User:Voss101/sandbox



Orthodoxy (from Greek ὀρθοδοξία, orthodoxia – "correct belief", "right opinion") is adherence to correct or accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion. In the Christian sense the term means "conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early Church". The first seven Ecumenical Councils were held over the period between the years 325 and 787 with the aim of formalizing accepted doctrines.

Related concepts
Orthodoxy is opposed to heterodoxy ("other teaching") or heresy. People who deviate from orthodoxy by professing a doctrine considered to be false are called heretics, while those who, perhaps without professing heretical beliefs, break from the perceived main body of believers are called schismatics. The term employed sometimes depends on the aspect most in view: if one is addressing corporate unity, the emphasis may be on schism; if one is addressing doctrinal coherence, the emphasis may be on heresy. A deviation lighter than heresy is commonly called error, in the sense of not being grave enough to cause total estrangement, while yet seriously affecting communion. Sometimes error is also used to cover both full heresies and minor errors.

The concept of orthodoxy is prevalent in many forms of organized monotheism. However, orthodox belief is not usually overly emphasized in polytheistic or animist religions, in which there is often little or no concept of dogma, and varied interpretations of doctrine and theology are tolerated and sometimes even encouraged within certain contexts. Syncretism, for example, plays a much wider role in non-monotheistic (and particularly, non-scriptural) religion. The prevailing governing norm within polytheism is often orthopraxy ("right practice") rather than the "right belief" of orthodoxy.

History of Orthodoxy
The earliest (first) recorded use of the term "orthodox" is in the Codex Iustinianus of 529-534, but "heterodoxy" was in use from the beginning of the first century of Christianity.

Following the 1054 Great Schism, both the Western and Eastern Churches continued to consider themselves uniquely orthodox and catholic. Over time the Western Church gradually identified with the "Catholic" label and people of Western Europe gradually associated the "Orthodox" label with the Eastern Church (in some languages the "Catholic" label is not necessarily identified with the Western Church). This was in note of the fact that both Catholic and Orthodox were in use as ecclesiastical adjectives as early as the 2nd and 4th centuries respectively.

Christianity
In classical Christian usage, the term orthodox refers to the set of doctrines which were believed by the early Christians. A series of Ecumenical Councils, also known as the First seven Ecumenical Councils, were held over a period of several centuries to try to formalize these doctrines. The most significant of these early decisions was that between the Homoousian doctrine of Athanasius and Eustathius (which became Trinitarianism) and the Heteroousian doctrine of Arius and Eusebius (called Arianism). The Homoousian doctrine, which defined Jesus as both God and man with the hypostatic union of the 451 Council of Chalcedon, won out in the Church and was referred to as orthodoxy in most Christian contexts, since this was the viewpoint of the majority. (The minority nontrinitarian Christians object to this terminology).

Following the 1054 Great Schism, both the Western and Eastern Churches continued to consider themselves uniquely orthodox and catholic. Over time the Western Church gradually identified with the "Catholic" label and people of Western Europe gradually associated the "Orthodox" label with the Eastern Church (in some languages the "Catholic" label is not necessarily identified with the Western Church). Today, the two largest "Orthodox" Christian communions are the Eastern Orthodox Church (often simply "Orthodoxy") and Oriental Orthodoxy.

Timeline of Christianity
The timeline begins at 1 AD with the Birth of Christ, then in 30 AD the Epiphany occurs, then in 33 AD the Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost occur. In 46 AD the Church of Antioch sends Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey to Cyprus. In 64 AD the Martyrdom of SS. Peter and Paul occurs. In 69 Ad St. Ignatius becomes the Bishop of Antioch. Then in 70 AD the Destruction of Jerusalem occurs. In 312 AD the Battle of Milvian Bridge occurs. Then in 325 AD the Council of the Nicea (Creed) occurs. In 328 AD the Constantinople is founded. Then in 381 AD the 1st Council of Constantinople meets. In 397 Ad the Council of Carthage is founded. Then in 431 the Council of Ephesus refines the 2 natures of Theotokos. In 451 AD the Council of Chalcedon occurs and the Nestorian Schism occurs. Then in 491 the Armenian Schism occurs. Then in 540 the Jacobite Schism occurs. Then in 550 the Coptic Schism occurs. In 557 the Council of Constantinople meets to clarify the two natures of Christ. Then in 589 Christianity splits into Eastern and Western Christianity.

Non-religious contexts
Outside the context of religion, the term "orthodoxy" is often used to refer to any commonly held belief or set of beliefs in some field, in particular when these tenets, possibly referred to as "dogmas", are being challenged. In this sense, the term has a mildly pejorative connotation.