VENN DIAGRAM ACTIVITY
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BELIEFS
• All branches of Christianity agree that God is 3 persons (Father, Son, Holy
Spirit – the Trinity)
• Doctrine (teachings) are very similar between Roman Catholic and Orthodox.
Protestant doctrine can be quite different (scripture interpretation,
sacraments)
• Protestant teaching – People are saved…
• Sola fide – by faith alone
• Sola scriptura – by scripture alone
• Sola gratia – by God’s grace alone
• Protestants (and later Catholics, as well) accept a priesthood of all believers
– this encourages all Christians to spread the Gospel (evangelize).
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RITUALS AND PRACTICES
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All Christians believe that baptism is a sacrament (a visible sign of God’s grace)
•
Baptism varies by branch:
•
Catholic – generally infants, sprinkling of water
•
Orthodox – generally infants, full immersion (all initiation sacraments in infancy)
•
Protestant – more often adults, more often full immersion
•
Only the Catholic and Orthodox Churches accept 7 sacraments
•
The Eucharist is sacramental in Catholic and Orthodox faiths – it becomes the body
and blood of Christ, no “open table” – is celebrated at every liturgy
•
The Eucharist is symbolic in most Protestant faiths – therefore, many have an “open
table” – is not celebrated at every liturgy
•
Marriage is sacramental in Catholic and Orthodox faiths (how is divorce handled?)
but not in Protestant faiths
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CHURCH ORGANIZATION
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Catholic church believes in apostolic succession (trace Pope’s position back to St.
Peter) – authority is centralized with the Pope
•
Orthodox church also believes in apostolic succession – however has no central
authority (local bishops)
•
Protestant church has some central authority (depending on denomination) –
some are fully independent
•
Church appearance:
•
Roman Catholic – generally more ornate (statues, stained glass, altar vessels,
vestments)
•
Orthodox – generally more ornate (icons, altar vessels, vestments)
•
Protestant – generally simpler (plain altar table, no statues, focus on choir and
pulpit)
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