17
votes
Accepted
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
In Matthew 13, Jesus reveals that it is God's will that some people understand and others be confused:
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of
heaven has been given to ...
- 13.5k
10
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
Why God allows ambiguities and what He does to help us
Most denominations hold that the Holy Spirit inspires not only the Biblical book authors but also
the Individual Bible reader, and/or
the ...
- 25.6k
9
votes
Accepted
Do the Catholics consider Orthodox Christians heretics?
No. Perhaps the best statement of the current Roman Catholic position on the schism can be found in Unitatis Redintegratio from Vatican II. Essentially, the Roman Catholic Church holds that the ...
- 189
6
votes
At what point did the Roman See start self-identifying as the Catholic Church?
Interestingly enough, it was not until about 50 years ago in the Sixties that the Roman Catholic Church renamed itself as the Catholic Church. We will get to that, but first here’s a summary ...
- 15k
5
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
The Best Answer was chosen before I read this question (within 24 hours of it being posted) and, having read all the answers, I wish to point out that the scriptures of the Bible tell us exactly why ...
- 37.2k
5
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
One part might be that God wants to reveal hearts. A determined critic can always find a creative way to misunderstand. In politics for instance, it's surprising how creative people can be at ...
- 653
5
votes
Accepted
What is the theological justification for believing in the real presence of Mary in the Eucharist?
The short answer to your question is that theological justification for believing in the real presence of Mary in the Eucharist would be by the same means that believing in pray to Mary and all the ...
- 312
5
votes
Accepted
Was William of Ockham the first sedevacantist?
It's frustrating when an asker of a question then goes on to provide what he or she considers to be the correct answer. Perhaps that is why nobody has bothered to give an answer until now (2 years and ...
- 37.2k
4
votes
Accepted
How do the Eastern Orthodox view using the term 'catholic', particularly in regard to Roman Catholicism?
The term "catholic" appears in the revision to the Nicene Creed accepted at the 2nd Ecumenical Council at Constantinople in 381:
We believe ... in one holy catholic and apostolic Church1
The Greek ...
- 5,688
4
votes
What is the controversy that is leading the Syro-Malabar Catholics into schism?
What is the controversy that is leading the Syro-Malabar Catholics into schism?
The major issue is in the manner in which the priest says his mass. In the Syro-Malabar Rite, the traditional manner in ...
- 74.5k
4
votes
What would the Roman Catholic Church position be, should I declare myself “member of the Church of England”?
What would the Roman Catholic Church position be, should I declare myself “member of the Church of England”?
If you were to declare yourself a member of the Church of England, you would be declared in ...
- 74.5k
3
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
If we can agree that such confusions and contentions are undesirable, as Ephesians chapter 4 strongly suggests, then the question of why God would allow it simply reduces to the old question of The ...
- 32.1k
3
votes
Accepted
What theological problem in the Henoticon triggered the excommunication of the Patriarch Acacius, by the Bishop of Rome in the fifth century?
Background: At the time in question, Western churchmen taught that Christ must be recognized as having "two natures" (divine and human) which were harmoniously combined in one person, ...
- 7,013
3
votes
According to the Catholic magisterium, are sedevacantists by definition schismatics?
According to the Catholic magisterium, are sedevacantists by definition schismatics?
The short answer is yes.
Under Canon Law schism is a crime against religion and the unity of the Catholic Church ...
- 74.5k
3
votes
According to the Catholic magisterium, are sedevacantists by definition schismatics?
Bishop Ngô Đình Thục, a sedevacantist, was declared excommunicated, but not considered schismatic. (He did not die in the state of excommunication, though.)
On how excommunication does not ...
- 41.4k
3
votes
Accepted
Is the Patriarch of Alexandria an Eastern Orthodox or an Oriental Orthodox?
St Mark the Evangelist is recognised as the first Patriarch of Alexandria. The twenty-fifth was Dioscorus. In 449 he presided over the Second Council of Ephesus. Two years later another Council, ...
- 7,932
3
votes
What were the doctrinal differences behind the Great Schism of 1054?
There are several doctrinal differences between the Western and Eastern Churches, but the filioque controversy is often cited as the cause of the Great Schism, resulting in the Eastern and Western ...
- 33.9k
3
votes
Request: Christian demographic statistics at the time of the reformation
This is not exactly what you are looking for, but this Wikipedia page estimates population by country in the year 1000 AD.
Since the Byzantine Empire, Kievan Rus and Volga Bulgaria would have been ...
- 5,688
3
votes
How do the Eastern Orthodox view using the term 'catholic', particularly in regard to Roman Catholicism?
Along with the direct answer to the question, there will be a small amount of extra information to make up for those who are not as knowledgeable on East and West history as the questioner of these ...
- 105
3
votes
Comparison of Catholic and Orthodox explanations of the Schism of 1054
Comparison of Catholic and Orthodox explanations of Schism?
According to Roman Catholicism, the 1054 excommunication of the Patriarch of Constantinople was not valid, in light of Leo IX's death!
Even ...
- 74.5k
2
votes
At what point did the Eastern Church start self-identifying as the Orthodox Church?
First of all we need to get some meanings cleared out: as per the Wikipedia entry "The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be both orthodox and catholic" meaning right-worshipping and ...
- 231
2
votes
What were the doctrinal differences behind the Great Schism of 1054?
The summary in Wikipedia is a great starting point. Here are the main reasons.
A series of ecclesiastical differences and theological disputes between the Greek East and Latin West preceded the ...
- 15k
2
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
The best answer to this is that where there are ambiguities--true ambiguities--the answer to the burning question is not necessary for us to know. The doctrinal disagreements are generally based on ...
2
votes
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
You ask for answers to draw on the works of reputable Christian theologians, so where better to quote from than the words of Jesus Christ when he addressed a bunch of learned theologians of his day?
...
- 37.2k
2
votes
Remission of excommunication of a schismatic group
Excommunication and Schism refer to two distinct things.
Excommunication is a punishment leveled for various offenses; sometimes it is latae sententiae (of the sentence being passed; that is, ...
- 3,608
2
votes
What is the controversy that is leading the Syro-Malabar Catholics into schism?
Before we examine the controversy, it may be worthwhile to have a brief understanding of the scenario.
Catholics of Kerala belong to either of the three Liturgical Rites namely, Latin, Syro-Malabar ...
1
vote
Are there theological explanations for why God allowed ambiguity to exist in Scripture?
Because the Church is the Body of Christ, and the body has many parts for different purposes.
Quoting from the book of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12:
The body is a unit, though it is composed of many ...
- 1,063
1
vote
What were the common exonyms of the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox churches leading up to and after the Great Schism (1054)?
I think it is correct to say that prior to the great schism there really weren't only two sides in exactly the sense you suggest.
Dating to at least the time of the 1st Ecumenical Council (Nicaea, ...
- 5,688
1
vote
Accepted
Are there any individuals who are claiming to be the pope that are not Pope Francis?
Yes, there have been several. Salza & Siscoe's True or False Pope (1st ed.) pp. 7-8:
Mirko Fabris (d. 2012), a stand-up comedian from Croatia, was elected by a "Conclave" in 1978 and became "...
- 41.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible