Christianity Christianity ( from the Ancient Greek word Χριστός , " Christ os " , a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ , " Māšîăḥ " , meaning " the anointed one " , together with the Latin suffixes " - ian " and " - itas " ) is an Abrahamic , monotheistic religion based on the life and oral teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament . Christianity is the world ' s largest religion , with nearly 2 . 4 billion adherents , known as Christians . Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God , fully divine and fully human , and the saviour of humanity whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament . Consequently , Christians refer to Jesus as Christ or the Messiah . The foundations of Christian theology are expressed in ecumenical creeds . These professions of faith state that Jesus suffered , died , was buried , and was resurrected from the dead in order to grant eternal life to those who believe in him and trust in him for the remission of their sin s . The creeds further maintain that Jesus bodily ascended into heaven , where he reigns with God the Father . Most Christian denomination s teach that Jesus will return to judge everybody , living and dead , and to grant eternal life to his followers . He is considered the model of a virtuous life . His ministry , crucifixion , and resurrection are often referred to as " the gospel " , meaning " good news " ( a loan translation of the ) . The term " gospel " also refers to written accounts of Jesus ' s life and teaching , four of which the Gospels of Matthew , Mark , Luke , and John are considered canonical and included in Christian Bible s . Christianity is an Abrahamic religion that began as a Jewish sect in the mid - 1st century . Originating in the Levant region of the Middle East , it quickly spread to Syria , Mesopotamia , Asia Minor , and Egypt . It grew in size and influence over a few centuries , and by the end of the 4th century had become the official state church of the Roman Empire , replacing other forms of religion practiced under Roman rule . During the Middle Ages , most of the remainder of Europe was Christianized , and adherents were gained in the Middle East , North Africa , Ethiopia , and parts of India . Following the Age of Discovery , Christianity spread to the Americas , Australasia , sub - Saharan Africa , and the rest of the world through missionary work and colonization . Christianity has played a prominent role in the shaping of Western civilization . Worldwide , the three largest groups of Christianity are the Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church , and the various denominations of Protestantism . The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox patriarchate s split from one another in the schism of the 11th century , and Protestantism came into existence during the Reformation of the 16th century , splitting from the Roman Catholic Church . Beliefs . Christians share a certain set of beliefs that they hold as essential to their faith , though there are many important differences of interpretation and opinion of the Bible on which Christianity is based . Creeds . Concise doctrinal statements or confessions of religious beliefs are known as creeds ( from Latin " credo " , meaning " I believe " ) . They began as baptismal formulae and were later expanded during the Christological controversies of the 4th and 5th centuries to become statements of faith . Many evangelical Protestants reject creeds as definitive statements of faith , even while agreeing with some or all of the substance of the creeds . The Baptists have been non - creedal " in that they have not sought to establish binding authoritative confessions of faith on one another . " Also rejecting creeds are groups with roots in the Restoration Movement , such as the Christian Church ( Disciples of Christ ) , the Evangelical Christian Church in Canada and the Churches of Christ . The Apostles ' Creed remains the most popular statement of the articles of Christian faith which are generally acceptable to most Christian denominations that are creedal . It is widely used by a number of Christian denominations for both liturgical and catechetical purposes , most visibly by liturgical Churches of Western Christian tradition , including the Latin Church of the Catholic Church , Lutheranism , Anglicanism , and Western Orthodoxy . It is also used by Presbyterians , Methodists , and Congregationalists . This particular creed was developed between the 2nd and 9th centuries . Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator . Each of the doctrines found in this creed can be traced to statements current in the apostolic period . The creed was apparently used as a summary of Christian doctrine for baptismal candidates in the churches of Rome . Its main points include : The Nicene Creed , largely a response to Arianism , was formulated at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople in 325 and 381 respectively and ratified as the universal creed of Christendom by the First Council of Ephesus in 431 . The Chalcedonian Definition , or Creed of Chalcedon , developed at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 , though rejected by the Oriental Orthodox Churches , taught Christ " to be acknowledged in two natures , inconfusedly , unchangeably , indivisibly , inseparably " : one divine and one human , and that both natures , while perfect in themselves , are nevertheless also perfectly united into one person . The Athanasian Creed , 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 nor dividing the Substance . " Most Christians ( Roman Catholics , Eastern Orthodox , Oriental Orthodox and Protestants alike ) accept the use of creeds , and subscribe to at least one of the creeds mentioned above . Ten Commandments . The Ten Commandments are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity . They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath , and prohibitions against idolatry , blasphemy , murder , theft , and adultery . Different groups follow slightly different traditions for interpreting and numbering them . According to the synoptic gospels , Christ generalised the law into two underlying principles ; The first is " Hear , O Israel : The Lord our God , the Lord is one ; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart , and with all your soul , and with all your mind , and with all your strength . " While the second is " You shall love your neighbor as yourself . " These are quotes from and . Barnes ' Notes on the New Testament comments on these verses saying : " These comprehend the substance of what Moses in the law , and what the prophets have spoken . What they have said has been to endeavour to win men to the love of God and each other . Love to God and man comprehends the whole [ of ] religion ; and to produce this has been the design of Moses , the prophets , the Saviour , and the apostles . " Jesus Christ . The central tenet of Christianity is the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah ( Christ ) . Christians believe that Jesus , as the Messiah , was anointed by God as savior of humanity , and hold that Jesus ' coming was the fulfillment of messianic prophecies of the Old Testament . The Christian concept of the Messiah differs significantly from the contemporary Jewish concept . The core Christian belief is that through belief in and acceptance of the death and resurrection of Jesus , sinful humans can be reconciled to God and thereby are offered salvation and the promise of eternal life . While there have been many theological disputes over the nature of Jesus over the earliest centuries of Christian history , Christians generally believe that Jesus is God incarnate and " true God and true man " ( or both fully divine and fully human ) . Jesus , having become fully human , suffered the pains and temptations of a mortal man , but did not sin . As fully God , he rose to life again . According to the Bible , " God raised him from the dead " , he ascended to heaven , is " seated at the right hand of the Father " and will ultimately return to fulfill the rest of Messianic prophecy such as the Resurrection of the dead , the Last Judgment and final establishment of the Kingdom of God . According to the canonical gospels of Matthew and Luke , Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born from the Virgin Mary . Little of Jesus ' childhood is recorded in the canonical Gospels , however infancy Gospels were popular in antiquity . In comparison , his adulthood , especially the week before his death , is well documented in the Gospels contained within the New Testament , because that part of his life was believed to be most important . The Biblical accounts of Jesus ' ministry include : his baptism , miracles , preaching , teaching , and deeds . Death and resurrection . Christians consider the resurrection of Jesus to be the cornerstone of their faith ( see 1 Corinthians 15 ) and the most important event in history . Among Christian beliefs , the death and resurrection of Jesus are two core events on which much of Christian doctrine and theology is based . According to the New Testament Jesus was crucified , died a physical death , was buried within a tomb , and rose from the dead three days later . The New Testament mentions several resurrection appearances of Jesus on different occasions to his twelve apostles and disciples , including " more than five hundred brethren at once " , before Jesus ' Ascension to heaven . Jesus ' death and resurrection are commemorated by Christians in all worship services , with special emphasis during Holy Week which includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday . The death and resurrection of Jesus are usually considered the most important events in Christian theology , partly because they demonstrate that Jesus has power over life and death and therefore has the authority and power to give people eternal life . Christian churches accept and teach the New Testament account of the resurrection of Jesus with very few exceptions . Some modern scholars use the belief of Jesus ' followers in the resurrection as a point of departure for establishing the continuity of the historical Jesus and the proclamation of the early church . Some liberal Christians do not accept a literal bodily resurrection , seeing the story as richly symbolic and spiritually nourishing myth . Arguments over death and resurrection claims occur at many religious debate s and interfaith dialogues . Paul the Apostle , an early Christian convert and missionary , wrote , " If Christ was not raised , then all our preaching is useless , and your trust in God is useless . " Salvation . Paul the Apostle , like Jews and Roman pagan s of his time , believed that sacrifice can bring about new kinship ties , purity , and eternal life . For Paul the necessary sacrifice was the death of Jesus : Gentiles who are " Christ ' s " are , like Israel , descendants of Abraham and " heirs according to the promise " . The God who raised Jesus from the dead would also give new life to the " mortal bodies " of Gentile Christians , who had become with Israel the " children of God " and were therefore no longer " in the flesh " . Modern Christian churches tend to be much more concerned with how humanity can be saved from a universal condition of sin and death than the question of how both Jews and Gentiles can be in God ' s family . According to both Catholic and Protestant doctrine , salvation comes by Jesus ' substitutionary death and resurrection . The Catholic Church teaches that salvation does not occur without faithfulness on the part of Christians ; converts must live in accordance with principles of love and ordinarily must be baptized . Martin Luther taught that baptism was necessary for salvation , but modern Lutherans and other Protestants tend to teach that salvation is a gift that comes to an individual by God ' s grace , sometimes defined as " unmerited favor " , even apart from baptism . Christians differ in their views on the extent to which individuals ' salvation is pre - ordained by God . Reformed theology places distinctive emphasis on grace by teaching that individuals are completely incapable of self - redemption , but that sanctifying grace is irresistible . In contrast Catholics , Orthodox Christians and Arminian Protestants believe that the exercise of free will is necessary to have faith in Jesus . Trinity . " Trinity " refers to the teaching that the one God comprises three distinct , eternally co - existing persons ; the " Father " , the " Son " ( incarnate in Jesus Christ ) , and the " Holy Spirit " . Together , these three persons are sometimes called the Godhead , although there is no single term in use in Scripture to denote the unified Godhead . In the words of the Athanasian Creed , an early statement of Christian belief , " the Father is God , the Son is God , and the Holy Spirit is God , and yet there are not three Gods but one God " . They are distinct from another : the Father has no source , the Son is begotten of the Father , and the Spirit proceeds from the Father . Though distinct , the three persons cannot be divided from one another in being or in operation . The Trinity is an essential doctrine of mainstream Christianity . " Father , Son and Holy Spirit " represents both the immanence and transcendence of God . God is believed to be infinite and God ' s presence may be perceived through the actions of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit . According to this doctrine , God is not divided in the sense that each person has a third of the whole ; rather , each person is considered to be fully God ( see Perichoresis ) . The distinction lies in their relations , the Father being unbegotten ; the Son being begotten of the Father ; and the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and ( in Western Christian theology ) from the Son . Regardless of this apparent difference , the three ' persons ' are each eternal and omnipotent . The word " trias " , from which " trinity " is derived , is first seen in the works of Theophilus of Antioch . He wrote of " the Trinity of God ( the Father ) , His Word ( the Son ) and His Wisdom ( Holy Spirit ) " . The term may have been in use before this time . Afterwards it appears in Tertullian . In the following century the word was in general use . It is found in many passages of Origen . Trinitarians . " Trinitarianism " denotes those Christians who believe in the concept of the " Trinity " . Almost all Christian denominations and Churches hold Trinitarian beliefs . Although the words " Trinity " and " Triune " do not appear in the Bible , theologians beginning in the 3rd century developed the term and concept to facilitate comprehension of the New Testament teachings of God as Father , God as Jesus the Son , and God as the Holy Spirit . Since that time , Christian theologians have been careful to emphasize that Trinity does not imply three gods , nor that each member of the Trinity is one - third of an infinite God ; Trinity is defined as one God in three Persons . Nontrinitarians . " Nontrinitarianism " refers to theology that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity . Various nontrinitarian views , such as adoptionism or modalism , existed in early Christianity , leading to the disputes about Christology . Nontrinitarianism later appeared again in the Gnosticism of the Cathars in the 11th through 13th centuries , and by groups with Unitarian theology in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century , and in the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century , and in some groups arising during the Second Great Awakening of the 19th century . Scriptures . Christianity , like other religions , has adherents whose beliefs and biblical interpretations vary . Christianity regards the biblical canon , the Old Testament and the New Testament , as the inspired word of God . The traditional view of inspiration is that God worked through human authors so that what they produced was what God wished to communicate . The Greek word referring to inspiration in is " Theopneustos " , which literally means " God - breathed " . Some believe that divine inspiration makes our present Bibles inerrant . Others claim inerrancy for the Bible in its original manuscripts , although none of those are extant . Still others maintain that only a particular translation is inerrant , such as the King James Version . Another view closely related is Biblical infallibility or limited inerrancy , which affirms that the Bible is free of error as a guide to salvation , but may include errors on matters such as history , geography or science . The books of the Bible accepted among the Orthodox , Catholic and Protestant churches vary somewhat , with