Jesus Christ: Incarnation and

Mission
• Jesus Christ’s incarnation is the fulfillment of God’s covenant
with Abraham and his descendants. Jesus was born of the
Virgin Mary into the family of Joseph, who was of the
lineage of King David. Jesus was born in Bethlehem during
the reign of King Herod and Emperor Caesar Augustus. He
grew up in a small town in Judea, Nazareth.
• The circumstances of Jesus’ birth underscore His unique
nature and mission. As such the tile of “Messiah” or “Christ”,
which means the “Anointed One” is given to Him in
recognition of his salvific mission. The belief in the
incarnation and saving mission of the Son of God is the
distinctive feature of Christian doctrine and a cornerstone of
Christian faith.
Triune God: God the Father, Jesus Christ
as the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit
• Triune God is the most fundamental and central doctrine of
Christian faith. God is divided into three divine persons: God
the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy
Spirit.
• The Father, Son and Holy Spirit represent both the
immanence and transcendence of God. The unity of the three
divine persons is well expressed by Jesus, “If a man loves
me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and
we will come to him, and make our home with him” (John
14:23).
• Christians are called to share in the life of the Holy Trinity as
they are baptized from the beginning.
Holy Spirit: The Soul of the Church
• The Holy Spirit is the breath through which God’s followers can
proclaim His message to the world. The Holy Spirit was sent after
Christ’s ascension to empower His apostles to spread His
teachings.
• The Spirit of the Risen Christ was the first gift granted by God to
the Church after Jesus’ Resurrection. The outpouring of the Holy
Spirit during the Pentecost signaled the start of the Apostles’
evangelizing mission to proclaim and establish God’s kingdom.
• Christians believe that the Holy Spirit grants them various graces
such as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit such as intellectual virtues and
ethical characteristics that enable them to live out God’s will in
their lives. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are endowed on Christians
through Baptism.
Salvation through the Holy Trinity
• The ultimate goal of the Trinity in creating humankind is for
them to participate in God’s divine life and be forever with
Him in the eternal life. God’s plan of salvation is absolute
despite man’s continual sinfulness. God the Father initiated
His saving plan when He called Abraham, from whom Israel,
the People of God, was born.
• God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that all humans – be
they believers or unbelievers – will be redeemed by Christ’s
sacrifice. His salvation is holistic and is aimed at the whole
person; man is saved by both body and soul.
Christ’s Resurrection, Ascension, and
Second Coming
• The Resurrection also sets in motion the continuation of the
Christian ministry through the works of the Apostles and the
Church. Prior to His Ascension, Jesus Christ charged His apostles
with continuing His ministry, and sent the Holy Spirit to be their
guide.
• The Ascension is seen as the culmination of the divine incarnation
of Jesus, as His human form is taken to the Heavens and He takes
His place beside God the Father; this event therefore, is taken as
proof of Christ’s human and divine natures. It is also Christ’s
participation in God’s power and authority over all creation and
gives rise to the hope in God’s Providence.
• According to scripture, the Second Coming of Christ is the day
when Christ raises the dead to life, grants them judgment, and
recreates the whole creation into a new heaven and earth. The
fullness of God’s kingdom has already been established. Christ
will come in glory to bring about the triumph of good over evil.
The Bible as Sacred Text
• The text of the Bible was taken from oral histories, tradition and
testimonies and its books were written down and compiled over
the centuries. Christians consider the Bible central to their faith, as
it is the basis of their beliefs and traditions.
• The Bible is divided into the Old Testament (the Hebrew
Scripture) and the New Testament (the Christian Scripture). The
Old Testament narrates the salvific plan and preparation of God
the Father for the salvation of the whole human race. It also
reveals prophecies regarding the coming of the Savior of the
world. The New Testament narrates the fulfillment of this
prophecy through the life and evangelizing mission of Jesus
Christ.
• The Bible also holds great significance in the history of
Christianity, as difference in the interpretation of its contents often
result in the emergence of various Christian sects.
