[GoLightly]

redgolum : In some ways, the orthodox (lower case “o”) Lutherans have more in common with the Orthodox (upper case “O”) then with the rest of Western Christendom.

I kind of agree, but the Lutheran Church kept some of Rome's post-Schism innovations, so I'd say it's more like a hybrid that falls somewhere between them.

I'd be very interested in why you think this is so.

Since Luther had been in the Augustinian order, theology of Lutherans still connected to Luther are connected to a lot of Church theology that predates the Schism.

[Glenmerle]

Since Luther had been in the Augustinian order, theology of Lutherans still connected to Luther are connected to a lot of Church theology that predates the Schism.

Can you give me an example? And would Lutherans still connected to Luther include Missouri Synod churches? (Excuse my ignorance on this, but I'm a dyed-in-the-wool evangelical only just learning about the Lutheran church and the Orthodox church.)

[redgolum]

I kind of agree, but the Lutheran Church kept some of Rome's post-Schism innovations, so I'd say it's more like a hybrid that falls somewhere between them.

Indeed. But what shocked me (and in some ways still does!) is that we Lutherans tend toward the Eastern Orthodox at all! I had no contact with any Orthodox (there aren't that many in rural Nebraska) growing up, and had very little idea of who they were or what their beliefs are. It has been a very fascinating discovery for me to study Eastern Orthodox theology. In part because there is a lot that is like "Lutherans", and because there is so much that is totally unlike anything Western.