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{{Christianity}}
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'''Christianity''' is a [[Monotheism#Christian view|monotheistic]]<ref name="Monotheism">The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX, [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10499a.htm ''Monotheism'']; William F. Albright, ''From the Stone Age to Christianity''; H. Richard Niebuhr, ; About.com, [http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/monotheisticreligions/ ''Monotheistic Religion resources'']; Jonathan Kirsch, ''God Against the Gods''; Linda Woodhead, ''An Introduction to Christianity''; The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia [http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0833762.html ''Monotheism'']; The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, [http://www.bartleby.com/59/5/monotheism.html ''monotheism'']; New Dictionary of Theology, [http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_NDCT_Paul.htm ''Paul''] pp. 496-99;
David Vincent Meconi, "Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity" in ''Journal of Early Christian Studies'' pp. 111–12</ref> [[religion]] centered on the life and teachings of [[Jesus|Jesus of Nazareth]] as presented in the [[New Testament]].<ref>[[BBC]], [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ ''BBC - Religion & Ethics - Christianity'']</ref> Christians believe Jesus to be the [[Son of God]] and the [[Messiah]] prophesied in the [[Old Testament]]. With an estimated 2.1 billion adherents in 2001, Christianity is the [[major religious groups|world's largest religion]].<ref name="Adherents">Adherents.com, [http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html ''Religions by Adherents'']</ref> It is the predominant religion in [[Europe]], the [[Americas]], [[Sub-Saharan Africa]], the [[Philippines|Philippine Islands]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]].<ref>See [[Christianity by country]] for a detailed list.</ref> It is also growing rapidly in Asia, particularly in [[Christianity in China|China]] and [[Christianity in Korea|South Korea]].<ref name=ChristianGrowth> WorthyNews.com, [http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/compass-china-survey.html ''Growth of Christianity in China'']; LutherProduction.com, [http://demo.lutherproductions.com/historytutor/basic/modern/stories/christ-korea.htm ''Growth in South Korea'']; Xhist.com, [http://www.kimsoft.com/1997/xhist.htm '' History of Christianity in Korea'']</ref>

[[Early Christianity|Christianity began]] in the [[1st century]] [[anno Domini|AD]] as a [[Judaism|Jewish]] sect,<ref name="sect1">{{nkjv|Acts|3:1|Acts 3:1}}; {{nkjv|Acts|5:27-42|Acts 5:27 – 42}}; {{nkjv|Acts|21:18-26|Acts 21:18 – 26}}; {{nkjv|Acts|24:5|Acts 24:5}}; {{nkjv|Acts|24:14|Acts 24:14}}; {{nkjv|Acts|28:22|Acts 28:22}}; {{nkjv|Romans|1:16|Romans 1:16}}; Tacitus, ''Annales'' xv 44; Josephus ''Antiquities'' xviii 3; Mortimer Chambers, ''The Western Experience Volume II'' chapter 5; ''The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion'' page 158. </ref> and shares many [[religious texts]] with Judaism, specifically the [[Tanakh|Hebrew Bible]], known to Christians as the [[Old Testament]] (''see [[Judeo-Christian]]''). Like [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]], Christianity is classified as an [[Abrahamic religion]]. Some Christians consider Christianity to have [[supersessionism|superseded]] [[Judaism]], because of the conviction that [[Jesus Christ]] is the Messiah. Others believe that Christianity has been grafted on to [[Israelite|Israel]], and that Judaism remains relevant as the religion of God's [[chosen people]]. The name ''"Christian"'' ([[Greek language|Greek]] {{polytonic|''Χριστιανός''}} [http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/strongs.pl?strongs=5546 Strong's G5546]), meaning ''"belonging to Christ"'' or ''"partisan of Christ"'',<ref>[http://www.lafayette.edu/press/magazine/June06/class.html]</ref> was first applied to the [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] in [[Antioch]], as recorded in {{nkjv|Acts|11:26|Acts 11:26}}.<ref>E. Peterson, "Christianus" pp. 353-72</ref> The earliest recorded use of the term ''"Christianity"'' (Greek {{polytonic|''Χριστιανισμός''}}) is by [[Ignatius of Antioch]].<ref>Walter Bauer, ''Greek-English Lexicon''; Ignatius [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-magnesians-roberts.html Letter to the Magnesians] 10, Letter to the Romans ([http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-19.htm#P1838_311890 Roberts-Donaldson tr.], [http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-romans-lightfoot.html Lightfoot tr.], [http://www.ccel.org/l/lake/fathers/ignatius-romans.htm Greek-text]). However, an [http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-romans-roberts.html edition] presented on some websites, one that otherwise corresponds exactly with the Roberts-Donaldson translation, renders this passage to the interpolated inauthentic longer recension of Ignatius's letters, which does not contain the word "Christianity".</ref>

==Beliefs==
[[Image:Vladimirskaya.jpg|right|thumb|200px|A depiction of Jesus and Mary, the [[Theotokos of Vladimir]] (12th century)]]

Although Christianity has always had a significant diversity of belief, mainstream Christianity considers certain core doctrines essential. Those accepting them often consider followers of Jesus who disagree with these doctrines to be [[Heterodoxy|heterodox]], [[Heresy|heretical]], or outside Christianity altogether.

===Jesus Christ===
{{main| Jesus}}

As indicated by the name "Christianity", the focus of Christian theology is a belief in [[Jesus]] as the ''[[Messiah]]'' or ''[[Christ]]''. The title "Messiah" comes from the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word מָשִׁיחַ (''māšiáħ'') meaning "''the anointed one''" or "''King''." The Greek translation {{polytonic|''Χριστός''}} (''Christos'') is the source of the English word [[Christ (title)|''Christ'']].

Christians believe that, as Messiah, Jesus was anointed as ruler and savior of humanity in general, and hold that Jesus's coming was the fulfilment of [[Messianic prophecies of Jesus|messianic prophecies]] of the [[Old Testament]]. The Christian concept of Messiah differs significantly from [[Jewish Messiah|the contemporary Jewish concept]].<ref>Jewfaq.org, [http://www.jewfaq.org/moshiach.htm ''The Messiah'']</ref> The core Christian belief is that, through the death and resurrection of the perfect Son of God, mankind is reconciled to God and thereby attains salvation by grace and the promise of eternal life to all who trust in Christ. The need for salvation was was caused by [[Adam]]'s [[original sin]].

While there have been theological disputes over the nature of Jesus, most Christians believe that Jesus is [[Incarnation (Christianity)|God incarnate]] and "[[Hypostatic union|true God and true man]]" (or both fully divine and fully human). Jesus, [[Incarnation (Christianity)|having become fully human]] in all respects, including the aspect of [[death|mortality]], suffered the pains and temptations of mortal man, yet he did not sin. As fully God, he defeated death and rose to life again. According to the [[Bible]], "God raised him from the dead",<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|2:24|NIV}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|10:9|NIV}}, {{bibleverse|1|Cor|15:15|NIV}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|2:31-32}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|3:15}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|3:26}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|4:10}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|5:30}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|10:40-41}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:30}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:34}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|13:37}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|17:30-31}}, {{bibleverse|1|Cor|6:14}}, {{bibleverse|2|Cor|4:14}}, {{bibleverse||Gal|1:1}}, {{bibleverse||Eph|1:20}}, {{bibleverse||Col|2:12}}, {{bibleverse|1|Thess|1:10}}, {{bibleverse||Heb|13:20}}, {{bibleverse|1|Pet|1:3}}, {{bibleverse-nb|1|Pet|1:21}}</ref> he [[Ascension|ascended to heaven]], to the "right hand of God",<ref>{{bibleverse||Mark|16:19}}, {{bibleverse||Luke|22:69}}, {{bibleverse||Acts|2:33}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|5:31}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Acts|7:55-56}}, {{bibleverse||Romans|8:34}}, {{bibleverse||Eph|1:20}}, {{bibleverse||Col|3:1}}, {{bibleverse||Hebrews|1:3}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Hebrews|1:13}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Hebrews|10:12}}, {{bibleverse-nb||Hebrews|12:2}}, {{bibleverse|1|Peter|3:22}}</ref> and will [[Second Coming|return again]]<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|1:9-11}}</ref> to fulfil the rest of [[Messianic prophecy]] such as the [[Resurrection of the dead]], the [[Last Judgment]] and establishment of the [[Kingdom of God]] (See also [[Messianism]] and [[Messianic Age]]).

According to the Gospels, while still a [[virgin]], [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]] conceived Jesus not by [[sexual intercourse]], but by the power of the [[Holy Spirit]] (See [[Nativity of Jesus]]). Little of Jesus' childhood is recorded in the Gospels compared to his adulthood, especially the week before his death. The Biblical accounts of Jesus' ministry include [[Baptism of Jesus|his baptism]], [[Miracles attributed to Jesus|miracles]], [[Ministry of Jesus|teachings and deeds]].

===Death and Resurrection===
{{Cleanup-section|February 2007}}

{{main|Death and Resurrection of Jesus}}
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[[Image:Cristo Velázquez lou2.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The Crucifixion by Diego Velázquez (17th Century)]]

Most Christians consider the death of Jesus, followed by his resurrection, the most important event in history<ref>Gospelcom.net, [http://dailywisdom.gospelcom.net/dw_static/dw-level2.html ''The Most Important Event in History'']; World-faiths.com, [http://www.world-faiths.com/Christianity/christianity.htm ''Christianity'']; Hank Hanegraaff, ''Resurrection: The Capstone in the Arch of Christianity''</ref> (see for example, [[wikisource:Bible (King James)/1 Corinthians#Chapter 15|1 Corinthians 15:13-17 (King James Bible)]] )

According to the Gospels, Jesus and his followers went to Jerusalem the week of the [[Passover]] where they were [[triumphal entry|eagerly greeted]] by a crowd. In Jerusalem Jesus [[Jesus and the Money Changers|exorcised the Temple]],<ref>According to the Synoptic Gospels, this occurred in the last week of Jesus' life, but John narrates a similar event early in his account of Jesus' ministry.</ref> condemned the corruption of its officials,<ref>{{niv|Matthew|23|Matthew 23}} {{niv|Mark|12:38-44|Mark 12:38-44}}</ref> and predicted its destruction<ref>{{niv|Mark|11:23|Mark 11:23}}, {{niv|Mark|13:2|Mark 13:2}}</ref> - heightening conflict with the Jewish authorities who were plotting his death.<ref>{{niv|Mark|14:1|Mark 14:1}}</ref>

After sharing his [[Last Supper|last meal]] with his disciples, Jesus went to pray in the [[Garden of Gethsemane]] where he was betrayed by his disciple [[Judas Iscariot]] and [[Arrest of Jesus|arrested]] by the temple guard on orders from the [[Sanhedrin]] and the high priest [[Caiaphas]]. Jesus was [[Sanhedrin Trial of Jesus|convicted by the Sanhedrin]] of blasphemy. According to {{bibleverse||John|18:31}} they lacked the legal authority to execute him, so they sent him to the Roman governor [[Pontius Pilate|Pilate]], requesting Jesus' crucifixion for inciting rebellion. Jesus was crucified by the order of Pilate. Jesus died by late afternoon and was entombed.

