Christianity

=Christianity= = = = = Christianity is the world's largest religion, with about **2.1 billion** followers worldwide. Christianity became a more formal religion after the death of Jesus.
 * //Monotheistic//**

**Early Christian,** //the beginning of this religion//:
The first Christians were Jewish Christians because the Christian belief was a group within Judaism and it was first practiced vastly by Jews. Both the two religious had a starting point from Jesus. Paul was a Jewish and he realized the Jewish Christians were having changes of laws in their daily lives. He then claimed he had a "vision" and set himself apart from the Jewish Christians and called himself Christian. He had conflicts with the Jewish Christians about their "lacking of Christianity's purpose life styles", and started to convert gentiles(people who are not Jewish) to follow his teachings. The beginning of the Gentile Christianity started here. {by Aaron Sin}

**Spread:**
It spread from the eastern Roman Empire and west into Italy and Northern Europe and continued to thrive there after the Empire's decline in 476 C.E. (Sarah and Kai) (Aly) Christianity became the new religion of the Roman Empire in 320 C.E when emperor Constantine established it to be so. (Zack) (Correction) Christianity was legalized by Constantine in 313 C.E via the **Edict of Milan**, but only made the official religion at 380C.E with the emperor Theodosus.(Adrian McHale)

The Edict of Milan was a proclamation of religious freedom in the Roman Empire, issued in 313 CE. The biggest impact the Edict had on the Roman Empire was that by giving people religious freedom, Christianity was in essence "legalized." The Edict of Milan: http://ancienthistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=ancienthistory&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fgbgm-umc.org%2Fumw%2Fbible%2Fmilan.stm (Katie Tontodonato)

The Roman Emperors were scared of the followers of Jesus of Nazareth and his teachings of the "Kingdom of God" and felt that he was going to start a rebellion. Also, Christians refused to practice ritual sacrifices to Roman deities. Therefore, the Romans had him crucified (early 30s CE) so that there would be no chance of a rebellion against the Roman Empire. Christianity did not stop however and soon spread all over the world. (Eric) (edited by Justin D and Michael Batzorig)

The Church was organized into a hierarchy of church officials. The most power was given to 5 religious authorities- bishop of Rome (pope), patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem, Constantinople, and Alexandria. All had equal power with the exception of the Pope who had greater power than the other 4. Below them were bishops who controlled religious issues for their dioceses (districts). Both patriarchs and bishops helped resolve religious disputes. (Katy Reines)

The first pope was St. Peter, whom Jesus is believed to have selected as the leader of the church after his death. (Julie Bell)

The spread of Christianity was aided greatly by the conversion of political leaders who in turn converted most of their people and spread the Christian ideals (EX: Clovis I was a Frankish king, who lived in Gaul or modern France. He converted and was baptized in the Riems river. He then converted most of Gaul). (Tom H) Another example of this was Roman emperor Constantine I, who lifted persecution of Christians through the Edict of Milan and by supporting churches, clergy, and promoting the religion throughout his empire.(Quinlan M)

Christianity was a big part of the Roman empire, and was the most influential faith in the Mediterranean basin by the third century C.E. As the empire spread, so did Christianity. It was a unifying factor in the empire, especially the eastern half. In the western half of Rome, Christianity wasn't able to take hold as fast as land was being conquered. When Rome fell, the western half reverted to their pre-Roman ways, because for the most part Christianity didn't exist there. Because of this Rome didn't have the same social structure stability that China had due to Confucianism. (Alison Gale) (Edited by Michael Batzorig)

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/maps/christ.html This map shows the spread of Chrisianity in the end of the fisrt century, 2nd century, and third century. (edited by Inci kaymak)

//**Holy Book:**// Christianity was developed by Jews, and uses the Jewish texts as its Old Testament. The holy book of Christianity is the **//Bible//** and consists of the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament is about before Jesus was born and the New Testament includes everything after Jesus' birth and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and the Book of Revelations.(justo Diaz)

