discussion about Orthodoxy (2)

It is a very interesting discussion. Thank you, Palimpsest   I hope we can continue it another time -('cause it's late here in England!!  ).

Sweet dreams and silent night!  

Only the priest, or bishop, has the "power" to commune, forgive, heal, marry, bury etc.

Wow.  That's so different from Judaism!  One more thing to add to my list!  Thanks!

Finelly
A small add to that short statement.

In special occasions and to a certain degree ordinary Christians can take [partially and only till a priest is find] the role of the priest. For example if there is a new born baby, not baptized yet, and if it is in danger of dying, he can be baptized by a ordinary Christian [with earth, not water]. Similarly, in the absence of a priest a community can perform part of the Liturgy. And also St. Paul names all Christians as a "priestly nation", a light to the world, etc.

But the apostolic succession [the passing of the priestly power from the apostles to the bishops of today] is very important. 50 days after the Resurrection, at Pentecost, the 12 apostles are said to have received -in Jerusalem- the Holy Ghost and this is the “official” beginning of the Church. The apostolic succession is recognized only in the priests of the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican Churches. Bishops differ from priests only in that they alone can “make” priests or bishops [to “make” a bishop you need three bishops to complete the sacred act].

I hope this helps you. What sort of "list" do you keep?

Oh, I like to compare Judaism and Christianity.  I don't believe there is a "judeo-christian" heritage or ethic, since we are so very far apart on so many major issues.  

I guess I sort of keep a running list of the differences.  

I'm not judgemental about it, though, so I trust nobody gets defensive.  I sure don't!

Maybe this will help you. For me the best place to find out the Judeo-Christian relation are the writings of St. Paul, especially the Letter the Hebrews.

I must say I disagree with you. The common heritage is much more important than the differences. There are many common points and even the differences found in Christianity are in voluntary contrast and are never “ignorant” of their “Hebrew” origin. I’m no expert in these complicated relation but I feel strongly that Christianity is not “far away” from Judaism.

Thanks.  I've studied the NT.  Paul outlines a dogma and theology that is vastly different from Judaism.

It's ok to agree to disagree about whether there is a join Judeo-Christian ethic.  I personally think we are way too different in our approaches to the world, the meaning of life, the nature of man, and God!  But all rivers run to the sea......

Yes, the ethical differences are important but the ontology tends to be the same. I don't think there are such great differences in the understanding of God, Creation, man, world, etc. The approach to all of them tends to be different, not the understanding of their nature.

Yes, all rivers run towards the sea... beautiful!

HUGE differences in ontology, understanding of God, etc.

But this is not the thread for that.  

Interesting, though.  The use of the word "Orthodoxy" to refer to the religion of the Romanovs without the word "Christian" to further define it....I'm considered orthodox, too, you know!  That's what drew my attention to this thread, lol!

Finelly, in spite of the differences, wouldn't you agree though that Christianity is built on Judaism? Jesus Himself was a Jew (which is why I am always amazed when Christians anti-Semitic!!) who practised His faith according to all the Jewish traditions. We also share the Old Testament, the prophets - our Monotheism comes from Judaism. We use the Feast of Passover in our understanding of Easter. We have taken Pentecost from the Jewish tradition and much of the language in Christian liturgy (the lamb, the paschal sacrifice etc. etc.) is taken directly from Jewish Scriptures.
Maybe we're not so far apart after all.
There is something I've often wondered (& should have found out before now!!) do Jewish people view Jesus as a prophet?

Palimpsest, I have an awful lot of difficulty accepting the 'apostolic succession.' It seems to me that Jesus came to show people that God is directly available to them. He said to His apostles, "Don't allow yourselves to be called, 'Father' since you have only one Father in Heaven. Don't be called 'teacher' because you have only one teacher..." And what do we do? We call priests, Father & are supposed to believe that the teaching of the Church (Eastern or Western) is the only 'True' teaching! (p.s. Thank you for your good wishes, I did have sweet dreams!  )

Jesus is seen as a "prophet" by the Jewish religion. He was said to be trained in the Temple, and his actions were to call the Jewish people back to their original orthodox ways (ie: chasing out the money changers, etc.)

Thank you, FA. I hoped that that would be the case.  

He is not seen as a prophet.  He left no writings as the other prophets did.  He is not recognized as having a message from God to the Jewish people that was valid.  If anything, he is considered a false prophet per the description of one in Deuteronomy.

Anyone who studies the Talmud knows what Jesus was considered to be.  Let us not misrepresent Judaism, please.  

Sorry, but my Rabbi in Hebrew school said he was considered a minor prophet.

No, Toria, not exactly. Someone once said "If Judaism is the mother of Christianity, then Christianity's entire history has been one of attempted matricide".

Certainly the earliest believers in Jesus were Jews and followed Jewish law.  But from the writings of Paul to the gentiles, the early church fathers, it is obvious that the Judaism was taken out of the christian movement.  The Eternal Covenant is not recognized by christianity, for one thing.  There is very little left that we have in common other than a belief in one God.  

Now, having said that, it's ok with me.  I believe that God has covenants or relationships with lots of different groups of people.  Christianity is one He has with non-Jews, same as Islam.  Not a problem for me.  But we are very, very different.