Jews accepting only the Hebrew Bible as canonical ; there is however substantial overlap . These variations are a reflection of the range of tradition s , and of the councils that have convened on the subject . Every version of the Old Testament always includes the books of the Tanakh , the canon of the Hebrew Bible . The Catholic and Orthodox canons , in addition to the Tanakh , also include the Deuterocanonical Books as part of the Old Testament . These books appear in the Septuagint , but are regarded by Protestants to be apocryphal . However , they are considered to be important historical documents which help to inform the understanding of words , grammar and syntax used in the historical period of their conception . Some versions of the Bible include a separate Apocrypha section between the Old Testament and the New Testament . The New Testament , originally written in Koine Greek , contains 27 books which are agreed upon by all churches . Modern scholarship has raised many issues with the Bible . While the Authorized King James Version is held to by many because of its striking English prose , in fact it was translated from the Erasmus Greek Bible which in turn " was based on a single 12th Century manuscript that is one of the worst manuscripts we have available to us " . Much scholarship in the past several hundred years has gone into comparing different manuscripts in order to reconstruct the original text . Another issue is that several books are considered to be forgeries . The injunction that women " be silent and submissive " in 1 Timothy 12 is thought by many to be a forgery by a follower of Paul , a similar phrase in 1 Corinthians 14 , which is thought to be by Paul , appears in different places in different manuscripts and is thought to originally be a margin note by a copyist . Other verses in 1 Corinthians , such as 1 Corinthians 11 : 2 – 16 where women are instructed to wear a covering over their hair " when they pray or prophesies " , contradict this verse . A final issue with the Bible is the way in which books were selected for inclusion in the New Testament . Other Gospels have now been recovered , such as those found near Nag Hammadi in 1945 , and while some of these texts are quite different from what Christians have been used to , it should be understood that some of this newly recovered Gospel material is quite possibly contemporaneous with , or even earlier than , the New Testament Gospels . The core of the Gospel of Thomas , in particular , may date from as early as 50 AD , and if so would provide an insight into the earliest gospel texts that underlie the canonical Gospels , texts that are mentioned in Luke 1 : 1 – 2 . The Gospel of Thomas contains much that is familiar from the canonical Gospels – verse 113 , for example ( “ The Father ’ s Kingdom is spread out upon the earth , but people do not see it ” ) , is reminiscent of Luke 17 : 20 – 21 – and the Gospel of John , with a terminology and approach that is suggestive of what was later termed " Gnosticism " , has recently been seen as a possible response to the Gospel of Thomas , a text that is commonly labelled " proto - Gnostic " . Scholarship , then , is currently exploring the relationship in the Early Church between mystical speculation and experience on the one hand and the search for church order on the other , by analyzing new - found texts , by subjecting canonical texts to further scrutiny , and by an examination of the passage of New Testament texts to canonical status . Catholic and Orthodox interpretations . In antiquity , two schools of exegesis developed in Alexandria and 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 . Catholic theology distinguishes two senses of scripture : the literal and the spiritual . The " literal " sense of understanding scripture is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture . The " spiritual " sense is further subdivided into : Regarding exegesis , following the rules of sound interpretation , Catholic theology holds : Protestant interpretation . Some Protestant interpreters make use of typology . Eschatology . The end of things , whether the end of an individual life , the end of the age , or the end of the world , broadly speaking is Christian eschatology ; the study of the destiny of humans as it is revealed in the Bible . The major issues in Christian eschatology are the Tribulation , death and the afterlife , the Rapture , the Second Coming of Jesus , Resurrection of the Dead , Heaven and Hell , Millennialism , the Last Judgment , the end of the world , and the New Heavens and New Earth . Christians believe that the second coming of Christ will occur at the end of time after a period of severe persecution ( the Great Tribulation ) . All who have died will be resurrected bodily from the dead for the Last Judgment . Jesus will fully establish the Kingdom of God in fulfillment of scriptural prophecies . Death and afterlife . Most Christians believe that human beings experience divine judgment and are rewarded either with eternal life or eternal damnation . This includes the general judgement at the resurrection of the dead as well as the belief ( held by Roman Catholics , Orthodox and most Protestants ) in a judgment particular to the individual soul upon physical death . In Roman Catholicism , those who die in a state of grace , i . e . , without any mortal sin separating them from God , but are still imperfectly purified from the effects of sin , undergo purification through the intermediate state of purgatory to achieve the holiness necessary for entrance into God ' s presence . Those who have attained this goal are called " saints " ( Latin " sanctus " , " holy " ) . Some Christian groups , such as Seventh - day Adventists , hold to mortalism , the belief that the human soul is not naturally immortal , and is unconscious during the intermediate state between bodily death and resurrection . These Christians also hold to Annihilationism , the belief that subsequent to the final judgement , the wicked will cease to exist rather than suffer everlasting torment . Jehovah ' s Witnesses hold to a similar view . Worship . Justin Martyr described 2nd - century Christian liturgy in his " First Apology " ( c . 150 ) to Emperor Antoninus Pius , and his description remains relevant to the basic structure of Christian liturgical worship : 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 gospel accounts . 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 . Some groups depart from this traditional liturgical structure . A division is often made between " High " church service s , characterized by greater solemnity and ritual , and " Low " services , but even within these two categories there is great diversity in forms of worship . Seventh - day Adventists meet on Saturday , while others do not meet on a weekly basis . 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 . Quakers sit quietly until moved by the Holy Spirit to speak . Some Evangelical services resemble concerts with 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 led by a 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 ( for example , many Churches of Christ object to the use of instruments in worship ) or by tradition ( as in Orthodoxy ) . Nearly all forms of churchmanship celebrate the Eucharist ( Holy Communion ) , which consists of a consecrated meal . It is reenacted in accordance with Jesus ' instruction at the Last Supper that his followers do in remembrance of him as when he gave his disciples bread , saying , " This is my body " , and gave them wine saying , " This is my blood " . Some Christian denominations practice closed communion . They offer communion to those who are already united in that denomination or sometimes individual church . Catholics restrict participation to their members who are not in a state of mortal sin . Most other churches practice open communion since they view communion as a means to unity , rather than an end , and invite all believing Christians to participate . Worship can be varied for special events like baptism s or weddings 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 often held before rather than during services ) . Sacraments . In Christian belief and practice , a " sacrament " is a rite , instituted by Christ , that mediates grace , constituting a sacred mystery . The term is derived from the Latin word " sacramentum " , which was