So I have been seeing this rather Anti Roman Catholic & Anti Eastern Orthodox video making its rounds on the web and I thought as a Catholic I would respond to some of these claims that the video makes. The video explains how after Christianity became the State religion in Rome, a lot of Pagan practices were introduced into Christianity that did not exist before and in so doing it corrupted Christianity and from that corruption came the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church. By the way, this video is in Russian so my English speaking friends may not understand it if they watch it. I will take it apart point by point and respond. Claim #1. In 313 A.D. Emperor Constantine Made Christianity the State Religion. Response: That is false. He only made it legal with the signing of the Edict of Milan but it was the Emperor Theodosius I (380) who raised Christianity to the prominence of being the State Religion. Claim #2. Because Christianity became the State religion it was controlled by politicians. Response: Yes & No. Its a bit more complicated than that. It is true that politicians did try to use the Church for their agendas but in a lot of cases the Church also kicked around politicians when they did wrong. A perfect example would be the Roman Emperor Theodosius I (ironically the very one who made Christianity the State religion) who was excommunicated by the bishop of Milan, Saint Ambrose, for the Massacre of Thessaloniki (390 A.D.) (the emperor had ordered the deaths of 7000 men women and children) and only After repentance, penance and restitution, the Emperor was restored to communion with the Church. However during the Fall of Rome in the 6th Century, priests and bishops were the only ones left that could restore civil order. I suppose it could be said that a lot of religious leaders became politicians themselves, for better or for worse. Claim #3. Church Positions were bought and sold. Response: Yep. It especially got pretty bad during the Late medieval and early Renaissance period. However I fail to see how this argument proves or disproves Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy? Corruption (as abhorrent as it is) does not prove an argument true or false. Two plus two will always equal four, no matter how corrupt the teacher is who teaches it. People are going to do stupid things no matter where they are. We would all be holy if it wasnt for people ;) Claim #4. The Catholic Church did not allow people to read the Bible. Response: The Bible was on scrolls and parchments during the early centuries of Christianity. No one had a Bible. Even into the Middle Ages, each Bible was written by hand. We must remember that each Bible had to be copied by hand and that it took many years for a monk working behind the walls of a monastery. Each Bible was made on vellum (sheep hide), it took 250 sheep and 1000s of hours to make every Bible. Most people were, at best, only functionally literate. That is partially why they used stained glass windows and art to tell the Bible story. The printing press was not invented until 1436 by Johann Gutenberg. Even the Bible as a whole was not compiled until the late 4th century and then it was compiled (320 AD) by a Catholic saint (St. Jerome) at the request of a Catholic pope (St. Damasus I). The books were chosen at the Council of Rome in 382 AD. Later the books were reaffirmed at the Council of Hippo (393 A.D.), and two Councils of Carthage (397 A.D. & 419 A.D). Thats right folks, love your Bible? Thank the Pope and the Catholic Church! Oh and it was never forbidden to read the Bible. But some priests were worried that congregations would come up with dozens of conflicting interpretations of Scripture and so they cautioned Catholics about it. These priests knew of all the Protestant denominations who had distinct beliefs about the interpretation of Scripture. Many of these interpretations conflicted with each other yet every one of them claimed divine inspiration. Some priests saw this divisional process in Protestant circles and felt it was a danger. Claim #5. The Term Mother of God Was not used until the end of the 4th century. Response: First of all, logically speaking, Mary is the Mother of God. (1) Mary was the mother of Jesus; (2) Jesus is God; (3) therefore, Mary is the “Mother of God.” The Council of Ephesus put it this way: Mary is to be the mother of God because God the Word took flesh and became man and from his very conception united to himself the temple he took from her”. The first mention of Mary as someone who gave birth to God (theotokos in Greek which means “God-bearer”) is from the year (get this) 189 A.D. from none other than St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, who wrote: The Virgin Mary, being obedient to his word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God. (Against Heresies, 5:19:1) Another example is St. Hippolytus, theologian, from 217 A.D. where he writes: [T]o all generations they [the prophets] have pictured forth the grandest subjects for contemplation and for action. Thus, too, they preached of the advent of God in the flesh to the world, his advent by the spotless and God-bearing Mary in the way of birth and growth, and the manner of his life and conversation with men, and his manifestation by baptism, and the new birth that was to be to all men, and the regeneration by the laver [of baptism] (Discourse on the End of the World 1) Does not look like people saw the Virgin Mary as the God-bearer only at end of the 4th century... Claim #6. The Veneration of Saints was only started in 375 A.D. Response: The first people to be Venerated as saints were the Christians who died for Christ (Martyrs). An important early source on the veneration of martyr saints is the document Called The Martyrdom of Polycarp which dates to 135 A.D. It says: ...it is neither possible for us ever to forsake Christ...nor to worship any other. For we worship him indeed, as being the Son of God. However, as for the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love them on account of their extraordinary affections towards their own King. The Martyrdom of Polycarp also mentions that the relics of the martyrs were treated as precious stones and that the church celebrated the martyrs day of death as their birthday into heaven. Similarly, around 250 AD St. Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, wrote: Take note of their days on which they depart, so that we may celebrate their commemoration among the memorials of the martyrs... There are celebrated here by us oblations and sacrifices for their commemorations. Again, way before 375 A.D. Claim #7. Infant Baptism was only started in 430 A.D. Response: Never mind the Biblical references where entire households were baptized (Acts 16:15, Acts 16:31-33, 1 Corinthians 1:16) as well as the promise to you and your children that Peter preached on Pentecost (Acts 2:39) or St. Paul noting that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col. 2:11–12) (I dont remember the Jewish people waiting for their baby boys to grow up to be circumcised... just sayin) but lets look at History shall we? St. Iraneues in 189 A.D. writes: He [Jesus] came to save all through himself; all, I say, who through him are reborn in God: infants, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age . . . [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to relative age (Against Heresies 2:22:4) and St. Hippolytus writes from 215 A.D. Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16). Claim #8. Prayer for the Dead is a 4th Century invention which really takes hold in 1100 A.D. Response: Did you know that the Jews Prayed for the Dead? In the Book of II Machabees, 40-46 (The book by the way which Martin Luther removed out of the Old Testament, by what authority he took out a book from the Bible that Christians had considered as the inspired word of God 1500 years prior to the reformation is beyond me) which states: When Judas and his men came to take away for burial the bodies of their brethren who had fallen in the battle against Gorgias, they found under the coats of the slain some of the donaries of the idols of Jamnia, which the law forbiddeth to the Jews: so that all plainly saw, that for this cause they were slain. Then they all blessed the just judgment of the Lord, who had discovered the things that were hidden. And so betaking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten...And making a gathering, he [Judas] sent twelve [al. two] drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection (for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead), and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep in godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. Even in early Christian History we see writings like this: Tertullian, who lived in the second century and was an early Christian author says that the faithful wife will pray for the soul of her deceased husband, particularly on the anniversary day of his falling asleep (death). And if she fail to do so she hath repudiated her husband as far as in her lies.[De Monogam., n. x.] Claim #9. Holy Water is a 5th Century invention. Response: Holy Water goes Back to the time of the Jewish people: Numbers 5:17: And he shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and he shall cast a little earth of the pavement of the tabernacle into it. Holy water was also used in the Jewish purification ceremonies. The earliest mention of Holy Water is (Yes) from the 5th Century in the document called the Apostolic constitutions, however to suggest that it is merely an invention of the 5th century is completely ignorant of Judaism and its History. Claim #10. Iconography was brought into the church in the 8th Century. Response: It is hard to know when distinctly Christian art began. Prior to 100, Christians may have been constrained by their position as a persecuted group from producing durable works of art. Since Christianity was largely a religion of the lower classes in this period. However to say that Christian Iconography is a 8th century invention is at its best, ignorant. An example of early Christian iconography is in The Domitilla Catacombs. It is unique in that it is the oldest of Romes underground burial networks, and the only ones to still contain bones. Christians hid their during persecution, buried the martyrs who died for Christ, and celebrated liturgies there. They are also the best preserved and one of the most extensive of all the catacombs. Included in their passages are(get this) a 2nd-century fresco of the Last Supper and other valuable artifacts. Another example is the Image of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, in the Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome which dates to the late 2nd century. It depicts her nursing the Infant Jesus. This is earliest known image of Mary and the Infant Jesus independent of the Magi episode! Just a few examples of Christian Iconography that existed well before the 8th century. Claim #11. Veneration of the Cross is invented in 688 A.D and that we should be honoring God not the Cross. Response: First of all, Adoration or veneration of an image or representation of Christs