TERMINOLOGY, LAWS, AND REGULATIONS

How can Christians be so different in their beliefs and in their forms of worship and still all be Christians? In spite of the many denominations, all Christians share certain basic beliefs that originated in the teachings of Jesus. Although Jesus never wrote a book, the words he spoke were written down by his followers. His words

and works are found in the four Gospels of the New Testament-Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In many cases, the teachings of Jesus reflected the basic religious writings of the Jewish religion. These writings are referred to as the Old Testament in the Christian Bible. Jesus taught about God. Furthermore, he taught about man's relationship to God in a way that stirred men's hearts and created the foundation of the Christian religion.

Here are some of the basic beliefs shared by all Christians:

l They believe in one God, the Creator of all things, who is merciful and just.

l They believe in the teachings of Jesus, and almost all Christian groups believe in his divinity-that he was the Son of God.

l They believe in the Beatitudes or the blessings spoken by Jesus in the sermon on the mount, which is in the Gospel according to St. Matthew.

l They believe we should love our fellowmen, even our enemies, and forgive them as we want God to forgive us.

l Almost all Christians believe in baptism or in some union with Jesus.

l Most Christians believe in the Lord's Supper, the eucharist, the mass, or holy communion.

Now that we have talked about the basic Christian beliefs, let's look at some of the ways in which Christian belief systems may differ.

Figure 1-7.-Christian funerals.

Liturgical Laws a particular faith group does what it does. In the Roman Catholic church, for example, the Code of Canon Law pertains. In the Episcopal church,

_{Some churches conform to ecclesiastical} however, the laws are found in The Book of Common ordinances that mandate and give credence as to why Prayer.

In your duties and responsibilities, you may come across several different liturgical laws. Ask your chaplain what governs his or her faith group, and which, if any, of the guidelines you should be most familiar with. Read those portions of the laws carefully and ask your chaplain to clarify the sections you do not understand.

Requirements

Within the scope of this TRAMAN, it is not practical for us to tell you about every requirement of every Christian faith group you may encounter. Within your personal assignments and capabilities, however, you should pay particular attention to any changes in the faith groups of the chaplains with whom you are _{currently working.} At times, you may not fully understand the practices of a particular Christian faith group. You should use these times as an opening to begin a. dialogue with your chaplain. Through your observations and questions, you will convey a message that says, "I am interested, and I want to know how I can serve you and our sea service persons."