Directions: Using the text below, create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting the Roman Catholic
Church to the Eastern Orthodox Church. You will need to have 3 differences under each heading and 2
similarities in the middle.
 Roman Catholic Church vs. Eastern Orthodox Church
With the threat of the growing Islam population, Constantinople and Rome took control. Later on, the powers of
the five centers started to weaken. Thus prompted the birth of the Eastern Orthodox Church or also commonly
known as Greek Orthodox or Orthodox Church.
Although Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church’ beliefs were both based among the teachings
and life of Jesus Christ and his apostles, there are numerous differences that you might want to remember. Here
are some notable characteristics of each church.
The Roman Catholic Church believes in the following:
1. The church places a high value on human reason. Since St. Thomas Aquinas incorporated philosophy in
religion, the church set a high respect for human wisdom which also led to radical alterations of
theology, mysteries, and institutions of the Catholic Church.
2. The Roman Catholic still observes the belief that the Pope is the Head of the church, the successor of
Simon Peter whom which Jesus Christ appointed as the ’rock to build his church’¦.’ He is infallible
(because the Holy Spirit forbids him to commit error) and could govern other Catholic churches.
3. Roman Catholics believe that the human reason can prove that God exists. The church teaches that
through man’s reason he knows that God is almighty and all knowing, bodiless, infinite, etc.
4. Roman Catholics also believe that with man’s intellect and some assisting grace, he would be able to
behold the Essence of God in the ‘Age to Come’.
The Eastern Orthodox Church spars with the Roman Catholic’s beliefs with the following:
1. Orthodox does not seek to unite faith and reason because it promotes heresy and false doctrines. This
church believes it would be best if the New Testament is preserved and unaltered in any way. The
church considers Jesus’ warning, which was to be cautious about human traditions that are linked to His
doctrines. Although Orthodoxy welcomes science and philosophy to be able for a believer to explain its
own faith, it does not make any effort to use science or logic in order to prove what Christ gave and left
to his followers for them to believe.
2. The Eastern Orthodox has a highest bishop also known as the ‘first among equals’. However, the
highest bishop is not considered infallible like the Roman Catholic’s Pope, and does not have power
over all Orthodox Churches.
3. Orthodoxy also believes that unless God has spoken to you, human reason cannot know more about
God. The existence of God is inherent in human nature and that is how human beings know he exists.
4. The Orthodox Church also believes that the saved man would only be able to see God in the glorified
flesh of Christ. Man cannot and would not be able to behold the Essence of God in the ‘Age to Come’
because not even divine grace would give man such an awesome power.
Other differences are the language used in celebrating Masses. Roman Catholics
prefer the Latin language while the Orthodox prefers native tongues. Roman
Catholics have statues while Orthodoxy does not have icons. Roman Catholic
priest cannot marry while Orthodox priests could marry prior to being ordained as
priests.