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To: Kolokotronis
Though the question is an open one in Orthodoxy, it is the opinion of many Orthodox theologians that theosis by the power of the Holy Spirit might well be found outside the bounds of The Church even of persons who are not Christians and without baptism because they cannot define "whither the Spirit goes".

That's pretty much what the Latins say when they refer to "no salvation outside the Church". The Church understands that the Spirit blows where He wills, bringing into the "Church" even those who are outside the VISIBLE walls. Thus, the Church firmly believes that even a non-Christian can be saved by the Spirit. The sacrament of Baptism is the normative means of entering the Church. But it is certainly not the only way, as God is not bound by the Sacraments (so says St. Augustine). I think what we see is Rome defining more broadly what "Church" is. Vatican 2 made it clear that the Church of Christ SUBSISTS within the Roman Catholic Church, but never said it IS the Roman Catholic Church. Sort of takes me back to geometry and sets and subsets... What I found interesting is that ONLY APOSTOLIC communities are "churches" per sec. Thus, Rome sees the Orthodox as an Apostolic Church, despite our schism.

Regards

654 posted on 01/07/2006 1:53:26 PM PST by jo kus
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To: jo kus

Isn't the idea of an "Invisible" Church basically a Protestant concept?


655 posted on 01/07/2006 2:49:01 PM PST by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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