In a lecture from the 2008 Deep in History Conference, Fr. Ray Ryland looks at the relationship between separated Eastern Churches and the Catholic Church- what they share in common regarding apostolic succession and the sacraments, as well as what barriers to unity exist among them. He looks at how attempts to repair the relationship between Catholicism and Eastern Christianity can serve as a paradigm for efforts toward apostolic unity with other Christian denominations.
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Study Questions:
-Fr. Ryland says that all non-Catholic traditions are essentiallyĀ Reconstructionist. What problems occur as the result ofĀ Reconstructionism?
-Why is the āgistā or āessenceā of Catholicism continuity? WhyĀ does Fr. Ryland believe the āgistā of all non-Catholic ChristianĀ traditions discontinuity? Has the desire for a church withĀ āhistorical continuityā made a difference in your faith journey?
-Why does Fr. Ryland conclude that āEastern Orthodoxyā has no united church?
-What is the result of sola scriptura, according to Fr. Ryland? Why does Divine RevelationĀ necessitate authority?
Vocabulary:
Reconstructionism: TheĀ appeal of believers to aĀ āGolden Ageā of authenticĀ Christianity, which they haveĀ chosen to recaptureĀ (Utopianism).Ā Reconstructionists are highlyĀ selective in what they retainĀ from the āGolden Ageā theyĀ have chosen, appeal to a newĀ and unfounded authority,Ā presuppose a decay orĀ corruption in the churchĀ which they claim to have corrected, include innovationsĀ and features that were notĀ present in the āGolden AgeāĀ to which they appeal, andĀ appeal to discontinuity (aĀ break with the past to blaze aĀ new path).