|
|
|
|
CHRISTIANITY
Welcome to our Christianity webpage, part of Dr. Gowler's Religion 100 class. Here you will find insightful writing about several aspects of Christianity. Please use the tabs below to navigate. This webpage was created by Adnan Rashid, Sharmin Shariff, Jacob Gise, and Niel Kuttappan.
|
The Christian religion recognizes seven sacraments. It is largely believed that Jesus himself instituted these sacraments. Some denominations of Christianity recognize all seven while others only choose to recognize a select few (Flesher). The sacraments, or spiritual rites, are social in nature. The purpose is to begin communication and communion with God in the congregation (Grant 199), and they also serve as symbols of God’s grace (Molloy 403). There is no selection process or criteria; all of the followers of Christ may participate in these seven sacraments and receive God’s bounty and grace (Grant 199). The seven sacraments are: baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, Holy Orders, anointing the sick, matrimony, and penance.
First used in Judaism, ritual bathing was a sign of purification. Later, John the Baptizer began using baptism as a form of repentance. Jesus himself was baptized and then ordered his followers to go out and baptize others as well (Molloy 403-404). Once baptized, a Christian is said to be cleansed of all his sins. He is dead to his old life and has now risen to a new life in Christ (Paul 88). The ritual most often involves white clothing and water, whether a person is completely immersed in water or just sprinkled on the head is a matter of a sect’s preferences. These two items are both symbols of purification (Molloy 403).
Prior to being baptized, a person must undergo a process of education, or catechism, about the meaning of Christianity and salvation through Jesus. Although all denominations of Christianity may not agree on one particular process, there is a general format. The person is immersed or sprinkled with water, which symbolizes the death of Jesus, then reemerges from the water representing the resurrection. The debate of baptism enters where infants are involved. The idea of Original Sin, the thought that everyone is born in sin as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God, provides controversy about whether infants should be baptized or not (Flesher). Catholicism, one sect that practices infant baptism, vehemently enforces the belief that anyone who dies without baptism is destined to hell. This belief includes infants (Knight). On the other hand, Protestants believe that baptism should be strictly voluntary; the person must have a desire to be baptized. As a result this sect reserved baptism for adults only (Molloy 404).
This debate leads directly to another sacrament, confirmation. Either in their teens or as an adult, this ritual is a strengthening of beliefs (Molloy 405) and confirmation of their vows and membership as a Christian. In some Christian denominations, the confirmation occurs along side adult baptism. For those that believe in infant baptism, however, this rite must be preformed later in life. As with baptism, a process of education usually precedes confirmation as well (Flesher). Those who go through baptism during infancy and confirmation as a teen or adult are all considered Christian (Kierkegaard 219). In Catholicism, confirmation is when the “Holy Ghost is given to those already baptized in order to make them strong and perfect Christians and soldier of Jesus Christ” (Knight). To many denominations, confirmation is a preceding step of the sacrament Eucharist. As a result, confirmation has been referred to as the “First Communion” (Flesher).
Eucharist, a sacrament that is accepted in some form by all denominations, is largely known as Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or Mass. It is always celebrated publicly (Flesher). During the Eucharist, worshippers eat bread and drink wine. The bread represents the body of Jesus while the wine is his blood. There are specific aspects of the Eucharist that various denominations hold opposing views toward. Some churches specifically use unleavened bread and others replace wine with grape juice or water. Also, many denominations believe that the bread and wine are quite literally the body and blood of Jesus, while others agree that the connection is more symbolic (Molloy 404). All churches, whether they believe in a literal or symbolical representation, believe that by eating the body and drinking the blood of Jesus, they are henceforth forgiven of their sins (Paul 360). A third variation of the sacrament Eucharist is frequency. Several denominations have the service every Sunday, including Catholics, Orthodox, and Traditional Protestants; others prefer to hold the service once a month. Although different Christian denominations differ in their specific beliefs regarding the Eucharist, the representation of Jesus’ body and blood, and the redemption received are indubitable (Molloy 404).
