The Christian Community facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Christian Community |
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Christian Community altar in Helsinki
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| Classification | Esoteric Christian |
| Orientation | Anthroposophy, Esotericism, Liberal Christianity |
| Founder | Friedrich Rittelmeyer |
| Origin | 1922 |
| Members | approximately 100,000 worldwide |
The Christian Community (German: Die Christengemeinschaft) is a Christian group that started in 1922. It was founded in Switzerland by a group of Christian thinkers and ministers. They were inspired by Rudolf Steiner, a philosopher who created something called anthroposophy.
The group was led by Friedrich Rittelmeyer. He believed in a "Christianity of deeds," meaning faith should lead to action. The Christian Community has roots in older Christian ideas and also in anthroposophy. However, it is a separate movement. Most people who follow anthroposophy are not members of The Christian Community.
There are about 100,000 members worldwide. The main office is in Berlin, Germany. The Christian Community was one of the first Christian groups to allow women to become priests. Women like Maria Darmstädter helped shape the community a lot.
Contents
How it's Led
The Christian Community is led by a group called the "circle of priests." These priests choose leaders called coordinators. There is a main coordinator (Erzoberlenker) who works with two other coordinators (Oberlenkers). There are also regional coordinators (Lenkers) and a meeting of all priests called a synod.
What They Believe
The Christian Community believes in freedom of teaching. This means they don't have official rules or beliefs that everyone must follow. They don't accept the idea of strict Christian rules (dogmas). They also don't try to convert people from other religions. They believe other religions can be just as true as Christianity.
Because of these ideas, some people from other Christian groups have wondered if The Christian Community is truly Christian. The group was banned in Germany by the Nazis in 1941. Its leader, Emil Bock, was put in prison. But the community kept going in other countries. It was started again in West Germany after the war.
Services and Sacraments
Members of The Christian Community don't have to follow specific teachings or behaviors. They celebrate seven special ceremonies called sacraments.
The main service is called the "Act of Consecration of Man." This is like the Eucharist or Holy Communion in other churches. The other six sacraments are:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- The Last Anointing (for the sick or dying)
- Sacramental Consultation (a talk with a priest, like confession)
- Ordination (when someone becomes a priest)
There is also a special Sunday service for children.
All services and sacraments are the same no matter where they are celebrated. They are usually spoken in the local language. The main service lasts about an hour. Sunday services are longer because they include a sermon. For communion, they use non-alcoholic grape juice instead of wine. They have three Christmas services: one at midnight on December 24 and two on December 25. There are also special prayers for different times of the year.
Some of their chapels have organs. Sometimes these organs can play special musical notes called quarter tones.
Main Ideas
The Christian Community allows priests to teach freely. This means there is no official set of beliefs or rules. What is taught or written is seen as a personal view.
Some common ideas among priests in The Christian Community include:
- People have free will.
- The soul lives on through reincarnation.
- Jesus and Christ are seen as separate. Jesus was a person, and Christ was a spiritual being who joined Jesus at his baptism.
- Christ is both outside us and inside us.
- The New Testament part of the Bible is very important.
- They don't do missionary work. They believe people should find this religion on their own, based on their free will.
Other Christian Groups
The Christian Community's baptisms are not seen as valid by some other large Christian groups, like the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant Church in Germany also doesn't accept their baptisms. However, it doesn't say The Christian Community isn't Christian.
In 1950, a study suggested The Christian Community should join the World Council of Churches. But they were not accepted. The Christian Community itself says it works "without attachment to any existing church or ecumenical movement."
See also
- Anthroposophy
- Rudolf Steiner
- Berthold Wulf
