Introduction
Understanding Christianity
Christianity brings together the traditions that recognize Jesus Christ as a central figure and refer to the Bible. It developed from the Judaism of the first century before diversifying into many churches.
Doctrines, liturgies and structures vary between Catholicism, orthodoxy, Protestantism and other families. The Trinity is central to the majority of Christians, but the way of expressing it and other theological points differ.
To be retained
Four essential principles
- Jesus Christ is at the centre of the Christian faith.
- The Bible brings together texts of different genres and periods.
- Christian traditions share foundations but diverge over authority, sacraments and organization.
- Charity and love of neighbor are major values.
Small timeline
A tradition shaped by history
Jesus and First Communities
Birth of the movement in Judea and Mediterranean diffusion.
Christianization of the Roman Empire
Institutionalization and major councils.
Separation between East and West
Historical process leading to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.
Protestant Reforms
New ecclesial families in Europe.
History and expansion
The first Christian communities developed in the Jewish and Greco-Roman world. The debates on the nature of Christ, the Trinity, the Scriptures and authority shaped the councils and traditions.
Christianity then spread across all continents, in a wide variety of missionary, political and cultural contexts, sometimes linked to colonization and sometimes to local dynamics.
Main beliefs
The majority of Christians believe in a single God, in Jesus Christ, in his death and resurrection, and in the action of the Holy Spirit.
Interpretations of creation, salvation, grace, the Church and the end of time vary according to confessions.
- One God and Trinity for the majority
- Incarnation
- Death and Resurrection of Christ
- Hello and grace
- Resurrection and Eternal Life
Diversity of Churches
Catholicism, orthodoxy and Protestantism are large families, but each has a considerable internal diversity. Some Eastern Churches have distinct histories prior to medieval separations.
What research can and cannot say
Psychology and sociology study prayer, community support, volunteerism and the effects of feeling of belonging. The results are often correlated and depend on the context. The resurrection, miracles and existence of God are a matter of faith and are not hypotheses testable by ordinary scientific methods.
References