cross does not mean that we actually adore the material image, of course, but rather what it represents. In kneeling before the crucifix and kissing it we are paying the highest honor to our Lords cross as the instrument of our salvation. Because the Cross is inseparable from His sacrifice, in reverencing His Cross we, in effect, adore Christ. Thus we affirm: We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee because by Thy Holy Cross Thou has Redeemed the World. The most ancient text we have relating to a carved cross dates from later than A.D. 362. The cross was used on the coinage of Christian princes and peoples with the superscription, Salus Mundi. (welfare of the world) The adoration of the Cross, which up to this time had been restricted to private cult, now began to assume a public and solemn character. At the end of the fourth century (not 688 A.D.) Even St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan (died: 397 A.D.) , speaking on the veneration of the Cross, thought it opportune to explain the idea: Let us adore Christ, our King, who hung upon the wood, and not the wood. Claim #12. The Veneration of the Relics of Saints was started in the 800s. Response: We read accounts from Smyrna around the year 156, when St. Polycarp was burned at the stake. His followers gathered his ashes and bones and venerated them with the greatest of affection and respect. (From the Document “the Martyrdom of Polycarp) So too did the friends and followers of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, who was devoured by lions in A.D. 107. Persecution of Christians was widespread throughout the Roman Empire, resulting in the deaths of thousands of martyrs. Some of them were buried in the catacombs in Rome. These burial sites became the prayerful destination of millions of pilgrims throughout the centuries. Following the legalization of Christianity by the Emperor Constantine in the year 313, basilicas and shrines were built above the tombs of the martyrs. Even is Scriptures we see relics used: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19.11-12) We even see this in Judaism in the Old Testament: “Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.” (2 Kings 13.20-22) Sorry, not the 800s. Claim #13. Raising People up to Sainthood started in 880 A.D. Response: see response to Claim #6. Claim # 14. Sign of the cross is an invention in 900 A.D. Response: Big time No. The Christian sign of the cross was originally made in some parts of the Christian world with the right-hand thumb across the forehead only. In other parts of the early Christian world it was done with the whole hand or with two fingers. Around the year 200 A.D. in Carthage (modern Tunisia, Africa), Tertullian says: We Christians wear out our foreheads with the sign of the cross. He also writes: In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting of our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting our candles, in lying down, in sitting down, whatever employment occupieth us, we mark our foreheads with the sign of the cross. (De cor. Mil., iii) Claim #15. I couldn’t make out what the host was saying. Something to do with “Authority” and “1500 years” if any of my friends could help me out by explaining what the guy meant, I would appreciate it and will try to respond as soon as I can. Claim # 16. Traditional practices make a great profit. Response: I find it funny how my Evangelical brothers and sisters never criticize Christian bookstores (like Lifeway) for selling t-shirts, games, art, movies, music, etc. or pastors who make profit on their books and sermon recordings, or publishers who make millions on selling Bibles and devotionals, but when those darn Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians want to to buy an Icon, statue, candle, or crucifix, its horrible! Its called an economy people. It takes time to create something and its only fair that the person or company is compensated for their time. Lets try to tone down the double standard please. Claim #17. Jesus hated traditions and tradition leads people away from God. Response: You do know that Jesus followed traditions Himself? He was circumcised as a child, He went to the Synagogue, He observed the Sabbath, and observed feasts like the passover. Christ was criticizing men holding to traditions but have lost track of their meanings. We do for the sake of doing but not understanding why we do. We see it in the Church today when most people just do because they are told to do but not care to know why. Jesus opposed Phariseeism and Legalism. But Jesus was not opposed to having laws and tradition. Not to mention that many of my Evangelical brothers and sisters have traditions, that ironically, come from the Catholic Church. Do you celebrate the birth of Christ on December the 25th? Do you call it “Christmas? Do you put up Christmas trees and wreaths? When you got married, did you exchange wedding rings? Do you celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter? Do you have stained glass windows in your Church? Do these things lead you away from God? I could go on a bit. Nowhere do you find these traditions in the Bible. Its funny because you cant even find the “Bible” in the Bible. Why do you call it a Bible? Its Tradition. Tradition is the pillar of any society. You find it in Cultures and institutions alike. Its our connection to our past and a guide to our future. It brings us together in communion. Why cant it be so with Christianity?
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:05:20 +0000
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