Eastern Christianity: A Completely Different Theology

Eastern Christianity (as expressed by both those in union with the Bishop of Rome, and those that are not, ie, the "Eastern Orthodox") is a completely different theology than what we believe in the West. That being the case, if the Easterners who are in union with the Bishop of Rome are within the Church, then salvation is not defined by a single theology, but, essentially, a political, temporal union with the Bishop of Rome.

Also, Latin Catholics are willing to accept communion with Easterners, who have a completely different theology, but the schismatic "Eastern Orthodox" refuse communion with anyone who has a different theology. In other words, the Roman Church is a "big tent", willing to accept at least two different theologies, but the "Eastern Orthodox" are rigorous in their insistence of theological orthodoxy.

Thoughts? Comments?

My thoughts.

The Eastern Orthodox are acting in a way that the One, True Church of Christ would be expected to act, yet the Eastern Orthodox is not the One, True Church of Christ. We have the One, True Church of Christ compromising with other religions making -in the process- the Eastern Orthodox look more credible in its claim of being the true Church.

There is a difference between the two basic schools of theology, which I think originates in language. Eastern theology, rooted in Greek, took the language and terminology of the Hellenic philosophers; Latin theology, by comparison, appropriated Roman juridical terminology.

A friend of mine who is well versed in both schools of theology, as well as language, was able to give a good rundown on how most of the east-west disputes are just a question of semantics (with the exception of papal infallibility). Theological controversy is just a straw man the Orthodox use to justify their schism.

Check out Charles Coulombe's article: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6082