Christian Ethics
• It is a branch of Christian theology that serves as the guide
for righteous moral living. It teachers what it means to be
truly and fully human from a Christian perspective, and
centers on virtues or good habits in personal and social living.
• Love is core of Christ’s teachings- love of God and love of
neighbor. Love for God is shown by compassion to all of His
creations.
It is…
• The three major branches of Christianity are
• Roman Catholicism,
• Eastern Orthodoxy, aProtestantism.
• Eastern Orthodoxy emerged as a separate Christian faith as a
consequence of the Great Schism in 1054 CE, while the
reformation during the 16th century led to the establishment
of Protestantism.
Catholicism
• Catholicism is the faith professed by the Roman Catholic
Church. The term “catholic” came from the Greek
kath’bolou, which means “referring to the whole”, or “related
to all” and was used to denote the universal nature of the
church. The Catholic Church is intended for the whole world,
embraces all, and follow by the universal call of Christ to
bring the good news of salvation to the entire human race.
After the official separation of the Western churches and the
Eastern Churches in the Great Schism, the Catholic Church
came to refer to the Christian communities which were
continuously in communion with Rome and the Western
Church.
•Bible and Sacred Tradition: Main
Sources of Catholic Faith
• Catholicism adheres to the Bible and the Sacred Tradition as
its two main sources of faith and teachings. Sacred Tradition
consists of beliefs, practices, and teachings handed down
through the church since the time of the Apostles, and his
transmitted through oral proclamation, catechesis, and
worship within the early Christian community. The Catholic
Church holds both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition
equally important in shaping its doctrines and tenets of faith.
The official authority of the Church in matters of faith and
interpreting the Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition is
vested in the pope and the bishops.
•Communion and Mission of the
Church
• Communion refers to the bond of oneness among Christians,
as well as the relationship of the Church with Jesus Christ.
Oneness with Christ and members of the community is an
essential preparation for mission. The Church shares in unite
humanity and lead them to God. The evangelizing mission of
the Church also aims to transform the minds and hearts of
everyone, and even the entire Human race, into that peace in
society, and the integrity of the creation.
•The Church as One, Holy, Catholic
and Apostolic Church
• The Nicene Creed professes the four basics marks of the
Catholic Church – one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. These
qualities are made possible by Christ, through the Holy Spirit
and are considered gifts from God. The Church is called on to
continually uphold and realize these qualities. The church is
one and united because it was established by the Holy Trinity.
It is the sole church established by God. Unity is the essential
characteristic of the Church – as there is one God, One
People of God, One Body of Christ, and One Creation. The
Holy Trinity is also the source of the holiness of the Church.
God’s abiding presence, Christ’s love for the Church, and the
sanctifying presence of the Holy Spirit all come together to
make the Catholic Church holy.
• The Church is catholic, meaning universal and all-embracing,
because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the
whole of the human race, to all peoples. The catholic
character of the Church is founded on the universal missions
that Christ shared with the Church, wherein all the humanity
is called to become people of God.
•The Sacraments and Worship in
Liturgical Celebration
• The Catholic believes that Jesus Christ instituted seven
sacraments, namely the Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation,
Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy
Orders, these rituals are considered fundamental and essential
rites that confer grace of all Catholics who receive them with
the proper disposition. The Sacraments and considered signs
and symbolic actions that mediate and continually
communicate the presence of Christ at several significant
points of a Catholic’s life. Of particular significance for
Catholics is the sacrament of the Eucharist, which is
celebrating through the Catholic liturgy, or the mass.
• The Eucharist is considered the central act of worship in
Christianity and was instituted by Jesus Christ at the last
supper. Catholics celebrate on Sundays, once of the foremost
Holy days of obligation that must be observed by the faithful.
Celebrating mass on Sunday recalls God’s day of rest after
the Creation and the day of Christ’s resurrection.
•Devotion to Mary, The Mother of
Christ
• Catholicism recognizes Mary as the Mother of Christ.
