Part Eight VIII › Division II II › Section 827 827

Christianity

Subject Outline

AHistory of Christianity before the schism of 1054
- 1The development of the Christian Church from the time of Jesus to the reign of Constantine
  - aThe origins and growth of the primitive church (c. ad 30-70)
  - bPost-apostolic developments in the early Christian Church (c. ad 70-325)
- 2The early Christian Church from the reign of Constantine to the pontificate of Gregory I the Great (c. 4th-6th century)
  - aThe establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire: the problem of the alliance between church and empire, the increasingly important role played by the bishop of Rome as pope
  - bDoctrinal controversies that occasioned the further development of Christian theology: reaction to the teachings of Novatian, Donatus, Pelagius, and Arius; the role of St. Augustine; the councils of Nicaea (ad 325), Constantinople (381), Ephesus (431), and Chalcedon (451)
  - cThe relation of the Christian religion to the culture of the late empire
- 3The growing division between Eastern and Western Christianity
  - aThe political and religious bases of increasing tensions between Rome and Constantinople
  - bThe relation of Christianity to Western and Byzantine cultures (7th- 11th century)
  - cDevelopments affecting institutions and practices in the East and the West: the expansion of Christianity in the West, the rise of the independent churches in the East
  - dThe Photian schism and the beginnings of the great East-West schism
BHistory of Eastern Orthodoxy from the schism of 1054 to the present
- 1The church of imperial Byzantium (up to 1453)
- 2Developments from the fall of Constantinople (1453) to the early 19th century
  - aEastern Orthodoxy under the Ottomans (1453-1821)
  - bThe Church of Russia (to 1800)
- 3The Orthodox churches in the 19th century: developments in various areas
- 4The Orthodox Church since World War I
CHistory of the Roman Catholic Church from the schism of 1054 to the present
- 1The medieval and Renaissance eras (c. 11th- 16th century)
  - aDevelopment of the papacy as the chief spiritual and temporal power in the West
  - bReligious and cultural characteristics of Latin Christianity [see also F.6.a., below, 10/51.A.2., and 10/53.A.1.j.]
- 2The era of the Reformation and the wars of religion: from Luther's reform to the Peace of Westphalia (16th- 17th century) [see also 961.A.3.and A.4.]
  - aBackground of the Protestant Reformation in late medieval and Renaissance Catholicism
  - bThe Protestant Reformation [see D.1., below]
  - cThe Catholic Reformation and Counter-Reformation
  - dThe wars of religion [see D.1.h., below]
  - eMissionary endeavours in other areas: the role of the church in the explorations and colonial policies of the European powers
- 3The transition era: from the Peace of Westphalia to the French Revolution (17th-- 18th century)
- 4The modern age: from the French Revolution to World War I (18th-20th century)
- 5Developments in the 20th century
DHistory of Protestantism
- 1The Protestant Reformation and its aftermath, to the Peace of Westphalia (16th--17th century) [see also 961.A.3.and A.4.]
  - aIts background in European Roman Catholic Christendom [see C., above, and 961.A.]
  - bLuther and the German Reformation [see also 961.A.5.f.]
  - cThe Reformation in Switzerland, France, and the Low Countries [see also 961.A.5.e., g., and h.]
  - dThe English, Scottish, and Irish reformations [see also 961.A.5.d.]
  - eExpansion of the Reformation to Scandinavia, the Baltic states, and eastern, central, and southern Europe
  - fRadical reform movements
  - gThe Catholic Reformation and Counter-Reformation [see C.2.C., above]
  - hThe wars of religion: church-state relations and the gradual development of the concept of religious liberty during the 16th and 17th centuries [see also 961.A.4.]
- 2The transition era: from the Peace of Westphalia to the French Revolution (17th--18th century)
  - aPolitical developments affecting the continental Protestant churches
  - bDevelopments in German Protestantism
  - cThe challenge of rationalism, Deism, and the Enlightenment: the Protestant response
  - dDevelopments in English Protestantism
  - eDevelopments in American Protestantism during the Colonial period
  - fDevelopments in the Dutch Reformed churches
  - gDevelopments in other continental European churches
- 3The modern age: from the American and French revolutions to World War I (18th-20th century)
- 4Developments in Protestantism after World War I
EIntellectual, spiritual, and imaginative expressions of Christianity [see also F.7., below]
- 1Biblical literature: the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Apocrypha
- 2Biblical exegesis and hermeneutics