Christians believe that God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day. Jesus appeared to his apostles and other disciples, and [[Ascension|ascended]] to heaven. Christians also believe the resurrected Christ [[Great Commission|commissioned]] his disciples to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son (Jesus) and of the Holy Spirit."<ref>{{niv|Matthew|28:19|Matthew 28:19}}</ref> and gave them the [[Paraclete]]/Holy Spirit.<ref>{{niv|John|20:21-22|John 20:21-22}}, {{niv|Acts|2:1-4|Acts 2:1-4}}</ref>

===Salvation===
{{main|Salvation}}

Most Christians believe [[salvation]] is a gift by [[Divine grace|unmerited grace of God]], who sent Jesus as the savior. Christians believe that through faith in Jesus one can be saved from [[sin]] and spiritual [[death]]. The crucifixion of Jesus is explained as an [[Atonement|atoning]] [[Sacrifice#Sacrifice in Christianity|sacrifice]], which, in the words of the [[Gospel of John]], "takes away the sins of the world". Reception of salvation is related to [[justification (theology)|justification]].<ref>{{niv|Romans|6:23|Romans 6:23}}, {{niv|Ephesians|2:8-9|Ephesians 2:8-9}}</ref>

The operation and effects of grace are understood differently by different traditions. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy teach the necessity of the free will to cooperate with grace.<ref>Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm Grace and Justification]</ref> [[Reformed theology]] goes furthest in emphasizing dependence on grace by teaching the [[total depravity]] of mankind and the [[Irresistible grace|irresistibility of grace]].<ref>Westminster Confession, [http://www.pcanet.org/general/cof_chapvi-x.htm#chapx Chapter X];
Charles Spurgeon, [http://www.spurgeon.org/calvinis.htm ''A Defense of Calvinism'']
</ref>

===The Trinity===
{{main|Trinity}}
[[Image:Andrej Rublëv 001.jpg|left|thumb|215px|The [[Hospitality of Abraham]] by Andrei Rublev: The three angels represent the three persons of God]]

Most Christians believe that God is one eternal being who exists as three distinct, eternal, and indivisible persons: the [[God the Father|Father]], the Son ([[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] the [[Jesus Christ the Logos|eternal Word]]), and the [[Holy Spirit]].

Christianity continued from Judaism a belief in the existence of a single [[Omnipotence|omnipotent]] God who created and sustains the [[universe]]. Against this background belief in the [[Christology|divinity of Christ]] and the Holy Spirit was expressed as the doctrine of the [[Holy Trinity]],<ref>J.N.D. Kelly, ''Early Christian Doctrines'' pp. 87-90; T. Desmond Alexander, ''New Dictionary of Biblical Theology'' pp. 514-515; Alister E. McGrath, ''Historical Theology'' p. 61.</ref> which considers that the three ''persons'' of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) share a single Divine [[Ousia|''substance'']]. This substance is not considered divided, in the sense that each person has a third of the substance; rather, each person is considered to have the whole substance. The distinction lies in their relations, the Father being unbegotten, the Son begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit proceeding.<ref>Vladimir Lossky [http://home.versatel.nl/chotki/God%20in%20Trin.htm ''God in Trinity'']; Loraine Boettner, [http://www.caledonianfire.org/caledonianfire/Boettner/trinity/t5.htm ''One Substance, Three Persons'']</ref> The "begetting" does not refer to Mary's conceiving Jesus, but to a divine begetting before Creation.

In Reformed theology, the Trinity has special relevance to salvation, which is considered the result of an intra-Trinitarian covenant and in some way the work of each person. In its simplest form, the Father elects some to salvation before the foundation of the world, the Son performs the atonement for their sins, and the Spirit regenerates them so they can have faith in Christ, and sanctifies them.<ref> John Hendryx, [http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/monergism_short.html ''The Work of the Trinity in Monergism'']</ref>

Christians believe the Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures,<ref>Catechism of the Catholic, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#II '' Sacred Scripture'']; ''Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, [http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/chicago.htm ''online text'']; {{niv|2_Timothy|3:16|2 Timothy 3:16}}; {{niv|2_Peter|1:21|2 Peter 1:21}}</ref> and that his active participation in a believer's life (even to the extent of "indwelling", or in a certain sense taking up residence within, the believer) is essential to living a Christian life.<ref>{{niv|John|16:7-14|John 16:7-14}}; {{niv|1_Corinthians|2:10|1 Corinthians 2:10ff}}</ref> In Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican theology, this indwelling is received through the sacrament called [[Confirmation (sacrament)|Confirmation]] or, in the East, [[Chrismation]]. Most Protestants believe that the Spirit indwells a new believer at the time of salvation. Pentecostal and Charismatic Protestants believe the [[baptism with the Holy Spirit]] is a distinct experience separate from other experiences like conversion, and many Pentecostals believe it will always&mdash;or at least usually&mdash;be evident through [[glossolalia]] (speaking in tongues).

Christians trace the orthodox formula of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — back to the resurrected Jesus himself, who used this phrase in the [[Great Commission]] ({{bverse|Matthew|28:16-20}}).

====Non-Trinitarians====
{{main|Nontrinitarianism}}

In antiquity, and again following the Reformation, several sects advocated views contrary to the Trinity. These views were rejected by many bishops such as [[Irenaeus]] and subsequently by the [[Ecumenical Council]]s. During the Reformation, though most Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants accepted the value of many of the Councils, some groups rejected these councils as spiritually tainted.<ref>MacCulloch, ''Reformation'' pp. 185, 187</ref> [[Clement Ziegler]], [[Casper Schwenckfeld]], and [[Melchior Hoffman]] advanced the view that Christ was only divine and not human. [[Michael Servetus]] denied the divinity of Christ, as did others who were tried at Augsburg in 1527.<ref>MacCulloch, ''Reformation'' pp. 186-8</ref>

Modalists, such as [[Oneness Pentecostal]]s, regard God as a single person, with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit considered modes or roles by which the unipersonal God expresses himself.<ref>William Arnold, [http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/father.htm ''Is Jesus God the Father?'']; in this way they parallel ancient [[Sabellianism|Sabellians]], see: J.N.D. Kelly, ''Early Christian Doctrines'' pp. 119-123; Robert Letham, ''The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship'' pp. 97-98</ref>

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saints]] accept the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but deny that they have a common substance, believing them to be separate beings united only in will and purpose.<ref>{{cite web | last =Hinckley | first = Gordon |title=First Presidency Message: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost | work =Ensign | date = March, 1998|url=http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1998.htm/ensign%20march%201998.htm/first%20presidency%20message%20the%20father%20son%20and%20holy%20ghost.htm?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0| accessmonthday =September 8 | accessyear=2006}}</ref>

Present day groups who do not consider Jesus to be divine include [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]<ref> Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, [http://www.watchtower.org/library/ti/article_05.htm '' What Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus?'']</ref> and [[Unitarianism|Unitarians]], descendants of Reformation era [[Socinianism|Socinians]].<ref>On Unitarians, see: UUA.org, [http://www.uua.org/re/reach/fall01/curriculum/unitarian_views_of_jesus.html ''Unitarian Views of Jesus'']; on connection with Socinianism, see: sullivan-county.com, [http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/nov_2000/unitarian1.htm ''Socinianism: Unitarianism in 16th-17th Century Poland and Its Influence''] (Note that the icon at the top of the page expresses Trinitarian theology with a symbolic hand gesture); on this matter they parallel the ancient [[Ebionites]], see: J.N.D. Kelly, ''Early Christian Doctrines'' pp. 139</ref>

===Scriptures===
{{main|Bible}}

Christianity regards the [[Bible]], a collection of [[Biblical canon|canonical]] books in two parts, the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]], as authoritative: written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and therefore the inerrant Word of God.<ref> Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#II ''Inspiration and Truth of Sacred Scripture'' (§105-108)]; Second Helvetic Confession, [http://www.creeds.net/reformed/helvetic/c01.htm, ''Of the Holy Scripture Being the True Word of God'']; Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, [http://www.reformed.org/documents/icbi.html ''online text'']</ref> Protestants believe that the scriptures contain all revealed truth necessary for salvation (See [[Sola scriptura]]).<ref> Thirty-nine Articles, [http://anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.htm Art. VI]; Westminster Catechism, [http://www.reformed.org/documents/larger1.html Q. 3]; James White, [http://www.aomin.org/SolaTop.html ''Does The Bible Teach Sola Scriptura?'']</ref>

The Old Testament contains the entire Jewish [[Tanakh]], though in the Christian canon the books are ordered differently and some books of the Tanakh are divided into several books by the Christian canon. The Catholic and Orthodox canons include the Hebrew Jewish canon and other books (from the Septuagint Greek Jewish canon) which Catholics call [[Deuterocanonical books|Deuterocanonical]], while Protestants consider them [[Biblical apocrypha|Apocrypha]].<ref name="Canon">F.F. Bruce, ''The Canon of Scripture''; Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#IV, ''The Canon of Scripture'' § 120]; Thirty-nine Articles, [http://anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html Art. VI]</ref>

The first four books of the New Testament are the [[Gospels]] ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] and [[Gospel of John|John]]), which recount the life and teachings of Jesus. The first three are often called [[Synoptic Gospels|synoptic]] because of the amount of material they share. The rest of the New Testament consists of a sequel to Luke's Gospel, the [[Acts of the Apostles]], which describes the very early history of the Church, a collection of letters from early Christian leaders to congregations or individuals, the [[Pauline epistles|Pauline]] and [[General epistles]], and the [[Apocalyptic literature|apocalyptic]] [[Book of Revelation]].<ref name="Canon"> </ref>

