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Why is the church called Church of the East?
- How many members do you
have, how many churches around the world, is there a church in a city close to
me?
- Is Church of the East a New Age
movement?
- In a nutshell, how is
Church of the East different to Church(es) of the West?
- Is Church
of the East a Gnostic movement?
Church of the East was never a national church as the Orthodox, Catholic and
Protestant churches were in the West. When the Roman Empire split after the
political division which started in the fifth century the Western Christian
church (being a state church) split along with the Empire - resulting in the two
main streams of Christianity in the West - the Rome based Latin speaking Church,
and the Constantinople based Greek speaking Church. During this time the
Christians of the East, being outside of the Roman Empire, developed their own
Yesu movement which became known by churchmen as Church of the East. For most of
the first centuries the Church's self-understanding was apparently that the name
Nazoraens was preferable -- but names are not always a matter of choice and it
seems as if the name Church of the East became ours by the 5th century.
Western Christianity of the Roman Empire met in various church councils to
deliberate doctrines and control measures which would benefit the peaceful
governance of their society. It is a well attested fact that many of these
councils were called and presided over by the Emperors themselves. These
Imperial church councils of the West formulated the West's orthodoxy (right
belief), declared certain Scriptures canonical (authorized), and thus formulated
their particular New Testament consisting primarily of their Apostle Paul's work
and distinct theology.
Those who did not agree with the councils were banished from the Empire,
excommunicated by the Emperor and declared as heretical. St. Athanasius, for
one, was frequently banished, sent into exile and recalled upon the Emperor's
whims until eventually agreement was reached on his version of the western
Trinitarian doctrine. Some of those church fathers who were thus reviled by the
politicised Western Christianity are honoured in the East as Saints. To mention
only three examples, we honour Saint Origen (d. AD180) on January 1 as the
Foremost Theologian and we honour Saint Pelagius who left the West to join a
monastery in the East after his controversy with St. Augustine, and we honour
the memory of
1 000 Origenist monks who were slain by the Patriarch Theodosius.
Church of the East's primary Scriptures were written before the Synoptic Gospels
and before the theology of the West was clearly formulated. A quick view through
the Sayings of Yesu, the Book of Thomas and the Acts of Thomas shows the
difference in theology. Eastern Christians inherited a Trinitarian
doctrine of three energies which emanates from the Ultimate - God's Holy Spirit
our Father, God's Holy Wisdom our Mother, God's Holy Child our Lord and Brother,
and also all God's children.
Church of the East understands God's actions among all children in creation as
holy religion. We understand Plato, Lao Tzu, the Baghavad Gita, Gautama Buddha,
and Zoroaster as holy injunctions in the various cultures of humanity - and as
our ancient inheritance - preparing us for the unifying work of Yesu the Saviour.
How many members do you have,
how many churches around the world, is there a church in a city close to me?
Church of the East members are found in most countries throughout the world.
In the English-speaking world the larger organised groups are found in the USA,
Canada, India and South Africa.
A theological training facility for English-speaking clergy opens in the
Ontario/Michigan area during 2002. This facility will significantly
increase the number of English-speaking clergy in training.
Contact your area representative for information about organised groups in
your area.
The answer depends on your definition of New Age.
If New Age is defined as a religious or spiritual movement that includes many
elements also found in other religious traditions, believes in meditation,
reincarnation, subtle energies, supernatural beings, extraterrestrial beings,
alternative forms of communication and healing and of being opposed to current
trends of lifestyle and advocates a radically different type of lifestyle--Yes,
then Church of the East qualifies because this is exactly what the Lord Jesus
taught, lived, and invested into the earliest Way of the church. Jesus
taught about all these things and more.
If New Age is defined as a fleeting syncretism and fascination with certain
aspects of ancient religion--No, then Church of the East does not qualify for
the label.
No. The Gnostic label is frequently used 'against' us by people who would
like to discredit Church of the East. We are not so sure that it should be
seen as a discredit because Gnosticism is probably a viable religious way in the
scheme of things. However, anyone that would call Church of the East a Gnostic
movement, or even allude that it is a syncretism between Gnosticism and
Christianity discredits themselves because it illustrates that they do not know
even the basic beliefs that makes Gnosticism Gnostic.
Gnosticism is/was a movement outside, and later within, early Christianity
and it is particularly marked by one identifying element--Dualism. It
believes that matter (the world and physical bodies, etc) is created by a
lesser, essentially evil, god; and that the greater god is spiritual
and will not mix with evil, and the children of this god (God) are trapped in
this evil material state. Gnostics tend to abstain from carnal things and
sensual pleasures.
The ancient Gnostic movement was not unique in its doctrines but they were
certainly unique in their expression of certain elements found in most
religions.
Should one have to research to determine who holds to the most Gnostic ideas,
Church of the East or the Roman/Orthodox Church, it will probably not be
difficult to prove that Church of the East is less Gnostic than they are.
Church of the East celebrates sensuality as a potentially holy vehicle.
We revere the physical body as a God made miracle necessary for salvation.
We believe in God as Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent and there is thus no
place whatsoever left for another God, god, goddess or a Satan force. The
preceding statement of faith will cause any Gnostic to recoil in horror at
hearing such 'idiotic blasphemy''--proving that Church of the East is not as
Gnostic as most western Christian denominations.
Author information goes here.
Copyright © 1995-20008 Church of the East Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: February 13, 2002 .
