Duvduv

That is a doctrinal response but doesn't answer my question about the practices of the Copts.

sotto voce

The question is improper, and misrepresents. It should be as follows:

If the Copts still observe some Jewish practices such as circumcision, is this DESPITE their supposed acceptance of Christianity which opposes Jewish observances?

The short answer is 'Yes.' Afaik, some Copts practise circumcision for medical reasons. But anyone who practises circumcision (or observes any other practice, however 'holy') for religious reasons, for purposes of justification, is not a Christian.

Duvduv

I am not asking whether you consider the Copts Christians. I am simply trying to understand the view of the Copts historically in relation to Roman Christianity. Perhaps someone else can clarify this.

sotto voce

No opinion on that has been offered. :frown:

The canonical Letter to the Romans is accepted by Copts, though they add the letters attributed to Clement to their canon, which may be considered to give as wide a choice of theology as one might wish for.

steve_bnk

Soviet and Chinese communism were unable to suppress religion.

Duvduv

And where do they fit in then with mainstream Pauline ideology about the annulment of the Law through the Grace of the Christ?

sotto voce

The Coptic Orthodox Church shares the beliefs of Eastern Orthodoxy. The Orthodox agree entirely with Paul about the Law, that is, the Law of Moses.

At least, they say they do. In practice, they baptise infants, which makes absent justifying faith; so they have neither satisfactory, qualifying faith, nor Law. They observe special occasions, and much legalistic ritual, so, like others, they have constituted their own 'Law'. The Constantinian priest notion is present, that is fully developed with transubstantiation and offering of a sacrifice— just as Roman priests offered sacrifices to the gods on behalf of the plebeians. The more things change...

Duvduv

So the Byzantine church was able to eventually stamp out so-called deviant sects far and wide from Constantinople, but not across the border in Syria/Iraq or just across the water in Alexandria.
I think I am missing a piece of the puzzle as to the rationale of the establishment.
If their people could eradicate the sects to the west, then why not by ships just across the lake?

sotto voce

What was so different about the sects across the lake?

Duvduv

Well, the Copts rejected the Chalcedon Creed about the nature and person of the Christ:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_...l_of_Chalcedon