used to translate the Greek word for " mystery " . Views concerning both what rites are sacramental , and what it means for an act to be a sacrament vary among Christian denominations and traditions . The most conventional functional definition of a sacrament is that it is an outward sign , instituted by Christ , that conveys an inward , spiritual grace through Christ . The two most widely accepted sacraments are Baptism and the Eucharist ( or Holy Communion ) , however , the majority of Christians also recognize five additional sacraments : Confirmation ( Chrismation in the Orthodox tradition ) , Holy Orders , Confession , Anointing of the Sick , and Matrimony . Taken together , these are the Seven Sacraments as recognised by churches in the High church tradition — notably Roman Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Oriental Orthodox , Independent Catholic , Old Catholic most Anglicans , and some Lutherans . Most other denominations and traditions typically affirm only Baptism and Eucharist as sacraments , while some Protestant groups , such as the Quakers , reject sacramental theology . Most Protestant Christian denominations who believe these rites do not communicate grace prefer to call them " ordinances " . Liturgical calendar . Roman Catholics , Anglicans , Eastern Christians , and traditional Protestant communities frame worship around the liturgical year . The liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of season s , each with their theological emphases , and modes of prayer , which can be signified by different ways of decorating churches , colours of parament s and vestment s for clergy , scriptural readings , themes for preaching and even different traditions and practices often observed personally or in the home . Western Christian liturgical calendars are based on the cycle of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church , and Eastern Christians use analogous calendars based on the cycle of their respective rites . Calendars set aside holy days , such as solemnities which commemorate an event in the life of Jesus or Mary , 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 ; these are the celebrations of Christ ' s birth , resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church , respectively . A few denominations make no use of a liturgical calendar . Symbols . Christianity has not generally practised aniconism , or the avoidance or prohibition of types of images , even if the early Jewish Christian s sects , as well as some modern denomination s , preferred to some extent not to use figures in their symbols , by invoking the Decalogue ' s prohibition of idolatry . The cross , which is today one of the most widely recognised symbols in the world , was used as a Christian symbol from the earliest times . Tertullian , in his book " De Corona " , tells how it was already a tradition for Christians to trace repeatedly on their foreheads the sign of the cross . Although the cross was known to the early Christians , the crucifix did not appear in use until the 5th century . Among the symbols employed by the primitive Christians , that of the fish or Ichthys seems to have ranked first in importance . From monumental sources such as tombs it is known that the symbolic fish was familiar to Christians from the earliest times . The fish was depicted as a Christian symbol in the first decades of the 2nd century . Its popularity among Christians was due principally , it would seem , to the famous acrostic consisting of the initial letters of five Greek words forming the word for fish ( Ichthys ) , which words briefly but clearly described the character of Christ and the claim to worship of believers : " Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter " ( Ίησοῦς Χριστός , Θεοῦ Υἱός , Σωτήρ ) , meaning , " Jesus Christ , Son of God , Saviour " . Other major Christian symbols include the chi - rho monogram , the dove ( symbolic of the Holy Spirit ) , the sacrificial lamb ( symbolic of Christ ' s sacrifice ) , the vine ( symbolising the necessary connectedness of the Christian with Christ ) and many others . These all derive from writings found in the New Testament . Baptism . Baptism is the ritual act , with the use of water , by which a person is admitted to membership of the Church . Beliefs on baptism vary among denominations . Differences occur firstly , on whether the act has any spiritual significance , some churches hold to the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration , which affirms that baptism creates or strengthens a person ' s faith , and is intimately linked to salvation , this view is held by Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches as well as Lutherans and Anglicans , while others simply acknowledge it as a purely symbolic act , an external public declaration of the inward change which has taken place in the person . Secondly , there are differences of opinion on the methodology of the act . These methods being : Baptism by Immersion ; if immersion is total , Baptism by Submersion ; and Baptism by Affusion ( pouring ) and Baptism by Aspersion ( sprinkling ) . Those who hold the first view may also adhere to the tradition of Infant Baptism ; the Orthodox Church es all practice infant baptism and always baptize by total immersion repeated three times in the name of the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit . Prayer . Jesus ' teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount displays a distinct lack of interest in the external aspects of prayer . A concern with the techniques of prayer is condemned as ' pagan ' , and instead a simple trust in God ' s fatherly goodness is encouraged . Elsewhere in the New Testament this same freedom of access to God is also emphasized . This confident position should be understood in light of Christian belief in the unique relationship between the believer and Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit . In subsequent Christian traditions , certain physical gestures are emphasized , including medieval gestures such as genuflection or making the sign of the cross . Kneeling , bowing and prostration s ( see also poklon ) are often practiced in more traditional branches of Christianity . Frequently in Western Christianity the hands are placed palms together and forward as in the feudal commendation ceremony . At other times the older orans posture may be used , with palms up and elbows in . " Intercessory prayer " is prayer offered for the benefit of other people . There are many intercessory prayers recorded in the Bible , including prayers of the Apostle Peter on behalf of sick persons and by prophet s of the Old Testament in favor of other people . In the New Testament book of James no distinction is made between the intercessory prayer offered by ordinary believers and the prominent Old Testament prophet Elijah . The effectiveness of prayer in Christianity derives from the power of God rather than the status of the one praying . The ancient church , in both Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity , developed a tradition of asking for the intercession of ( deceased ) saints , and this remains the practice of most Eastern Orthodox , Oriental Orthodox , Roman Catholic , and some Anglican churches . Churches of the Protestant Reformation however rejected prayer to the saints , largely on the basis of the sole mediatorship of Christ . The reformer Huldrych Zwingli admitted that he had offered prayers to the saints until his reading of the Bible convinced him that this was idolatrous . According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church : " Prayer is the raising of one ' s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God . " The Book of Common Prayer in the Anglican tradition is a guide which provides a set order for church services , containing set prayers , scripture readings , and hymns or sung Psalms . History . Early Church and Christological Councils . Christianity began as a Jewish sect in the Levant of the middle east in the mid - 1st century . It had a number of influences , including other religions . John Bowker states that Christian ideas such as " angels , the end of the world , a final judgment , the resurrection , and heaven and hell received form and substance from . . . Zoroastrian beliefs " . Its earliest development took place under the leadership of the Twelve Apostles , particularly