Christianity: Protestantism and Catholics - Essay Example

Christianity [Name of the Student] [Name of the University] Christianity Christianity has gained popularity around the world and constitutes the largest religion in the world. It has become a global religion, due to is widespread dissemination. The proliferation of Christianity can be attributed to the effect of the Great Reformation. Protestantism stressed on the importance of literacy. This approach gave way to the emergence of scientific and technological education. These developments made world exploration, via sea, a distinct possibility, which was exploited by a number of European explorers. This exploration led to the development of international trade. Thus, the globalisation of Christianity has largely been due to the insistence on literacy by Protestantism[Tic08]. As such, the spread of Christianity increased tremendously during the 1500s. In this period, the Puritans and Pilgrims migrated to the New World, or the present day Americas. These people were adherents of the Protestant Reformation, which preached that God was revealed through Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others. These settlers were instrumental in the development of America. They assumed control over the places to which they had migrated and made them their colonies. They also established Christian foundations in the new world. These people established a number of colonies, and were guided in all important issues by the Bible[She13]. However, there have been a number of variations in the procedures and practices between Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity. For instance, there is a vast difference in the confessional rite under these two divisions. All the same, these differences have not influenced religious interactions and exchanges in Northern Europe. That was the situation until the late 12th century. The public religious worship of St. Nicholas had been performed differently in the two divisions of Christianity. The cult of the saints was not limited to the liturgy of earlier saints[Gar102]. In addition, the political and dynastic practices differed in Northern Europe. This system had also influenced the social phenomenon with regard to liturgy, theology, and ecclesiology. In the context of the kings, princes, and traders of this region, these differences were not of much significance. Christian culture spread in the Northern Europe in the first two centuries after conversion[Gar102]. The Christian religion is principally founded on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. This sacrifice, is believed by the Christians to hold out the promise of eternal salvation for them. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of the New Testament, are the chief sources of the life of Jesus. In the last stages of his life, Jesus attended the Jewish Passover holiday at Jerusalem. He had arrived at that place, riding a donkey[Cru96]. Furthermore, the Gospels declare that Jesus caused a commotion in that place, by prophesying that the Temple of Jerusalem would be destroyed. He was also highly critical of the flourishing religion based commerce that was taking place inside the premises of the temple. After this, Jesus invited his disciples to an upper room, where he provided them with a meal. This is better known as the Last Supper. The Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke or the Synoptic Gospels state that the Last Supper transpired on the Passover[Cru96]. However, the Gospel of John does not accept this date, as the date of the Last Supper. All the same, the different Gospels are in agreement, in stating that Jesus blessed the bread and wine in this feast. He also declared to his disciples that these were his blood and body of the Covenant. With this act of Jesus, the sacrament of the Christian Eucharist was commenced. During the course of this meal, Jesus declared that one of his disciples would betray him. This betrayer was Judas Iscariot, according to the tradition of the Christians. Subsequent to this supper, Judas brought a group of armed men, who apprehended Jesus. The latter was praying on the Mount of Olives, when Judas identified him to the armed marauders, by planting a kiss on his cheek[Cru96]. After his arrest, Jesus was taken to Caiaphas, as per the account provided in the scriptures. At that place, the local Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, was approached by the Jewish high priest and his counselors, who asked for the crucifixion of Jesus. Subsequently, a charge of blasphemy was brought against Jesus. He was condemned for having depicted himself as the messiah, and for his inflammatory acts and words at the Temple of Jerusalem[Cru96]. There is every possibility that Pontius Pilate could have considered Jesus to be a person capable of creating law and order problems. In addition, Jesus had a large following and this was also viewed with suspicion by the Roman governor. There is considerable divergence in the scriptures with regard to the extent of culpability of the Roman governor. All the same, he passed orders for the execution of Jesus. This was performed by crucifying Jesus atop the hill of Calvary[Cru96]. As such, Jesus was put to a cruel death, and there is scant information regarding what had taken place. Some of the scriptures state that some women, subsequently, paid a visit to the tomb, where the dead body of Jesus had been interred. These women did not find anything in the tomb. However, these scriptures declare that an angel had been present at that place, who informed these women that Jesus had been resurrected. There are a few accounts in some of the books of the Bible, which state that Jesus after resurrection met some of his believers[Cru96]. There are significant differences in the description of this resurrection, among the various books of the Bible that deal with this incident. However, Christianity has always firmly believed in the veracity of these events, which commenced with the crucifixion of Jesus and included his resurrection and final ascendance to heaven. Christianity was initially spread by the 12 disciples of Jesus. The exception was Judas, and the Gospel of Matthew states that he had committed suicide[Cru96]. During the initial centuries of AD, the political environment was very fluid. The church leaders selected four of the Gospels and constructed the New Testament. However, there was a significant lack of uniformity in the beliefs of the various factions. During contemporary several documents have come to light, which establish that there was no unanimity regarding the events of that era. These documents had been hidden by the vested interests, in order to promote their ulterior motives. Gnosticism had been in existence, prior to the events related to Jesus. These individuals were of the conviction that every individual was divinely associated with God. The Gnostics believed that knowledge regarding this association could be discerned by divine inspiration[Cru96]. Some of the first people to embrace Christianity were the Copts of Egypt. This country had been of considerable prominence in the Old Testament. The Copts believed that their land was of great significance in the life of Jesus. They have stated that Jesus and his parents had sought refuge in Egypt, in order to escape persecution from King Herod of Judea. This was for four years, from the time of Jesus’ birth[Cru96]. After the demise of Jesus, the Apostle Mark had preached this new faith to the Greek and Jewish communities of Alexandria. This was in the year 43 AD. Some of the Coptic sources are of the opinion that the Apostle Mark had been killed in mob violence, which took place in 68 AD. This revolt was by the Jews who were opposing the Roman move to install idols and statutes in the places of worship of these Jews. Their violent protest resulted in their destruction by the Roman emperor Trajan. [Cru96]. This enabled the Christians of that place to gain importance. By the third century, it was commonplace for Christians to be mercilessly persecuted across the length and breadth of the Roman Empire, and Egypt was no exception. This period has been termed the Era of Martyrs by the Coptic Church. Despite these persistent efforts to destroy it, Christianity was not destroyed. The School of Alexandria’s authors and thinkers came forth with scholarly works and ideas, which were instrumental in consolidating and forming the Church[Cru96]. Subsequently, both the Catholics and Protestants explored the world, in order to spread Christianity to other countries. However, there was stiff competition among these two sections. Christianity was spread tremendously, during the colonial period. [Tic08]. The church played an important role in the spread of Christianity. References Tic08: , (Tickle, 2008, p. 29), She13: , (Sherlin, 2013), Gar102: , (Garipzanov, 2010, p. 240), Cru96: , (Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, 1996), Read More