Roman Catholicism . . . Eastern Orthodoxy . . . Protestantism.    How did these splits occur within Christianity and what can be done to overcome them?  What are the real differences between the Roman Catholic Religion, the Protestant faith, and Eastern Orthodox Christianity?  How do basic Roman Catholic beliefs compare to the central beliefs of Orthodoxy and Evangelical Protestantism?

In this audio series, historical theologian Marcellino D’Ambrosio tells the story of the people, ideas, and events that led to the divisions between Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism that we live with everyday.  It is not a simplistic story of good guys and bad guys, but a complex story of misunderstanding, passion for God, and human foibles with plenty of fault on all sides.

In talk 1, Dr. D’Ambrosio shows that the split between East and West, Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism, was not the result of one crisis but of a long process of drifting apart that made mutual understanding and forgiveness difficult.  He makes clear that Roman Catholic beliefsand Orthodox beliefs are not essentially different, but points out how different ways of living out the same faith and celebrating the same sacraments are often erroneously interpreted as doctrinal differences.

In talk 2, Dr. D’Ambrosio examines the world of Roman Catholicism at the time of the Reformation.  He exposes the abuses of Catholicteaching, practice, and government that helped set the stage the Reformation and shows why what began as a movement of reform became a cause of fragmentation.  As he tells the story of Martin Luther and his progressive alienation from the Catholic Church and progressive doctrinal radicalization, several things become apparent:

• While the most central of Roman Catholic beliefs are shared by Protestant Christians of the Reformation, there are serious doctrinal divergences in several areas, especially regarding the Church and the sacraments
• Within Roman Catholicism itself there were reform movements that succeeded in addressing abuses in a way that did not violate any Roman Catholic beliefs

These two 45  minute presentations will have you on the edge of your seat!  Yet this series is not only fascinating, but hopeful – for it outlines what every Christian can do to contribute to healing and the restoration of unity.