Through her, God was made man in the person of Christ, and
for this she is also called as Mother of God. Catholics accord
the Virgin Mary special veneration and devotion, and she is
given special honor above all other saints. Mary is considered
the spiritual mother of the Church, and a model of faith and
obedience to God’s will.
•The Communion of All the Faithful
• Communion is rooted in the oneness and unity of the
Catholic Church, and the communion of all the
faithful refers to the special and spiritual bond among
Catholics including those living on earth, those who
have died and are being purified in Purgatory, and he
departed souls in heaven.
•Belief in Apostolic Succession
• Catholic doctrine holds that the Pope and the bishops are the
successor of the Christ’s Apostles. The bishops are the one
who shepherd the Church, with the Pope as their leader. The
Pope is also called the Bishop of Rome, and he is the
universal head or pastor of all Catholic Churches throughout
the world. He is considered the highest authority in matters of
faith, morality, and the Church governance. The official
residence of the Pope and the Church leadership is in the City
of the Vatican in Rome.
•Holy Days and Celebrations
• Advent is the period of preparation for the celebration of Jesus’
birth and his Second Coming. It signals the beginning of the Catholic
liturgical year and officially starts on the 4th Sunday before Christmas.
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary. This
is celebrated every 25th of December.
• Epiphany celebrates God’s Revelation in human form, in the
person of Jesus Christ. This feast is commonly known as the Feast of
Three Kings. Jesus revealed himself as the Christ to humanity through
the three Magi at Bethlehem. The feast is celebrated every first week of
January
• Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the 40-day period of
fasting and repentance leading up to Easter.
• Lent is a time of purification and penance that consists of 40 days
in each calendar year, excluding Sundays, that begins with Ash
Wednesday and ends with Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.
• Easter Sunday is the holy day that celebrates Christ’s resurrection
from death. This feast is held to convey the essential meaning of
Christian faith.
• Feast of the Ascension is celebrated 40 days after Easter
Sunday, and marks Christ’s bodily ascension into heaven
• Pentecost the celebration falls on the 10th day after the
Feast of Ascension, this event also marks the foundation of
Christianity and the Church.
• All Saint’s Day is an annual church festival in honor of
all saints. This is celebrated in every 1st of November
• All Soul’s Day this day is set aside to commemorate the
dead. This celebration falls on November 2.
• Feast Days of Saints
• Catholics also celebrates the feast days of saints. Each saint is
given a day in a liturgical calendar as his or her feast day.
•Current Status of Catholics in the
World
• The World Christian Database estimates that there are
currently about 1.2 billion Roman Catholics around the
world.
• And this is the result last 2010 after 100 years passed that
how Catholics spread…
•The Catholic Church in the
Philippines
• The Church remains an influential institution in Philippine
society, with a large majority of Filipinos belonging to the
Roman Catholic Church. In recent times, the Church has
grown to be more involved in addressing the plight of the
underprivileged and has taken on various social causes such
as the promotion of social justice and human rights.
Additionally, the Philippine Catholic Church (PCC) has seen
the growth of movements that strive to establish closer
relation between faithful and Christ through various activities
and engagements such as the couples for Christ, and light of
Jesus community.
What about the Statues???
• Didn't God say, "Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves
molten gods: I am the Lord your God"?
• When you walk into a Catholic church, one of the most
distinctive types of artwork to be found is the statue. To
some this appears to contradict the Word of God, who said,
“Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves molten gods: I
am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:4).
• However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, “in
the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making
of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the
incarnate Word: so it was with the bronze serpent, the ark
of the covenant, and the cherubim”
• As the Catechism pointed out, Christians do not “adore” the
statue, adoration is reserved to God alone. If someone
were to pray to the statue itself or adore the statue, they
would be committing idolatry, but this is not what the
Catholic Church instructs her members to do.
• Another way to put it is that statues are holy reminders of
various saints and of God. They remind us of heavenly
things and point our souls to the Trinity. Statues are
instruments, tools to be used in the spiritual life and not
ends in themselves.
