Beliefs

The Catholic Church, in common with other Christian denominations, has its roots within the person of Jesus Christ and the Judaeo-Christian Scriptures. It is characterised by a doctrine and structure, which traces its history to the Apostles of Jesus Christ in the 1 st century AD.

In common with most other Christians, Catholics believe in the Holy Trinity – God the Father, the creator of the world; God the Son who is Jesus Christ; and God the Holy Spirit – and in the resurrection of Jesus. A recent Catechism (a manual of instruction in doctrine) for the Catholic Church presents the tradition as being based upon:

          -    faith as expressed in the great creeds
          -    the sacramental life
          -    the spiritual and moral life
          -    Christian prayer

The Roman Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments – sacred rites which pass on the principles of the Church and assist people in living their Christian lives. They are Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation (previously known as Confession), Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders (whereby priests are ordained to minister the Faith).

There are around 600 million Roman Catholics in the world today concentrated in Southern Europe, Latin America and the Philippines.

There is a hierarchical structure within the Church, which is represented by priests at parish level, bishops at diocesan level and ultimately by the Pope who lives in Rome. In Ireland the most senior bishop is the Archbishop of Armagh.

Increasingly lay people are becoming more involved in the running of the parish and in the liturgy contained in religious services. In addition to the diocesan and parish structures, religious orders of men and women have had an important role within the spiritual life of the church for hundreds of years. Sunday Mass is an important part of the religious life of the individual Catholic Christian and a number of feast days celebrating various aspects of the life of Jesus and the saints are celebrated throughout the year.

Like other Christians, Catholics try to live their lives as proposed by Jesus in the New Testament responding to the message of love and unity contained there. Following on from this attitude of caring and service, the Catholic Church has established many schools, hospitals and relief organisations throughout the world.

According to the 2001 Census, there are between 600,000 and 700,000 members of the Roman Catholic faith living in Northern Ireland. It is the largest Christian denomination in Northern Ireland and Ireland as a whole. (Most Catholics in Ireland do not favour the term Roman Catholic.)

Protestantism originated during the Reformation in the 16 th Century. In their central belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour, Protestants share many central doctrines of faith with Catholic and Orthodox Christians, but their major distinctive emphases from the time of the Reformation have been on the Bible as the most important source of authority and in the teaching that faith alone is necessary for salvation. Along with other Christians, Protestants believe in following the teaching and example of Jesus, as found in the Gospels and other New Testament scriptures. There are many protestant denominations in Northern Ireland, the three numerically largest of which are Presbyterian, Church of Ireland and Methodist.

Presbyterianism came to Ulster with the Scottish settlers in the 17 th Century; Irish Presbyterianism traces its formal origins to the establishment of the first presbytery at Carrickfergus in 1642. Presbyterians place an emphasis upon the Sovereignty of God, the Kingship of Christ and the authority of the Bible. Prayers, hymns, Scripture readings and preaching are central within worship. Nearly 350,000 members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland were recorded at the 2001 Northern Ireland Census.

The word 'Presbyterian' describes the form of their Church government, which emphasises the individual and collective responsibility of members, ministers and elders sharing in the Church's work. A moderator is elected annually and presides over the General Assembly. Great importance is attached to social action, evangelism, mission at home and overseas, training of ministers and working with young people and children.

Several other smaller Presbyterian denominations are similar in style and church government to the larger Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church has a more liberal approach to theology, and their name comes from their historic 19 th century refusal to subscribe to the Presbyterian statement of faith, the Westminster Confession. The Reformed Presbyterian Church (the Covenanters) originated in the political and religious events of the 17 th century, while the Evangelical Presbyterian Church stemmed from disputes in the early 20 th century.

The Church of Ireland is part of the world-wide Anglican Community and in the 2001 Northern Ireland Census numbered about 280,000 members. It describes itself as 'Catholic, Protestant and Reformed' and traces its roots to the earliest days of Irish Christianity as well as to the early apostles. Worship follows liturgical forms which are set in its prayer books, and the sacrament of Holy Communion (the Eucharist) is central to its worship.

