Christianity

• Christianity is the world's largest religion, with about 2.4 billion followers
• Christians


  Adherents of Christianity, a term which was first used to refer to Jesus' disciples when they were preaching in Antioch
• Christianity


  A monotheistic faith based on the life, works, and teachings of Jesus Christ
• Christians believe that the relationship between God and man is mediated by the person of Jesus Christ, and that Christ's teachings embody God's plan for the salvation of mankind
• Christianity traces its roots to Judaism, and Christians consider the emergence and development of Christianity as a fulfillment of the plan of salvation which God had promised Abraham
• The history of Christianity began with the birth of Jesus Christ


  First century CE
• By the mid-first century CE, the earliest Christian communities emerged in Jerusalem and soon spread to other places such as Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Egypt, and Europe
• Main divisions or branches of Christianity

  • Catholicism
  • Eastern Orthodox Church
  • Protestantism
• Apostolic Period


  The period of Christian history after the end of Christ's earthly ministry, when the Apostles began their ministry and organized the first Christian communities
• The first Christian communities had close ties to Judaism but as the Apostles continued in their ministry, Christianity took on its own unique characteristics
• A major change during the early period of Christianity was the inclusion of non-Jews or Gentiles into the Christian community
• The ministry of the Apostles brought Christianity to various places in Asia, Africa, and Europe
• The first Christian communities were often treated with suspicion by Roman citizens, who branded them as traitors due to their non-participation in the official religious rites of the empire
• Persecutions of Christians occurred during the reigns of Nero and Diocletian
• Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan that guaranteed freedom of religion for Roman citizens


  313 CE
• Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea to discuss Christian doctrine and arrive at a common ground regarding the central tenets of faith


  325 CE
• The Council of Nicaea was seen as a solution to the threat of Arianism and an opportunity for church leaders to uphold the integrity of the Christian faith
• The Council of Nicaea began to consolidate the major beliefs of Christianity into a single declaration, the Nicene Creed, and also took the initial steps in formulating the laws of the Church, or canon law

  
• The Fall of the Roman Empire in 476 CE introduced new challenges to the Christian Church, as the Church leadership became the only source of authority and stability in Western Europe
• The Church saw this as an opportunity and embarked on a ministry among the barbarian tribes, successfully converting them to the Christian faith
• During feudal times, church officials became important political figures, and gained ownership of vast tracts of land
• The Pope himself gained secular authority when he was granted control over the Papal States
• The Church at this time fostered unity among the divided tribes of Europe, and the spread of the Christian faith led to the development of the concept of Christendom
• A major development in the Medieval Period was the establishment of two separate Christian churches—the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church—as a result of the Great Schism in 1054 CE
• The Roman Catholic Church became the dominant religious institution in Western Europe, and defined developments in Western Christianity in the next few centuries
• Scholasticism was a significant feature of Medieval European civilization, and it defined many of the intellectual and cultural developments in Western Europe
• Doctors of the Church

  • St. Augustine
  • Saint Bonaventure
  • St. Thomas Aquinas
  • St. Alphonsus Ligouri
• The Great Schism in 1054 CE resulted in the establishment of two separate Christian Churches
• The rise of the Protestant movement in 1517 CE became another major challenge to Western Christianity, leading to the establishment of new churches adhering to the Protestant faith
• In response to the Reformation, the Catholic Church implemented a series of reforms which became known as the Counter-Reformation
• The First Vatican Council (Vatican I) in 1869 addressed modern developments which were seen as challenges to the doctrines and values of Christianity
• The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) in 1962 was convened to address the continuing challenges of modernity to the Church, and resulted in reforms such as the celebration of the liturgy in vernacular languages
• Jesus died on the cross as an atonement for human sins, but he rose again three days later.
• Pope Francis, the present pope, is a liberal and progressive leader who is implementing major reforms in the Church
• The Bible is the holy book of Christians
• Christians believe that Jesus was sent by God to save humanity from sin.
• The Nicene Creed states that Jesus Christ is "God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God."
• Christians believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully man, with one nature or person.
• The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there are three distinct persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - who share one divine essence.
• Christianity originated from Judaism and spread throughout Europe during Roman times