• So while it may seem that Catholics are worshiping statues,
they are not. They are using statues, as God permits, as
images that point “symbolically toward salvation by the
incarnate Word.”
•Eastern Christianity
• Eastern Christianity refers to the Christian churches in the
Balkans and the Middle East which trace their roots to the
early Christian churches in the Eastern Roman Empire. The
Eastern Orthodox Church is the largest denomination within
this group of Christian faiths. Other churches that belong to
this group include the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the
Assyrian Church of the East, and the Eastern Catholic
Churches.
•The Eastern Orthodox Church
• The Eastern Orthodox Church originally consisted of the
patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and
Jerusalem. More recently, it has included patriarchates in
Russia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and the number of self-
governing churches like Cyprus and Greece. The historic seat
of the Ecumenical Patriarch that presides over the Orthodox
Churches is located in the city of Constantinople, now called
Istanbul, in Turkey.
• The word orthodox comes from two Greek words: orthe,
which means correct or right; and doxa, which means
opinion. The Orthodox Church believes that this is the
Church that faithfully conforms to the Christian faith as
formulated in the early ecumenical creeds established in
Nicaea. As such, the Orthodox Church does not recognize the
doctrines and the dogmas established by other councils apart
from the First and Second Councils of Nicaea.
The Trinity
• The Trinity - Orthodox Christians believe in the Holy Trinity,
the three person in one God. God the Father is the eternal
head; the Son is begotten of the Father; and the Holy Spirit
proceeds from the Father. Note that the Orthodox belief that
does not recognize the Holy Spirit as issuing from Jesus
Christ.
The Resurrection
• The Orthodox Church considers the death and resurrection of
Christ Jesus as true, historical events. Christ’s resurrection is
celebrated during Pascha, which is the Orthodox celebration
of Easter. The Church believes that Christ’s resurrection
enabled all the faithful to share in God’s promise of
immortality.
Holy Tradition
• The Orthodox Church considers the Holy Tradition as the
primary basis of faith and doctrine. The Holy Tradition
encompasses the tenets of faith of the Church, the early laws
and traditions of God’s people since the time of the early
Apostles, the teaching of Christ, and the scriptures. It also
includes the doctrines established by the ecumenical councils
of the Orthodox Church. In case of disagreements regarding
doctrines, each church is free to adopt their preferred
interpretation of church doctrine.
The Bible
• The Bible is the Holy Scripture of the Orthodox Christians.
The Bible is the primary and authoritative written witness of
Holy Tradition. The Orthodox Church’s Bible has two major
parts: the Old Testament with 46 books, which includes the 7
Deuterocanonical books; and the New Testament with 27
books. The eastern regions of ancient Christianity adopted
primarily the Greek-language Jewish translation of those
writings, known as the Septuagint.
The Afterlife and the Second Coming
• - Orthodox Christians believe that when a person dies, the
soul is temporarily separated from the body. The soul may go
to either heaven or hell. The Orthodox Church also
recognizes the doctrine of Purgatory. Orthodox Christians
recognize the importance of prayers for the dead, as the
departed souls can benefit from the love and prayers of the
faithful.
Orthodox Christians believe that in
Final Judgement
• the soul and the resurrected body will be reunited. Having
been perfected, the saints will forever progress towards a
deeper and fuller love of God, which equates with eternal
happiness.
The Virgin Mary, the Veneration of
Saints
• The Orthodox Church acknowledges Mary as the Mother of
Christ and gives her a great respect and reverence as the
preeminent saint of the Church. They address Mary as
Theotokos (God-bearer). Due to her unique place in salvation
history, Mary is honored above all other saints and especially
venerated for the great work that God accomplish through
her. The Orthodox Church considers all departed faithful as
saints. However, notable saints are often revealed through
their good works and examples and are officially recognized
by the Church. The faithful accord great veneration to saints,
and considered they bodies and relics as Holy.
