27
votes
Can somebody summarize the different "branches" of Christianity to me, and explain why they exist in the first place?
The branches come from difference in opinion. Here is a diagram showing where Christianity diverged.
Image source
From the beginning Christianity diverged from Judaism1:
where Christianity ...
- 8,612
24
votes
Accepted
Is Xmas a secular name for Christmas?
Word origin
As stated in previous answers, the "X" in "Xmas" comes from the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός. However, since precision is important, I want to clarify when the ...
- 7,785
23
votes
Accepted
What does "see" in "the Holy See" mean?
"See" comes from the Latin word sedes, which means "seat" or "chair".
"Holy See" is Sedes Apostolica (lit. "Apostolic Chair") in Latin.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) gives this etymology for ...
- 37.9k
23
votes
What have Christians taught during past plagues and pandemics?
Martin Luther writing to Johann Hass:
Use medicine;
take potions which can help you; fumigate house, yard, and
street; shun persons and places wherever your neighbor does
not need your ...
22
votes
Seeking a graphic or flowchart of the history of the formation of Christian denominations
Wikipedia's article on Christian denominations appears to have what you are looking for. The major branches are listed in one graphic:
Branches of Protestantism are best shown separately, for ease ...
- 42.3k
21
votes
Accepted
How do Protestants answer the Catholic accusation of historicity?
Protestant reformers were at pains to argue that all they sought to do was restore the church to purity which had become corrupted in medieval times. They wanted to ensure that their teachings were ...
- 1,579
20
votes
What does "see" in "the Holy See" mean?
What does “see” in “The Holy See” mean?
Each bishop and archbishop has the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of an episcopal see. The Roman Pontiff (Pope) has complete jurisdiction of the Holy See, also ...
- 65.7k
19
votes
Is Xmas a secular name for Christmas?
Great Britain monks used "X" for "Christ" nearly a thousand years ago. They used "X" for "Christ" while transcribing manuscripts in Old English. They did so because the Greek word for Christ, ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ,...
- 3,906
19
votes
Accepted
What is the earliest known instance of a petition directed to Mary?
Sub Tuum Praesidium
The earliest known, extant petition prayer to Mary the Θεοτόκος (Theotokos), or Dei Genetrix (the Greek and Latin, respectively, for 'God-bearer' or 'Birthgiver-of-God') is found ...
- 8,235
18
votes
Can somebody summarize the different "branches" of Christianity to me, and explain why they exist in the first place?
Such a simple question, and so difficult to provide a simple answer!
Probably the main reasons for Christianity dividing into branches and sects are:
(a) issues of dogma: disagreements about points ...
- 321
18
votes
What have Christians taught during past plagues and pandemics?
Cyprian wrote the following during the plague of 250 AD to remind his diocese that Christians are not to expect special protection from disease:
It disturbs some believers that the power of this ...
17
votes
Accepted
What is the earliest historical testimony of the celebration of the nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Attitudes on birthdays
In the early church, birthdays (in general) were not seen as something to celebrate. For example, in Origen's 8th homily on Leviticus he writes:
But the saints not only do not ...
- 7,785
16
votes
Has the Catholic Church ever opposed interracial marriage?
The answer, in essence, is “no.”
In principle, there is no obstacle to the marriage of any baptized Catholic man to any baptized Catholic woman, regardless of race.
This is a principle at least as ...
- 13.2k
16
votes
Accepted
Why is Pontius Pilate blamed for killing Jesus in the Apostles' Creed?
Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski in his book, The Apostles's Creed: and its Early Christian Context, argues that Pilate was specifically mentioned primarily in order to argue for and defend the humanity and ...
- 42.3k
16
votes
Accepted
Did Martin Luther ever admit that his approval of Philip's bigamy was wrong?
Luther did not recant.
From: John Alfred Faulkner, "Luther and the Bigamous Marriage of Philip of Hesse, The American Journal of Theology Vol. 17, No. 2 (Apr., 1913), pp. 206-231 (on pp. 228-9) -
...
- 3,650
16
votes
Is there a theological basis for climate change skepticism among evangelicals?
In this video I explored reasons that there is sometimes strain between faith and science.
If, because I am a man of faith and I love science, I am not the target audience you're looking for, I can ...
- 11k
16
votes
What was the Early Church’s view on socialism?
To what extent was the early church "socialist"?
Acts 4:32-37 (NASB95)
And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one [of them] claimed that anything ...
- 5,929
15
votes
Accepted
What is the earliest mention of how often the Eucharist was celebrated?
The earliest indication may be in the Didache, typically dated at the end of the first century. It describes the celebration of the Lord's Supper in terms of the cup and breaking bread, and then says:...
- 42.3k
15
votes
Why is there no archaeological evidence that Christians existed for 200 years after 70 AD?
Douglas Boin addresses the two main reasons given for the lack of archaeological evidence of Christianity during the period in question:
Theological: Christians applied a Biblical prohibition on ...
- 843
14
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of the story that the Apostle John taught only "love one another"?
It's from Jerome's Commentary on Galatians, 6:10:
The blessed John the Evangelist lived in Ephesus until extreme old age. His disciples could barely carry him to church and he could not muster the ...
- 42.3k
14
votes
Accepted
Why are the Vatican archives kept secret?
"Secret" is probably about the worst possible translation I can think of for the original term. The "Archivio Segreto Vaticano" is the current term in Italian, as documented on the ...
- 18.4k
14
votes
Accepted
Why do Christians have different books in their Bible?
Most of the books of the Bible were written by different people. An estimated 40 authors wrote the 70 or so books that various Christians accept as "the Bible". Most of these authors wrote ...
- 12.9k
14
votes
Accepted
Was universalism the majority belief of the early church?
Background
Obviously, this topic suffers from dogmatists on both sides. Universalists are desperate to overstate their case, and traditionalists are desperate to prove the early church didn't have ...
- 1,249
14
votes
Accepted
Since when did the Catholic church accept Protestant baptism, and what was the original rationale for accepting?
The Catechism of the Council of Trent fully accepted baptism administered by heretics and infidels, provided that those who administered the sacrament intended to do what the Catholic Church did [does]...
- 14k
13
votes
Accepted
What does 'ages of ages' mean, specifically?
The phrase comes from the Bible. It’s a fairly wooden translation of the Greek idiom εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Many English translations instead use “forever and ever” or something along those lines,...
- 4,312
13
votes
Accepted
What are the first references to a tradition of fasting before partaking of the Lord's Supper?
This practice is attested as early as the first half of the third century, by Tertullian and particularly Hippolytus.
Tertullian addresses the topic tangentially while addressing the dangers of women ...
- 42.3k
13
votes
Accepted
What is the Catholic Church's historical position on capital punishment: how did we get here?
Wikipedia's article on this topic is a pretty good place to start, and for in-depth treatment, you'll want By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed (Feser and Bessette; in favor of the death penalty) and ...
- 42.3k
12
votes
Accepted
What is the earliest extrabiblical teaching of baptism using a trinitarian formula?
Two early church writings can be seen to address this issue: the Didache and Justin Martyr's First Apology.
Didache
Early evidence for a trinitarian formula in baptism might be found in the Didache, ...
- 42.3k
12
votes
Accepted
Who are the hypocrites associated with fasting in the Didache?
It is indeed about the Pharisees. Here's what Shmuel Safrai's paper “Religion in Everyday Life" says:
Mondays and Thursdays, which were synagogue days, when country-folk came to town and the courts ...
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