Christianity: Ecumenism, Interfaith Dialogue, Shifts and Schisms

This project examines the continuity and change within Christianity, focusing on ecumenism and interfaith dialogue. It highlights major shifts and schisms since 1054 C.E., particularly the split between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, stemming from religious, political conflicts, and disagreements over papal authority and theological nuances like the Filioque. The project further discusses the future of the church, emphasizing unity among Christian denominations through community-focused, inclusive practices, shared prayer, and equal treatment, while promoting faith and harmony. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments for students.

ECUMENISM AND INTERFAITH
DIALOGUE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Continuity and change in Christian religion.............................................................................3
2. Appreciate major shift and schisms in Christianity since 1054 C.E........................................3
3. Future church that will also Christians to express their faith in unity with members of other
Christian denominations..............................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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1.Continuity and change in Christian religion
Christian religion is an Abrahamic and monotheistic religion that is purely based on
teaching and life of Jesus of Nazareth. Furthermore, there are around 2.4 billion followers so it
one of the world largest religions followed by maximum number of people living in the society.
From the term continuity and change in Christian religion it can be stated that “since many year
the Christian religion is being followed by many individuals, despite of some of the changes
in it”. Likewise, since 500 years the upstart priest named as martin Luther has make 95 theses
that it left on the church door and spilt the Catholic Church right down in middle. So, how solid
are a particular religion that need to be changed over time but their consistency is always
remained the same over years (Stanley, 2018). Change is term that represents the way a
particular religion has changed over time and being adapted by the people living in the society.
Protestantism gave rise to secure democracy as it said “The Reformation deemphasised the
power of institutions and strengthened the bonds between the individual and sacred scripture”
this means that the religion is private phenomenon as the relationship between the state and
church is deteriorated thereby making secularism. Women were regarded as an inferior creation
and, worse, as the devil's gateway," it is the preconception has been changed after the
reformation. Thus the wives are provide respect, paying way for women priest and many more.
Christian religion need to be reappraised as per the religious of communism, pluralism
and civil society. Such as, there are “Catholics that have grew up by eating Fish on Friday, at
the same time knowing that cremation is forbidden to them are aware”. So such unchanging
certainty has changed a great deal over the year. Whereas the term continuity can be implied as
tradition, that is religion frequently made to appear and it is not constant. Paul Morris has stated
that call for return to the timeless ways of traditional Judaism that required in order to return to
mid-nineteenth century (Walls, 2017). So, as per this tradition can be stated as flexible concept
that changes as per idea, lifestyles and practices that are being performed by people at particular
point of time.
2. Appreciate major shift and schisms in Christianity since 1054 C.E.
Since 1054 C. E. , there are has been major shift and schisms in Christianity, the
patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cerularius has communicated about the staring of “ Great
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Schism”. It has lead in creation of two largest denominations in Christianity such as Eastern
Orthodox and Roman Catholic. It has lead in long –rising tension between the two churches such
as Buzantine church and Roman church thus it furthermore result in splitting the European
Christian church into Eastern Orthodox Church and Western Roman Catholic Church. The main
reason that has enforced the great Schism is complex mix of religious that resulted in political
conflict and disagreement between the people (Stark, 2021).
Because of the political conflict, the religious disagreements have become more worse
particularly in relation with power of Rome. The flight is because Rome believe pope i.,e the
leader of western church in Rome should have all authority over the patriarch. So Constantinople
disagreed to these as each church wants to have their own leaders. But when the Michael
Cerularius and entire Eastern Church is communicated and selected the Roman Pope Leo III and
Roman church with him then conflict between the two churches. So they have never being
reunited since thousands of years (Siecienski, 2019). Therefore, in even today the two branches
of Christianity remain distinct expression of similar faith. Roman Catholicism is single largest
Christian denomination having more than a billion followers across worldwide. On the other
hand Eastern Orthodoxy is having only 260 million followers, national churches. In short it can
be stated that there are three main cause of great Schism in Christianity such as dispute among
the images in the church, who is the leader or head of church and addition of Latin word Filioque
to Nicene Creed.
3. Future church that will also Christians to express their faith in unity with members of
other Christian denominations
Church is the religious place where all Christian pray with the god in order to fulfil their
own needs. Church should be building in an area where community people can reach easily and
follow all the rituals. Every Christian wants church to be clean and pure, so that people can get
positive vibes from the god and church. Church also requires the pure soul which is named as
father. Father plays a major role in generating the faith between the communities. Church should
also consist of books which tell us story about the god in the church. People also need a space of
garden and a hall where they can seat and spend peaceful time with god by doing meditation.
Benches and chairs should be there so that number of people can seat a single time and have
pray with the god. Church should also get with the sound system and lights in order to convey
the message to group of people by the father in the area (Orme, 2017). Church uniform should be
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implemented in order to unity the community of Christian coming to pray. Symbol of church
should place on the highest point so that people can see it from far easily. Daily prayer time
should be fixed that will bring unity of time between the followers of the church. Everyone
should treat equally in church without any discrimination which will results in building of faith
between the Christian communities. All are same in front of god and father. Church should
provide free food and water facilities to the people coming with faith. Father will lead the prayer
which will bring harmony in the Christian communities. Catholics should be able to convert
people thoughts into faith towards the god and promote more prayer by giving grace without any
discrimination.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Stanley, B., 2018. Christianity in the twentieth century. Princeton University Press.
Walls, A., 2017. Christianity. A New Handbook of Living Religions, pp.55-161.
Stark, R., 2021. The rise of Christianity. Princeton University Press.
Siecienski, A. E., 2019. Orthodox Christianity. Oxford University Press, USA.
Orme, R., 2017. Christianity. Collins.
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