Differences between Western Christianity and Assyrian/Mid-Eastern Christianity

mrzurnaci

mrzurnaci

Active member
so it has come to my attention (not surprisingly) that non-psychotic Muslims and European Liberals think there is no difference between Christians in Europe/West and Christians in the Middle East...

Thing is though, given our cultural differences, isn't there actually a significant difference between our idea and practicing of Christians compared to Christians from other parts of the world?

I made this thread so that I can highlight those differences so that we aren't lumped into a collective strawman.

Here's the list.

1. Cultural differences - Nusardil, Christmas is not a major holiday while Easter is, Ba'utha D'Ninwe, Somikka
2. Assyrian Christianity is highly syncretic (combining of different beliefs) Mesopotamian Religion? Zoroastrianism? Manichaeism? Mandeanism?

3. From a sociological perspective. Our faith is just as complete and meaningful, and probably more than our western brethren, even though their faith is literally more orthodox and apostolic from a literal standpoint. We are just as orthodox and just as apostolic.

4. If we look at our liturgy and our Qurbana, it is not only highly complex, but also very comprehensive and theologically very fulfilling and accurate from a scriptural and Christocentric standpoint.

5. We have three different liturgies, with valid explanations of when to use which! Nobody else has that.

The Vatican admitted that there is a liturgical and dogmatic justification for the acceptance of the Holy Leaven (Malka) as a sacrament.

The theology of ad literram clearly isn?t a justification for the controversy over the Words of Institution. The Canon Law in the eastern churches is extremely finite, whereas the westernized churches oftentimes end up with grey areas over interpretations of beliefs or practices.

6. Unity and oneness of the church is emphasized in eastern churches due to the syncretic belief that division is diabolical, whereas western churches oftentimes focus on certain messages that are meant to centralize a theme. No American church prays and asks God to let us abhor division
 
Not to even begin discussing all the cultural differences between ME Christians and European or Western Hemisphere Christians, I will begin with the religious distinctions, which offer a major key to the whole story. Our religion is highly syncretic. This is most especially true among Assyrians, and within us, in the Assyrian Church of the East. It very well may be the most syncretic denomination in Christianity on this planet altogether? and that?s what it makes it so great! However, this is merely a statement from a sociological perspective. Our faith is just as complete and meaningful, and probably more than our western brethren, even though their faith is literally more orthodox and apostolic from a literal standpoint. We are just as orthodox and just as apostolic, only in that some Apostles headed west and others east, each carrying their own style of delivering the good message and also meshing with the local peoples which they encountered. To this day, this can be witnessed in the Black Jesus hanging in African American churches. If we look at our liturgy and our Qurbana, it is not only highly complex, but also very comprehensive and theologically very fulfilling and accurate from a scriptural and Christocentric standpoint. We have three different liturgies, with valid explanations of when to use which! Nobody else has that. The Vatican admitted that there is a liturgical and dogmatic justification for the acceptance of the Holy Leaven (Malka) as a sacrament. The theology of ad literram clearly isn?t a justification for the controversy over the Words of Institution. The Canon Law in the eastern churches is extremely finite, whereas the westernized churches oftentimes end up with grey areas over interpretations of beliefs or practices. The unity and oneness of the church is emphasized in eastern churches due to the syncretic belief that division is diabolical, whereas western churches oftentimes focus on certain messages that are meant to centralize a theme. No American church prays and asks God to let us abhor division! This is the greatness of the Assyrian Church of the East.           
 
Kosovo1389 said:
Not to even begin discussing all the cultural differences between ME Christians and European or Western Hemisphere Christians, I will begin with the religious distinctions, which offer a major key to the whole story. Our religion is highly syncretic. This is most especially true among Assyrians, and within us, in the Assyrian Church of the East. It very well may be the most syncretic denomination in Christianity on this planet altogether? and that?s what it makes it so great! However, this is merely a statement from a sociological perspective. Our faith is just as complete and meaningful, and probably more than our western brethren, even though their faith is literally more orthodox and apostolic from a literal standpoint. We are just as orthodox and just as apostolic, only in that some Apostles headed west and others east, each carrying their own style of delivering the good message and also meshing with the local peoples which they encountered. To this day, this can be witnessed in the Black Jesus hanging in African American churches. If we look at our liturgy and our Qurbana, it is not only highly complex, but also very comprehensive and theologically very fulfilling and accurate from a scriptural and Christocentric standpoint. We have three different liturgies, with valid explanations of when to use which! Nobody else has that. The Vatican admitted that there is a liturgical and dogmatic justification for the acceptance of the Holy Leaven (Malka) as a sacrament. The theology of ad literram clearly isn?t a justification for the controversy over the Words of Institution. The Canon Law in the eastern churches is extremely finite, whereas the westernized churches oftentimes end up with grey areas over interpretations of beliefs or practices. The unity and oneness of the church is emphasized in eastern churches due to the syncretic belief that division is diabolical, whereas western churches oftentimes focus on certain messages that are meant to centralize a theme. No American church prays and asks God to let us abhor division! This is the greatness of the Assyrian Church of the East.           
Click to expand...

can you make that as a list for clarity though?
 
I understand Assyrian Christianity is distinct,but Protestant vs Catholic vs Orthodox makes more sense
And I hope Assyrian Christianity is not highly syncretic! It would be a perversion of the true faith
 
Etain said:
I understand Assyrian Christianity is distinct,but Protestant vs Catholic vs Orthodox makes more sense
And I hope Assyrian Christianity is not highly syncretic! It would be a perversion of the true faith
Click to expand...

It is syncretic, it's a slight mix of Manichaeism and ancient Mesopotamian beliefs.
 
So sorry for getting to this so late...


Not to even begin discussing all the cultural differences between ME Christians and European or Western Hemisphere Christians, I will begin with the religious distinctions, which offer a major key to the whole story:

1. Our religion is highly syncretic. This is most especially true among Assyrians, and within us, in the Assyrian Church of the East. It very well may be the most syncretic denomination in Christianity on this planet altogether? and that?s what it makes it so great! However, this is merely a statement from a sociological perspective.
2. Our faith is just as complete and meaningful, and probably more than our western brethren, even though their faith is literally more orthodox and apostolic from a liturgical standpoint.
3. We are just as orthodox and just as apostolic, only in that some Apostles headed west and others east, each carrying their own style of delivering the good message and also meshing with the local peoples which they encountered. To this day, this can be witnessed in the Black Jesus hanging in African American churches.
4. If we look at our liturgy and our Qurbana, it is not only highly complex, but also very comprehensive and theologically very fulfilling and accurate from a scriptural and Christocentric standpoint.
5. We have three different liturgies, with valid explanations of when to use which! Nobody else has that.
6. The Vatican admitted that there is a liturgical and dogmatic justification for the acceptance of the Holy Leaven (Malka) as a sacrament. The theology of ad literram clearly isn?t a justification for the controversy over the Words of Institution.
7. The Canon Law in the eastern churches is extremely finite, whereas the westernized churches oftentimes end up with grey areas over interpretations of beliefs or practices.
8. The unity and oneness of the church is emphasized in eastern churches due to the syncretic belief that division is diabolical, whereas western churches oftentimes focus on certain messages that are meant to centralize a theme. No American church prays and asks God to let us abhor division!


This is the greatness of the Assyrian Church of the East.     
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top