CHRISTIANITY

Symbol

Cross, the principal symbol of the Christian religion,

recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the
redeeming benefits of his Passion and death. The cross is
thus a sign both of Christ himself and of the faith of
Christians.

History
1st century CE: Spreading of the Jesus-orientation in Jewish
communities, also called Jesus-Judaism that ultimately developed into
churches as part of what came to be an independent religion. It is
possible that groups like the Essenes and others may have had both
positive and negative influences in this development.
Around 100: The Jesus-Jews break free from other Jews, and start
developing their own emphases and structure.
2nd century: The spread of the new religion continues. At this period
of time, the congregations are weak but have much contact with each
other. The main centres at this period of time are in Syria and
northern Egypt.
2nd and 3rd centuries: Strong growth in North Africa, but also inside
the Roman Empire.
312: The Roman Emperor Constantine becomes a Christian, resulting in
Christianity developing into the state religion of the empire.
5th century: A great schism between the churches over a central issue:
Was Jesus of two natures, a human and a divine, or did he just have
one nature? At the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the western churches
came to decide that Jesus had two – 2 – natures, but combined in the
same person. Many Eastern Churches do not accept this, and new and
independent church bodies with no relationship to the Western Church
results.
7th century: Muslim rulers take control of the Middle East and North
Africa. This results in a centuries long relationship that would
alternate between mild and strong persecution on the one hand, and
fruitful coexistence on the other hand. Many Christians would over the
next couple of centuries convert to Islam.
— Formation of the Christian Byzantine Empire, which comes to cover
most of modern Turkey, Greece and parts of lands further west in
Europe. This develops into an important centre for the development of
eastern Orthodox Christianity. The empire would remain large for more
than 700 years, until it was defeated by the Ottomans.
12th and 13th centuries: The Christian Crusades in the lands around
Jerusalem involve new contacts between Eastern Churches and the
Catholic Church of Rome. In some areas (especially around modern
Lebanon), Christian countries are established, while in other areas
hostility between eastern Christians and the Crusaders results.
15th to 18th centuries: A well-conducted campaign from the Catholic
Church towards Eastern Churches, encourages some to rejoin the
Catholic Church. But they were allowed to keep their identity,
organization, special rites, and a liturgy performed in their own
traditional languages. None of the churches were forced to introduce
celibacy for its clergy against its own will.
19th century: Heavy and brutal actions from Muslims against Christians
in the Ottoman Empire result in a great exodus of Christians from the
region.
— Start of colonization in Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania brings
large quantities of Christian Europeans into the region. For a period
deep into the 20th century, Christianity becomes the politically
dominant (if not largest) religion for this region. There was minimal
persecution from the Christian side, and very few conversions from
Islam to Christianity.
Early 20th century: Morocco and Libya are colonized, and experience a
large immigration of European Christians. The same religious
development takes place here, as had been characteristic of the other
North African countries earlier.
Around 1960: With the fall of the North African colonies, most
Christians with European origin in North Africa return to their
families' original home countries. Only a few Christians remain.

Geographical Location
Christianity is the largest group with 2.2 billion followers and is
also the most spread large religion. While numbers in the wealthy
world are in constant decline, this group remains strong and stable in
regions such as Africa and South America.
Founder
The story of Jesus and early Christianity continues to be a subject of
public interest and who founded Christianity continues to be debated.
When we look at the beginning of Christianity, two figures come into
play: Jesus and Paul. While Jesus is viewed by many Christians as the
founder of the religion whose life events laid the groundwork of
Christianity, Paul is viewed as the great interpreter of Jesus’
mission, arguably one of the most important and influential figures in
our history, delivering that mission in a way no one had before.
When the question is posed, many Christians would argue that Jesus
founded Christianity. Christianity by definition is the religion based
on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. And when it comes to
authenticity, how can you not name Jesus. Without Jesus and His early
teachings, Paul would have no message to spread. Many skeptics also
argue that Paul hijacked the early Christian religion, changing the
theology of what Jesus originally taught. But is there merit to this?
If you think so, I wouldn’t so fast. It’s important to look at Paul’s
story to get the answer.
Christians believe that Paul met Jesus on a trip to persecute
Christians in Damascus. Paul, whose original name was Saul, was a
Pharisee, proud men not in agreement with Jesus’ teachings. On that
trip, Paul was struck blind for three days and waited for one of
Jesus’ followers to heal him. After being healed, he was transformed
and spread the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. That Gospel included
messages related to the atonement of sin through Jesus’ death on the
cross, and understanding that promise through faith, in line with
Jesus’ message. If Paul was trying to hijack the religion, why
wouldn’t he stray from Jesus’ teachings or message?
It’s also important to remember that neither Jesus nor Paul was trying
to start a religion. They were both trying to deliver a powerful
message related to our Heavenly Father. N.T. Wright, a world authority
on the life and letters of Paul, argues in his book "What Saint Paul
Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity” that
“The post-enlightenment box into which `religion' has been slotted has
nothing to do with the worldview of a first-century Jew believing that
Israel's God, the creator, was taking his power and reigning. Jesus
was not announcing `a new religion'; nor was Paul. Of course the
proclamation of Jesus, and the gospel announcement of Paul, addressed
human beings with a challenge and a summons, which went down to the
very depths of human experience, awakening parts which other messages
could not reach. But they did this because the claim of Israel, the
message of Jesus, and the announcement of Paul always was, that the
human race was to be shown the true way of being human. If that is
what you mean by `religion', so be it. Jesus and Paul thought of it as
Life, as being human, as being the children of God.” Paul and Jesus
spread a powerful message about us being children of God, greatly in
line with each other.
Sacred Text
Bible
Christianity combines the Jewish Old Testament with the New Testament
to form the Christian Bible, which followers refer to as the Holy
Scriptures. There are many no canonical texts in the Christian
religion as well. Protestants believe in the preeminence of the Holy
Scriptures, as the Reformation was a return to the early days of
Christianity prior to the policies and creeds developed by the
Catholic Church hierarchy.

Doctrine
The church lists 22 doctrines of their beliefs: the Holy Bible, the
Godhead, Virgin birth of Christ, total depravity, Repentance,
Restitution, Justification, Water baptism, Lord's supper,
Sanctification, Holy Ghost baptism, Redemption, Personal evangelism,
Marriage, Rapture, Resurrection of the Dead, Great Tribulation, Second
coming of Christ, Christ's millennial reign, Great White Throne
Judgment, New Heaven and the New Earth, and Hell fire.

God
In mainstream Christianity, the Holy Spirit is one of the three divine
persons of the Holy Trinity who make up the single substance of God;
that is, the Spirit is considered to act in concert with and share an
essential nature with God the Father and God the Son (Jesus).

Sects
Catholic Church
Protestantism
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodoxy
Restorationism and Nontrinitarianism
Independent Catholicism
Minor branches
Number of Believers
CHRISTIANITY- 2.42 BILLIOM
-Catholic Church – 1.285 billion.
-Protestantism – 920 million.
-Eastern Orthodox Church – 270 million.
-Oriental Orthodoxy – 86 million.
-Restorationism and Nontrinitarianism – 35 million.
-Independent Catholicism – 18 million.
-Minor branches – 2 million.