Some traditions maintain other [[Religious text|canons]]. The [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]] maintains two canons, the Narrow Canon, itself larger than any Biblical canon outside Ethiopia, and the Broad Canon, which has even more books.<ref>Ethiopian Orthodox Old Testament, [http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/ethold.stm ''The Bible: The Book That Bridges the Millennia'']
</ref>The [[Latter-day Saints]] hold the Bible and three additional books to be the inspired word of God: the [[Book of Mormon]], the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], and the [[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price]].<ref>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [http://scriptures.lds.org ''The Scriptures, Internet Edition'']</ref>

====Interpretation====
Though Christians largely agree on the content of the Bible, no consensus exists on its interpretation, or [[exegesis]]. In antiquity, two schools of exegesis developed in [[Alexandria]] and [[School of Antioch|Antioch]]. Alexandrine interpretation, exemplified by [[Origen]], tended to read Scripture allegorically, while Antiochene interpretation adhered to the literal sense, holding that other meanings (called ''theoria'') could only be accepted if based on the literal meaning.<ref>J.N.D. Kelly, ''Early Christian Doctrines'' pp. 69-78.</ref>

Catholic theology distinguishes two senses of scripture: the literal and the spiritual, the latter being subdivided into the allegorical, moral, and [[Anagoge|anagogical]] senses. The literal sense is "the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation." The allegorical sense includes [[Typology (theology)|typology]], for example the [[Passage of the Red Sea|parting of the Red Sea]] is seen as a "type" of or sign of baptism;<ref>{{niv|1_Corinthians|10:2|1 Corinthians 10:2}}</ref> the moral sense contains ethical teaching; the anagogical sense includes eschatology and applies to eternity and the [[Apocalypse|consummation of the world]].<ref> Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#III, ''The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture'' § 115-118]</ref> Catholic theology also adds other rules of interpretation, which include the injunction that all other senses of sacred scripture are based on the literal,<ref>Thomas Aquinas, [http://www.newadvent.org/summa/100110.htm ''Whether in Holy Scripture a word may have several senses?'']; c.f. Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#III §116]</ref> that the historicity of the Gospels must be absolutely and constantly held,<ref>Second Vatican Council, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html ''Dei Verbum'' (V.19)]</ref> that scripture must be read within the "living Tradition of the whole Church",<ref> Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#III ''The Holy Spirit, Interpreter of Scripture'' § 113]</ref> and that "the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome."<ref>Catechism of the Catholic Church, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a2.htm#III ''The Interpretation of the Heritage of Faith'' § 85]</ref>

Many Protestants stress the literal sense or [[historical-grammatical method]],<ref>R.C. Sproul, ''Knowing Scripture'' pp. 45-61; Greg Bahnsen, [http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pt173.htm ''A Reformed Confession Regarding Hermeneutics'' (art. 6)]</ref> even to the extent of rejecting other senses altogether. Martin Luther advocated "one definite and simple understanding of Scripture".<ref name="Foutz">Scott Foutz, [http://www.quodlibet.net/luther.shtml '' Martin Luther and Scripture'']</ref> Other Protestant interpreters make use of typology.<ref>E.g., in his [http://eword.gospelcom.net/comments/matthew/mh/matthew1.htm commentary on Matthew 1] (§III.3) [[Matthew Henry]] writes:

:Phares and Zara, the twin-sons of Judah, are likewise both named, though Phares only was Christ's ancestor, for the same reason that the brethren of Judah are taken notice of; and some think because the birth of Phares and Zara had something of an allegory in it. Zara put out his hand first, as the first-born, but, drawing it in, Phares got the birth-right. The Jewish church, like Zara, reached first at the birthright, but through unbelief, withdrawing the hand, the Gentile church, like Phares, broke forth and went away with the birthright; and thus ''blindness is in part happened unto Israel, till the fulness of the Gentiles become in'', and then Zara shall be born &mdash; ''all Israel shall be saved,'' Rom. 11:25, 26.

For a contemporary treatment, see W. Edward Glenny, [http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_typology_glenny.html ''Typology: A Summary Of The Present Evangelical Discussion'']</ref> Protestants characteristically believe that ordinary believers may reach an adequate understanding of Scripture because Scripture itself is clear (or "perspicuous"), because of the help of the Holy Spirit, or both. Martin Luther believed that without God's help Scripture would be "enveloped in darkness",<ref name="Foutz"> </ref> but John Calvin wrote, "all who refuse not to follow the Holy Spirit as their guide, find in the Scripture a clear light."<ref>John Calvin, [http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol45/htm/vii.iv.iv.htm '' Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles'' 2 Peter 3:14-18]</ref> The [[Helvetic Confessions|Second Helvetic Confession]] said, "we hold that interpretation of the Scripture to be orthodox and genuine which is gleaned from the Scriptures themselves (from the nature of the language in which they were written, likewise according to the circumstances in which they were set down, and expounded in the light of like and unlike passages and of many and clearer passages)." The writings of the Church Fathers, and decisions of Ecumenical Councils, though "not despise<nowiki>[d]</nowiki>", were not authoritative and could be rejected.<ref> Second Helvetic Confession, [http://www.creeds.net/reformed/helvetic/c02.htm ''Of Interpreting the Holy Scriptures; and of Fathers, Councils, and Traditions'']</ref>

===Creeds===
{{main|Creeds}}
Creeds, or concise doctrinal statements, began as baptismal formulas and were later expanded during the [[Christology|Christological]] controversies of the [[4th century|fourth]] and [[5th century|fifth centuries]]. The earliest creeds still in common use are the [[Apostles' Creed]] ([[Apostles' Creed#Latin text|text]] in Latin and Greek, with English translations) and Paul's creed of {{bibleverse|1|Cor|15:1-9}}.

{{wikisource|Nicene Creed}}
The [[Nicene Creed]], largely a response to [[Arianism]], was formulated at the Councils of [[First Council of Nicaea|Nicaea]] and [[First Council of Constantinople|Constantinople]] in 325 and 381 respectively,<ref> Catholics United for the Faith, [http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=191 ''We Believe in One God'']; Encyclopedia of Religion, ''Arianism''</ref> and ratified as the universal creed of Christendom by the [[Council of Ephesus]] in [[431]].<ref name=ephesus> Catholic Encyclopedia (vol. 5), [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05491a.htm ''Council of Ephesus'']</ref>

The [[Chalcedonian Creed]], developed at the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451,<ref> Matt Slick, [http://www.carm.org/creeds/chalcedonian.htm ''Chalcedonian Creed'']; Christian History Institute, [http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2003/10/daily-10-08-2003.shtml ''First Meeting of the Council of Chalcedon'']</ref>
(though not accepted by the [[Oriental Orthodox]] Churches)<ref> British Orthodox Church, [http://www.britishorthodox.org/113e.php ''The Oriental Orthodox Rejection of Chalcedon'']</ref> taught Christ "to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably": one divine and one human, that both natures are perfect but are nevertheless [[Hypostatic union|perfectly united into one person]].<ref>Pope Leo I, [http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/4ecumen2.htm Letter to Flavian'']</ref>

The [[Athanasian Creed]] ([[Athanasian Creed#English-Language Translations|English translations]]), received in the western Church as having the same status as the Nicene and Chalcedonian, says: "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons not dividing the Substance."<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia (vol. 2) [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02033b.htm ''Athanasian Creed'']</ref>

Most Protestants accept the Creeds. Some Protestant traditions believe Trinitarian doctrine without making use of the Creeds themselves,<ref>E.g., The Southern Baptist Convention gives no official status to any of the ancient creeds, but the [[Baptist Faith and Message]] says:
:The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.[http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#ii]</ref> while other Protestants, like the [[Restoration Movement]], oppose the use of creeds.<ref>http://www.appiusforum.com/restoration.html "The History of the Church", Howard A. White</ref>

===Eschaton and afterlife===
{{main|Christian eschatology}}

Most Christians believe that upon the death of the body, the individual [[soul]], which is considered to be immortal, experiences the [[particular judgment]] and is either rewarded with [[heaven]] or condemned to [[hell]]. The elect are called "saints" (Latin ''sanctus'': "holy") and the process of being made holy is called sanctification. In Catholicism, those who die in a state of grace but with either unforgiven venial sins or incomplete [[penance]] undergo purification in [[purgatory]] to achieve the holiness necessary for entrance into heaven.

At the [[Second Coming|last coming of Christ]], the ''eschaton'' or [[end of time]], all who have died will be [[Resurrection of the dead|resurrected bodily from the dead]] for the [[Last Judgement]], whereupon Jesus will fully establish the [[Kingdom of God]] in fulfillment of [[Bible prophecy|scriptural prophecies]].<ref name="res"> See, e.g., Thomas Aquinas, [http://www.newadvent.org/summa/5.htm ''Summa Theologicum, Supplementum Tertiae Partis''] questions 69 through 99; and John Calvin, [http://www.reformed.org/books/institutes/books/book3/bk3ch25.html ''Institutes of the Christian Religion'', Book Three, Ch. 25]''.</ref>

Some groups do not distinguish a particular judgment from the general judgment at the end of time, teaching instead that souls remain in stasis until this time (see [[Soul sleep]]). These groups, and others that do not believe in the [[intercession]] of saints, generally do not employ the word "saint" to describe those in heaven. [[Universal reconciliation|Universalists]] hold that eventually all will experience salvation, thereby rejecting the concept of an eternal hell for those who are not saved.

==Worship and practices==
===Christian life===
[[Image:Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg|thumb|300px|right|[[Christians]] believe that [[Jesus]] is the mediator of the [[New Covenant]] (see [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=65&chapter=8&version=47 Hebrews 8:6]). His famous [[Sermon on the Mount]] representing [[Mount Zion]] is considered by many Christian scholars to be the [[Typology (theology)|antitype]]<ref>See also [[Expounding of the Law#Antithesis of the Law|Antithesis of the Law]].</ref> of the proclamation of the [[Ten Commandments|Old Covenant]] by [[Moses]] from [[Mount Sinai]]]]

Christians believe that all people should strive to follow Christ in their everyday actions. For many, this includes obedience to the [[Ten Commandments]], for details see [[Old Testament#Christian view of the Law]]. Jesus taught that the [[Ministry of Jesus#General Ethics|greatest commandments]] were to: "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength", and to "love thy neighbor as thyself".<ref>{{niv|matthew|22:37-40|Matthew 22:37-40}}</ref> This love includes such injunctions as "feed the hungry" and "shelter the homeless", and applies to [[Expounding of the Law#Love for enemies|friend or enemy alike]]. Though the relationship between charity and religious practice are sometimes taken for granted today, as Martin Goodman has observed, "charity in the Jewish and Christian sense was unknown to the pagan world."<ref>Martin Goodman, ''The Ruling Class of Judaea: The Origins of the Jewish Revolt Against Rome AD 66-70'', Cambridge University Press, p.65 </ref> Other Christian practices include acts of [[piety]] such as [[prayer]] and Bible reading.

