What Does Orthodox Mean?
When you hear the word ‘orthodox,’ a number of ideas might pop into your head. If you’re outside of this sort of religious practice, you might only know this word as meaning that things are tougher for those who are in this sort of group. But really, when it comes to Christianity, this mean that the practitioners follow the way that things are structured in the New Testament of the Bible. It’s that simple.
- Orthodox Christianity Anglicanism
- Orthodox Anglican Communion
- Orthodox Anglican Church
- Anglican Orthodox Church
- African Orthodox Church
- Eastern Christianity
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Eastern Catholicism
- Oriental Orthodoxy
- Finnish Orthodox Church
- Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
- Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Church in America
- Orthodox Church in India
- Orthodox Church organization
- Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement
- Russian Orthodox Church
- Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
- Coptic Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Judaism
- Haredi Judaism (Ultraorthodox Judaism)
- Modern Orthodox Judaism (Neo-Orthodox Judaism)
- Orthodox Union
- Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations
When you hear about Orthodox Judaism, this term can be slightly different. This means that these Jews need to abide by a number of strict rules:
- The Torah and its laws are Divine, given by God to Moses.
- The laws of the Torah are unalterable.
- Oral law in Judaism is just as important and infallible.
- God made an unbreakable covenant exclusively with the Children of Israel.
- Adherence to Halakha, or Jewish law.
- Adherence to the thirteen Jewish principles of faith as stated by Maimonides.
- No murder, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality and incest.
- Observance of the Shabbat.
- Refraining from certain activities on Jewish holidays.
- Practicing the Jewish dietary laws.
- Following laws of family purity.
- Restriction of sexual relations around the time of menstruation.
- Restriction of sexual relations after childbirth.
- Male circumcision.
Of course, these laws can vary, depending on the group’s ideas about what rules and laws are to be followed more or less closely.
When you are an orthodox practitioner, you are dedicated to being a close follower of scripture and your religious practice will be a large part of your life. Some people might be able to convert to be orthodox, while some groups may not accept converts, depending on their interpretation of the laws.
Whether you choose to be orthodox or not, what is clear is that the closer you follow the scriptures and the idea of being a good person, the better a person you will be in the world around you.
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