Taking Holy Orders, or Ordination, is a sacrament that is not recognized by all denominations (Molloy 406). Ordination is a procedure that empowers Christians to become bishops, priests, and deacons. Originally it was for males only, but now some churches allow females. Usually, bishops perform the process. The worshipper who wishes to enter Holy Orders must be certain that this is his calling in life, for it is a lifelong empowerment that must be entered seriously and cautiously. In Catholicism, a worshipper must be celibate. For this reason, the sacrament is taken especially serious. It is compared to marriage and the link between Christ and the Church (Flesher). Other denominations allow ordination of ministers; some do not consider this to be sacramental (Molloy 406).
Anointing of the sick, another sacrament, was originally known as extreme unction (Molloy 406). Unction literally means anointing with oil and in the case of the sacrament, refers to the act of anointing the sick. Unction, or simply anointing with oil, is an act that always occurs during other sacraments such as confirmation (Flesher). In this context though, it is an old symbol of health and is anointed on a sick person while prayers are offered (Molloy 406). It was referred to as extreme unction because the ritual was usually done once a person’s illness became severe. Now it has been taken on as a person’s last rites and performed before death (Flesher).
Marriage, whether it is believed to be a sacrament or not, is a ritual celebrated by Christians as well as non-Christians. It is the joining of two individuals for life, one male and one female, in the state of matrimony. These two individuals commit themselves to each other in front of a priest or minister, family, and friends. The priest or minister serves as a witness of their union (Molloy 406), while the family and friends represent the church. Both individuals should equally desire the union; one cannot be pressured or persuaded in any way by the other individual or another member of the Church (Flesher). One difference among the denominations presents itself with the topic of divorce. Catholics believe that matrimony is only a sacrament when uniting two Christians; all other celebrations are simply marriages. They believe that marriage is a sacrament instituted by Jesus himself, as the Council of Trent and the Council of Florence stated. Also, Catholics reference passages in Mark that say a man that divorces his wife and remarries has committed adultery against her (Knight). As a result, they view divorce as inadmissible. Several other denominations allow divorce in their churches. Protestant Churches, for example, not only permit divorce, but remarriage as well.
The sacrament of reconciliation is widely known as penance. The process of penance requires a worshipper to repent his sins before a priest and is forgiven, freed from the guilt of his sins (Molloy 406). It is believed that this forgiveness allows the worshipper to subjectively reunite and reconcile with God. This is an individual salvation (Grant 130). Some bibles use reconciliation and atonement interchangeably (Paul 24), but dictionaries tend to describe reconciliation as a part of atonement, as a word to define and describe atonement (18). Penance does not necessarily have to occur in front of a priest, believers may use different prayers to seek forgiveness from God (Flesher). Catholicism views the sacrament of reconciliation differently. Catholics call this “confession.” In this judicial process, after a person repents, the priest delivers a judgment and sentence. They believe the “grace” that is offered is through forgiveness of the sin and liberation from eternal punishment. Also, a worshipper must seek repentance from a priest, it cannot be done privately or from any other member of the church (Knight).
Baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, Holy Orders, anointing the sick, matrimony, and penance are the seven sacraments of Christianity. A sacrament is an active and public sign of God’s grace towards His believers. However, not all denominations recognize all seven. There are several varying details to how each church observes the sacraments, whether it is in frequency, style, or importance. Some sacraments are observed privately with family while others involve the entire church. Exact history and details of the process aside, each Christian denomination believes in the seven sacraments in some form or another.
Works Cited:
Flesher, Paul. "The Life Stages in Christianity." Exploring Religions. University of
Wyoming. 19 Nov 2007 .
Grant, Frederick. The Practice of Religion. New York: The Macmillian Company,
1946.
Kierkegaard, Soren. Practice in Christianity. Princeton: Princeton University
Press, 1991.
Knight, Kevin. "Knight." 2007. Trinity Consulting. 19 Nov 2007
.
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions. 3. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Paul, Robert. The Atonement and the Sacraments. Nashville: Abingdon Press
|
|
|
|