Branches of Christianity

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Branches of Christianity

• By Mr. H.

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Christianity may have had the most chaotic
history of all the major world religions. Keep
that in mind as we study other traditions.
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Early Christians
Its members were persecuted by the Romans and
forced into secrecy.
Christianity originally started as a religious
sect of Judaism. Its earliest members were Jews
and/or slaves who hoped for a better eternity in
heaven.
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Persecutions

• The worst persecutions were by the Emperor Nero
  who blamed Christians for a fire that burned much
  of Rome.

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Early Churches

• Christians met in secret in underground churches
  that look nothing like they do today. The
  original symbol of Christianity was the fish.

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The anchor an early Christian symbol for hope
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Paul

• The most important early missionary was Paul
  (Saul)
• Was a Roman soldier ordered to persecute
  Christians in Damascus
• Converted by falling off horse
• Wrote much of the New Testament
• Killed by Nero (crucified)

Famous painting by Caravaggio
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By 200 A.D.

• Christians in the east and west of the Roman
  Empire already evolving different beliefs and
  practices concerning
• Baptism
• Eucharist
• The Return of the Messiah
• Bishops and control
• Date of Easter
• Divinity of Jesus

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Early Issues

• Over time the number of Christians in the Roman
  Empire skyrockets while the number of traditional
  Roman believers plummets
• Legalized in 312 AD
• Official religion of empire in 391 AD
• Fighting breaks out between Christian groups such
  as the Arians, Montanus and his followers,
  Dontanists, and mainstream believers over various
  issues.

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Constantine

• Emperor Constantine forced to call the Council of
  Nicea to resolve religious differences and bring
  internal peace to the empire
• Defines the major beliefs of the church
• Established Nicean Creed
• Decided who was in charge (ROME)
• Tinkered with New Testament
• Determined date of Easter
• First splintering of church occurs
• Assyrian, Coptic and other Oriental churches
  established

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Church Organization

• From beginning Christianity controlled by
  hierarchy
• 5 Holy Sees control church in surrounding areas
• Rome
• Constantinople
• Alexandria
• Antioch
• Jerusalem
• Each See ruled by a bishop.
• Bishop of Rome considers self most important and
  starts calling himself Pope in 384.
• Priests control local parishes

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Great Schism

• Schism means to break up
• Occurred in 1054 AD
• Due to differences between east and west
  Christianity in language, customs, ideas
• Main issue was who was in control Rome or
  Constantinople
• Divided church into Orthodox east and Roman
  Catholic west
• Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople
  excommunicated each other kick out of heaven

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Orthodox Church

• Found in parts of Eastern Europe, Russia, and the
  Eastern Mediterranean.
• Icons and relics important in worship
• Head of religion traditionally was Patriarch of
  Constantinople
• Many services in Greek or Russian and are usually
  long in duration with no chairs/pews
• Uses cross with 3 bars representing the one they
  believe Jesus died on.

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Spilled Blood Russian Orthodox Cathedral St.
Petersburg, Russia
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Russian Orthodox Church Tallinn, Estonia
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Ceiling of Orthodox Church Russia
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Middle Ages

• Bad blood gets worse between East and Western
  Christianity
• Crusaders sack Constantinople in 1204
• Catholic Church solidifies rule of west
• Some sects rejoin Catholicism
• From 1378-1417 there are three guys running
  around Europe calling themselves Pope.

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Protestant Reformation

• Due to corruption in Catholic church and sale of
  indulgences Martin Luther, a Catholic, protests
  in Germany
• Followers believe scripture is ultimate source of
  law.
• Dont need a Pope or religious hierarchy
• Dont believe in confession
• Protestant then fractionalize into hundreds of
  smaller churches such as Methodist, Baptist, or
  Presbyterian.

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Lutheran Cathedral Helsinki, Finland.
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Catholic Church

• Pope in charge
• Bishops and archbishops run major cities
• Priests who cant marry run diocese
• Belief in confession and purgatory
• More regular communion than most protestant
  churches
• Official language Latin until 1960s
• Church of England separated in 1529

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Christianity in the World

• More than half the Christians in the world are
  Catholic
• Places like Latin America are over 90 Catholic
• The U.S. is mostly Protestant Christian
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• 24 Catholic

Pope Benedict XVI
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The End