Religious Practises

What is infant baptism and from what does it originate?

Baptising a baby when it is only a few months old, because of the belief that we are born with Original Sin and baptism is the only way to cleanse it.

Give a quote to support infant baptism

“Only those born of spirit and water can enter the kingdom of heaven.” - John 3:5

“Cleansing by rebirth what they have received by birth.” - Council of Carthage 418CE

What is believer’s baptism and from what does it originate?

Being baptised when you are old enough to make the choice to do so, comes from Jesus’ baptism as an adult and desire to have consent.

What is the difference between immersion and aspersion?

Immersion is being fully submerged into the water (Believer’s) and aspersion is water sprinkled over the head (Infant).

Give a quote that could be used to support believer’s baptism

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19

What word conveys Augustine’s view that baptism leaves a mark that cannot be removed?

Indelible

What is Augustine’s view on the idea that baptism is the equivalent of “joining a club”?

He disagrees - sees baptism as an ontological change making the recipient a new creation, infused with the grace of Christ’s spirit.

Give a quote from Augustine about infant baptism

“When children are presented to be given spiritual grace, it is the whole Mother Church that presents them.”

Give a quote from Augustine about the origins of baptism

“[Baptism is] a tradition received from the apostles.”

Why did Augustine advocate for infant baptism?

He believed it was the only way to achieve salvation by washing away original sin.

How did Zwingli view sacraments?

As symbolic of faith rather than a tranformative change.

Who was Zwingli and what was his view on baptism?

• The leader of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland.

• Baptism is symbolic and does not connote any spiritual transformation or cleansing of sin.

Give a quote from Zwingli to support his view

“Baptism cannot contribute in any way to the washing away of sin.”

What two things did Zwingli compare baptism to?

• An oath of allegiance (to the Church)

• A sign of belonging to the new covenant, just as circumcision in Judaism was a sign of belonging to the old.

Which form of baptism did Barth support and which did he criticise?

Supported believer’s, criticised infant.

Why did Barth support believer’s baptism?

Because the person is obedient to God when they’ve made the choice, he views baptising before they have given consent as coercion.

Give a quote from Barth about infant baptism

“It is not done in obedience, it is not administered according to the proper order, and therefore it is necessarily clouded baptism.”

What does Eucharist translate to in Greek?

Thanksgiving

What does the Eucharist celebrate, and where does it originate from? (Give scripture)

• Celebrates the sacrifice Jesus made for us in his crucifixion.

• Originates from the Last Supper, when Jesus “took bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples” and “took the chalice… he gave it to his disciples”

What is consecration?

The act of making something sacred.

Explain transubstantiation

• Most popular Catholic belief about the Eucharist

• Bread and wine become body and blood at consecration

• Jesus said “This is my body” not “This is symbolic”

• Our senses perceive no change but Jesus teaches us to look beyond this.

Explain transignification

• Put forward by Edward Schillebeeckx - Catholic

• Jesus is personally present in your mind but not locally present in the body and blood.

• Eating it helps us connect to him.

Explain transfinalisation

• Minority Catholic belief

• The purpose/finality of the bread and wine is what changes.

• Purpose becomes to stir up faith in the mystery of Christ’s redemptive love.

Explain consubstantiation

• Protestant belief

• Bread and wine don’t actually into body and blood, but Jesus is spiritually present.

• The bread coexists with the body and the wine with the blood, but they remain bread and wine.

Explain memorialism

• Put forward by Zwingli - Protestant

• Symbolic representations of the body and blood to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice.

• Emphasis on “Do this is memory of me.”

• Jesus is present to the degree that the person thinks of him.

Explain virtualism

• Put forward by Calvin - Protestant

• Idea of predestination, that who will go to heaven is already decided.

• So Eucharist’s power is only received by the elect, those chosen to go to heaven.

List some aspects of a Catholic/Orthodox celebration of the Eucharist

• Orthodox fast before the service

• Eucharist prayer to consecrate

• Always distributed by the priest

• Cannot spill or throw away - eat all body and cut clothes that have drops of blood spilled on them.

• Call and response with congregation

List some aspects of a Protestant celebration of the Eucharist

• Doesn’t have to be distributed by the priest - often laid out for people to take

• Throw away what is left over

• Commemoration of the Last Supper

Give some similarities between Catholic and Orthodox beliefs about the Eucharist

• Recreates the Last Supper

• All focused on Jesus’ words at the Last Supper

• Universal celebration at many churches

• Brings us closer to Jesus

What is parousia?

The second coming of Christ.

Explain why the Western Church celebrates Christmas on the 25th December

• Exact date of Jesus’ birth is unknown

• Early Christians may have chosen this date to replace Roman winter festival saturnalia, which lasted from the 17th-23rd December.

Explain why the Eastern Church celebrates Christmas on the 7th January

Corresponds to the Julian calendar that pre-dates the Gregorian calendar used in the West.

Explain Advent in the Western Church

• From the Latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘coming’

• Four week preparation period marking the beginning of the Church year

• Anticipates Jesus’ birth and parousia

• Liturgical colour is purple

Explain the Nativity Fast in the Eastern Church

• Lasts 40 days until 6th January - the eve of the Nativity

• Abstain from red meat, poultry, eggs, dairy, fish, oil, wine.

• Eve of the Nativity is a strict fast day, known as paramony (preparation)

• Sunday of the Forefathers is two Sundays before the Nativity

• Sunday of the Holy Fathers is the Sunday before the Nativity

• Liturgical colour is red or gold

Give some Advent customs in the West

• Advent wreath has 3 purple candles 1 pink 1 white, one for each Sunday of Advent

• Advent calendars may contain chocolate or a Bible verse/image of the Nativity

• ‘O Antiphons’ may be sung at evening prayer between 17th-23rd December

What is a plygain service?

Welsh tradition - carol service sung between 3am and 6am on Christmas morning awaiting Eucharist.

What is a Christingle?

• Comes from a Scandinavian word meaning ‘light of Christ’

• Christingle is an orange with 4 cocktail sticks with fruit/sweets on them stuck in it

• The orange is wrapped in red ribbon and a candle put on it

• Orange represents the world, cocktail sticks represent 4 seasons, fruit/sweets represent fruits of the earth, light represents Jesus, red ribbon represents his saving blood.

Give some Western practises on Christmas Day

• Three Eucharists - one at Midnight Mass, one at dawn on Christmas morning, and third during Christmas Day.

• Feasting and exchanging gifts with family and friends.

Give Eastern practices on the Eve of the Nativity

• The Hours: hymns and biblical readings prescribed for each hour

• Vespers: eight biblical readings celebrate the incarnation and Jesus’ fulfilment of prophecies

• The Vigil: begins the Great Compline

• Matins: For the first time, the words ‘Christ is born!’ are sung

Give some Eastern practises on Christmas Day

• Christmas meal to break the fast

• White linen on the dinner table represents the cloth Jesus was wrapped in

• In some Orthodox cultures people wade into rivers and lakes

How does the Western Church decide the date of Easter Sunday?

Set on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs after vernal equinox.

E.g. this year vernal equinox was 20th March, and the first full moon after that was 16th April, so Easter Sunday was 20th April.

How does the Eastern Church decide the date of Easter Sunday?

Set Easter according to the astronomical full moon and ensure Easter falls before the Jewish Passover to be scripturally accurate as possible (Western Church don’t do this).

Give some features of Lent in the Western Church

• Begins on Ash Wednesday - reminder of our mortality.

• Lasts for 40 days in commemoration of the time Jesus spent in the desert.

• Time for reconciliation, stations of the cross, fasting, charity, cover up statues, minimal flowers/singing in Church.

Give some features of the Great Fast in Eastern Church

• Begins on Clean Monday - spiritual cleansing and fasting.

• Lasts 46 days

• At the midpoint (week 3) the Veneration of the Cross happens as an all-night vigil.

• Great Fast ends with evening prayers on Friday and Saturday is called Lazarus Saturday.

Explain Holy Week in the Western Church.

• Begins on Palm Sunday - wave palms in commemoration of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.

• Maundy Thursday (maundy meaning law in Latin) remembers the Last Supper - many Christians have their feet washed.

• Good Friday remembers the crucifixion - no Eucharist and is a day of mourning.

Explain Holy Week in the Eastern Church

• Starts on Palm Sunday like in the West.

• Holy Monday - the story of the cursing of the fig tree.

• Holy Tuesday - the parable of the 10 virgins.

• Holy Wednesday - the anointing of Jesus at Bethany.

• Holy Thursday - the Last Supper.

• Holy Friday - Jesus’ passion and death. Strict fasting and lamentations.

• Holy Saturday - strict fasting with elements of sorrow and joy.

What is an epitaphios?

A picture of the crucifixion placed on the altar that people venerate towards during Holy Week in the Eastern Church.

Give some aspects of Easter Sunday celebration in the Western Church

• Vigil mass celebrated on Easter Sunday.

• Paschal candle is lit, flowers and decoration restored to the Church.

• The Easter season is celebrated for 50 days until Pentecost.

Give some aspects of Easter Sunday celebration in the Eastern Church

• Midnight Office - Church congregation waits in darkness until the stroke of midnight on Easter Sunday.

• Miracle of Fire - The priest lights a candle and people light theirs off of it, so light spreads through the Church.

• People chant “Christ is risen!” and the priest blesses paschal eggs and baskets of food forbidden in the Great Fast.

• Bright Week is the week after Easter - no fasting and people greet each other by saying “Christ is risen!”

Give a quote from Pope Benedict about the resurrection

“Faith in the resurrection of Jesus says there is a future for everyone.”