- 3Patristic literature: the writings of the Church Fathers
- 4Formal, official statements of beliefs and doctrines: creeds, dogmas, confessions of faith [see also F.5., below]
- 5Writings of the post-patristic theologians, reformers, and church leaders
- 6Christian mysticism
- 7Christian philosophy [see also 10/51.A.2.]
- 8The role of myth and legend in Christianity
FBeliefs, practices, and institutions of Christianity
- 1Doctrines concerning the nature and activity of God
  - aThe nature of God: the oneness of God, the transcendence of God, God as Father
  - bThe self-revelation of God: the understanding of God as Creator, Sustainer, and Judge
  - cChristology: teachings concerning the person of Jesus Christ
  - dEschatology: political and apocalyptic messianic concepts, expectation of the Kingdom of God [see also 826.C.1.e.]
  - eThe role of the Holy Spirit in the church: the tensions between continuity and revolution, institutional authority and charismatic activity, and order and freedom
  - fThe doctrine of the Holy Trinity
- 2Doctrines concerning intermediary beings, powers, or principles; e.g., the angels, Satan [see also 811.D.5.]
- 3Doctrines concerning the physical world
- 4Doctrines concerning mankind
- 5Doctrines concerning the church: Scripture, tradition, creeds, and confessions as normative expressions of Christian belief; the nature and role of doctrine and dogma
- 6Practices and institutions common or predominant among the various traditional forms of Christianity
  - aThe structure of church institutions: canon law and church polity
  - bThe role and characteristics of the liturgy: the church as a worshiping community, the church year
  - cForms of Christian life: monasticism, the saintly life
- 7Art and iconography
  - aMajor eras, regions, and schools of Christian art
  - bThe expression of Christian faith and themes in the arts
GThe major traditional forms of Christianity
- 1Eastern Orthodoxy
  - aHistorical development [see A. and B., above]
  - bThe Orthodox Church: general characteristics deriving from its historical development
  - cTeachings, forms of worship, and principles of organization that distinguish Eastern Christianity from Roman Catholicism and Protestantism
  - dThe relationship of Eastern Orthodoxy to recent social movements
  - eTraditional (national) Eastern Orthodox churches; e.g., the Russian Orthodox Church, the Church of Greece
  - fEastern Christian Independent churches: Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch; Armenian Apostolic Church; Coptic Orthodox Church; Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Malabar Christians; Nestorian (Assyrian) Church
- 2Roman Catholicism: Latin and Eastern rite churches
  - aHistorical development [see A. and C., above]
  - bThe Roman Catholic Church: general characteristics deriving from its historical development
  - cTeachings, forms of worship, and principles of organization that distinguish the Catholic tradition from that of Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism
  - dThe response of the Catholic Church to recent social and political developments
  - eThe Eastern rite (Uniate) churches: ethnically and nationally distinct churches in canonical communion with the Roman Apostolic See
  - fOld Catholic churches: churches that separated from the see of Rome after the first Vatican Council
- 3Protestantism
  - aThe Reformation and the historical development of Protestantism [see D., above]
  - bTeachings, forms of worship, and principles of organization distinguishing the Protestant heritage from that of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy
  - cThe influence of Protestantism on modern political and social thought
  - dMajor forms of Protestantism: historical development, teachings, forms of worship, and organization
    - iLutheran churches
    - iiReformed and Presbyterian churches: Calvinism
    - iiiThe Anglican Communion
    - ivThe Free churches: Baptists, Disciples of Christ, Congregationalists, Methodists
  - eVariations of the traditional forms of Protestantism
    - iHoliness churches
    - iiPentecostal churches
    - iiiMillenarian churches: Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses
    - ivSociety of Friends (Quakers)
    - vUnitarians and Universalists
    - viOld-line Protestant sects and their derivations: Mennonites (including Amish and Hutterites), the Moravian Church, Brethren
    - viiOther independent churches: various fundamentalist, evangelical, and other sectarian groups
    - viiiVariations of traditional Protestant faiths in black American society
HSects and movements tangentially related to traditional Christianity
- 1New Thought: Unity and other groups
- 2Christian Science
- 3Mormonism