Running Head: Christian Diversity

Running Head Christian Diversity

In a period of about 1000 years ago, the church existence was as a single monolithic Christian Church. After that, there was a separation of this major Christian church into what became Catholic Church in the west and the Orthodox Church in the east (Kagan, 2012). Moreover, there was the recognition of diverse religions globally as people manifested freedom to associate with a particular religion. Regarding the myth of supersession among the religion, the Christians argument was that they had replaced the Jews as the people god as chosen (Kenney, 2013). This is in consideration that the Jews failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and as a result crucified Jesus, hence they were rejected by god and thus selected the Christians to supersede the Jews.

This consequently took a violent turn whereby the Christians perspective was that it is their duty to punish the Jews for killing the son of God, while also influencing their divine rejection of the Jews (Kagan, 2012). However, the Jews argument was that they are the true Israelites, hence the Christian aspect myth of supersession, as well as the violence which arose from one religion need to punish the other. The year 313 AD/CE was a crucial turning point for the Christians since their persecution came to an end. This is attributed to Emperor Constantine action in which he issued Edict of Milan. The objective of this issuance was to establish freedom as well as tolerance for all religions (Kenney, 2013).

Moreover, his consideration of being a Christian enabled him to focus on Christian protection and support. As a result, development of churches was realized as well as official recognition of Christianity as a religion in contrast to the previous times. The three key trends that came together in shaping the development of modern Western World are the existence of rich heritage, early modern Europe and the age of discovery (Kagan, 2012). The existence of rich cultural heritage was as a result of the presence of mixed ancestry. In this environment of mixed ancestry, Greek achievements in areas such as mathematics and sciences had a significant impact in Europeans later civilization.

Moreover, scientific knowledge had a great impact in influencing technological development. Secondly, the aspect of early modern Europe resulted in the growth of towns, thus contributing to the presence of a sophisticated society. Moreover, there was the existence of power structures through Europe Feudalism, which further contributed to the development of centralized monarchies (Kenney, 2013). The development thus influenced the growth of the Western World as a powerful state. Thirdly, the age of discovery contributed to the trade routes linking Atlantic to Indian as well as Pacific Oceans. Therefore, this promoted faster Western development in comparison to other states.

The author’s statement that “postcolonial Christianity is decisively non-European” is attributed to occurrences in Eastern Orthodox Christianity in which the churches placed ultimate authority on church councils rather than a single bishop. Additionally, the Orthodox churches had a belief of theosis process. In this case, Christ became a human to enable the process of human divinity (Kenney, 2013). This will thus result in the sharing eternal life of God.

Moreover, sin in Orthodox churches was regarded as ignorance, and thus Christ can dispel the human ignorance and restore unity. However, the aspect of Western Christianity demonstrated the existence of power and authority. As a result, there was the development of the idea of primacy, in which the bishop of Rome was manifested as the father of all the other bishops.

Paper For Above instruction

The historical evolution and ideological diversity within Christianity have been pivotal in shaping the cultural and religious landscape of the Western world and beyond. Approximately a millennium ago, the Christian Church was predominantly a single, unified entity. Over time, this unity fractured into two principal branches: the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East (Kagan, 2012). This division was underpinned by theological, political, and cultural differences and marked a significant transformation in Christian history that influenced subsequent religious interactions and understandings.

One of the earliest contentious doctrines that influenced inter-religious dynamics was the doctrine of supersessionism, also known as replacement theology. Christians asserted that they had superseded the Jews as God’s chosen people because Jews failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and crucified him. This belief fostered a narrative that the Jewish people were divinely rejected and justified acts of violence against them, which had profound implications for Jewish-Christian relations (Kenney, 2013). The culmination of such animosity was exacerbated by the socio-political climate, which was marked by persistent religious tensions and violence.

A pivotal moment in Christian history was the Edict of Milan in 313 CE, enacted by Emperor Constantine. This decree marked the end of widespread persecutions of Christians and established religious tolerance across the Roman Empire. Constantine’s conversion to Christianity and his support for the religion facilitated the construction of churches and the official recognition of Christianity as a major faith (Kenney, 2013). This endorsement not only solidified Christian authority but also laid the groundwork for the integration of Christian ideology into state governance and cultural norms.

The development of Western civilization was influenced by interconnected trends rooted in cultural heritage, the early modern European context, and the age of discovery. The rich cultural heritage was enriched by Greek achievements in mathematics and sciences, which profoundly impacted European intellectual spheres and subsequent scientific advancements. These achievements fostered a scientific revolution that informed technological development, further propelling Western progress (Kagan, 2012). The growth of towns and urban centers during early modern Europe was driven by economic expansion and demographic shifts, leading to more sophisticated societal structures. Feudalism gave way to centralized monarchies, establishing strong hierarchical power structures that contributed to political stability and expansion.

The age of discovery, spanning the 15th to 17th centuries, revolutionized global trade and contributed to Western dominance by establishing transoceanic trade routes linking the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. These routes facilitated economic growth, colonial expansion, and cultural exchanges, which further accelerated Western development compared to other regions (Kagan, 2012). These historical processes culminated in the emergence of Western Europe as a dominant global power, shaping modern geopolitics and economic systems.

The statement that “postcolonial Christianity is decisively non-European” reflects theological and ecclesiastical distinctions, especially between Eastern Orthodox and Western Christianity. In Eastern Orthodoxy, authority was decentralized, with church councils wielding ultimate authority rather than a single bishop, such as the pope in Western Christianity (Kenney, 2013). The Orthodox concept of theosis emphasizes divine-human union, where Christ’s incarnation enables humans to attain divine likeness and share in eternal life—an understanding rooted in mystical theology (Kenney, 2013). Sin in Orthodoxy is viewed mainly as ignorance or a deviation from divine knowledge, with Christ serving as the light that dispels ignorance and restores unity among God's creation.

In contrast, Western Christianity developed a hierarchical structure emphasizing authority and primacy, notably through the papacy. The bishop of Rome was recognized as the supreme authority over the church, symbolizing the centralization of religious power in the West (Kenney, 2013). This difference fostered divergent theological, liturgical, and ecclesiastical practices, shaping distinct cultural identities within Christianity. The Western emphasis on authority and power influenced the development of doctrinal doctrines, church politics, and later, colonial and missionary enterprises.

In conclusion, Christian diversity reflects complex historical, theological, and cultural developments that have shaped global religious landscapes. Understanding these differences—from the doctrinal debates and ecumenical councils to the socio-political contexts—provides insight into contemporary religious pluralism. The contrasting paths of Eastern Orthodox and Western Christianity exemplify how theological doctrines, ecclesiastical authority, and cultural interactions influence religious identity and practice, shaping both historical trajectories and modern religious landscapes.

References

• Kagan, D. (2012). The Western Heritage. Boston: Pearson Education.
• Kenney, J. P. (2013). Contemplation and classical Christianity: A study in Augustine. New York: Oxford University Press.