What is the actual history of Christianity.?

Question

I'm not talking about the creation or genisis or the bible but actual historical facts.

When "Historically" was the first Christian around?

Is any one willing to tell me about the real history of christianity rather than what the bible states.

Answer 1

Too large a question to answer well in a few words.

1. Early history -- a man called Jesus became a prophet in Palestine and after he was crucified a man called Paul set up a network of organisations called churches in Rome and several Greek-speaking cities of the Roman empire. Other disciples broadcast Jesus's message elsewhere, such as Philip in Ethiopia, Thomas in Kerala, India, and Joseph of Arimathea in Britain. Christianity appeals mostly to slaves and other lower-class folk. Churches meet mostly underground in catacombs and often in secret.

(evidence patchy and mostly Christian-influenced but consistent with archaeology and not challenged by contra-evidence)

2. In the 300s(CE) Armenia becomes the first Christian kingdom. The Emperor Constantine makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.

3. During the 300s-400s the concept of "heresy" is invented as the winners of debates about the content of Christian teaching at highly political events called "councils" try to suppress the beliefs of the losers. The earliest "heresies" are Arianism and Pelagianism (the latter a British invention influenced by Celtic wisdom).

4. In the 400s to 800s many kings in western Europe adopt Christianity. For example King Custennin of Kernow (SW Britain) in the late 6th century and King Edwin of Northumbria in the early 7th. In this age, the faith of the king = the faith of the state and gradually becomes the faith of its people.
Greek-speaking Christianity becomes gradually the major faith of the Eastern Roman Empire based at Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Islam conquers N Africa.

5. In the late 8th to 9th century, the political concept of Christendom is born... the idea of Christian states as natural allies with a common ideology.... because Islam is seen as a cohesive threat.

6. 1046 - the first schism, with the Latin and Greek churches going their separate ways. Soon afterwards, the Turks conquer Anatolia and Christianity is confined to Europe, apart from E
Ethiopia and Kerala.

7. 1200s to 1500s. The by now rich and politically powerful Roman Catholic church becomes totalitarian and uses torture and killing to eliminate opponents such as the Cathars (a "heresy"), the Knights Templar (a semi-secret Christian society) and witchcraft.

8. 1500s onwards. The Reformation -- western Christianity splits into sects with various "Protestant" teachers gaining political support for breakaway movements from Rome such as the Calvinists (Swiss), Lutherans (German) and Anglicans (England).
European Roman Catholics conquer most of the Americas and parts of Asia and later Africa and attempt to impose Catholicism on their inhabitants, destroying native religion and its artifacts to the best of their ability. European Protestants conquer Oceania and other parts of the rest of the world and allow Christian propagandists ("missionaries") to attempt to persuade the locals to convert to their brand of Christianity. Most Americans and Oceanians accept the European faith; most Asians and Muslim Africans do not.

9. In the late 20th century and into the 21st, Christianity continues to expand by conversion from native religions in non-Muslim Africa. It regains followers lost to Communism in Russia and SE Europe. It remains widespread in the Americas. In most of Western Europe, especially the states that went Protestant during the Reformation, Christianity falls away to be a faith kept only by a smallish minority in a predominantly secular culture while support for diverse other spiritualities (e.g. eastern mysticism) rises.

Answer 2

You cant ask when a religion began without actually talking about the religion, for that you must use the bible. Christianity began when Jesus was crucified on the cross, forgiving all people of their sin and if you truly believe that Jesus died for you and accept him you will be saved. Eternal life is by the grace of God, and cannot be earned by physical works, so none shall be able to boast. Modern day Christianity began when Martin Luther began his protestant reformation in europe, before that Catholicism dominated Europe. Catholicism and Protestants are completely different. I would also like to add the sidebar that when the "Christians" went on the Crusades they were Christians by name alone, they weren't following Jesus' teachings, but when a muslim kills an innocent person they are following Mohammeds teachings, that is a fact. If you would like to learn more about these two faiths i suggest Jesus and Mohammed by Mark A. Gabriel.

Answer 3

Christianity was originally, like most religions, a cult. It had been brought to Rome by followers who were most likely from the middle east i.e. Jeruselum, Egypt and such looking to escape persecution there. They were not received well in Rome either and were persecuted for their beliefs in a single god and resorted to worshiping in secret. It slowly spread and grew more popular. When Constantine saw a light in the sky, supposedly shaped like a cross, he saw it as a sign from the Christian god to invade, conquer Rome. When he did, he decreed that Christianity would be the mainstream religion and it then spread with the Roman Empire to other countries.....

I have a book on the archeology of religions but I can't remember the exact title (It's long).

Answer 4

Let's get this thing right.
God did about 4.5 thousand years ago
Then followed a line of prophets including Christ with Mohammad coming 500 years later.
The Romans lost control of The Senate and created the first Pope some 4-500 years after Christ.
Along came a Protestant movement and got rid of Rome's control in places. Rome's funded torture chambers were overflowing in all countries.
Henry the 8th got the hots and founded C. of E.
By now you might begin to believe that all these groups were only after control?
Well that would be your opinion.
I just believe in God.

Answer 5

Passage Acts 11:26: and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Answer 6

Well Jesus was a Jew so it was a false start for christianity, then there was St Thomas of Aquinas who was the patron saint of water, then King Henry 8th killed all the catholics and something about Martin Luther in Germany meant that there were now protistants and catholics. There you go, a brief history of christianty... Next...

Answer 7

It happened about 2000 years ago.
Gregory changed our calendar so there is a discrepancy of about 4- 7 years.

There was a Man that showed up. His name was Jesus.
There was another guy around and his name was John the Baptist.
He was the first believer in Jesus.
He was the one who identified Him as the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
What do you think?
Good answer?

Answer 8

The meaning of "Christian" is christ like. This was the name given to the deciples of Jesus in Jeruselem by people who cherished the way they lived their life and said truelly these people are like Jesus Christ. And from there comes the name "Christianity"

Answer 9

The word Christian emanated from the word Christ. Christian means "Christ Like" The first Christians were therefore the disciples of Jesus Christ.

Historically speaking this would be from 1AD.

Answer 10

Sure,

It started when the world was full of unruly people and the people in charge were loosing control. So they decided to invent a God and make up some rules to scare people into behaving.

Anything else you hear is just fiction.