The church is served by three categories of ministry – Bishops, Priests and Deacons. The administrative unit of the Church is the diocese and each of these elects representatives to the governing body or General Synod. There is also a democratic system at a local level where lay members are elected to Select Vestries and make decisions for their respective parishes. The senior bishop of the Church of Ireland is the Archbishop of Armagh who is known as 'the Primate of all Ireland'.

Methodism arose from a period of religious revival in the 18 th century in Britain, under the leadership of John Wesley, who travelled frequently and extensively in Ireland. According to the 2001 census about 60,000 people in Northern Ireland identify themselves as Methodists.

Methodist teachings are very similar to those of the other larger Protestant denominations, with an emphasis on the Bible as the supreme authority for faith and the need for personal faith. Set liturgy is not often used in Irish Methodist churches, and the climax of worship is normally the sermon, with much hymn singing. Communion services are usually held monthly. Each local congregation normally has a Minister, and some lay people serve as Local Preachers. The governing body is the annual Methodist Conference, presided over by an annually elected President. A distinctive feature of Methodism is the annual Covenant Service, early in each New Year, in which members renew their promises to God. Methodists have maintained a strong tradition of commitment to social service, especially in the inner cities.

There are around 20,000 Baptists in Northern Ireland. The Baptist tradition originated in the 16 th century Reformation, and there is evidence of Baptists in Ireland from the 17 th century with significant growth during the 1800s. Baptists emphasise the need for believers' baptism by total immersion in water following profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and there is a baptismal tank at the front of most Baptist churches. The Lord's Supper (communion) forms a regular part of Baptist worship, which is not based on a written liturgy. Local churches are autonomous and run by the congregation, though most also appoint a pastor. Irish Baptists follow a conservative evangelical approach to their faith, with a particular emphasis on the authority of the Bible and personal conversion.

This Church was established in the early 1950's under the leadership of the Reverend Ian Paisley and has grown steadily since that time to a membership of around 12,000. Free Presbyterians describe themselves as fundamentalist, emphasising “the absolute authority and divine verbal inspiration of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God” and great importance is attached to evangelism. In church organisation the denomination is broadly Presbyterian, with ruling elders and ministers. The Free Presbyterian Church has consistently opposed ecumenism.

Several Pentecostal denominations are found in Northern Ireland, with broadly similar beliefs and practices, especially the Elim Pentecostal Church, the Assemblies of God and the Apostolic Church.

Conservative evangelical or fundamentalist in theology, Pentecostalists emphasise in particular the doctrine of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit following conversion to Christ. This is understood as a spiritual renewal, usually followed by certain signs or Gifts of the Spirit, best known of which is speaking with tongues. Evangelism is stressed, and worship and music are normally lively and spontaneous. Believers' baptism is practised, and communion is the focus of Sunday morning worship.

In the 1860's and 1870's William Booth, a Methodist minister in East London, established a new mission to the poor which became known as the Salvation Army. By 1880 the Army had arrived in Ireland, where it currently has about 1000 members. Modelled on military structures and titles, the Army combines evangelical theology and deals with a continuing deep commitment to serving those in need. The Salvation Army is noted for its distinctive uniforms and brass band music. It does not practise either baptism or communion.

Originating in the mid-19 th century, the Brethren – sometimes known as “Plymouth Brethren” – are not really a denomination as such but rather a loose fellowship of autonomous local churches with similar conservative evangelical beliefs and practices. Their buildings are often known as the Gospel Hall or Evangelical Church. There is no ordained ministry, but each church is governed by a group of male Elders. Worship is simple and often spontaneous, with an emphasis on weekly communion, often called Breaking of Bread. Believers' baptism by full immersion is practised and there is an emphasis on mission and outreach.

Quakers are best known for their pacifist principles and their silent and spontaneous worship. Founded by George Fox in the 17 th century, Friends believe that there is a Divine Light present in every person, and in their worship they wait for the Holy Spirit to prompt them to speak or read or say a prayer. The movement has no leadership, locally or centrally, but staff are employed to carry out social service or peacemaking work. Quakers do not practise either baptism or Holy Communion.

Other Protestant denominations present in Northern Ireland include: The Congregational Union; The Church of the Nazarene; the Free Methodist Church; the Fellowship of Independent Methodist Churches; the Moravian Church; the Lutheran Church; and various “New Churches” such as the Christian Fellowship Church.

