturgy, usually in the vernacular, though extremely traditional. The liturgy is the essence of Orthodoxy. Veneration of icons.

Tolerant: very little social action; divorce, remarriage permitted in some cases. Priests need not be celibate; bishops are.

Emphasis on Christ's re­surrection, rather than crucifixion; the Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father only.

Orthodox Church in America, orginally under Patriarch of Moscow, was granted autonomy in 1970. Greek Orthodox do not recognize this autonomy.

Ortho­dox

Loosely structured service with rousing hymns and sermons, culminating in spirit baptism.

Usually, emphasis on perfectionism with varying degrees of tolerance.

Simple traditional beliefs, usually Protestant, with emphasis on the immediate presence of God in the Holy Spirit

Once confined to lower-class Pente-

"holy rollers," Pentecostalism now costal appears in mainline churches and has established middle-class congregations.

A simple, sober service in which the sermon is central.

Traditionally, a tendency toward strictness with firm church- and self-discipline; otherwise tolerant.

Emphasizes the sovereignty and justice of God; no longer doctrinaire.

While traces of belief in predestination (that God had foreordained salvation for the "elect") remain, this idea is no longer a central element in Presbyterianism.

Pres­byte­rians

Relatively elaborate ritual; wide variety of public and private rites, e.g., rosary recitation, processions, novenas.

Theoretically very strict; tolerant in practice on most issues. Divorce and remarriage not accepted. Celibate clergy, except in Eastern rite.

Highly elaborated. Salvation by merit gained through faith. Unusual development of doctrines surrounding Mary. Dogmatic.

Roman Catholicism is presently in Roman

a period of relatively rapid change Cath-

as a result of Vatican Councils I olics
and II.

Usually simple services with emphasis on the sermon.

Tolerant: some social action emphasis.

Standard Protestant; Statement of Faith (1959) is not binding.

The 2 main churches in the 1957 United

union represented earlier unions Church

with small groups of almost every of

Protestant denomination. Christ

210 AMERICA IN CLOSE-UP

THREE MAJOR FAITHS

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

Religion in America today is built primarily on the structure of Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism. Within each of these groups there is great diversity. Among Protestants alone, there are 186 different organizations. Besides the three major groupings of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, there are about 1,500 major and minor sectarian churches. Among these sects are established groups such as the Quakers and Mormons. There are also bizarre groups such as the Holiness Church, which is a snake-handling cult.

The degree of religious diversity in America becomes evident when one compares the religious composition of American society with that of its neigh­bors. Mexico's population is 96 percent Catholic. Canada's three largest de­nominations, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and the United Church of Canada, account for 86 percent of total membership. To account for 86 percent of America's total church membership, it is necessary to add together 19 separate denominations. The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits an estab­lished national religion and protects the individual's right to practice the religion of his or her choice.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-26