Christianity: The East/West Divide: The Great Schism

Summary - Christianity has been largely driven out of the Middle-East and is in crises in the West. Church attendances are at an all-time low. Christianity was governed for the first millennium by five Senior Patriarchs. The Great Schism separated Rome from the other Patriarchs. The seeds that led to that Schism were the same that caused the later splintering of Christianity from the 16th century. Today, few Christians know anything of the 41 Eastern Churches, all founded by one of the apostles, even though 22 are in union with Rome and 15 in union with Constantinople.
Very few Christians are aware of the Eastern Churches or of the details that gave rise to the Great Schism.
This book is intended to bridge that knowledge gap. I believe the reuniting of Orthodox and Catholic could be the catalyst needed for the return of all to the single Christian Community of the first millennium.

1. Introduction

2. Brief History of Christianity
Unity, growth, diversity and division

3. Catholic and Orthodox Churches
Beliefs, sacraments and liturgy

4. The Irish Celtic Church
East and West

5. Expansion of Catholic and Orthodox Churches and
their different modes of interaction in Society
Papal States, Catholic, Liberation Theology and Orthodox

6. Church architecture, Art and Music
Catholic, Orthodox, Chant and Religious Icons

7. Orthodox, Catholic and Oriental Church Families

8. Concluding Reflections

Bibliography