What are the fundamental differences between Catholic and Orthodox
belief systems? Is there any independent research regarding this
matter?

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Request for Question Clarification by kriswrite-ga on 07 Nov 2002 07:07 PST

When you ask for "independant research," are you looking for
information on *why* there are differences between Catholic and
Orthodox?

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Request for Question Clarification by tehuti-ga on 07 Nov 2002 07:53 PST

The differences between the two are differences in points of doctrine
and manner of organisation. Are you seeking independent research into
the historical basis for these differences?

haluk,

you're in luck: i've found a number of sites that already adress this
particular question! Like any good research, it's best to get a number
of opinions, as sometimes there are biases and other times there are
bits of information left out of one coverage that you come across in
the next. In additon, not all sites cover quite the same scope. Though
it may not look like it, your quesion is actually fairly broad!


What are the Differences between Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism
http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/ortho_cath.html

Differences Between Orthodox and Catholic
http://www.unicorne.org/orthodoxy/articles/alex_roman/orthodox-catholic.htm

Orthodox and Roman Catholic Differences in Salvation.
http://www.synaxis.org/cn/stjohn/Orthodox-Catholic-Salvation-Differences.htm

Catholic-Orthodox Dialog on Papal Infallibilty
http://ic.net/~erasmus/RAZ255.HTM

Theological and Dogmatic Differences and Reconciliations Between
Orthodox and Catholics (an entire book)
http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/coptic/writings/frmarkosbook/


Google Search Strategy:
differences catholic orthodox


I hope this helps! If I misunderstood something, part of my answer
isn't clear, a link doesn't work, or for any other reason you need
clarification, I'll be more than happy to follow up.

-gentryunderwood

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Request for Answer Clarification by haluk-ga on 08 Nov 2002 10:21 PST

I meant "non-catholic and non-orthodox" sites and researches.
Resarches done by respectable universities are welcomed...

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Clarification of Answer by gentryunderwood-ga on 08 Nov 2002 11:48 PST

haluk,

Thanks for your request for clarification. 

If you're not interested in the opinions of those who belong to one
faith or the other, your best bet for true objectivity, if such a
thing is possible, is probably the resources from an encyclopedia or
dictionary of religion.

Try the well-reviewed "World Christian Encyclopedia : A Comparative
Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World (2 Volume Set)",
which can be purchased from Amazon (
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0195079639/qid=1036784072/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-0246282-6120057?v=glance&s=books
). If that's not enough, Mircea Eliade has edited a 16-volume
encyclopedia ( http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy/encyclopedia_of.html ).

The university of Virginia publishes the "Concise Dictionary of
Religion" which is the 20-year work of Irving Hexham. To quote the
site:

"Irving Hexham has taught introductory courses in Religious Studies
for more that two decades. Early in his career he understood the need
to help students find practical means to access definitions of key
concepts. What began as class handouts became in 1994 A Concise
Dictionary of Religion. "

The site maintains a tremendous amount of information in the form of
texts and links and tries to be objective about how it gathers and
presents it.

The Religious Movements Page
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/utilities/glossary.htm

Old Catholicism
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Oldcath.html

Roman Catholicism
http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/roman_catholicism.html

For some reason this site has very little information on orthodoxy,
though it has information on many other religious groups. it does have
the following:

ORTHODOX CHURCH
http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/ot2www-hadden?specfile=/web/data/relig/hadden/HexConc.o2w&act=surround&offset=598707&tag=ORTHODOX+CHURCH&query=orthodox


You can compare the two religions on BeliefNet, an independent, not
religiously-affiliated site.

BeliefNet -- Home > Religions > Christianity > Catholic
http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10023.html

BeliefNet -- Home > Religions > Christianity > Eastern Orthodox
http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10029.asp


Finally, if none of these links help and you don't want to purchase or
find scholarly volumes, the following site may be just what you want.
To quote the author:

"Welcome to Orthodoxy and Catholicism: A Comprehensive Guide to Issues
and Materials. On this site I have attempted to bring together all the
material I could find about relations between the Catholic and
Orthodox churches. You will find overviews of all the issues that
separate the two sides, church documents, discussion groups, news and
so forth. There are currently over 200 links, and I am hoping to reach
300 or 400 by August.

"I have tried to be impartial in every way I can think of. My
occasional topic introductions attempt to reproduce what a committee
of well-meaning experts from both sides would agree to. In describing
the links I have attempted to keep my religious opinions separate from
my duty to find and describe the material. Occasionally I describe
something as "poorly-written" or "tedious." These are not religious
mistakes. Very occasionally I describe someting as "biased," when, for
example, an author says that the other side believes something that no
member of that side would agree to. I am not opposed to vigorous
disagreement."

Orthodoxy and Catholicism: A Comprehensive Guide to Issues and
Materials
http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/orthodoxy_and_catholicism/1.html


Search Strategy:
comparison  
dictionary 
encyclopedia
catholicism
orthodoxy
catholic
orthodox


I hope this helps.

-gentryunderwood

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Clarification of Answer by gentryunderwood-ga on 08 Nov 2002 11:52 PST

Also, take a look at this concise PDF from a protestant liberal arts college:

Orthodoxy and Catholicism
http://faculty.luther.edu/~slindmar/hist32/compareorth-cath.pdf

-gentryunderwood

Dear Gentryunderwood, I liked very much your interpretation "if such a
thing is possible".

I long ago had a friend who was the priest of an Orthodox group on
Long Island New York. I got the impression that there were thousands
of significant differences in doctrine and practices from the Romen
Catholic Church. Perhaps they are as different as Jehovah Witnesses
are from Baptists. In recent years, variations from one congregation
to another of the same denomination have become common place rather
than rare in most religions.  Sorry I can't think of any good
examples, except an Orthodox priest typically has a wife. The Jehovah
Witnesses and The Church of Christ have likely done an "independent"
(but hostile) study, They are both rather predudiced against all
denominations other than their own.  Neil

tO NEILZERO; That is quite a comment on the witnesses. From my
experience, All Jehovahs Witnesses worldwide have a faith that does
not vary from country to country. Their publications in whatever
language you find them, all state the same thoughts and are solidly
Bible based. Most religions that claim to follow the teachings of
Jesus have many traditions that are not Bible based. Matthew 15;6 says
" You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition" and
the same thought is found in Mark 7;13 "And thus you make the word of
God invalid by your tradition, which you handed down". Yes, Witnesses
do stand up for their beliefs, as in the legal fight to allow them to
preach door to door. Jesus did it in his day and they are only doing
what he did. The Jews of Jesus` day had fifteen hundred years of
tradition, waiting for the "Messiah" that was prophesied about. When
He [Jesus] did arrive, the religious leaders would not accept him and
schemed to have Him ut to death. But many ordinary people did realize
who he really was and became the first Christians.