Inter-Church (ecumenical) relationships in Ireland are officially encouraged by the larger Christian denominations and some of the smaller ones. Some Christians, however, are hostile to ecumenism, and some denominations take no part in such contact. Some inter-church Christian groups, such as the Corrymeela Community and the Irish School of Ecumenics, have been closely involved in peace and reconciliation and inter-church education work over several decades.

(Also present in Northern Ireland there are several groups, which might be described as Christian-related, but which would not see themselves as being associated with any of the above traditions. Such groups include the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons [Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints], the Christian Science Church and others.)

The Church of Christ, Scientist, was founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910). She suffered much physical ill health and eventually this led her to the question of God's responsibility for human suffering. She experimented with various alternative-healing methods and eventually experienced personal healing after reading of the healing powers of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. This episode, in 1866, marked the point of her founding of Christian Science.

In 1875 she published 'Science and Health', later revised as 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures'. The Bible and this work formed the textbooks of the Faith, which grew rapidly in America and elsewhere. There are over 200 congregations in the UK.

The Church aims to 'reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing'. To most people, it is probably best known for its reliance on prayer alone for the healing of sickness. Adherents believe such healing is in direct line with that practised by Jesus Christ and the early Christian Church, and is an integral part of the overall ministry of Christianity and the natural result of drawing closer to God in one's thought and life.

Christian Scientists are free moral agents and the Church does not control the actions of its members. It does not rebuke those who defer to family or legal pressures to undergo conventional medical treatment. However, when someone joins the Church, it is understood that there will be reliance on God for healing, rather than on medicines or surgery. Christian Science treatment must be purely spiritual, calling for a deeper understanding of man's relationship with God. 

Christian Scientists will not normally be treated in hospitals but will seek treatment in a Christian Science Nursing Home or House. They may be admitted as a result of an accident or as result of family or legal pressures, however, and they will undergo medical treatment during pregnancy.  Christian Scientists will allow medical treatment for their children in accordance with UK Law.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in Almighty God, Jehovah, Creator of the heavens and the earth, but not in a way acceptable to Christians or Jews.

Their scriptures vary from the Bible used by Christians.

EARTH.....                 

                  created by Jehovah
                  cared for by man
                  to be inhabited forever

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in making a positive effort to reach the public with their message, which varies from traditional Christian teaching.  Scriptures and literature are offered to householders.

Witnesses conduct meetings in Kingdom Halls on a weekly basis and also assemble in private homes for Bible Studies each week.

The only festival celebrated is the annual memorial of the death of Christ, the date of which varies, being calculated to the Biblical formula.

(Also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

The origins of the Mormon religion began in 1820 in Palmyra, a family area in Western New York, USA. Today there are estimated to be 300,000 converts annually and the headquarters of the Church is in Slat Lake City, Utah, USA.

Mormons worship uses the King James Version of the Holy Bible and the book of Mormon. Mormon missionaries crossed the Atlantic in 1837 and began preaching and the first Mormon baptisms in England took place in the River Ribble at Preston on the 30 July 1937.

Mormons believe that God (the father), Jesus Christ (the Son), and the Holy Ghost are separate personages, although united in purpose. They believe in continuing Revelation and that there is a living prophet, a man who receives revelations from god and who directs their church here on earth. They also believe that we are living in a time just before the Second Coming of Christ and that the Gospel should be taken through missionary work to the whole of the world. They believe in self-sufficiency, in honouring, upholding and sustaining the Law, and in being of service in the community.

Mormons follow a very strict health code, known as the Word of Wisdom, which counsels against the use of tea, coffee, alcohol and tobacco and advocates healthy living.

Missionary work is mainly done by young people between the ages of 19 and 22 who travel in pairs serving full-time without pay. They go out into the Community spreading work of the Mormon Church, visiting homes and spreading the word of their Church. Most rely on their own savings or are supported by family and friends. Their term of service is two years for men and 18 months for young women and missionary couples.

This is a dissenting movement, which carried many overtones of Christianity but rejects a number of important Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, and the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Baptism is in the name of God (the Father) only.

The Seventh Day Adventists grew out of a world-wide religious revival, which expected the imminent return of Christ. The Church was organised formally in 1863 and began its mission to the world. They believe the Bible is infallible and have a strict lifestyle.