Part I: Eastern Orthodox Church

• Church of the Seven Ecumenical Councils • Iconography & Liturgy • Differences between Eastern Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism

Map of Eastern Empire

Eastern Churches

• Eastern Orthodox Churches • Non-Chalcedonian Churches: separated from the Orthodox Church in the 6 th c.

• The Assyrian Church of the East: isolated from the Orthodox Church in the fifth c

Iconoclastic controversy

• 787 Seventh ecumenical council met at Nicaea • Issue: the use of icons (religious images) to depict God • Main objections: – Icons are idols – Infinite God cannot be depicted • Decision of the council: incarnation justifies the use of icon

Kasimir Malevich.

Complex Presentiment: Half Figure in a Yellow Shirt

Differences between Eastern Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism • Cultural differences • Final schism in 1054 • Doctrinal differences: – Pope or council? (papal primacy & infallibility) – Addition to the creed (filioque) – Two new dogmas about Mary • Immaculate Conception & Bodily Assumption)

Part II: Islam

• Early History of Islam • Five pillars of Islam • Christianity & Islam

Timeline

570 AD Birth of Muhammad 610 Muhammad begins his prophetic mission.

622 Muhammad’s flight to Medina (hijra) 632 Muhammad’s death 7 th - 10 th c Spread of the Islamic Civilization 1096-1291 Crusades 1453 Fall of Constantinople

Muslim Empire in 656

Islamic Expansion after the death of Muhammad

Christianity & Islam

• Common ground: – Belief in one God who is just & good • Main differences: – Islam’s rejection of Jesus’ divinity & Trinity – Islam’s claim that Koran replaces the Bible Mosque of Omar. Jerusalem.

Holy Wars: past & present Meanings of Holy War

 Spiritual warfare  Apocalyptic battle  Physical extermination of infidels • Judaism: conquest of Canaan • Islam: conquest of Mecca • Christianity: crusades