Saint Peter and Paul the Apostle , followed by the early bishop s , whom Christians consider the successors of the Apostles . According to the scriptures , Christians were from the beginning subject to persecution by some Jewish religious authorities , who disagreed with the apostles ' teachings ( See Split of early Christianity and Judaism ) . This involved punishments , including death , for Christians such as Stephen and James , son of Zebedee . Larger - scale persecutions followed at the hands of the authorities of the Roman Empire , first in the year 64 , when Emperor Nero blamed them for the Great Fire of Rome . According to Church tradition , it was under Nero ' s persecution that early Church leaders Peter and Paul of Tarsus were each martyred in Rome . Further widespread persecutions of the Church occurred under nine subsequent Roman emperors , most intensely under Decius and Diocletian . From the year 150 , Christian teachers began to produce theological and apologetic works aimed at defending the faith . These authors are known as the Church Fathers , and study of them is called Patristics . Notable early Fathers include Ignatius of Antioch , Polycarp , Justin Martyr , Irenaeus , Tertullian , Clement of Alexandria , and Origen . However , Armenia is considered the first nation to accept Christianity in 301 AD . End of Roman persecution under Emperor Constantine ( 313 AD ) . State persecution ceased in the 4th century , when Constantine I issued an edict of toleration in 313 . On 27 February 380 , Emperor Theodosius I enacted a law establishing Nicene Christianity as the state church of the Roman Empire . From at least the 4th century , Christianity has played a prominent role in the shaping of Western civilization . Constantine was also instrumental in the convocation of the First Council of Nicaea in 325 , which sought to address the Arian heresy and formulated the Nicene Creed , which is still used by the Catholic Church , Eastern Orthodoxy , Anglican Communion , and many Protestant churches . Nicaea was the first of a series of Ecumenical ( worldwide ) Councils which formally defined critical elements of the theology of the Church , notably concerning Christology . The Assyrian Church of the East did not accept the third and following Ecumenical Councils , and are still separate today . The presence of Christianity in Africa began in the middle of the 1st century in Egypt , and by the end of the 2nd century in the region around Carthage . Mark the Evangelist started the Orthodox Church of Alexandria in about 43 AD . Important Africans who influenced the early development of Christianity includes Tertullian , Clement of Alexandria , Origen of Alexandria , Cyprian , Athanasius and Augustine of Hippo . The later rise of Islam in North Africa reduced the size and numbers of Christian congregations , leaving only the Coptic Church in Egypt , the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the Horn of Africa , and the Nubian Church in the Sudan ( Nobatia , Makuria , and Alodia ) . In terms of prosperity and cultural life , the Byzantine Empire was one of the peaks in Christian history and Orthodox civilization , and Constantinople remained the leading city of the Christian world in size , wealth , and culture . There was a renewed interest in classical Greek philosophy , as well as an increase in literary output in vernacular Greek . Byzantine art and literature held a pre - eminent place in Europe , and the cultural impact of Byzantine art on the west during this period was enormous and of long lasting significance . Early Middle Ages . With the decline and fall of the Roman Empire in the west , the papacy became a political player , first visible in Pope Leo ' s diplomatic dealings with Huns and Vandals . The church also entered into a long period of missionary activity and expansion among the various tribes . Whilst arianists instituted the death penalty for practicing pagans ( see Massacre of Verden as example ) , Catholicism also spread among the Germanic peoples , the Celtic and Slavic peoples , the Hungarians , and the Baltic peoples . Christianity has been an important part of the shaping of Western civilization , at least since the 4th century . Around 500 , St . Benedict set out his Monastic Rule , establishing a system of regulations for the foundation and running of monasteries . Monasticism became a powerful force throughout Europe , and gave rise to many early centers of learning , most famously in Ireland , Scotland and Gaul , contributing to the Carolingian Renaissance of the 9th century . In the 7th century Muslims conquered Syria ( including Jerusalem ) , North Africa and Spain . Part of the Muslims ' success was due to the exhaustion of the Byzantine empire in its decades long conflict with Persia . Beginning in the 8th century , with the rise of Carolingian leaders , the papacy began to find greater political support in the Frankish Kingdom . The Middle Ages brought about major changes within the church . Pope Gregory the Great dramatically reformed ecclesiastical structure and administration . In the early 8th century , iconoclasm became a divisive issue , when it was sponsored by the Byzantine emperors . The Second Ecumenical Council of Nicaea ( 787 ) finally pronounced in favor of icons . In the early 10th century , Western Christian monasticism was further rejuvenated through the leadership of the great Benedictine monastery of Cluny . Hebraism , like Hellenism , has been an all - important factor in the development of Western Civilization ; Judaism , as the precursor of Christianity , has indirectly had had much to do with shaping the ideals and morality of western nations since the Christian era . High and Late Middle Ages . In the west , from the 11th century onward , older cathedral schools developed into universities ( see University of Oxford , University of Paris , and University of Bologna . ) The traditional medieval universities — evolved from Catholic and Protestant church schools — then established specialized academic structures for properly educating greater numbers of students as profession als . Prof . Walter Rüegg , editor of " A History of the University in Europe " , reports that universities then only trained students to become clerics , lawyers , civil servants , and physicians . Originally teaching only theology , universities steadily added subjects including medicine , philosophy and law , becoming the direct ancestors of modern institutions of learning . The university is generally regarded as an institution that has its origin in the Medieval Christian setting . Prior to the establishment of universities , European higher education took place for hundreds of years in Christian cathedral school s or monastic school s ( " Scholae monasticae " ) , in which monk s and nun s taught classes ; evidence of these immediate forerunners of the later university at many places dates back to the 6th century AD . Accompanying the rise of the " new towns " throughout Europe , mendicant order s were founded , bringing the consecrated religious life out of the monastery and into the new urban setting . The two principal mendicant movements were the Franciscans and the Dominicans founded by St . Francis and St . Dominic respectively . Both orders made significant contributions to the development of the great universities of Europe . Another new order were the Cistercians , whose large isolated monasteries spearheaded the settlement of former wilderness areas . In this period church building and ecclesiastical architecture reached new heights , culminating in the orders of Romanesque and Gothic architecture and the building of the great European cathedrals . From 1095 under the pontificate of Urban II , the Crusades were launched . These were a series of military campaigns in the Holy Land and elsewhere , initiated in response to pleas from the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I for aid against Turkish expansion . The Crusades ultimately failed to stifle Islamic aggression and even contributed to Christian enmity with the sacking of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade . Over a period stretching from the 7th to the 13th century , the Christian Church underwent gradual alienation , resulting in a schism dividing it into a so - called Latin or Western Christian branch , the Roman Catholic Church , and an Eastern , largely Greek , branch , the Orthodox Church . These two churches disagree on a number of administrative , liturgical , and doctrinal issues , most notably papal primacy of jurisdiction . The Second Council of Lyon ( 1274 ) and the Council of Florence ( 1439 ) attempted to reunite the churches , but in both cases the Eastern Orthodox refused to implement the decisions and the two principal churches remain in schism to the present day . However , the Roman Catholic Church has achieved union with various smaller eastern churches . Beginning around 1184 , following the crusade against the Cathar heresy , various institutions , broadly referred to as the Inquisition , were established with the aim of suppressing heresy and securing religious and doctrinal unity within Christianity through conversion and prosecution . Protestant Reformation and Counter - Reformation . The 15th - century Renaissance brought about a renewed interest in ancient and classical learning . Another major schism , the Reformation , resulted in the splintering of the Western Christendom into several Christian denominations . Martin Luther in 1517 protested against the sale of indulgences and soon moved on to deny several key points of Roman Catholic doctrine . Other reformers like Zwingli , Calvin , Knox and Simons further criticized Roman Catholic teaching and worship . These challenges developed into the movement called Protestantism , which repudiated the primacy of the pope , the role of tradition , the seven sacraments , and other doctrines and practices . The Reformation in England began in 1534 , when King Henry VIII had himself declared head of the Church of England . Beginning in 1536 , the monasteries throughout England , Wales and Ireland were dissolved . Partly in response to the Protestant Reformation , the Roman Catholic Church engaged in a substantial process of reform and renewal , known as the Counter - Reformation or Catholic Reform . The Council of Trent clarified and reasserted Roman Catholic doctrine . During the following centuries , competition between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism became deeply entangled with political struggles among European states . Meanwhile , the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492 brought about a new wave of missionary activity . Partly from missionary zeal , but under the impetus of colonial expansion by the European powers , Christianity spread to the Americas , Oceania , East Asia , and sub - Saharan Africa . Throughout Europe , the divides caused by the Reformation led to outbreaks of religious violence and the establishment of separate state churches in Europe . Lutheranism spread into northern , central and eastern parts of present - day Germany , Livonia and Scandinavia . Anglicanism was established in England in 1534 . Calvinism and other Protestant denominations were introduced in Scotland , the Netherlands , Hungary , Switzerland and France . Ultimately , these differences led to the outbreak of conflicts in which religion played a key factor . The Thirty Years ' War , the English Civil War , and the French Wars of Religion are prominent examples . These events intensified the Christian debate on persecution and toleration . Post - Enlightenment . In the era known as the Great Divergence , when in the West the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific revolution brought about great societal changes , Christianity was confronted with various forms of skepticism and with certain modern political ideologies such as versions of socialism and liberalism . Events ranged from mere anti - clericalism to violent outbursts against Christianity such as the Dechristianisation during the French Revolution , the Spanish Civil War , and general hostility of Marxist movements , especially the Russian Revolution . Especially pressing in Europe was the formation of nation states after the Napoleonic era . In all European countries , different Christian denominations found themselves in competition , to greater or lesser extents , with each other and with the state . Variables are the relative sizes of the denominations and the religious , political , and ideological orientation of the state . Urs Altermatt of the University of Fribourg , looking specifically at Catholicisms in Europe , identifies four models for the European nations . In traditionally Catholic countries such as Belgium , Spain , and to some extent Austria , religious and national communities are more or less identical . Cultural symbiosis and separation are found in Poland , Ireland , and Switzerland , all countries with competing denominations . Competition is found in Germany , the Netherlands , and again Switzerland , all countries with minority Catholic populations who to a greater or lesser extent did identify with the nation . Finally , separation between religion ( again , specifically Catholicism ) and the state is found to a great degree in France and Italy , countries where the state actively opposed itself to the authority of the Catholic Church . The combined factors of the formation of nation states and ultramontanism , especially in Germany and the Netherlands but also in England ( to a much lesser extent ) , often forced Catholic churches , organizations , and believers to choose between the national demands of the state and the authority of the Church , specifically the papacy . This conflict came to a head in the First Vatican Council , and in Germany would lead directly to the Kulturkampf , where liberals and Protestants under the leadership of Bismarck managed to severely restrict Catholic expression and organization . Christian commitment in Europe dropped as modernity and secularism came into their own in Europe , particularly in the Czech Republic and Estonia , while religious commitments in America have been generally high in comparison to Europe . The late 20th century has shown the shift of Christian adherence to the Third World and southern hemisphere in general , with the western civilization no longer the chief standard bearer of Christianity . Some Europeans ( including diaspora ) , Indigenous peoples of the Americas , and natives of other continents have revived their respective peoples ' historical folk religions . Approximately 7 . 1 to 10 % of Arabs are Christians most prevalent in Egypt , Syria and Lebanon . Demographics . With around 2 . 4 billion adherents , split into 3 main branches of Catholic , Protestant and Orthodox , Christianity is the world ' s largest religion . The Christian share of the world ' s population has stood at around 33 % for the last hundred years , which says that one in three persons on earth are Christian s . This masks a major shift in the demographics of Christianity ; large increases in the developing world ( around 23 , 000 per day ) have been accompanied by substantial declines in the developed world , mainly in Europe and North America ( around 7 , 600 per day ) . Christianity is still the predominant religion in Europe , the Americas and Southern Africa . In Asia , it is the dominant religion in Georgia , Armenia , East Timor and the Philippines . However , it is declining in many areas including the Northern and Western United States , Oceania ( Australia and New Zealand ) , northern Europe ( including Great Britain , Scandinavia and other places ) , France , Germany , the Canadian provinces of Ontario , British Columbia , and Quebec , and parts of Asia ( especially the Middle East - due to immigration - , South Korea , Taiwan , and Macau ) . The Christian population is not decreasing in Brazil , the Southern United States and the province of Alberta , Canada , but the percentage is decreasing . In countries such as Australia and New Zealand , the Christian population are declining in both numbers and percentage . Despite the declining numbers in the Western World , Christianity remains the dominant religion in the Western World , where 70 % are Christians , According to a 2011 survey found that 76 . 2 % of Europe ans described themselves as Christians , and about 86 . 0 % of the Americas population consider themselves Christians , ( 90 % in Latin America and 77 . 4 % in North America ) . And about 73 . 