//**Some Essential Beliefs:**// Christians believe that their God is three in one: Father; Son; and Holy Spirit. God sent his only son, Jesus, to Earth so that the humans' sins could be forgiven. If someone has accepted Christ, then they will go to heaven. Christ was a perfect man and the only man who lived sinlessly. He sacrificed His life and died for us sinners. Christians follow His paths and go on mission trips, volunteering centers (such as homeless centers or orphanages), or church camps where church people gather and go somewhere to pray and devote. Devotion is essential to Christians' beliefs. (Nani Kim) A note on Some Essential Beliefs: The Christian faith celebrates Baptism as a sacrament- meaning undertakings or rituals that bring one closer to God. Some faiths have more than others, but all recognize Baptism as a symbol of rebirth and new beginning. It is often represented by a candle or a dove. In the sacrament of Baptism, blessed water (and in some faiths Chrism oil) are anointed on the person's forehead by the member of the clergy (a Minister/Priest etc.) in the shape of the sign of the cross. The sacrament takes away a person's original sin (a sin inherited by Adam and Eve when they ate the forbidden fruit) and it is often given when one is very young. (Sarah M.) The seven sacraments are: Baptism, First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. All Christians participate in Baptism, First Communion (Eucharist), Reconciliation, and Confirmation. Some partake in Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick (If one experiences either Marriage or Holy Orders, they cannot partake in the other). (Anna Caputo). Another fact about the seven sacraments of Christianity is that baptism is usually performed within a few months of a child's birth. The act of baptism is conducted so that the child becomes an official member of the Catholic Church. Baptism is performed during scheduled mass so that the rest of the congregation can make the same promises that the parents of the child being baptized are making to become a more fulfilling Catholic. Other cases of baptism are scheduled for people later in life, when they decide to convert to Christianity. (Helen Scholar) A fact about First Holy Communion is that it is usually taken when a child is in the second grade. From birth until second grade, a Catholic student prepares for the moment when they first taste the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Because Eucharist is one of the most important aspects of the Roman Catholic Church, First Holy Communion can be seen as one of the most important sacraments of the Christian faith. First Holy Communion can only be taken after a Catholic has been baptized. After the First Holy Communion, a Catholic is allowed to take the host (the Eucharist) during every mass. The Eucharist should still keep the same importance after the First Holy Communion. (Helen Scholar)

//**Holidays:**// Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus which is December 25. The spring festival, Easter, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus' body three days after his crucifixion. The crucifixion is remembered during Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and culminates with Easter Sunday. Easter is considered the most important day of the church year for the Christians. The season of Lent (a forty day period of fasting by the Christians) starts just before, and is in preparation of, the important holiday of Easter. Palm Sunday is the sixth Sunday of Lent and is the Sunday right before Easter starts. Palm Sunday honors Jesus' successful entry into Jerusalem. It is given the name "Palm" Sunday because according to the Gospels (plural because Palm Sunday is featured in all four Gospels), Jesus was fanned by an abundance of people with many palms as he was hailed to as the Messiah when he entered Jerusalem. Adding on to Lent. As a means to celebrate, Christians give up something significant in their lives for 40days before Lent. Some fast; some give up shopping; some disconnect themselves completely from entertainments. (Nani Kim)

//**Appeal of Christianity:**// Christianity honored and respected the poor, lower classes, women and people who did not have high standing in society. Christianity treated everyone, no matter their age, gender, or social standing as equals, which appealed to many people who were oppressed by the wealthy. Christianity also promised that the faithful would go to heaven. (Stephanie S) Slightly opposing to what is said above, though different according to periods, Christianity was a cause of discrimination between sexes. Consider the popes, priests, prophets, or any other high religious positioned people, none of them were women. Even modern churches rarely have female leaders. When Mary Queen of Scotland became the queen, the church argued that women were too weak and too easily moved (emotionally) to make important decisions as a country's leader. Some men even believed that women were evil because Eve tempted Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. One can argue that Mary's role as the Christ's biological mother enhanced women's statues, but frankly speaking it never had real effects to the equality of men and women. However, Christ was a man Himself. Eve was a sinner. (Nani Kim) (grammar check by Michael Batzorig)

(Sam) (The Breaking of the Bread during First Holy Communion symbolizes the distribution of Jesus' body to the confirmed Catholics.) (Helen Scholar)
 * The history of Santa Claus:** In Turkey, there was a bishop named Nicholas. Nicholas lived in the fourth century A.D. He was rich and was like by many children. He would give gifts to very poor children. After Nicholas died, he was canonized as a saint. His feast day is December 6 which is a holiday in many countries. He is the patron saint of children and seafarers. In the Netherlands, the saint's name, Sinter Nikolass, became shortened to Sinter Klaas. And as Dutch people immigrated to the United States, the name evolved into what it is today. The Dutch Saint Nicholas also wore a beard and a red cloak trimmed with white fur. Saint Nicholas left gifts for good children in their shoes. (Inci kaymak)