12 Christianity

Jeffrey Brodd

California State University, Sacramento

Layne Little

University of California, Davis

Bradley Nystrom

California State University, Sacramento

Robert Platzner

California State University, Sacramento

Richard Shek

California State University, Sacramento

Erin Stiles

University of Nevada, Reno

A priest baptizes a baby girl as her family looks on.

STEVE AND RENEE WALKER have had a lot to look forward to during the past two years. First, there was the long-awaited arrival of little Simone, who brings gladness to her parents and her brother, Brent. Today there will be another exciting event as the Walkers present Simone for baptism into a spiritual family that Christians call the Church.

Whereas some Christians prefer to baptize adult believers who understand and accept the essential teachings of Christianity, others such as the Walkers believe that baptism is a special means by which God’s love begins to grow even within small children. Wanting Simone to be touched by God in this way, they have arranged for her baptism to take place at St. James’s Episcopal Church, where they have found friendship and fellowship with others.

Now the church is filled with worshipers whispering quietly in rows of pews while waiting for the service to begin. When it does, the organist fills the building with resplendent strains of music that seem to shake its foundations, the congregation launches into a favorite hymn, and a procession of clergy makes its way to the front of the church. After welcoming everyone, the priest, Father Robert, pronounces a blessing upon them. Then all eyes turn toward the baptismal font, an elevated basin of water. Steve, Renee, and Brent are waiting there, with Renee holding Simone in her arms.

Father Robert now enters into a formal dialogue with Steve and Renee, asking if they will bring up Simone in the Christian faith, if they renounce evil in all its forms, and if they put their trust in Jesus Christ. Answering for themselves and on behalf of Simone, they respond affirmatively. Then, dipping a small silver cup into the water of the baptismal font, Father Robert pours a bit of it three times on Simone’s forehead. As he does so, he says, “Simone, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then, placing his hand on Simone’s forehead, he marks the sign of the cross and adds, “Simone, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever. Amen.”

Now that the baptismal ritual is complete, Simone’s family returns to their seats to await the end of the service. Soon they will be on their way home to join friends and relatives for a festive dinner and celebration of the new life that Simone will live, not just with the Walker family but in communion with more than 2 billion Christians worldwide.

There are three great traditions within Christianity. Historically, the Roman Catholic Church has been the dominant church in the West. In the East (for the purposes of this chapter, the region extending from the Adriatic Sea to the Middle East), most Christians have belonged to the Orthodox Church (also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church). Protestant Christianity, which consists of thousands of “denominations,” grew out of the Roman Catholic tradition in the sixteenth century. Although these churches have been shaped in different ways by complex historical and cultural forces, they are united by shared beliefs that lie at the heart of Christianity. Christians acknowledge a personal and transcendent God, the creator and sustainer of the universe. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity describes God as one in essence but consisting in three “persons”: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christians believe that communion with God, in this life and in eternity, is the ultimate purpose of human existence.

World Christian population.

TIMELINE

Christianity

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We begin our investigation of Christianity with a survey of its teachings. We then trace the history of Christianity from the earliest days after the death of Jesus to the present time. Finally, we explore the practices by which Christians give outward expression to their beliefs in their daily lives.