The Orthodox Church in the
Philippines
• - In the 1900s, Greek sailors settled in Legazpi city in the
island of Luzon, and established communities through
intermarriages with Filipinos. These communities are largely
responsible for this establishment of the Orthodox presence
in the Philippines through the arrival of missionaries which
encourage conversion among Filipinos
• One of the Eastern Orthodox to arrive in the Philippine province
of Albay was Alexandros Athos Adamopoulos, who came in
Legazpi city in 1928. He was lately promoted as the Consul
General of Greece. In 1989, Adamopoulos saw the needs to
establish the first true Greek Orthodox Church in the Philippines
and established the Hellenic Orthodox Foundation Inc., which
embarked on the construction of the Annunciation Orthodox
Cathedral in Paranaque. These cathedrals were consecrated by his
Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on March 5, 2000.
• On April 20, 1990, a Filipino monk, Fr. Vincentius Escarcha, four
nuns and several members of his community, were received into
the Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Dionysios of the Greek
Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand, assisted by Bishop Sotirios
of Zelon.
Oriental Orthodox Church
• The Oriental Orthodox Church refers to eastern churches that
recognizes the first three ecumenical councils Nicaea,
Constantinople, and Ephesus but reject the fourth ecumenical
council, the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) which asserted
that Jesus is one person in two natures. For them, two natures
suggest a duality in Christ. They prefer the description of St.
Cyril of Alexandria: the one nature of incarnate of the Word
of God. For the Eastern Orthodox, their identity as Oriental
Orthodox is somewhat misleading, for to be called Orthodox,
one must consent to all the first seven ecumenical councils.
Apart from this difference, the Oriental Orthodox Church
continues to preserve the ancient Christians traditions in
liturgy, spiritually, and church policy.
• The Oriental Orthodox Church communion comprises six
groups: the Syriac Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Ethiopian
Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Malankara Orthodox Syrian
Church, and Armenian Apostolic churches. These six
churches, while being in communion in each other, are
completely independent hierarchically. These churches are
generally not in communion with Eastern Orthodox
Churches.
The Assyrian Church of the East
• The Assyrian Church of the East is a very small group of
Eastern Christians and is a minority group in Persia. This
church adopted the Christology of Nestorius, which denies
the real union of the divinity and humanity in Jesus Christ.
The Eastern Catholic Churches
• The Eastern Catholic Churches is the fourth group. They are
in full communion with the Church of Rome. Within the
Roman Curia there is a Congregation for the Eastern Catholic
Churches, comprised of experts tasked with formulating a
Code of Canon Law for the Eastern Catholic Churches.
Protestantism
• It is another major branch of Christianity that emerged in the
Reformation Period in the 16th century. The Reformation
started in 1517 and was begun by the theologian and Catholic
Priest Martin Luther, who inspired a movement in reaction to
the perceived abuses of the officials of the Roman Catholic
Church.
The Five Solae
1. Sola Scriptura (scripture alone) the Bible is the sole basis
of doctrine and faith.
2. Sola Fide (faith alone) salvation is through faith alone.
3. Sola Christus (Christ alone) salvation is made possible by
the saving action of Christ.
4. Sola Gratia (Grace alone) salvation is grace granted only by
God.
5. Sola Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone) all praise, and
worship must be given to God alone.
Justification by Faith
• A fundamental doctrine of protestant faith is
Justification, which refers to the salvation of the
believer by faith alone. Additionally, salvation
is a grace that is granted by God alone, given
by the Holy Spirit through the saving action of
Christ.
Christ as Redeemer and Head of the
Church
• Jesus Christ is the central figure in the act of
salvation, as it is through His actions and
sacrifice on the cross that mankind is saved.
Christ is considered the head of the Church, and
the sole mediator between God and Mankind.
Universal Priesthood of Believers
• All Christians have the duty to participate in the
activities of the Church, particularly in studying the
Bible and being involved in the affairs of the Church.
Since there is no human mediator or central authority,
believers can directly commune with God through
worship.