36 % in Oceania still practice Christianity . However , there are many charismatic movements that have become well established over large parts of the world , especially Africa , Latin America and Asia . A leading Saudi Arabia n Muslim leader Sheikh Ahmad al Qatanni reported on Aljazeera that every day 16 , 000 Africa n Muslim s convert to Christianity . He claimed that Islam was losing 6 million Africa n Muslim s a year to becoming Christian s , including Muslim s in Algeria , France , Iran , India , Morocco , Russia , and Turkey , Kosovo , Azerbaijan and Central Asia . It is also reported that Christianity is popular among people of different backgrounds in India ( mostly Hindu s ) , and Malaysia , Mongolia , Nigeria , Vietnam , Singapore , Indonesia , China , Japan , and South Korea . In most countries in the developed world , church attendance among people who continue to identify themselves as Christians has been falling over the last few decades . Some sources view this simply as part of a drift away from traditional membership institutions , while others link it to signs of a decline in belief in the importance of religion in general . Christianity , in one form or another , is the sole state religion of the following nations : Argentina ( Roman Catholic ) , Costa Rica ( Roman Catholic ) , Denmark ( Evangelical Lutheran ) , El Salvador ( Roman Catholic ) , England ( Anglican ) , Finland ( Evangelical Lutheran & Orthodox ) , Georgia ( Georgian Orthodox ) , Greece ( Greek Orthodox ) , Iceland ( Evangelical Lutheran ) , Liechtenstein ( Roman Catholic ) , Malta ( Roman Catholic ) , Monaco ( Roman Catholic ) , and Vatican City ( Roman Catholic ) . There are numerous other countries , such as Cyprus , which although do not have an established church , still give official recognition to a specific Christian denomination . Major denominations . The three primary divisions of Christianity are Catholicism , Eastern Orthodoxy , and Protestantism . There are other Christian groups that do not fit neatly into one of these primary categories . The Nicene Creed is " accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Anglican , and major Protestant churches . " There is a diversity of doctrine s and practices among groups calling themselves Christian . These groups are sometimes classified under denominations , though for theological reasons many groups reject this classification system . A broader distinction that is sometimes drawn is between Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity , which has its origins in the East – West Schism ( Great Schism ) of the 11th century . Most Protestant traditions branch out from the Reformed tradition in some way . In addition to the Lutheran and Reformed branches of the Reformation , there is Anglicanism after the English Reformation . The Anabaptist tradition was largely ostracized by the other Protestant parties at the time , but has achieved a measure of affirmation in more recent history . As well as these modern divisions , there were many diverse Christian communities with wildly different Christologies , eschatologies , soteriologies , and cosmologies that existed alongside the " Early Church " which is itself a projected concept to indicate which communities were " proto - orthodox " , in that their views would become dominate . In many ways , the first three centuries of Christianity was significantly more diverse than the modern Church . Catholic . The Catholic Church comprises those particular Church es , headed by bishops , in communion with the Pope , the Bishop of Rome , as its highest authority in matters of faith , morality and Church governance . Like the Eastern Orthodox , the Roman Catholic Church through Apostolic succession traces its origins to the Christian community founded by Jesus Christ . Catholics maintain that the " one , holy , catholic and apostolic church " founded by Jesus subsists fully in the Roman Catholic Church , but also acknowledges other Christian churches and communities and works towards reconciliation among all Christians . The Catholic faith is detailed in the " Catechism of the Catholic Church " . The 2 , 834 sees are grouped into 23 particular rites , the largest being the Latin Church , each with distinct traditions regarding the liturgy and the administering the sacraments . With more than 1 . 1 billion baptized members , the Catholic Church is the largest church representing over half of all Christians and one sixth of the world ' s population . Various smaller communities , such as the Old Catholic and Independent Catholic Churches , include the word " Catholic " in their title , and share much in common with Roman Catholicism but are no longer in communion with the See of Rome . Orthodox . Eastern Orthodoxy comprises those churches in communion with the Patriarchal Sees of the East , such as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople . Like the Roman Catholic Church , the Eastern Orthodox Church also traces its heritage to the foundation of Christianity through Apostolic succession and has an episcopal structure , though the autonomy of its component parts is emphasized , and most of them are national churches . A number of conflicts with Western Christianity over questions of doctrine and authority culminated in the Great Schism . Eastern Orthodoxy is the second largest single denomination in Christianity , with an estimated 225 – 300 million adherents . The Oriental Orthodox Churches ( also called " Old Oriental Churches " ) are those eastern churches that recognize the first three ecumenical councils — Nicaea , Constantinople and Ephesus — but reject the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon and instead espouse a Miaphysite christology . The Oriental Orthodox communion comprises six groups : Syriac Orthodox , Coptic Orthodox , Ethiopian Orthodox , Eritrean Orthodox , Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church ( India ) and Armenian Apostolic churches . These six churches , while being in communion with each other are completely independent hierarchically . These churches are generally not in communion with Eastern Orthodox Churches with whom they are in dialogue for erecting a communion . Protestant . In the 16th century , Martin Luther , Huldrych Zwingli , and John Calvin inaugurated what has come to be called Protestantism . Luther ' s primary theological heirs are known as Lutherans . Zwingli and Calvin ' s heirs are far broader denominationally , and are broadly referred to as the Reformed Tradition . The oldest Protestant groups separated from the Catholic Church in the 16th century Protestant Reformation , followed in many cases by further divisions . For example , the Methodist Church grew out of Anglican minister John Wesley ' s evangelical and revival movement in the Anglican Church . Several Pentecostal and non - denominational Churches , which emphasize the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit , in turn grew out of the Methodist Church . Because Methodists , Pentecostals , and other evangelicals stress " accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior " , which comes from Wesley ' s emphasis of the New Birth , they often refer to themselves as being born - again . 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 clear that Protestantism is the second largest major group of Christians after Catholicism in number of followers ( although the Orthodox Church is larger than any single Protestant denomination ) . Often that number is put at 800 million , corresponding to nearly 40 % of world ' s Christians . The majority of Protestants are members of just a handful of denominational families , i . e . Adventists , Anglicans , Baptists , Reformed , Lutherans , Methodists and Pentecostals . A special grouping are the Anglican churches descended from the Church of England and organised in the Anglican Communion . Some Anglican churches consider themselves both Protestant and Catholic . Some Anglicans consider their church a branch of the " One Holy Catholic Church " alongside of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches , a concept rejected by the Roman Catholic Church and some Eastern Orthodox . Some groups of individuals who hold basic Protestant tenets identify themselves simply as " Christians " or " born - again Christians " . They typically distance themselves from the confessionalism and / or creed alism of other Christian communities by calling themselves " non - denominational " . Often founded by individual pastors , they have little affiliation with historic denominations . < ref name = " Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life / U . S . Religious Landscape Survey " > < / ref > Restorationists and others . The Second Great Awakening , a period of religious revival that occurred in the United States during the early 1800s , saw the development of a number of unrelated churches . They generally saw themselves as restoring the original church of Jesus Christ rather than reforming one of the existing churches . A common belief held by Restorationists was that the other divisions of Christianity had introduced doctrinal defects into Christianity , which was known as the Great Apostasy . Some of the churches originating during this period are historically connected to early 19th - century camp meetings in the Midwest and Upstate New York . American Millennialism and Adventism , which arose from Evangelical Protestantism , influenced the Jehovah ' s Witnesses movement and , as a reaction specifically to William Miller , the Seventh - day Adventists . Others , including the Christian Church ( Disciples of Christ ) , Evangelical Christian Church in Canada , Churches of Christ , and the Christian churches and churches of Christ , have their roots in the contemporaneous Stone - Campbell Restoration Movement , which was centered in Kentucky and Tennessee . Other groups originating in this time period include the Christadelphians and Latter Day Saint movement . While the churches originating in the Second Great Awakening have some superficial similarities , their doctrine and practices vary significantly . Esoteric Christians regard Christianity as a mystery religion , and profess the existence and possession of certain esoteric doctrines or practices , hidden from the public but accessible only to a narrow circle of " enlightened " , " initiated " , or highly educated people . Some of the esoteric Christian institutions include the Rosicrucian Fellowship , the Anthroposophical Society and the Martinism . Messianic Judaism ( or Messianic Movement ) is the name of a Christian movement comprising a number of streams , whose members may identify themselves as Jewish . It blends evangelical theology with elements of religious Jewish practice and terminology . Messianic Judaism affirms the messiahship and divinity of " Yeshua " ( the Hebrew name of Jesus ) , whilst also adhering to aspects of Jewish dietary law and custom . Christian culture . Western culture , throughout most of its history , has been nearly equivalent to Christian culture , and many of the population of the Western hemisphere could broadly be described as cultural Christians . Though Western culture contained several polytheistic religions during its early years under the Greek and Roman empires , as the centralized Roman power waned , the dominance of the Catholic Church was the only consistent force in Europe . Until the Age of Enlightenment , Christian culture guided the course of philosophy , literature , art , music and science . Christian disciplines of the respective arts have subsequently developed into Christian philosophy , Christian art , Christian music , Christian literature etc . Christianity had a significant impact on education and science and medicine as the church created the bases of the Western system of education , and was the sponsor of founding universities in the Western world as the university is generally regarded as an institution that has its origin in the Medieval Christian setting . Many clerics throughout history have made significant contributions to science and Jesuits in particular have made numerous significant contributions to the development of science . The Civilizing influence of Christianity includes social welfare , founding hospitals , economics ( as the Protestant work ethic ) , politics architecture , literature and family life . Christians have made a myriad contributions in a broad and diverse range of fields , including the sciences , arts , politics , literatures and business . According to " 100 Years of Nobel Prizes " a review of Nobel prizes award between 1901 and 2000 reveals that ( 65 . 4 % ) of Nobel Prizes Laureates , have identified Christianity in its various forms as their religious preference . " Postchristianity " is the term for the decline of Christianity , particularly in Europe , Canada , Australia and to a minor degree the Southern Cone , in the 20th and 21st centuries , considered in terms of postmodernism . It refers to the loss of Christianity ' s monopoly on values and world view in historically Christian societies . Cultural Christian s are secular people with a Christian heritage who may not believe in the religious claims of Christianity , but who retain an affinity for the popular culture , art , music , and so on related to it . Another frequent application of the term is to distinguish political groups in areas of mixed religious backgrounds . Ecumenism . Christian groups and denominations have long expressed ideals of being reconciled , 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 includes Roman Catholics . The other way was institutional union with new United and uniting churches . 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 Anglican , Baptist , Methodist , Congregationalist , and Presbyterian churches . The ecumenical , monastic Taizé Community is notable for being composed of more than one hundred brothers from Protestant and Catholic traditions . The community emphasises the reconciliation of all denominations and its main church , located in Taizé , Saône - et - Loire , France , is named the " Church of Reconciliation " . The community is internationally known , attracting over 100 , 000 young pilgrims annually . Steps towards reconciliation on a global level were taken in 1965 by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches mutually revoking the excommunications that marked their Great Schism in 1054 ; the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission ( ARCIC ) working towards full communion between those churches since 1970 ; and the Lutheran and Roman 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 , representing all Methodist denominations , adopted the declaration . Criticism and apologetics . Criticism of Christianity and Christians goes back to the Apostolic age , with the New Testament recording friction between the followers of Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes ( e . g . Mark 7 : 1 – 23 and Matthew 15 : 1 – 20 ) . In the 2nd century , Christianity was criticized by the Jews on various grounds , e . g . that the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible could not have been fulfilled by Jesus , given that he did not have a successful life . By the 3rd century , criticism of Christianity had mounted , partly as a defense against it , and the 15 - volume " Adversus Christianos " by Porphyry was written as a comprehensive attack on Christianity , in part building on the pre - Christian concepts of Plotinus . By the 12th century , the Mishneh Torah ( i . e . , Rabbi Moses Maimonides ) was criticizing Christianity on the grounds of idol worship , in that Christians attributed divinity to Jesus who had a physical body . In the 19th century , Nietzsche began to write a series of attacks on the " unnatural " teachings of Christianity ( e . g . avoidance of temptations ) , and continued anti - Christian attacks to the end of his life . In the 20th century , the philosopher Bertrand Russell expressed his criticism of Christianity in " Why I Am Not a Christian " , formulating his rejection of Christianity in the setting of logical arguments . Criticism of Christianity continues to date , e . g . Jewish and Muslim theologians criticize the doctrine of the Trinity held by most Christians , stating that this doctrine in effect assumes that there are three Gods , running against the basic tenet of monotheism . New Testament scholar Robert M . Price has outlined the possibility that some Bible stories are based partly on myth in " The Christ Myth Theory and its problems " . Christian apologetics aims to present a rational basis for Christianity . The word " apologetic " comes from the Greek word " apologeomai " , meaning " in defense of " . Christian apologetics has taken many forms over the centuries , starting with Paul the Apostle . The philosopher Thomas Aquinas presented five arguments for God ' s existence in the " Summa Theologica " , while his " Summa contra Gentiles " was a major apologetic work .