Just wondering what the SDopers know about the Jesuwitz and the Nazareths. (There’s a Nazarth Camp near us…is it just a retreat?) What are their believes in these two branches of Christianity? - Jinx
I think what you’re asking about is two different religious orders of the Roman Catholic Church (there is also a Protestant denomination, the Church of the Nazarene, whose members are sometimes called Nazareths.)
Religious orders were founded by different people at different times for different purposes. The Jesuits, founded by Ignatious Loyola, focused heavily on teaching (often college teaching) and missionary work. Other orders focused on health care, missionary work, caring for the aged, etc. Some orders are comprised of ordained priests, some have “professed” (that means they have taken vows to serve God, but are not ordained) men and/or women.
These orders all have separate administration, but they are all Roman Catholic and thus they ultimately answer to the Pope. They manifest their faith in different ways, and there can be some tension among different groups, but ultimately they are all members of the same church.
This is from a fallen-away Catholic. I’ll let the Catholics-in-good-standing amplify and clarify.
Well, the Jesuits date from the reestablishment of Catholicism in Spain–basically from aroung the time of the Spanish Inquisition. It’s been a while since my class in European history, but I know that the Jesuits are a monastic group. Here is the website for the US Jesuits. Jesuits also have a reputation of excelling in education, and there are several Jesuit colleges in the United States.