Sacraments and Worship
• Protestants believes that the sacraments are rituals instituted
by Christ to confer grace. For them, Christ has instituted only
two sacraments: instituted by Christ: Baptism and the
Eucharist. Protestantism does not consider the other five
sacraments of the Catholic Church: confirmation, confession,
anointing with oil, marriage, and ordination as sacraments. It
did not find biblical basis to consider them as sacraments
though practices are described in the Bible.
• There is also disagreement among Protestant denominations
regarding the Eucharist, For the Lutherans, the body of Jesus
in the Eucharist do not literally mean that transubstantiation
takes place; rather Christ is present spiritually. Other
protestants denominations look at the Eucharist as an outward
symbol of Christ’s presence.
• Adventism
• Anglicanism
• Baptist
• Calvinism
• Lutheranism
• Methodism
• Pentecostalism
Jehovah’s witnesses
• The Jehovah’s Witnesses arose from the Adventist movement
and established itself as distinct religious movement in the
19th century. These faith rejects the doctrine of the Holy
Trinity and believes in the existence of only one God called
Jehovah, who created Jesus Christ. Christ is recognized as the
Divine son of God, mediator between God and Humanity,
and the redeemer of mankind.
The Church of Christ of Latter-Day
Saints
• more commonly known as the Mormon Church, emerged
from the Latter Day Saints movement in the early 19th
century in the United States. The Church was founded in
1830 by Joseph Smith, and the congregation established a
community in the state of Urah in 1847. Apart from the Bible,
Mormons recognizes the book of Mormon as an authorized
text. The book has believed to have been divinely revealed to
Joseph Smith and contains the writing of ancient North
American prophets.
Recent Developments
• Among the major developments among Protestant faiths in
the 19th century was the emphasis on mission,
evangelization, religious education, and social concern. In the
20th century, disagreements over biblical interpretation and
doctrine caused deep divisions among Protestant
communities. This period also saw the Emergence of
Fundamentalism an extreme view regarding Church doctrine
which relied heavily on a literal interpretation of the Bible.
Other important developments in contemporary Protestant
history include the Evangelical movement, which emphasizes
conversion, or the Born Again experience. These movements
are gained wide support across denomination and
communities.
Holy Days and Celebrations
• Most Protestants denominations celebrate the same holidays
as Catholics, such as Easter, Christmas, Good Friday, Palm
Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, the Feast of the
Ascension and Pentecost. Anglicans also commemorate the
feast day of saints throughout the year. Lutherans Celebrate
October 31 as Reformation Day. Other, more conservative
denominations, however, do not recognize holy days from the
Sabbath.
Protestant Church in the Philippines
• This came here to the Philippines with the arrival of the
Americans and their colonization of our country after the
Spanish-American War. Over several decades, various
organizations were established among protestant
communities, such as the Evangelical Union, and the United
Evangelical Church. Protestant missionaries were also known
for their contributions to education, particularly in
establishing schools and universities in many parts of the
country. The most prominent Protestant schools in the
Philippines include Silliman University, Wesleyan University,
and Philippine Christian University.
Ecumenism and Interreligious
Dialogue
• Ecumenism is the principle or practice of promoting better
understanding and cooperation among different Christian
denominations to achieve oneness and harmonious relationships.
The term ecumenical has origins in the Greek language and means
the whole inhabited world. Engaging in ecumenism, therefore,
requires one to be open to all truth and to every value.
• Efforts at ecumenism gained momentum during the 20th century,
with the establishment of ecumenical conferences such as the
1910 World Missionary Conference, the 1925 World Conference
of Life and Work, and the 1948 World Council of Churches. The
Second Vatican Council provided added drive to ecumenical
movement, as the Catholic Church officially declared ecumenism
as part of the Church’s mission, and removed the restrictions
previously imposed by Canon Law of the Catholic faithful
establishing relations with each other Christian faiths.
• An important component of ecumenism is inter-religious dialogue. The
Catholic Church approaches dialogues with other faiths emphasizing
mutual respect and the recognition that other religious traditions outside
the Church have their place in God’s saving design.
