Roman (Catholic) Christianity - Masters

7/31/2019 Roman (Catholic) Christianity - Masters

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Roman (Catholic) Christianity the

So-called Medieval Period

Classical ChristianityChristianity is the world


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The role of Constantine

Empire transformed Church becomes the world i the 4th c

Definition eliminates Diversity

Creeds

Canon

Trinity and nature of Jesus/Holy Spirit

Citizen equals Christian

Heresy defined

Paganism banned

Official Roman Religion by 380

A. Review and overview


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The world in which all are Christians (or almost all!)

Started with Roman empires adoption of Christianity as theofficial religion

Two parts after 476 Roman empire known as Byzantium (seat of the Orthodox) till 1453

The rest, politically disunited. But after 476 Europe graduallyconverted by 1000, it too is Christian

Hence: the definition above

Christendom


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Religion intuitive, experiential, imaginative. God not like us, a thinking, acting, planning being.

Contemplation rather than rational hypothesisor logical demonstration

Major tension between east and west thelatter demands opinion, reason(s). The eastsees that as a threat to faith

The Orthodox Approach to faith


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Greek eastern half of the Roman Empire -Byzantium after the fall of Latin Rome

Caesaro-papism

A growing east/west divide

Orthodox vs. Roman Christianity Emphasis less on reason, more on worship and

experience

A. Eastern Christendom - Orthodox Tradition (188-

191)


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Trinity not a theory of God but a poem, atheological dance. God transcends all language

Gods names are not information but intended todraw us to God and share his nature

Cappadocian fathers God has single essence,unknown to us, but shown to us in 3 manifestationthat adapted the mystery to our limited intelligenc

God


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Filioque clause

Icons are not humanized but remain symbolized

Mary

No transubstantiation No celibacy requirement for all priests

No man (pope) can be the head of Christs body

Theology not a rational exercise. Using reason todiscuss god is like eating soup with a fork (useless!!).Theology valid when pursued with prayer and liturgy.

Split with Rome -1054 (pp. 190-1)


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The Rise of the Papacy, 191

Monasticisms central role in a decentralized

world

St Benedict

Mendicant Orders

Franciscans Dominicans

Carmelites

B. Western Christendom or Latin (Medieval)

Christianity (197-209)


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Neo-Platonistic and Manichaean background

Philosophy as the handmaiden of theology

Vs. Pelagius

Original sin, predestination

City of God, City of Man

B. 1. Augustine (pp. 191-193)


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As official religion, how should religious andpolitical leaders decide about powers?

After Rome sacked in 476, the Roman Churchand its Bishop the only stable institution northof the Mediterranean

Gregory I, 590-604, de facto ruler of Italy,solidified the role of the Roman Bishop as 1st

B. 2. Papacy (191)/Popes and

Princes/Crusades (197-199)


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Whos in charge of Christendom?

Charlemagne in 800, Holy Roman Empire after

962

1054 split from Orthodox church this startsEuropean Christianity on its own path

See p 197, Popes Nicholas II, Gregory VII,Boniface

Christian Europe (197)


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11th -13th c church defined itself more fully 1133 Lateran Council Council of Cardinals - signified

professional clergy.

Celibacy becomes the rule for clergy

Canon law

Papal courts 1233, Inquisitional methods (203)

Doctrines (see below under popular religion) Sacraments defined

Purgatory Transubstantiation

Indulgences

B. 3. Definition and Structure


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14th c, Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy

(197)

During 15th c, real political power was

devolving to national rulers in different parts

of Europe

The Growing Power of the State


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The Regional States of Medieval Europe,

1000-1300 C.E.

14


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Why is this important? What is the

educational level of most Christians at this

point? How can the church minister to them?

a. Saints (199)

b. Mary (200)

c. Evil, Devil, and Angels (201)

B. 4. Popular Development - Everyday life


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d. Sin, Heresy, and the Inquisition (202)

Seven deadly sins and seven virtues

Citizenship = church membership

Malleus Maleficarum

B. 4. Popular Development - Everyday life


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Latin for "The Hammer of Witches

Written in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer, an

Inquisitor of the Catholic Church, 1stpublished in Germany in 1487 To refute arguments that witchcraft doesnt

exist

To note that witches are usually women To educate magistrates on rooting out and

convicting them

Malleus Maleficarum


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12th c additions Purgatory

7 sacraments defined (see page)

Transubstantiation

13th c additions Indulgences

Note also the importance of relics, pilgrimages, Cathedrals withhigh ceilings and stained glass

The main issue in popular Catholicism

How does the church teach the gospel in a non-literate world?

Other popular elements


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The literate side reason and faith are notincompatible (1285-1349)

The scholars John Scotus Erigena

Anselm

Aguinas

Ockham (distinguish between 2 theories byshaving away unnecessary assumptions)

B. 5. Scholasticism (204)


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The uncomfortable side

Its threat the claims that an individual canbe what Church Christianity claimed for Christ

alone.

Meister Eckhart

B. 6. Mysticism (206)


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Church as dominant institutions in Europe and

Byzantium Christendom

Church Christianity vs. Biblical Christianity

C. Conclusions


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Buildings, sacraments, ordination (apostolic succession leadersnot chosen by community but ordained by God and set aside fromothers, hierarchy).

Empire and church saw mutual advantages in structure, order,

authority (use state vs. heresy, e.g.), to settle doctrinal divisions

Dream of Christendom a unified world under leadership of Pope,protected by secular leaders respecting his role

Led to the colonization of Europe by stone-built churches andcathedrals and the placing of all people in a church controlledparish and a diocese of a Bishop

Church Christianity - A unified

Christian society


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More radical and free-wheeling

Obedience only to demands of the Bible, a

greater authority than the church

Need no mediator with God no priest, no pope,no kings. Form own communities of saints

Each individual has right to interpret scripturescan it be individualistic and subjective?

Biblical Christianity

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Roman (Catholic) Christianity - Masters