Christianity teaches that one can only overcome sin though divine grace: moral and spiritual progress can only occur with God's help through the gift of the [[Holy Spirit]] dwelling within the believer. Christians believe that by sharing in Christ's life, death, and resurrection, and by believing in Christ, they become dead to sin and are resurrected to a new life with Him.

===Liturgical worship===
[[Justin Martyr]] described second century Christian [[liturgy]] in his ''First [[Apologetics|Apology]]'' (''c''. 150) to [[Roman Emperor|Emperor]] [[Antoninus Pius]], and his description remains relevant to the basic structure of Christian liturgical worship:
[[Image:Thebible33.jpg|200px|left|thumb|The Holy Bible, [[Crucifix]], and [[Rosary]]]]
:"And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need."<ref>Justin Martyr, [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-firstapology.html ''First Apology''] §LXVII</ref>

Thus, as Justin described, Christians assemble for communal worship on Sunday, the day of the resurrection, though other liturgical practices often occur outside this setting. Scripture readings are drawn from the Old and New Testaments, but especially the Gospels. Often these are arranged on an annual cycle, using a book called a [[lectionary]]. Instruction is given based on these readings, called a [[sermon]], or homily. There are a variety of congregational [[prayer]]s, including thanksgiving, confession, and intercession, which occur throughout the service and take a variety of forms including recited, responsive, silent, or sung. The [[Lord's Prayer]], or Our Father, is regularly prayed. The Eucharist (also called [[Holy Communion]], or the [[Lord's Supper]]) consists of a ritual meal of consecrated bread and wine, discussed in detail below. Lastly, a collection occurs in which the congregation donates money for the support of the Church and for [[Charitable organization|charitable work]].

Some groups depart from this traditional liturgical structure. A division is often made between "[[High church|High]]" church services, characterized by greater solemnity and ritual, and "[[Low church|Low]]" services, but even within these two categories there is great diversity in forms of worship. [[Seventh-day Adventists]] meet on Saturday (the original [[Sabbath]]), while others do not meet on a weekly basis. [[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]] or [[Pentecostal]] congregations may spontaneously feel led by the Holy Spirit to action rather than follow a formal order of service, including spontaneous prayer. [[Society of Friends|Quakers]] sit quietly until moved by the Holy Spirit to speak. Some [[Evangelical]] services resemble concerts with [[Christian rock|rock and pop music]], dancing, and use of multimedia. For groups which do not recognize a priesthood distinct from ordinary believers the services are generally lead by a [[minister of religion|minister]], [[preacher]], or [[pastor]]. Still others may lack any formal leaders, either in principle or by local necessity. Some churches use only [[a cappella]] music, either on principle (e.g. many [[Churches of Christ]] object to the use of instruments in worship) or by tradition (as in Orthodoxy).

Worship can be varied for special events like [[baptism]]s or [[wedding]]s in the service or significant feast days. In the early church Christians and those yet to complete initiation would separate for the Eucharistic part of the worship. In many churches today, adults and children will separate for all or some of the service to receive age-appropriate teaching. Such children's worship is often called [[Sunday school]] or Sabbath school (Sunday schools are sometimes held before rather than during services).

====Sacraments====
{{main|Sacrament}}
{{seealso| Sacraments of the Catholic Church}}
[[Image:Fractio-panis1.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The [[Eucharist]]]]

A [[sacrament]] is a Christian rite that is an outward sign of an inward grace, instituted by Christ to sanctify humanity. Catholic, Orthodox, and [[Anglo-Catholicism|Anglo-Catholics]] describe Christian worship in terms of seven sacraments: [[Baptism]], [[Confirmation (sacrament)|Confirmation]] or [[Chrismation]], [[Eucharist]] (communion), [[Penance]] (reconciliation), [[Anointing of the Sick]] (last rites), [[Holy Orders]] (ordination), and [[Catholic marriage|Matrimony]].<ref>For Catholicism: see ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' §1210</ref> Many Protestant groups, following [[Martin Luther]],<ref>Martin Luther, ''Small Catechism''</ref> recognize the sacramental nature of baptism and Eucharist, but not usually the other five in the same way, while other Protestant groups reject sacramental theology. Latter-day saint worship emphasizes the symbolic role of rites, calling some 'ordinances'. Though not sacraments, [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]], [[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]], and [[Holiness Churches]] emphasize "[[gifts of the Spirit]]" such as [[spiritual healing]], [[prophecy]], [[exorcism]], [[glossolalia]] (speaking in tongues), and [[laying on of hands]] where God's grace is mysteriously manifest.

====Eucharist====
{{main|Eucharist}}
The [[Eucharist]] (also called [[Holy Communion]], or the [[Lord's Supper]]) is the part of liturgical worship that consists of a consecrated meal, usually bread and wine. Justin Martyr described the Eucharist as follows:
:"And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh."<ref>Justin Martyr, [http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-firstapology.html ''First Apology''] §LXVII</ref>

Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and many Anglicans believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ (the doctrine of the [[Real Presence]]). Most other Protestants, especially Reformed, believe the bread and wine ''represent'' the body and blood of Christ. These Protestants may celebrate it less frequently, while in Catholicism the Eucharist is celebrated daily. Catholic and Orthodox view communion as indicating those who are already united in the church, restricting participation to their members not in a state of mortal sin. In some Protestant churches participation is by prior arrangement with a church leader. Other churches view communion as a means to unity, rather than an end, and invite all Christians or even anyone to participate.

====Liturgical Calendar====
{{main|Liturgical year}}
In the New Testament [[Paul of Tarsus]] organised his missionary travels around the celebration of [[Pentecost]]. (Acts 20.16 and 1 Corinthians 16.8) This practice draws from Jewish tradition, with such feasts as the [[Feast of Tabernacles]], the [[Passover]], and the [[Jubilee (Biblical)|Jubilee]]. Today Catholics, Eastern Christians, and traditional Protestant communities frame worship around a liturgical calendar. This includes [[Holy Day of Obligation|holy days]], such as [[Solemnity|solemnities]] which commemorate an event in the life of Jesus or the [[saint]]s, periods of [[fasting]] such as [[Lent]], and other pious events such as [[memoria]] or lesser festivals commemorating saints. Christian groups that do not follow a liturgical tradition often retain certain celebrations, such as [[Christmas]], [[Easter]] and [[Pentecost]]. A few churches make no use of a liturgical calendar.

===Symbols===
Today the best-known Christian symbol is the [[Christian cross|cross]], which refers to the method of Jesus' execution.<ref>Catholic-reources.org, [http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Koch-ChristianSymbols.htm ''Christian Symbols'']</ref> Several varieties exist, with some denominations tending to favor distinctive styles: Catholics the [[crucifix]], Orthodox the [[crux orthodoxa]], and Protestants an unadorned cross. An earlier Christian symbol was the '[[ichthys]]' fish symbol and anagram. Other text based symbols include '[[Christogram|IHS or ICXC]]' and '[[Labarum|chi-rho]]' (the first two letters of the word Christ in Greek). In a modern Roman alphabet, the Chi-Rho appears like an ''X'' (Chi - χ) with a large ''P'' (Rho - ρ) overlaid and above it. It is said [[Constantine I and Christianity|Constantine]] saw this symbol prior to converting to Christianity (see History and origins section below). Another ancient symbol is an [[anchor]], which denotes faith and can incorporate a cross within its design.

==History and origins==
{{main|History of Christianity}}
{{seealso|Timeline of Christianity|Early Christianity}}
{{Seealso|Christian philosophy|Christian art|Christian literature|Christian music|Christian architecture}}

[[Image:Nicaea icon.jpg|right|thumb|An icon depicting the [[First Council of Nicaea]]]]
Christianity spread beyond its origins within the Jewish religion in the mid-first century under the leadership of the Apostles, especially [[Saint Peter|Peter]] and [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]]. Within a generation an episcopal hierarchy can be seen, and this would form the structure of the Church.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia, [http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3801.htm ''Canons of the Council of Nicaea''], especially canon 6.</ref>Christianity spread east to Asia and throughout the Roman Empire, despite [[Persecution of Christians|persecution]] by the Roman Emperors until its [[Edict of Milan|legalization]] by [[Constantine I (emperor)|Emperor Constantine]] in 313. During his reign, questions of orthodoxy lead to the convocation of the first Ecumenical Council, that of [[First Council of Nicaea|Nicaea]].

In 391 [[Theodosius I]] established [[Nicene]] Christianity as the official and, except for [[Judaism]], only legal religion in the [[Roman Empire]]. Later, as the political structure of the empire collapsed in the West, the Church assumed political and cultural roles previously held by the Roman aristocracy. Eremitic and Coenobitic [[monasticism]] developed, originating with the hermit [[Anthony the Great|St Anthony of Egypt]] around 300. With the avowed purpose of fleeing the world and its evils ''in contemptu mundi'', the institution of monasticism would become a central part of the medieval world.<ref>Jo Ann H. Moran Cruze and Richard Gerberding, ''Medieval Worlds'' pp. 118-119</ref>

During the [[Migration Period]] of Late Antiquity, various Germanic peoples adopted Christianity. Meanwhile, as western political unity dissolved, the linguistic divide of the Empire between Latin-speaking West and the Greek-speaking East intensified. By the [[Middle Ages]] distinct forms of Latin and Greek Christianity increasingly separated until cultural differences and disciplinary disputes finally resulted in the [[East-West Schism|Great Schism]] (conventionally dated to 1054), which formally divided [[Christendom]] into the Catholic west and the Orthodox east. Western Christianity in the [[Middle Ages]] was characterized by cooperation and conflict between the [[Secularism|secular]] rulers and the Church under the [[Pope]], and by the development of [[Scholasticism|scholastic theology and philosophy]].