• Continued efforts at ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue have borne
fruit over the past few decades. In 1999 Pope John Paul II visited
Romania, a predominantly Orthodox country, at the invitation of the
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
• This event was the first time a Catholic pope visited an Orthodox
Country since the Great Schism. A major development in Protestant-
Catholic relations was the issuance of Joint Declaration on the doctrine
of Justification by faith in 1999, establishing a common understanding
in the doctrine of justification and resolving the conflict which was the
cause of the Protestant Reformation. This declaration was signed by
representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran World
Federation. In 2006, the declaration was adopted by World Methodist
Conference.
The Sacredness of Life,
Contraception
• The belief in the sanctity of life is a major doctrine that
defines the stand of Christianity regarding contraception.
Catholic doctrine regards sex as a procreative act within the
context of matrimony, and that in each human life should be
valued and protected. Pope John Paul II in a series of
sermons and letters, further defined the Church’s stand on
reproduction and urged responsibility in raising a family. In
2008, the Catholic Church raised concerns over emerging
technologies seen as threats to the sanctity of life, such as in
vitro fertilization and genetic engineering.
• The Orthodox Church shares the Catholic perspective
regarding the sanctity of life. Orthodox Christians oppose
abortion, but there are varied views regarding the use of
contraception. Some churches allow married couples to use
contraception; others leave it to the personal discretion of the
individual; while other more conservative churches consider
the use of contraception as a grave sin. Protestants also have
diverse views on contraception. Most denominations allow
believers to practice contraception as part of responsible
parenthood.
Homosexuality, Same-sex Marriage
• The prevalent Christian view on homosexuality is rooted in
the believe in the sacredness of life and marriage. Due to the
believe that sex is a procreative union between man and wife,
homosexuality is considered a violation of natural and moral
laws. The Catholic Church considers homosexual acts as
sinful but has a less severe view on homosexual tendencies or
inclinations.
• The Catholic Church opposes same-sex marriage, considering
it a threat the family. The Orthodox Church also shares the
view that homosexuality is a sin and a threat to a marriage.
Orthodox Christians believe that the church should continue
to minister to homosexuals and help them rise above their
inclinations.
• The Anglican Church for instance has taken a liberal stand on
homosexuals. The Episcopal Church of the United States, a
member church of the Anglican communion, has elevated a
number of homosexuals as clergy. These actions, however,
stirred controversy within the Anglican community, and
many conservative Anglicans voices their opposition. Over
the decades, a number of LGBTQI affirming churches have
emerged, welcoming gays, lesbians, and other minorities into
their fold. An example of this is the Association of
Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, which was founded in the
United States in 1993.
The Role of Women in the Church
• Christian doctrine teaches the value of women as partners and
significant members of the community. Catholic doctrine
recognizes the role of the Virgin Mary as Mother of God and
her role in the saving mission of Christ. Women were also
very active members of the early Christian Church, and many
women martyrs and saints are recognized as examples of the
faith. The Orthodox Church also shares in the view of the
significance of women as members of the Church,
emphasizing their roles as nurturers in the home and
community. Protestants view on women also emphasize their
domestic and nurturing roles, with many congregations
affirming the role of women in worship services and
community activities.
• Religious view on the role of women as clergy, however, are
more restrictive. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches
consider the leadership of the Church as domain of men, and
do not allow women to enter the priesthood. The Orthodox
Church has recently allowed the appointment of women as
deaconesses, but only allows them limited responsibilities in
monasteries and churches. Protestant churches, on the other
hand, ordain women ministers and appoint them to positions
of authority within their congregations. The Anglican Church
ordains women deacons, priests, and bishops. The issue of
ordaining women continues to be a topic of discussion and
debate within the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
GROUP 1- VIRGILIO ENRIQUEZ
• FERRERAS, Gabriel Ivan D.
• BONGO, Maraiah Maureen A.
• ALCOREZA, Lhen Airyle B.
• ROCERO, John Aaron P.
• PANGAN, Judy Ann P.
• IGNACIO, Justine R.