What Are The Three Main Branches Of Christianity
Christianity is one of the world’s most widespread and popular religions, boasting over two billion adherents. Its rich history and doctrinal teachings have experienced change and development over the years, giving rise to three major branches: Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism. Each of these three branches have unique features and beliefs, and below, we’ll take a closer look at what distinguishes them.
Eastern Orthodoxy
Located primarily in parts of Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa, Eastern Orthodoxy is the oldest and most widespread version of Christianity. It emerged in the 1st century AD and is the largest of the three major branches, with over 250 million members throughout the world. The traditional teachings of Eastern Orthodoxy center on the idea of Jesus’ resurrection and second coming, as well as the sacraments and the importance of good works measured by faith. This branch of Christianity also emphasizes the relationship between God and humans as one of intimacy, whereby humans devote efforts and actions to reaching divinity.
Eastern Orthodoxy is an idealistic and devotional form of the faith and is governed by bishops, representing the highest authority within the church. The Orthodox consider the resurrection and second coming of Jesus to be the core element of their belief system and practice a range of ancestral devotions, though modern practitioners do not always adhere to all of their traditions. Beliefs in divine grace, predestination, and Mary’s perpetual virginity are also central to the Eastern Orthodox faith.
Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholicism, with an estimated 1.2 billion adherents worldwide, is the largest branch of Christianity, espousing the teachings of Pope Francis as the leader of a world-wide church. This branch is based on the Roman Catholic Church’s traditional teachings and doctrines, but has seen contemporary development during the Second Vatican Council. Roman Catholicism centres on the belief in Jesus’ resurrection and second coming, though contrary to Eastern Orthodoxy, it does not emphasise the relationship to God through good works. Instead it is more preoccupied with the idea of salvation through belief in Jesus.
In Roman Catholicism, Jesus Christ is believed to be God made flesh, who assumed a human form to save humans from original sin. The authority of the Pope is seen as pivotal in the Roman Catholic Church and its followers adhere to his teachings without fail. Christian doctrine is seen as absolute truth, and all followers accept it without question. Along with this, Roman Catholicism places significant emphasis on the acceptance of the Bible, and, as a result, Christian doctrine is based on its teachings. In addition, this branch of Christianity deals extensively with life after death, with a special focus on the importance of penance and confession to receive God’s mercy.
Protestantism
Emerging largely as a protest movement against the Roman Catholic Church’s authoritative doctrine during the Renaissance, Protestantism is more decentralized than other Christian denominations and operates as a series of group churches with a loose affiliation. It is the third largest branch of Christianity and is estimated to have around 800 million adherents worldwide. It is focused on the concept of divine grace, which is seen as a gift from God, in addition to the Protestant reformation of scripture, which uproots many Roman Catholic Church teachings.
Most Protestants emphasise individual relationship with God and other facets of the faith more than a traditional Catholic would. The emphasis on personal prayer, Bible study, and spiritual development is greater since Protestantism is a more personal faith than other denominations. The emphasis on justification by faith (the concept that belief in God and his teachingsresult in forgiveness of sins) is a key facet of Protestantism, as is the idea of one true Church, governed by plurality of leaders.
Protestantism also calls for devoted in-depth study of scripture and reject any interference from outside sources. At the same time, Protestantism is seen as a protest movement against what it views as Roman Catholicism’s erroneous doctrines and practices. This has allowed the emergence of many different Protestant denominations, each with its own interpretation of scripture.
Belief in the Trinity
The concept of the Holy Trinity is a pillar of all branches of Christianity. It is a core concept in which God is one and eternal, but he is also composed of three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This belief is different from other monotheistic religions such as Judaism and Islam, which do not involve a trinitarian concept of God.
For Christians, the general idea is that the three persons of the trinity are co-equal and co-eternal, meaning that they are all of the same substance, but also that they are all equally responsible and none of them are above or beyond the others. This belief ties together the centrality of Jesus’ sacrifice and the power that the Holy Spirit serves in Christians’ lives.
Importance of Rituals and Sacraments
Each of the three main branches of Christianity traditionally emphasize the importance of rituals and sacramental ceremonies. These can be seen in the practice of a weekly mass or communion service, which is also referred to as the Eucharist. During a communion service, bread and wine are blessed as symbols of Jesus’ presence. Depending on the particular denomination, other rituals and sacramental ceremonies such as baptism, confirmation, and marriage may be practiced either regularly or more sporadically.
Rituals and sacramental ceremonies serve a variety of purposes for the faithful, but primarily serve as reminders of Jesus’ sacrifice and serve to re-commit oneself to the Christian faith. Additionally, these rituals and Sacraments allow individuals to enter into a deeper spiritual relationship with God, and serve to further preserve unity within the greater Body of Christ.
Centrality of Scripture
Each of the three main branches of Christianity place a strong emphasis on the importance of scripture, though the focus may be different in each case. In Eastern Orthodoxy, the Bible is seen as less central compared to Christian doctrines and sacramental practices, which hold more importance. In Roman Catholicism, scripture is seen as a source of authority, but it is secondary to the Pope’s teachings. In Protestantism, scripture is seen as paramount, and all other sources of doctrine are secondary, if not disregarded altogether.
Regardless of the particular branch, each denomination’s practice and theological evaluation of scripture is taken very seriously and is almost always kept in the forefront of worship. All three branches teach that the Bible is to be interpreted and utilized in all aspects of life, and each puts its own distinct spin on the proper interpretation of scripture.
Role of the Church and Clergy
In all three of the major branches of Christianity, the church and clergy play a central role in explaining and propagating doctrine within the various denominations. The church and its clergy act as a source of guidance and instruction in all three branches and can help to tie scripture, tradition, and individual interpretation together. Additionally, the presence of the church and its clergy provide a physical feeling of community and togetherness for the faithful in all branches.
The church and its clergy also provide a source of comfort and support in times of spiritual distress, and are highly respected within each denomination. Although the roles and functions of the church may differ between the various branches, it is nonetheless important within each faith, and provides an essential foundation for the entire religious structure.
Significance of Tradition
Each of the three main branches of Christianity places a significant emphasis on tradition. This tradition may be seen in the form of religious holidays, ceremonies, or church practices, though the observance of these traditions might differ between the various denominations. For example, some denominations observe the full celebration of religious holidays, while others may merely acknowledge them. Nevertheless, the importance of long-standing tradition as an essential part of Christianity is apparent in all three branches.
In Eastern Orthodoxy, tradition is highly valued, as seen in traditions such as annual fasting for certain periods of time, or the honoring of iconic figures such as saints and Church Fathers. Roman Catholicism also emphasizes tradition, though it is more embracing of secular ideas and has shifted towards a more liturgical practice. Generally, tradition retains a strong presence within all branches, and serves to enrich the faith for believers as well as to encourage unity among the various branches.
Conclusion
Christianity is a diverse faith, with adherents across all corners of the globe. Its many doctrines and practices have diversified and branched off into three main denominations: Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, and Protestantism. Each of these denominations have their own characteristics and beliefs, and yet all three share many of the same fundamentals and themes, such as the trinity, the importance of scripture, and the role of the church and clergy in the religious community.
