Christendom: Who are we? (Ecclesiology)

Ecclesiology

Different ways of thinking about the church

Mediation (cf. media, mediation, medium)

Communion (cf. commune, communication, coming together)

Bishops as mediators

• Delegated authority
• Chain of command
• Model taken from Roman government, dominant in early and medieval Christendom

Bishops as communion

• Team captain, servant leadership
• More common among theologians today

Saints

Saints as mediators

• Patrons
• More specific connection
• Lower in chain of command is still well-connected but more accessible
• Cf. social networking

Saints as communion

• Dead Christians are still members of the Church
• Grandma used to pray with me and for me, still does
• Exemplars and heroes of faith

Controversy

• Some see as distraction from direct personal relationship with Christ through scripture

Gnosticism

Extreme flesh/spirit dualism (flesh is bad)

Ranks of divinity

• Creator of material world and flesh the lowest
• Ascending levels of transcendence

Ranks of humanity

• Lowest level of humans only live for food, drink, sleep, sex
• Transcend high and higher into spiritual realm through secret knowledge of mysteries

Major Gnostic writer: Valentinus