MOSAIC - The training kit for Euro-Mediterranean youth work

2
213
share the same essential doctrines (are in full communion) with one another. The titular
head of the Eastern Orthodox churches is the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
(in Istanbul), but its many territorial churches are governed autonomously by head
bishops or patriarchs (who must be unmarried or widowed, although lower orders of
the clergy may marry). The churches accept seven sacraments or holy acts: baptism,
chrismation (similar to confirmation, but peculiar to Eastern churches), the Lord’s
Supper, ordination, penance, anointing of the sick and marriage. Its adherents live
mostly in Greece, Russia, the Balkans, Ukraine and the Middle East. The Armenian,
Coptic (in Egypt), Ethiopian, Eritrean, Syriac (in Antioch) and Indian Orthodox
churches are collectively referred to as the Oriental Orthodox churches, which agree
among themselves upon slightly different doctrines (especially in relation to acceptance
of ecumenical councils) than those of the Eastern Orthodox churches. 73
Protestantism 74 developed out of the Reformation, which criticised the Catholic Church
and the authority of the pope. Today, it covers a variety of denominations. The followers
of Luther established the evangelical churches of Germany and Scandinavia; Calvin
and more radical reformers founded Reformed churches in Switzerland; Calvin’s disciple
Knox established Presbyterianism in Scotland, and the Church of England and
the Episcopal Church developed as other branches of Protestantism. The doctrines of
Protestant denominations vary considerably, but all emphasise the supremacy of the
Bible in matters of faith and order, justification by grace through faith and not through
works, and the priesthood of all believers. Sacramental doctrine varies among
Protestants, but most limit the sacraments to two: baptism and Holy Communion.
The religious authority is the individual Christian with their Bible.
Q: Which symbols (clothes, hair styles, jewellery and so on) might identify
a person as a member of a particular religion in your surroundings?
D 8.6.3 Druze 75
Druze is a Middle Eastern religious affiliation that originated in the 11th century. It is
said to have begun as an offshoot of the Isma’ili sect of Islam, but it is unique in its
incorporation of various philosophies, because of which many Islamic scholars label
Druze as a non-Muslim religion. 76 Most communities of Druze live in Lebanon, Syria,
Israel or Jordan, but adherents also live in Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America,
the United States and West Africa.
The faith was officially revealed in the early 11th century by Hamza Bin Ali, a Persian
Ismaili mystic and scholar. 77 Throughout the Crusades (11th to 15th centuries), the
Druze placed their military resources at the service of Sunni Muslims against the
crusaders, 78 especially in Syria and Lebanon, which also helped them to gain respect
from the Muslim caliphs. 79 However, dynasties and families of Druze also suffered
from persecutions throughout their history, for example, from Fatimid (11th century)
and Mamluk (14th century) armies. They came into conflict with the Ottoman Empire
over the following centuries, but Druze villages also spread and prospered under the
reign of the Ottoman Sultans. 80 By the 20th century, the Druze were officially recognised
by Syria, Lebanon and Israel as a separate religious community, and they play
important roles in Syrian and Lebanese politics. 81
Themes