Beginning in the [[7th century]], [[Islam]] began a long series of military conquests of Christian areas, and it quickly conquered areas of the Byzantine Empire, [[Asia Minor]], Palestine, Syria, Egypt, [[North Africa]], and even southern [[Spain]]. Numerous military struggles followed, including the [[Crusades]], the Spanish [[Reconquista]], the [[Fall of Constantinople]] and the aggression of the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]].
[[Image:Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach der Ältere.jpeg|right|thumb|125px|Martin Luther]]

In the early sixteenth century, increasing discontent with corruption and immorality among the clergy resulted in attempts to reform the Church and society. The [[Protestant Reformation]] began after [[Martin Luther]] published his [[95 theses]] in 1517, whilst the [[Roman Catholic Church]] experienced internal renewal with the [[Counter-Reformation]] and the [[Council of Trent]] (1545-1563). During the following centuries, competition between Catholicism and Protestantism became deeply entangled with political struggles among European states. Meanwhile, partly from missionary zeal, but also under the impetus of colonial expansion by the European powers, Christianity spread to the Americas, Oceania, East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.

In the Modern Era, Christianity was confronted with various forms of skepticism and with certain modern political ideologies such as [[liberalism]], [[nationalism]], and [[socialism]]. This included the anti-clericalism of the French Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, and general hostility of Marxist movements, especially the Russian Revolution.

===Persecution===
{{main|Persecution of Christians}}
{{main|Historical persecution by Christians}}

Christians have frequently suffered from [[Religious persecution|persecution]]. Starting with [[Jesus]], the early Christian church was persecuted by state and religious establishments from its earliest beginnings. Notable early Christians such as [[Saint Stephen|Stephen]], eleven of the Apostles as well as [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] died as martyrs according to tradition. Systematic Roman persecution of Christians culminated in the [[Diocletian#Persecution of Christians|Great Persecution]] of Diocletian and ended with the [[Edict of Milan]].<ref>ChristianityToday.com [http://ctlibrary.com/3744 ''313 The Edict of Milan'']</ref> Persecution of Christians persisted or even intensified in other places, such as in [[Sassanids|Sassanid Persia]].<ref>Macro History, [http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch22c.htm ''The Sassanids to 500 CE'']</ref> Later, under Islam, Christians were subjected to various legal restrictions and at times also suffered violent persecution or confiscation of their property.<ref>(Lewis (1984) p. 26)</ref>

There was persecution of Christians during the [[French Revolution]] (see [[Dechristianisation of France during the French Revolution]]).<ref>Mortimer Chambers, ''The Western Experience'' (vol. 2) chapter 21</ref> State restrictions on Christian practices today are generally associated with those authoritarian governments which either support a majority religion other than Christianity (as in [[Muslim]] states),<ref>Paul Marshall, ''Their Blood Cries Out''; Worldnetdaily.com, [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24886 ''Christians persecuted in Islamic nations'']</ref> or tolerate only churches under government supervision, sometimes while officially promoting state [[atheism]] (as in [[North Korea]]). The [[People's Republic of China]] allows only government-regulated churches and has regularly suppressed [[house churches]] and underground Catholics. The public practice of Christianity is outlawed in [[Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabia]]. Areas of persecution include other parts of the [[Middle East]], [[Cuba]], the [[Sudan]], and [[Kosovo]].<ref>see [http://www.persecution.org/newsite/index.php persecution.org];[http://www.christianmonitor.org/ christianmonitor.org]; and Cliff Kincaid, [http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/4610_0_2_0_C/ aim.org ''Christians Under Siege in Kosovo'']</ref>

Christians have also been perpetrators of persecution against other religions and other Christians. Christian mobs, sometimes with government support, destroyed [[Paganism|pagan]] temples and oppressed adherents of paganism (such as the philosopher [[Hypatia of Alexandria]], who was murdered by a Christian mob). Also, [[Jewish]] communities have periodically suffered violence at Christian hands. Christian governments have suppressed or persecuted groups seen as heretical, later in cooperation with the [[Inquisition]]. Denominational strife escalated into [[religious wars]]. [[Witch hunts]], carried out by secular authorities or popular mobs, were a frequent phenomenon in parts of early modern Europe and, to a lesser degree, North America.

==Christian divisions==
There is a diversity of [[doctrine]]s and practices among groups calling themselves Christian. These groups are sometimes classified under [[Christian denomination|denomination]]s, though for theological reasons many groups reject this classification system.<ref>S. E. Ahlstrom characterized denominationalism in America as “a virtual ecclesiology” that “first of all repudiates the insistences of the Roman Catholic church, the churches of the 'magisterial' Reformation, and of most sects that they alone are the true Church." Ahlstrom p. 381. For specific citations, on the Roman Catholic Church see the ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' §816; other examples: Donald Nash, [http://www.crownhillchurch.com/Why_the_Churches_of_Christ_Are_Not_A_Denomination.pdf#search=%22church%20of%20christ%20not%20a%20denomination%22 Why the Churches of Christ are not a Denomination]; Wendell Winkler, [http://www.thebible.net/introchurch/ch4.html Christ's Church is not a Denomination]; and David E. Pratt, [http://www.biblestudylessons.com/cgi-bin/gospel_way/denominations.php What does God think about many Christian denominations?]</ref> Christianity may be broadly represented as being [[Schism (religion)|divided]] into three main groupings:<ref>Encyclopedia Britannica, [http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9360716 Christianity]</ref>
* [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]]: The [[Roman Catholic Church]], the largest single body, includes the [[Latin Rite]] and totals more than 1 billion baptized members.<ref name="Adherents" />
* [[Eastern Christianity]]: [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es, [[Oriental Orthodoxy|Oriental Orthodox Churches]], the 100,000 member [[Assyrian Church of the East]],<ref>Nichols, ''Rome and the Eastern Churches'', pp. 27-52</ref> and others with a combined membership of more than 300 million baptized members.<ref name="Adherents" />
* [[Protestantism]]: Groups such as [[Anglicanism|Anglicans]], [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], [[Reformed]]/[[Presbyterian]]s, [[Congregational church|Congregational]]/[[United Church of Christ]], [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]], [[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]], [[Baptist]]s, [[Methodist]]s, [[Nazarene]]s, [[Anabaptist]]s, [[Seventh-day Adventists]] and [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]]. The oldest of these separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century [[Protestant Reformation]], followed in many cases by further divisions. Estimates of the total number of Protestants are very uncertain, partly because of the difficulty in determining which denominations should be placed in this category, but it seems to be unquestionable that Protestantism is the second major branch of Christianity (after Roman Catholicism) in number of followers.<ref name="Adherents" />

Some Protestants identify themselves simply as ''Christian,'' or ''born-again Christian''; they typically distance themselves from the [[confessionalism (religion)|confessionalism]] of other Protestant communities<ref>Confessionalism is a term employed by historians to describe "the creation of fixed identities and systems of beliefs for separate churches which had previously been more fluid in their self-understanding, and which had not begun by seeking separate identities for themselves &mdash; they had wanted to be truly Catholic and reformed." MacCulloch, ''Reformation'' p. xxiv</ref> by calling themselves "non-denominational" &mdash; often founded by individual pastors, they have little affiliation with historic denominations. Others, particularly some Anglicans, eschew the term Protestant and thus insist on being thought of as Catholic, adopting the name "Anglo-Catholic."<ref>Thus distinguishing themselves, though "not too much", from "Roman" Catholics &mdash; MacCulloch ''Reformation'' p. 510</ref> Finally, various small communities, such as the [[Old Catholic Church|Old Catholic]] and [[Independent Catholic Churches|Independent Catholic]] Churches, are similar in name to the Roman Catholic Church, but are not in [[Communion (Christian)|communion]] with the [[Holy See|See of Rome]]. The Roman Catholic Church was simply called the "Catholic Church" until other groups started considering themselves "Catholic". The term "Roman Catholic" was made to distinguish the Roman Catholics from other groups.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03449a.htm "Catholic", Herbert Thurston, ''Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus'', The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Published 1908. New York: Robert Appleton Company.</ref><ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13121a.htm "Roman Catholic", The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIII. Published 1912. New York: Robert Appleton Company. First published in The Month, Sept 1911.</ref>

[[Restorationism|Restorationists]], are historically connected to the Protestant Reformation,<ref>Ahlstrom's summary is as follows: Restorationism has its genesis with Thomas and Alexander Campbell, whose movement is connected to the German Reformed Church through Otterbein, Albright, and Winebrenner (p. 212). American Millennialism and Adventism, which arose from Evangelical Protestantism, produced certain groups such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (p. 387, 501-9), the Jehovah's Witness movement (p. 807), and, as a reaction specifically to William Miller, Seventh Day Adventism (p. 381).</ref> do not usually describe themselves as "reforming" a Christian Church continuously existing from the time of Jesus, but as ''restoring'' the Church that they believe was lost at some point. Restorationists include [[Churches of Christ]] with 2.6 million members, [[Disciples of Christ]] with 800,000 members,<ref> ''Statistical Report: Annual Council of the General Conference Committee Silver Spring, Marlyand, October 6&mdash;11, 2006'']</ref> [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] with 12 million members,<ref name="Adherents" /> and [[Jehovah’s Witnesses]] with 6.6 million members.<ref>JW-Media.org [http://www.jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm#Jehovah%Witness%Membership%2005 Membership 2005]</ref> Though Restorationists have some basic similarities, their doctrine and practices vary significantly.

====Mainstream Christianity====

'''[[Mainstream]] Christianity''' is a widely used<ref>Appx 112k [http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22Mainstream+Christianity%22 GHits]</ref> term, used to refer to collectively to the common views of major denominations of Christianity (such as [[Roman Catholicism]], [[Protestantism]], [[Anglicanism]], [[Orthodox Christianity]]) as against the particular tenets of other sects or [[Christian denomination]]. The context is dependent on the particular issues addressed, but usually contrasts the [[orthodox]] majority view against [[heterodox]] minority views. In the most common sense, "mainstream" refers to [[Nicene Christianity]], or rather the traditions which continue to claim adherence to the [[Nicene Creed]].<ref>"[[The Nicene Creed]] is the profession of the Christian Faith common to the Catholic Church, to all the Eastern Churches separated from Rome, and to most of the Protestant denominations." The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI. Published 1911. New York: Robert Appleton Company.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm]</ref><ref>"Christian statement of faith that is the only ecumenical creed because it is accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches."
''Nicene Creed'' Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9055702]</ref>

Some groups identifying themselves as Christian deviate from the [[tenets]] considered basic by most Christian organizations. These groups are often considered [[heresy|heretical]], or even non-Christian, by many mainstream Christians. This is particularly true of [[Nontrinitarianism|non-trinitarians]].

