The Eucharist (blood, churches, dogma, protestants, catholic)

[FerventGodSeeker]

Do Anglicans/Episcopalians believe in transubstantiation (like Catholics, Orthodox, etc) consubstantiation (like Lutherans), or a purely symbolic Eucharist (like most Protestants)?

[James the Persian]

Just for clarification, we don't believe in transubstantiation - that's purely Roman Catholic. We do believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist but leave it as a Mystery. Any talk of substances and accidents and the like would be shunned as scholastic speculation - we merely accept that the bread and wine truly are the Body and Blood in some way which we cannot explain. I'd like to know which (if any) of these positions the Anglicans tend to hold. I would suspect it's more likely to be close to us or the RCs than the symbolic view held by some Protestants.

James

[FerventGodSeeker]

Originally Posted by James the Persian

Just for clarification, we don't believe in transubstantiation - that's purely Roman Catholic. We do believe in the Real Presence in the Eucharist but leave it as a Mystery. Any talk of substances and accidents and the like would be shunned as scholastic speculation - we merely accept that the bread and wine truly are the Body and Blood in some way which we cannot explain. I'd like to know which (if any) of these positions the Anglicans tend to hold. I would suspect it's more likely to be close to us or the RCs than the symbolic view held by some Protestants.

James

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification.

[sojourner]

The Episcopalian view is very close to the Orthodox viewpoint. We believe in the real presece of Christ in the Bread and Wine, but we do not seek to explain how that Presence specifically affects the Bread and Wine.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by sojourner

The Episcopalian view is very close to the Orthodox viewpoint. We believe in the real presece of Christ in the Bread and Wine, but we do not seek to explain how that Presence specifically affects the Bread and Wine.

That is what all the Anglican Communion teach.

You can see that is not Just symbolic, with the care we take of any leftover excess.

This is Further complicated by the fact there are many Anglican Churches outside the communion. Who left either for political or Dogma reasons; I know at least some of those lean to the catholic stance.

this is a full list of Anglican churches not in the Communion Some are very small)
Anglican Churches not in the Communion

[FerventGodSeeker]

Originally Posted by sojourner

The Episcopalian view is very close to the Orthodox viewpoint. We believe in the real presece of Christ in the Bread and Wine, but we do not seek to explain how that Presence specifically affects the Bread and Wine.

What do you make of this?

Article XXVIII of the XXXIX Articles says:

"Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions."

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by FerventGodSeeker

What do you make of this?

Article XXVIII of the XXXIX Articles says:

"Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions."

The Thirty-nine Articles are not considered dogma for the ECUSA. That being said, I would think that most Episcopalians would agree (at least somewhat) with that statement, since most Episcopalians do not espouse transubstantiation.

[FerventGodSeeker]

[quote]

Originally Posted by sojourner

The Thirty-nine Articles are not considered dogma for the ECUSA.

Really? Does the ECUSA have an official Catechism or statement of dogmas?

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by FerventGodSeeker

Do Anglicans/Episcopalians believe in transubstantiation (like Catholics, Orthodox, etc) consubstantiation (like Lutherans), or a purely symbolic Eucharist (like most Protestants)?

I'm pretty sure the answer is no. My RC father in law and a good friend who is the assistant rector at the Episcopalian church I occasionally attend, frequently argue about it (my father in law always brings it up).