Denomination Differences

Eastern Orthodox vs. Quaker Beliefs

Eastern OrthodoxQuaker
a.k.a.Friend
Number of Members210,000,000[1]400,000
How does one get saved?Repent of your sins, believe in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, and be baptized.[2]Varies widely
Who gets saved?Anyone who chooses by his own free will to believe and accept God's gift of grace will be saved.No established doctrine
Can one lose his salvation?Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy.Yes, a Christian can lose his salvation by apostasy.
Who gets baptized and why?The unsaved, typically as infants, get baptized as the first sacrament of Christian initiation, cleansing them of all sins.Baptism not practiced.
How should baptism be done?Baptism should be by triple immersion.Baptism not practiced.
When does one receive the Holy Spirit?The Holy Spirit is received at chrismation, generally immediately after baptism.There is "that of God in everyone".
What is the trinity?The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.The Trinity is God existing as one god in three equal, eternal, cosubstantial persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit.
What is the human nature?Human nature is intrinsically good but is wounded and incapable of choosing God in our fallen environment.[3][4]There is "that of God in everyone", making humans inherently good.
Are we guilty of Adam's original sin?No, we are not guilty of Adam's sin, nor did we inherit a sinful nature from him, but we did inherit the consequences.[5]No established doctrine
Are Christians required to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws?No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus.No, the ceremonial laws of Judaism were fulfilled and done away with by Jesus.
Can Christians become sinless in this earthly life?Yes, Christian perfection is possible.Christian perfection is possible and a major goal of Quakers.
Do the elements of communion become the body and blood of Christ?Metousiosis: Yes, the bread and the wine change in essence into the body and blood of Christ.Communion not practiced.
Can one be baptized of behalf of someone who has died?No, the dead cannot be baptized.No, the dead cannot be baptized.
What happens if a saved person dies without being perfect?There is no purgatory, but Christians will continue in theosis after death.[6]Perfection must take place during life, not after death.[7]
Did Mary ever sin?Mary was prone to sin like anyone else, but no, through her own free will she still never did.Yes, Mary sinned like all other humans except Jesus.
What spiritual gifts are available today?Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers.Continuationism: All spiritual gifts are still available to believers.
What is the gift of tongues?Speaking in tongues is sometimes unintelligible and sometimes foreign human languages.[8][9]
What are the requirements for clergy?Priests must be men over 30 ordained by bishops.
How many church ordinances/​sacraments are there?The church has seven sacraments: Baptism, Chrism, Holy Eucharist, Confession, Ordination, Marriage, and Holy Unction.[10]The church does not have any ordinances more sacred than any other practice.[11]
Who can take communion?Only members of the church can participate in Holy Communion.[12]
Should communion bread be leavened?Leavened bread should be used in Holy Communion.
To whom do Christians need to confess their sins?Confession should be made to God before a priest.[13]Confession should be made directly to God, but confession to another believer is beneficial for some sins.
How should a church be structured?Episcopal: Churches should be governed by the bishop in that episcopacy, who in turn is governed by a patriarch of an autocephalous church. The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is first among equals.Congregationalist: Every church congregation should be independent and governed by its members.
What day of the week should Christians worship?Christians worship on Sunday.Christians worship on Sunday.
How does God's revelation come to us today?Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition have equal authority and comprise one finished deposit of faith.Varies widely[14]
How was the Bible written?Verbal plenary inspiration: The Bible was written by men who had every word supernaturaly inspired by God.[15]
How many books are in the Bible?There are 76 canonical books of the Bible: 39 protocanonical books, 10 deuterocanonical books, and 27 New Testament books.There are 66 canonical books of the Bible: 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.
Was the Bible written inerrantly?No, the Bible was written inerrantly on matters of salvation but may contain errors in other matters.[16][17]Varies widely[18]
Who can speak with God's authority today?The church as a whole speaks with God's authority at ecumenical councils.
How was the Bible preserved?Verbal plenary preservation: God has supernaturally preserved every word of the Bible.[19]
How was the earth created?No established doctrineThe earth was formed by gravity pulling dust together, which ultimately came from the Big Bang.
What is marriage?Marriage is a covenant before God between one man and one woman.Varies widely
Is sex permissible outside marriage?No, sex outside of marriage is not permissible.Varies widely
When is divorce permissible?Divorce is permissible for adultery, abuse, or abandonment.[20][21]
May a Christian remarry while his former spouse is still alive?Yes, a Christian may remarry a second or third time for human weakness.[21]
When does a fetus become human?Humanity begins at conception.[22]Most believe humanity begins sometime between conception and birth.[23]
Is contraception permissible?Most believe that yes, contraceptives are permissible.[24][25]Yes, contraceptives are permissible.
Are blood transfusions permissible?Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.Yes, blood transfusions are permissible.
Should women cover their heads?Varies widely
Should Christians drink alcohol?Yes, drinking alcohol is fine as long as one does not get drunk.No, alcohol should be totally avoided.[26][27]
Should Christians fight in wars?Yes, Christians can fight in just wars.[28][29][30]No, Christians should never fight.[31][32]
Whom does the Holy Spirit come from?The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.
Do icons glorify God?Yes, icons are holy and should be venerated.[33]
Where does a Christian's soul go after death?After death, souls sit conscious in an Intermediate State, with a foretaste of heaven for Christians.[34]No established doctrine
When will the church be raptured?The church will not be raptured at any point.
When is the millennial reign of Christ happen?Amillennialism: The millennial reign of Christ is an indefinite period of time beginning on the day of Pentecost and ending at His Second Coming.