==== Ecumenism ====
{{main|Ecumenism}}
{{unreferenced|section called "Ecumenism"|date=February 2007}}
Most churches have long expressed ideals of being reconciled with each other, and in the [[20th Century]] Christian [[ecumenism]] advanced in two ways. One way was greater cooperation between groups, such as the [[Edinburgh Missionary Conference]] of Protestants in [[1910]], the Justice, Peace and Creation Commission of the [[World Council of Churches]] founded in [[1948]] by Protestant and Orthodox churches, and similar national councils like the [[National Council of Churches in Australia]] which also includes Roman Catholics.

The other way was institutional union with new [[United and uniting churches]]. [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]], [[Methodist]], and [[Presbyterian]] churches united in 1925 to form the [[United Church of Canada]] and in 1977 to form the [[Uniting Church in Australia]]. The [[Church of South India]] was formed in 1947 by the union of [[Anglicanism|Anglican]], [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Congregational church|Congregationalist]], [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], and [[Reformed Church|Reformed]] churches.

Steps towards union on a global level have also been taken in 1965 by the Catholic and Orthodox churches mutually revoking the excommunications that marked their [[East-West Schism|Great Schism]] in 1054; the [[Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission]] (ARCIC) working towards full communion between those churches since 1970; and the [[Lutheran World Federation|Lutheran]] and [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] churches signing The [[Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification]] in 1999 to address conflicts at the root of the [[Protestant Reformation]]. In 2006 the [[World Methodist Council|Methodist church]] also adopted the declaration.
[[Image:ChristianityBranches.svg|600px|thumb|center||A simplified chart of historical developments of major groups within Christianity]]

==Current controversies and criticisms==
<!-- Hello. This section is the product of extensive discussion on [[Talk:Christianity]]. Please consider passing proposed changes through the Talk page before making them here. Thank you.-->
{{main|Criticism of Christianity}}
{{See also|Criticism of the Bible}}

There are many controversies surrounding Christianity as to its influences and history.

*A few writers propose that [[Jesus as myth|Jesus is a myth]],<ref>Kenneth Latourette, ''Christianity'' p. 394; E. A. Wallis Budge, ''Egyptian Religion''</ref> though historians generally agree that [[historicity of Jesus|Jesus existed]] and have aimed at reconstructing the [[historical Jesus]]. Some such writers depict Jesus as a metaphor for spiritual awakening or a fictional figure based on Egyptian religion.
*Some writers consider [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] to be the founding figure of Christianity as opposed to Jesus, pointing to the extent of his writings and the scope of his missionary work.<ref>David Wenham, ''Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity?''</ref> See also [[Pauline Christianity]].
*Members of the [[Jesus Seminar]], and other Biblical scholars, have argued that the historical Jesus never claimed to be divine. They also reject the historicity of the empty tomb and thus a bodily resurrection, and several other events narrated in the gospels. They assert that Gospel accounts describing these things are probably literary fabrications.<ref>"The empty tomb is a fiction - Jesus did not raise ''(sic)'' bodily from the dead." front flap of ''Acts of Jesus''.</ref>
*Adherents of [[Judaism]] generally believe that followers of Christianity misinterpret passages from the [[Old Testament]], or [[Tanakh]]. (See also [[Judaism and Christianity]].)
*[[Islam|Muslims]] believe that the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is incompatible with [[Tawhid|monotheism]], and they reject the Christian teaching that Jesus is the Son of God, though they affirm the virgin birth and view him as a prophet preceding Muhammad.<ref>Gary Miller, [http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=122 ''A concise reply to Christianity''].</ref> The Qur'an also uses the title "Messiah", though with a different meaning.<ref>The Holy Qur'an, 3:46.</ref><ref>[http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/quran-jesus.html Mike Tabish, ''What does the Qur'an say about Isa (Jesus)?'']</ref> Muslims also dispute the historical occurrence of the crucifixion of Jesus (believing that while a crucifixion occurred, it was not of Jesus).<ref>Answering-Christianity.com, [http://www.answering-christianity.com/crucified.htm ''What does the Holy Qur'an say about Jesus (peace be upon him)''].</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-3}}
* [[Antinomianism]]
* [[Christian apologetics]]
* [[Christian anarchism]]
* [[Christian calendar]]
* [[Christian communism]]
* [[Christian emigration]]
* [[Christian eschatology]]
* [[Christian existentialism]]
* [[Christian meditation]]
* [[Christian mysticism]]
* [[Christian mythology]]
* [[Christian symbolism]]
* [[The stories of Christianity|Christian stories]]

{{Col-2-of-3}}
* [[Christian Views About Women]]
* [[Christianity and anti-Semitism]]
* [[Christianity and Freemasonry]]
* [[Christianity by country]]
* [[Christianity in Africa]]
* [[Christianity in China]]
* [[Church]]
* [[Conservative Christianity]]
* [[Criticism of Christianity]]
* [[Emerging Church]]
* [[Historicity of Jesus]]
* [[Homosexuality and Christianity]]
* [[John 3:16]]

{{Col-3-of-3}}
* [[Judaism and Christianity]]
* [[Liberal Christianity]]
* [[List of Christians]]
* [[List of converts to Christianity]]
* [[List of Christian Missionaries]]
* [[List of religions]]
* [[Matthew 10:34]]
* [[New Testament view on Jesus' life]]
* [[Progressive Christianity]]
* [[Religious ministry (Christian)|Religious ministries]]
* [[Sabbath]]
* [[Theonomy]]

{{Col-end}}

===History and denominations===
{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-1-of-2}}
* [[Christian theological controversy]]
* [[Wikipedia:Wikiportal/Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christianity portal]]
* [[Great Schism]]
* [[Protestant Reformation]]

{{Col-2-of-2}}
* [[Restorationism]]
* [[List of Christian denominations]]
* [[Social Gospel]]

{{Col-end}}

==Notes==
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:3; column-count:3;">
<references/>
</div>

==Bibliography==
====Primary sources====

<div class="references-small">
* The [[Bible]]: [http://www.biblegateway.com/ BibleGateway.com] -- [http://www.vatican.va/archive/bible/index.htm Sacred Scripture] -- [http://www.bible.org/netbible/index.htm New English Translation]
</div>

{{col-begin}}

{{col-1-of-2}}
<div class="references-small">
'''A'''
* {{cite web|last=Arnold III|first=William|title=Is Jesus God the Father?|url=http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/father.htm|accessdate=2006-09-07}}
*{{cite book |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02033b.htm |title=Athanasian Creed |publisher=Catholic Encyclopedia voulme II |year=1909 |origdate=4th century |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
*{{cite web | last = Aquinas | first = Thomas | authorlink = Thomas Aquinas | title = Summa Theologica | url = http://www.newadvent.org/summa/ | accessdate = 2006-10-06}}
'''B'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#ii |title=Baptist Faith and Message |publisher=Southern Baptist Convention |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
* {{cite web |last=Boettner |first=Loraine | authorlink = Loraine Boettner |title=One Substance, Three Persons |url=http://www.caledonianfire.org/caledonianfire/Boettner/trinity/t5.htm |accessdate=2006-05-29}}
* {{cite book |last=Bullinger |first=Heinrich |authorlink= Heinrich Bullinger |coauthors=and others |title = Second Helvetic Confession |origyear=1564 | |location= Basel, Switzerland |url =http://www.ccel.org/creeds/helvetic.htm |accessdate=2006-10-21 }}
'''C'''
*{{cite book | last = Calvin | first = John | authorlink = John Calvin | title = Commentary on the Catholic Epistles | origdate=1551 | url = http://www.ccel.org/c/calvin/comment3/comm_vol45/htm/vii.iv.iv.htm | accessdate = 2006-10-07}}
*{{cite book |last=Calvin |first=John |url=http://www.reformed.org/books/institutes/books/book3/bk3ch25.html |title=Institutes of the Christian Religion |accessdate=2006-09-10}}
*{{cite book | title = Catechism of the Catholic Church | publisher = United States Catholic Conference &mdash; Libreria Editrice Vaticana | year = 1994, 1997 | location = Città del Vaticano and Washington D.C. | url = http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/ | id = English: hardcover No. 5-109, softcover No. 5-110 |accessdate=2006-10-21 |others=promulgated by Pope John Paul II}}
*{{cite book |url=http://www.carm.org/creeds/chalcedonian.htm |title=Chalcedonian Creed |publisher=Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry |origdate=451 |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
*{{cite web | title = Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy |year=1978 | url = http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/chicago.htm | accessdate = 2006-08-26 }}
'''D'''
*{{cite web| title = Dei Verbum | year=1962 | url = http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html | accessdate = 2006-10-26 |publisher=Second Vatican Council}}
'''G'''
*{{cite book |title=Geneva Confession |url=http://www.studylight.org/his/ad/cac/con/geneva.html |accessdate=2006-10-20 |origyear=1537}}
'''H'''
*{{cite web | last =Hinckley | first = Gordon | authorlink = Gordon B. Hinckley |title=First Presidency Message: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost | work =Ensign | date = March, 1998|url=http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1998.htm/ensign%20march%201998.htm/first%20presidency%20message%20the%20father%20son%20and%20holy%20ghost.htm?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0| accessdate =2006-09-08}}
* {{cite web |last=Hendryx |first=John |title=The Work of the Trinity in Monergism |url=http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/monergism_short.html |accessdate=2006-05-29}}
'''I'''
*{{cite book |last=Ignatius of Antioch |authorlink= Ignatius of Antioch |title=Letter to the Magnesians |url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/ignatius-magnesians-roberts.html |accessdate=2006-10-22 }}
*{{cite book |last=Ignatius of Antioch |authorlink= Ignatius of Antioch |title=Letter to the Romans |url=http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/ANF-01/anf01-19.htm#P1838_311890 |others=Roberts-Donaldson English translation |accessdate=2006-10-22}}
</div>

