Orthodoxy
This article deals with the question of orthodoxy. For Orthodoxy as a denominational term, see Eastern Churches or Orthodox Churches and Orthodox Judaism.
Orthodox is a redirect to this article. For the doom metal band see Orthodox (band).
Orthodoxy (ancient Greek ὀρθός orthós "right", "straight" and δόξα dóxa "opinion", "belief", i.e. "orthodoxy") in its basic meaning denotes the correctness of a doctrine or the adherence to the correct doctrine, in contrast to doctrines that deviate from it, which are accordingly considered wrong and rejected (heterodoxy). Basically, every doctrine considers itself orthodox, so that the attribution of orthodoxy is a matter of point of view.
Frequently, however, the term orthodoxy is used in a way that only partly corresponds to the basic meaning: The differences are mainly due to the perspective of observation, which can either be a self-view or a view from the outside, the latter again having to be distinguished into rejecting or neutral points of view.
Orthodoxy in Christianity
In Christianity "Orthodoxy" is originally the term for the adherence to the trinity-theological decision of the 1st Council of Nicaea (325) ("ὁμοούσιος τῷ πατρί" homooúsios tô patrí "being with the Father") in distinction from the Arians. Next, it refers to the confession of the Christological dogma of the Council of Chalcedon (451). Only in post-Reformation times is the insistence on certain traditional doctrines, ideologies or ways of acting meant, in contrast to renewal movements:
- in Protestant theology, an epoch in the history of theology; see Lutheran orthodoxy,
- among the Dutch Calvinists a strict denomination, see Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland,
- Catholic doctrine in matters of faith and morals, insofar as it is understood as the standard of orthodoxy; see Magisterium.
In common parlance, Orthodoxy is understood to mean two major groups of churches:
- Orthodox Churches - the churches of Byzantine tradition, whose honorary head is the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople;
- Ancient Oriental Churches, that is, the Oriental Churches that have not been considered "orthodox" by the (Byzantine) Imperial Church since 451.
Orthodoxy in Judaism
→ Main article: Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism consists of the two main branches of New Orthodox Judaism and Ultra Orthodox Judaism. It is also called normative Judaism. The term Orthodox Judaism was probably originally used in liberal Judaism in association with Christian Orthodoxy to distinguish it from those Jews who did not change their Jewish tradition despite the social changes of the Enlightenment. It was pointed out as early as the 19th century that the term Orthoprax Judaism (from the Greek orthos, right, and praxis, doing, acting) is more appropriate.
Orthodox Judaism holds fast to the traditional roots of the entire Torah (Hebrew for "teaching") from written teaching (Sefer Torah) and oral teaching (Talmud). And it continued to develop these foundations in subsequent works of rabbinic Judaism up to the present day in a path of its own, which began to form in the 19th century as a reaction to Reform Judaism. The entire Torah is considered in Orthodox Judaism to be the authoritative word of God, but developed and increasingly unfolded in its interpretation over time. The authority of the Torah is formative for Orthodox Jewish life, which is understood as a holistic worship of God and is filled with child rearing, Torah study, praise of God, prayer, and ritual purification of the person and family. Of all the streams of Judaism, Orthodox Judaism is the least homogeneous.
