[114], Other major Christian symbols include the chi-rho monogram, the dove (symbolic of the Holy Spirit), the sacrificial lamb (representing Christ's sacrifice), the vine (symbolizing the connection of the Christian with Christ) and many others. [179], Constantine I was exposed to Christianity in his youth, and throughout his life his support for the religion grew, culminating in baptism on his deathbed. From the year 150, Christian teachers began to produce theological and apologetic works aimed at defending the faith. Some, but not all Anglicans consider themselves both Protestant and Catholic. The spiritual sense is further subdivided into: Regarding exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation, Catholic theology holds: Protestant Christians believe that the Bible is a self-sufficient revelation, the final authority on all Christian doctrine, and revealed all truth necessary for salvation. This is demonstrated both by the testimony of the Bible and by a study of anthropology. [119], Evangelical denominations adhering to the doctrine of the believers' Church, practice the believer's baptism, by immersion in water, after the new birth and a profession of faith. Christianity requires the worship of a single god. Christianity arose in the 30s–50s CE as a religious offshoot of Judaism based on the teachings of Jesus, who was himself Jewish. Our calendar was originally based on Christianity. [173] The presence of Christianity in Africa began in the middle of the 1st century in Egypt and by the end of the 2nd century in the region around Carthage. a system of religious beliefs based on the idea of the existence of only one god, in contrast to polytheism, the belief in many gods. [106], A penitent confessing his sins in a Ukrainian Catholic church, A Methodist minister celebrating the Eucharist, Confirmation being administered in an Anglican church, Ordination of a priest in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Crowning during Holy Matrimony in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Service of the Sacrament of Holy Unction served on Great and Holy Wednesday. Jesus wasn't a heretic, he was a fundamentalist … Beginning in 1536, the monasteries throughout England, Wales and Ireland were dissolved.[215]. [222] Much, if not most, of the new art was commissioned by or in dedication to the Church. Congregationalist, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches united in 1925 to form the United Church of Canada,[452] and in 1977 to form the Uniting Church in Australia. According to Catholic doctrine, Jesus' death satisfies the wrath of God, aroused by the offense to God's honor caused by human's sinfulness. photo source: Wikimedia Commons Rastafari is one of the most misunderstood religions in the world. [136] Frequently in Western Christianity, when praying, the hands are placed palms together and forward as in the feudal commendation ceremony. [374], The Anglican churches descended from the Church of England and organized in the Anglican Communion. ", "FREEradicals – Targeting Christians in Central Asia", "Despite Government Set-backs, Christianity Is Alive in Central Asia", "160,000 Have Converted Out of Hinduism in Malaysia in 25 Years", Religious Demographic Profiles – Pew Forum, "Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2005 – Vietnam", "Christianity, non-religious register biggest growth: Census 2010", "In Indonesia, Lunar New Year an old practice for young Christians", "Christianity 2010: a view from the new Atlas of Global Christianity", "More People Claim Christian Faith in Japan", "The future of the world's most popular religion is African", "Ingen avskaffelse: / Slik blir den nye statskirkeordningen", "Church and State in Britain: The Church of privilege", "McCain Praises Georgia For Adopting Christianity As Official State Religion", "Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population", "THE GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE. In the meantime, "the dead are conscious of nothing." "Final Report and Recommendations". Ustorf, Werner. Emperor Constantine the Great decriminalized Christianity in the Roman Empire by the Edict of Milan (313), later convening the Council of Nicaea (325) where Early Christianity was consolidated into what would become the State church of the Roman Empire (380). Recently, neither Western or Eastern World Christianity has also stood out, for example, African-initiated churches. Taken together, both define the term (Biblical) hermeneutics. [16][273][274][275] By 2010 about 157 countries and territories in the world had Christian majorities. Assuming your definition of "soft polytheism" is correct, I would contend that Christianity can be considered both monotheistic and soft-polytheistic. [371], In 1521, the Edict of Worms condemned Martin Luther and officially banned citizens of the Holy Roman Empire from defending or propagating his ideas. By definition, Christianity is a polytheistic religion. Would you be upset if I told you it isn't? [32], The Chalcedonian Definition, or Creed of Chalcedon, developed at the Council of Chalcedon in 451,[33] though rejected by the Oriental Orthodox,[34] taught Christ "to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably": one divine and one human, and that both natures, while perfect in themselves, are nevertheless also perfectly united into one person. The following is a brief review of some of them. "[38]:111 Also rejecting creeds are groups with roots in the Restoration Movement, such as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada, and the Churches of Christ. The Thirty Years' War, the English Civil War, and the French Wars of Religion are prominent examples. Riché, Pierre (1978): "Education and Culture in the Barbarian West: From the Sixth through the Eighth Century", Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, The Western Church was called Latin at the time by the Eastern Christians and non-Christians due to its conducting of its rituals and affairs in the Latin language. While seemingly a slight difference, this Filioque Controversy is actually one of the top few issues that led to the 1054 A.D. division of Christian Church into Catholic (Western - Roman Empire) and Orthodox (Eastern - Byzantine Empire). What makes Christianity a monotheistic religion? [76][77] In the following century, the word was in general use. [2] Christians make up a majority of the population in 157 countries and territories.[3]. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God. "Persecution of Christians coming close to genocide' in Middle East - report". [114] Its popularity seemingly arose from the Greek word ichthys (fish) forming an acronym for the Greek phrase Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ),[note 5] (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior), a concise summary of Christian faith. [249], However, there are many charismatic movements that have become well established over large parts of the world, especially Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Minucius Felix speaks of the cross of Jesus in its familiar form, likening it to objects with a crossbeam or to a man with arms outstretched in prayer (. Monotheism means the belief in only one god. Despite the declining numbers, Christianity remains the dominant religion in the Western World, where 70% are Christians. Modern scholarship has raised many issues with the Bible. The original passage is seen as having only a single meaning or sense. Monotheism is a religion or belief system that involves a single God. 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