{{col-2-of-2}}
<div class="references-small">
'''J'''
*{{cite book |last=Josephus |first=Flavius |title=Antiquities |authorlink=Josephus}}
*{{cite book |last=Justin Martyr |origdate=150 |title=First Apology |others=trans. Roberts-Donaldson |url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/justinmartyr-firstapology.html |accessdate=2006-08-01}}
'''L'''
*{{cite book |url=http://www.dailycatholic.org/history/4ecumen2.htm |title=Letter to Flavian, patriarch of Constantinople |publisher=dailycatholic.org |accessdate=2006-10-25 |last=Leo the Great |authorlink=Pope Leo I}}
*{{cite web |last=Lossky |first=Vladimir | authorlink = Vladimir Lossky |title=God in Trinity |url=http://home.versatel.nl/chotki/God%20in%20Trin.htm |accessdate=2006-05-29}}
*{{cite book |last=Luther |first=Martin |title=Small Catechism}}
'''M'''
* {{cite web | title = Moshiach: The Messiah | url = http://www.jewfaq.org/moshiach.htm
| accessdate = 2006-08-26 |publisher=JewFaq.org |year=1998-2001}}
'''N'''
* {{cite web |last=Nash |first=Donald |url=http://www.crownhillchurch.com/Why_the_Churches_of_Christ_Are_Not_A_Denomination.pdf#search=%22church%20of%20christ%20not%20a%20denomination%22 |format=pdf |title=Why the Churches of Christ are not a Denomination |accessdate=2006-10-22 }}
*{{cite book |title=Nicene Creed |others=Greek and English translation |accessdate=2006-10-07 |url=http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/creeds3.html |origdate=325 and 381}}
'''P'''
* {{cite web |last=Pratte |first=David E. |url=http://www.biblestudylessons.com/cgi-bin/gospel_way/denominations.php |year=1986 |accessdate=2006-10-22 |title=What Does God Think About Many Christian Denominations? }}
'''S'''
* {{cite web |last=Spurgeon |first=Charles |authorlink= Charles Spurgeon |title=A defense of Calvinism |url=http://www.spurgeon.org/calvinis.htm |accessdate=2006-05-29}}
'''T'''
* {{cite book | title = Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England | origdate= 1563 | url=http://anglicansonline.org/basics/thirty-nine_articles.html |accessdate=2006-10-10}}
* {{cite book |last=Tacitus |title=[[Annals (Tacitus)|Annales]] |authorlink=Tacitus}}
'''U'''
* {{cite web | title =Unitarian Views of Jesus | url =http://www.uua.org/re/reach/fall01/curriculum/unitarian_views_of_jesus.html | accessdate =2006-09-08}}
'''W'''
* {{cite book |title=Westminster Confession |origdate=1643 |publisher=The Committee for Christian Education & Publications |url=http://www.pcanet.org/general/cof_contents.htm |accessdate=2006-10-23}}
* {{cite web | title =What Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus? | work =Should You Believe in the Trinity? | publisher =Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania | date =1989 | url =http://www.watchtower.org/library/ti/article_05.htm|accessdate = 2006-09-07}}
* {{cite web |last=Winkler |first=Wendell |url=http://www.thebible.net/introchurch/ch4.html |title=Christ's Church is not a Denomination |year=1981 |publisher=Star Bible Publications |location=Fort Worth, Texas |accessdate=2006-10-22}}
</div>
{{col-end}}

====Secondary sources====
{{col-begin}}

{{col-1-of-2}}
<div class="references-small">
'''A'''

* {{cite book |last=Ahlstrom |first=Sydney E. |title=A Religious History of the American People |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven and London |year=1972 }}
* {{cite book |title=From the Stone Age to Christianity: Monotheism and the Historical Process |edition=2nd edition |last=Albright |fist=William F. |year=1957}}
* {{cite book |first=T. Desmond |last=Alexander |coauthors=Brian S. Rosner, D. A. Carson, Graeme Goldsworthy |title=New Dictionary of Biblical Theology |publisher=InterVarsity Press |year=2000}}
*{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.bookrags.com/Arianism |title=Arianism |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Religion |year=2001-2006 |publisher=Macmillan Reference USA |accessdate=2006-05-05}}
'''B'''
* {{cite book |last=Bauer |first=Walter |authorlink=Walter Bauer |title=Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature |edition=2ed. |year=1979 }}
* {{cite book | last=Bokenkotter |first=Thomas | title=A Concise History of the Catholic Church | location=New York | publisher=Doubleday | year=2004 }}
* {{cite book | last = Bruce | first = F.F. | title = The Canon of Scripture | publisher = InterVarsity Press | date = 1988 | location = Downers Grove, Ill. | ISBN = 083081258X}}
*{{cite book|last = Budge|first = E. A. Wallis|authorlink = E. A. Wallis Budge|year = 1900|title = Egyptian Religion|publisher = Kessinger}}
'''C'''
*{{cite book |last=Cannistraro |first=Philip V. |coauthors=John J. Reich | title=The Western Perspective: A History of Civilization in the West - Volume A To 1500 | location=New York | publisher=Harcourt Brace College Publishers | year=1999 }}
*{{cite book |title=Catholic Encyclopedia |origyear=1913 |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/index.html |publisher=The Encyclopedia Press |accessdate=2006-10-20 }}
*{{cite book |last=Chadwick |first=Henry |title=East and West: the Making of a Rift in the Church |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2003 }}
*{{cite book | last = Chambers | first = Mortimer | coauthors = Crew, Herlihy, Rabb, Woloch | title = The Western Experience Volume II: The Early Modern Period | edition = 1st | year = 1974 | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf | id = ISBN 0-394-31734-3}}
*{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |title=Christianity |url=http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9360716 |accessdate=2006-07-01}}
* {{cite book |last=Clark |first=Kelly James |url=http://www.calvin.edu/academic/philosophy/virtual_library/articles/clark_kelly_j/trinity_or_tritheism.pdf |format=pdf |title=Virtual Library of Christian Philosophy |chapter=Trinity or Tritheism |publisher=Philosophy Department, Calvin College |accessdate=2006-05-18}}
*{{cite book |last = Cohen|first = Mark|authorlink = Mark Cohen|year = 1995 |title = Under Crescent and Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages. |publisher = Princeton University Press |id = ISBN 0-691-01082-X }}
*{{cite book |last=Cruz |first=Jo Ann H. Moran |coauthors=Richard Gerberding |title=Medieval Worlds: An Introduction to European History 300-1492 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company |year=2004 }}
'''D'''
*{{cite web |publisher=Princeton University |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=christianity |title=Dictionary.com |chapter=Christianity |accessdate=2006-05-18}}
'''E'''
*{{cite book |last=Ellegard |first=Alvar |year=1999 |title=Jesus One Hundred Years Before Christ}}
*{{cite book |title=Easton’s Bible Dictionary |year=1897 |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/ebd/ebd082.htm |chapter=Christian |accessdate=2006-10-25}}

'''F'''
*{{cite book |last=Ferguson|first=Niall|title=Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire |publisher=Penguin Books| year=2005 |id=ISBN 0-14-101700-7}}
*{{cite book |last=Fuller|first=Reginald H.|title=[[Reginald H. Fuller#The Foundations of New Testament Christology (1965)|The Foundations of New Testament Christology]] |publisher=Scribners| year=1965 |id=ISBN 0-00-641874-0}}
'''G'''
*{{cite book | title=The Story of Christianity |last=Gonzalez |first=Justo L. | year=1984, 1985, 1999 | id=ISBN 1-56563-522-1}}
'''H'''
* {{cite book |title=Resurrection: The Capstone in the Arch of Christianity |first=Hank |last=Hanegraaff |publisher=Word Publishing }}
*{{cite web |last=Henry |first=Matthew |url=http://eword.gospelcom.net/comments/matthew/mh/matthew1.htm |title=Commentary on Matthew 1}}
* {{cite book |url=http://www.bartleby.com/59/5/monotheism.html |title=The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy |edition=Third Edition |last=Hirsch, Jr. |first=Joseph F. |coauthors=James Trefil Kett |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company |year=2002 }}
'''J'''
* {{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Paul |authorlink=Paul Johnson (writer) |title=A History of Christianity | location=New York | publisher=Touchstone | year=1979|id= ISBN 0-684-81503-6}}
'''K'''
* {{cite book|last=Kelly|first=J.N.D.|title=Early Christian Doctrines|publisher=Prince Press|date=1960, reprint Aug 2004|location=Peabody, Massachusetts|id=ISBN 1-56563-911-1}}
* {{cite book |title=God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism |first=Jonathan |last=Kirsch |year=2004}}
</div>

