Roman Catholicism found in approximately 380 A.D. when Roman Empire took up the religion as it's religion. The Catholics believe in the Teaching Authority and Sacramental Agent given to them. Basically
the Pope was passed down from St. Peter and power is given to each Pope to tell the truth when it comes to morality and faith. The Pope is infallible when he speaks on authority to these things, yet is fallible in other areas of life as he is not seen as a god. They also teach the seven sacraments for the seven major aspects or
events of life to keep grounded. 1. Baptism, 2. confirmation. 3. Marriage. 4. Holy Orders. 5. Death. 6. Confession. 7. Communion. They also view Mary as a holy figure and believe that works show faith and without works you have no faith or little faith.
Eastern Orthodoxy popped into being around 1054 A.D. when they split off from Catholicism over mixed views on things. Mostly the Pope, as Orthodoxy claims that the view the Pope has these powers is
raising him to a God figure which is against the Bible according to them. They honor the same sacraments however. Yet they don't interpret purgatory, indulgences, and etc. the same way. They mostly believe in a whole ness of the church rather then in the individual.
Protestantism broke away from Catholicism for similar reasons including disregarding the Pope and getting the word from the Bible which they believe is the infallible, inerrant, direct word of God in writing. They believe every word and letter was written by God and to be taken in it's direct context. Also that justification is
by faith alone without works. It is possible to be saved without performing works. Also it is the Protestant Principle which warns against idolatry in money, sex, etc. Anything that can preoccupy
you and direct your whole attention away from God and life. Basically it's the fact that if you accept Christ into your life you are saved and can live life. However, that is not to say you can have complete disregard but it is saying that it is left to you how to live. A freedom of will in essence.
The things that hold the three together is definitely in the believing of Christ, the believing in the Trinity, and the resurrection of Christ as our savior. One gets into contrasting when you look towards other issues. First Mary as more then a person is used in Catholicism yet not in Orthodoxy and definitely not in Protestantism. The Pope as a figure is used in Catholicism yet not in the other sections. Rituals are used in Orthodoxy and in Catholicism yet not required in Protestantism, however Protestants do baptism, pray, worship, and take communion. However, they do not believe in the 5 books after Revelation known as the pseudopigrapha. These books are outside of the normal Canon of scripture as allowed by the Nicean council. All three have strict restrictions on things, however, with Catholicism one must tell their sins in confession and endure a penalty for them, where in Protestantism you must simply confess to God and ask for forgiveness, yet however, you are already saved by Christ�s saving grace and forgiven by the Cross. All three for the most part believe we have inherited sin from Adam and passed down through the males and both genders receive punishment for that. Catholics believe we are saved by works generally where Protestants show salvation through grace alone.
7. One third of Western civilization has grown from history of the Jewish past. Most of our history is rooted in Jewish past including names we give things and our children to that of quotes and great thoughts and questions posed still today. When you look at the Jewish history subjectively and through history you find that
the size and time of the Hebrews were small and late in the historical timeline of things. The size of their land according to Smith was about the size of Illinois. However, the achievements of the people far exceed their small size and small land. The Jewish people always looked up in their lives. For they find meaning in their creator in their God. Up to a Supreme Being and their God named Yahweh. The reasons given for their belief are
listen here in Smith's book and are commonly repeated by Jewish and Christian followers. "First, no human being is self-created, from which it follows that humankind has issued from something other then
itself. Second, everyone at some point finds limit to his/her power." In the fact of their creation by a Supreme Being they find meaning in their existence in life. Therefore a Supreme Being must be explained for the certain
miracles or unexplainable happen in life. For there are points which are beyond our reach. They believed that the Supreme Being was something that could be talked to and something that would communicate with them and cared for what was going on in His creation. What differed from other gods was that the Hebrews
focused on the personal Characteristics of God and that God created all living things and including them and had intentions and goals for all living things. Jewish religion is monotheistic and that is problematic to believe in more then one God for it creates division. The Jews exalted their God and praised Him and blessed Him for raising them up from below. When the Jewish people think of life going crazy and their being problems in life they look to themselves for they see the world as being created "very good" according to Genesis in the creation account by God. This allows them the possibility to change instead of the endless hopelessness that the alternative would create for you. This has been passed on throughout Western culture and civilization to look inside of
yourself and constantly challenge yourself to if you are meeting God's plan or goal. The Jews wanted life to be happy and bless food, humor, sex, and marriage. They also believe like Christians and Muslims that our bodies will be resurrected one day. The Jews sought out their purpose in lives and in the Bible it's stated that humans were a little lower then God Himself and as translated by KJV bibles is a little lower then Angels. However,
humans were also compared to maggots and worms and gave all the thanks and glory to God. This dualism explains their understanding of life perfectly. For they believe that God has blessed them with
all the things that they have achieved and that because of this they should give thanks to God and give Him the glory instead of calling it their own. Jews believe they are born sinners and that it has been passed on from child to child after Adam.