Concept in Definition ABC

The word church is widely used in the field of religion and also admits several uses.

Construction in which religious practices are carried out

On the one hand, with the term we can designate the building which is destined and dedicated to offering and hosting religious events and practices, especially those associated with the Christian religion.

It should be noted that among the most used synonyms stands out that of temple.

Approximately before A.D. 50 These buildings began to proliferate, once the Christians left the meetings in catacombs and private houses and began to build the churches.

Basic components of these buildings

Christians took as inspiration the Roman basilicas to build their churches, being its fundamental component parts: the apse (It is the part arranged at the head of the building, it can be semicircular or polygonal and in some cases it can be covered by a vault), The chorus (It is the part destined to the congregation of the laity or religious who interpret the sacred songs; its location varied over time),

the altar (It is the place that attracts the most attention of the faithful, since in it, the priest, officiates the mass and is worshiped and consecrated the offerings), the ship (it is a space spread across and between two columns or rows) and gargoyle (part that protrudes from the facade to more easily evacuate the water from the roof).

Set of faithful

On the other hand, the word church designates the set of believers, faithful.

Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, led by the Pope

For its part, the Catholic Church, also designated as Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, is the largest Christian church in number of faithful in the whole world.

It has been founded by the own Christ and it stands as the point of union with God and with the rest of the men who professed the same belief.

Its headquarters is the Vatican, in Rome and the Pope is considered as his maxim authority.

It should be noted that the word is also used to name: to the government ecclesiastical led by the Pope, as the main executive authority, and followed by the rest of the hierarchy ecclesiastical: cardinals, bishops, among others; to each of the confessions belonging to Christianity.

As we already pointed out lines above, although there are many religions in the world, the concept of church is especially associated with Christian religions.

Other branches of the Church

Now, at the behest of Christianity we can find several branches or divisions that have known how to develop their own beliefs and also Churches, such as the Apostolic and Roman Catholic Church that we have already mentioned and which is headed by the Pope as the highest authority; the Evangelical Church, the Adventist Church, the Russian Orthodox, among others.

They all share the belief in the existence of God, although they have differences on issues such as the belief in the virginity of the Virgin Mary, in the worship of saints, prayers, among others issues.

The authority they hold also marks differences between them because, as we said, in the Catholic Church, it is the Pope or Supreme Pontiff. the most relevant authority and from there downwards a vertical hierarchy unfolds: cardinals, bishops, priests, seminarians.

For its part, the Adventist Church, which has a hierarchical structure similar to the Catholic one, does not recognize a maximum authority.

On the other hand, Adventist and Evangelical pastors differ from Catholic priests on one point. very relevant, which is that the former are authorized to marry and have children, that is, they can if they want to train a familywhile Catholic religious must respect chastity and celibacy once they are ordained as such.

Although Catholic celibacy is one of the issues that are questioned in the Catholic religion, no progress has ever been made in a debate regarding its deletion.

Another relevant differentiation is found in matters of the sacraments, baptism being one of the common sacraments in all the Churches mentioned, something that does not happen with confirmation and communion that are fundamental steps on the path of the Catholic practicing.

Regarding the marriage and extreme unction there is a harmony with respect to the practice in the aforementioned Churches.

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