{{col-2-of-2}}
<div class="references-small">
'''L'''
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Latourette |first=Kenneth Scott |encyclopedia=Collier's Encyclopedia |title=Christianity |volume=vol. 6 |location=New York |publisher=Macmillan Educational Company |year=1990}}
* {{cite book|last =Letham|first =Robert|title =The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship|publisher =P&R Publishing|date =2004|location =Phillipsburg, New Jersey|id=ISBN 0-87552-000-6}}
*{{cite book |last = Lewis |first = Bernard |authorlink = Bernard Lewis |year = 1987 |title = The Jews of Islam |publisher = Princeton University Press |id = ISBN 0-691-00807-8 }}
* {{cite book | title=Mere Christianity |last=Lewis |first=C.S | authorlink = C. S. Lewis | id=ISBN 0-06-065292-6}}
'''M'''
* {{cite book |last=MacCulloch |first=Diarmaid |title=[[The Reformation: A History]] |publisher=Penguin Group |location=New York |year=2003 |id=ISBN 0-670-03296-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Mack |first=Burton |year=2001 |title=The Christian Myth: Origins, Logic, and Legacy. Social formation of myth making}}
*{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=Paul |title=Their Blood Cries Out |coauthors=Lela Gilbert |publisher=W Publishing Group}}
* {{cite book |first=Alister E.|last=McGrath |title=Historical Theology |publisher=Blackwell |year=2000 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Meconi |first=David Vincent |title=Pagan Monotheism in Late Antiquity (review) |journal=Journal of Early Christian Studies |volume=vol. 8 |year=2000 |issue=Spring, number 1}}
* {{cite book | title=Christian Theology: An Introduction |last=McGarth |first=Alister | id=ISBN 0-631-22528-5}}
* {{cite book | title=Christian Theology Reader |last=McGrath |first=Alister | id=ISBN 0-631-20637-X}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/society/A0833762.html |encyclopedia=Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia |title=Monotheism |edition=6th ed. |year=2006 |publisher=Columbia University Press }}
* {{cite book |last=Munro |first=Greg |url=http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/research/theology/ejournal/aejt_2/Greg_Munro.htm |accessdate=2006-10-21 |id= ISSN 1448–632 |publisher=Australian E-Journal of Theology |title=A Book Review of "A World History of Christianity" (ed. Adrian Hastings) |year=2004}}
'''N'''
* {{cite book |title=Rome and the Eastern Churches: a Study in Schism |location=Edinburgh |year=1992 |last=Nichols |first=A.}}
* {{cite book |title=Radical Monotheism and Western Culture |last=Niebuhr |first=H. Richard |year=1960 }}
'''O'''
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Oden |first=Thomas |encyclopedia=Systematic Theology: an ecumenical trilogy |volume=(1) |title=The Living God |year=1992 |id=ISBN 0-06-066363-4}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Oden |first=Thomas |encyclopedia=Systematic Theology: an ecumenical trilogy |volume=(2) |title=The Word of Life |year=1992 |id=ISBN 0-06-066364-2}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |last=Oden |first=Thomas |encyclopedia=Systematic Theology: an ecumenical trilogy |volume=(3) |title=Life in the Spirit |year=1994 |id=ISBN 0-06-066362-6}}
'''P'''
* {{cite book |last=Pelikan |first=Jaroslav | authorlink = Jaroslav Pelikan |year=1971-1989 |title=The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine }}
* {{cite book |first=E. |last=Peterson |chapter=Christianus |title=Miscellanea Giovanni Mercati I, Studi e testi |location=Vatican City |year=1946}}
'''R'''
* {{cite book |last=Robertson |first=Archibald |authorlink=Archibald Robertson |url=http://ditext.com/robertson/christianity.html |title=The Origins of Christianity |accessdate=2006-10-20 |year=1954, 1962 }}
'''S'''
*{{cite book | last = Sproul | first = R.C. | authorlink = R. C. Sproul | title = Knowing Scripture | publisher = InterVarsity Press | date = 1977 | location = Downers Grove, Ill. | pages = 45-61 | ISBN = 0877847339}}
'''T'''
* {{cite book |last=Tomkins |first=Stephen |year=2005 |title=A Short History of Christianity |location=Lion}}
'''V'''
* {{cite book |editor=Vermes, Geza and Martin D. Goodman (ed.) |title=The Essenes according to the Classical Sources |location=Sheffield |publisher=Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studies and JSOT Press |year=1989}}
'''W'''
*{{cite book |last=Wenham |first=David |title=Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? }}
*{{cite book |title=An Introduction to Christianity |first=Linda |last=Woodhead |year=2004 }}
'''Y'''
*{{cite book |title=The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude: Seventh-Twentieth Century |last=Ye'Or |first=Bat |publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson University Press}}
'''Z'''
* {{cite book |title=The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion |editor=R. J. Zwi Werblowsky and G. Wigoder (eds.) |location=New York |year=1997 |id=ISBN 0-19-508605-8}}

</div>
{{col-end}}

====Popular Media====
{{col-begin}}
{{col-1-of-2}}
<div class="references-small">
'''B'''
*{{cite web | last = Bahnsen | first = Greg | authorlink = Greg Bahnsen | title = A Reformed Confession Regarding Hermeneutics | url = http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pt173.htm | accessdate = 2006-10-06}}
'''C'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.christianmonitor.org |title=christianmonitor.org |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
*{{cite web |url=http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Koch-ChristianSymbols.htm |publisher=CatholicResources.org |title=Christian Symbols |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
*{{cite web |title=Christianity |url=http://www.world-faiths.com/Christianity/christianity.htm |publisher=world-faiths.net |accessdate=2006-10-22 }}
*{{cite web |url=http://christianity.about.com |title=Christianity - General and How to Live the Christian Faith |publisher=About.com, The New York Times Company }}
*{{cite web |title=Christian Today Library |url=ctlibrary.com |publisher=ChristianityToday.com |accessdate=2006-10-26}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24886 |title=Christians persecuted in Islamic nations |accessdate=2006-10-25 |publisher=Worldnetdaily.com}}
'''D'''
*{{cite web |title=New Government Statistics on China's Christians |publisher=WorthyNews.com |last=Davenport |first=Paul |url=http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/compass-china-survey.html |accessdate=2006-10-22}}
'''E'''
*{{cite web |url=http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGAFR640172005 |publisher=amnesty.org |title= Eritrea: Government must end religious persecution |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
'''F'''
*{{cite web |url=http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2003/10/daily-10-08-2003.shtml |title=First Meeting of the Council of Chalcedon |publisher=Christian History Institute |year=1999-2006 |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
*{{cite journal | last = Foutz | first = Scott David | title = Martin Luther and Scripture | journal = Quodlibet Online Journal | publisher = Society of Online Christian Theology and Philosophy | url = http://www.quodlibet.net/luther.shtml | accessdate = 2006-10-06}}
'''E'''
*{{cite web | title = Ethiopian Orthodox Old Testament | work = The Bible: The Book That Bridges the Millennia | url = http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/ethold.stm | accessdate = 2006-10-09}}
'''G'''
*{{cite web | last = Glenny | first = W. Edward | title = Typology: A Summary Of The Present Evangelical Discussion | date = March 1997 | url = http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/article_typology_glenny.html | accessdate = 2006-10-10}}
*{{cite web|title=Gnostics, Gnostic Gospels, & Gnosticism|url=http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/gnostics.html| accessdate=2006-05-30}}
*{{cite web |title=Growth of Christianity in South Korea |publisher=LutherProductions.com |url=http://demo.lutherproductions.com/historytutor/basic/modern/stories/christ-korea.htm |accessdate=2006-10-22 }}
'''J'''
* {{cite web |title=Jehovah's Witnesses Membership Statistics |url=http://www.jw-media.org/people/statistics.htm#Jehovah%Witness%Membership%2005 |accessdate=2006-10-22}}

</div>

{{col-2-of-2}}
<div class="references-small">
'''K'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.kimsoft.com/1997/xhist.htm |publisher=Xhist.com |title=History of Christianity in Korea |first=Andrew E. |last=Kim |accessdate=2006-10-22}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/4610_0_2_0_C/ |publisher=aim.org |accessdate=2006-10-25 |title=Christians Under Siege in Kosovo |last=Kincaid |first=Cliff |year=2006}}
'''M'''
*{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Gary |url=http://thetruereligion.org/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=122 |title=A concise reply to Christianity |publisher=thetruereligion.org |accessdate=2006-10-26}}
'''O'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.britishorthodox.org/113e.php |title=Oriental Orthodox Rejection of Chalcedon |publisher=British Orthodox Church |accessdate=2006-10-25 |year=2006}}
'''P'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.persecution.org/newsite/index.php |title=persecution.org |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
'''R'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html |publisher=Adherents.com |title=Religions by Adherents |accessdate=2006-05-18}}
*{{cite web |title=ReligionFacts.com |url=http://www.religionfacts.com |accessdate=2006-10-25 |publisher=Religion Facts }}
'''S'''
*{{citeweb |title=Sassanids, to 500 |publisher=Macro History |url=http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch22c.htm |accessdate=2006-10-26}}
*{{cite web | title =Socinianism: Unitarianism in 16th-17th Century Poland and Its Influence | url =http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/nov_2000/unitarian1.htm | accessdate = 2006-09-07}}
*{{cite web |title=Statistical Report: Annual Council of the General Conference Committee Silver Spring, Marlyand, October 6&mdash;11, 2006 |url=http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/Stats/ACRep2006.pdf |year=2006 |accessdate=2006-11-16 }}
'''T'''
*{{cite web |url=http://dailywisdom.gospelcom.net/dw_static/dw-level2.html |publisher=Gospelcom.net |title=The Most Important Event in History |accessdate=2006-10-23 }}
*{{cite web | publisher= The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | title = The Scriptures, Internet Edition | url = http://scriptures.lds.org | accessdate = 2006-10-06}}
'''W'''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=191 |title=We Believe in One God...: The Nicene Creed at Mass |publisher=Catholics United for the Faith |year=2004 |accessdate=2006-10-25}}
*{{cite web | last = White | first = James | authorlink = James White (theologian) | coauthors = Gerry Matatics | title = Does The Bible Teach Sola Scriptura? | date = November, 1992 | url = http://www.aomin.org/SolaTop.html | accessdate = 2006-10-09}}
* {{cite book |url=http://www.ntwrightpage.com/Wright_NDCT_Paul.htm |title=New Dictionary of Theology |last=Wright |first=David F. |coauthors=Sinclair B. Ferguson, J.I. Packer }}

</div>
{{col-end}}

==Further reading==
{{wikiquote|Christianity}}
{{Commonscat}}
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/ From Jesus to Christ] Perspectives on Jesus and early Christianity from various academics.
* [http://www.bethinking.org bethinking.org Christianity] Treating Christianity as a whole worldview or perspective and looking at the relationship between historic Christianity and contemporary thought.
* [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HC02Ae03.html Asia is becoming one of the largest Christian populations in the world in the next 30 years].
* {{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/index.shtml | title = Christianity | work = Religion & Ethics | publisher = BBC | accessdate = 2006-04-12}}
* [http://www.bidstrup.com/bible.htm ''The Bible And Christianity - The Historical Origins''] An essay by Scott Bidstrup.
* Gillian Clark, ''Christianity and Roman Society'', Cambridge University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-521-63386-9

==External links==
* [http://www.biblegateway.com Bible Gateway] The Bible online.
* [http://www.newadvent.org/ New Advent] A collection of resources including the Church Fathers, the ''Summa Theologica'', the Catholic Encyclopedia, and others.
* [http://www.monergism.com/ Monergism.com] Theological articles grouped by topic.
* [http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/index.htm ReligionFacts.com: Christianity] Fast facts, glossary, timeline, history, beliefs, texts, holidays, symbols, people, etc.
* [http://www.wikichristian.org WikiChristian], a wiki book on Christianity, church history and doctrine, and Christian art and music
* [http://sor.cua.edu Syriac Orthodox Resources] Large compendium of information and links relating to Oriental Orthodoxy.

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