Christian Church has never been united.It is very important to remember, lest we fall into extremes, as often occurred in the history of this religion.From the New Testament it is clear that the disciples of Jesus Christ during his life were arguing about which of them is more important and more important in the emerging community.Two of them - John and James - even asked for the seats on the right and on the left hand of Christ in the coming kingdom.After the founder's death, the first thing that began to make the Christians - divided into various warring groups.The Book of Acts and the Epistles report numerous false apostles, heretics of who came from the midst of the first Christians, and founded his own community.Of course, those looking at the authors of the New Testament texts and their communities in the same way - as heretical and schismatic community.Why is this happening and what was the main cause of the separation of churches?
during ante-Nicene Church
That was a Christianity 325 years, we know very little.We only know that this is a messianic current within Judaism, which was initiated by a wandering preacher named Jesus.His teaching was rejected by the majority of the Jews, and Jesus himself was crucified.A few followers, however, stated that he is risen from the dead, and declared him the Messiah promised by the prophets of the Tanakh, and who came to save the world.Faced with total rejection among his countrymen, they spread his message among the Gentiles, of which found many adherents.
first division among Christians
During this mission, and had his first East-West Schism.Leaving the preaching, the apostles were not prescribed a codified doctrine and general principles of preaching.Therefore, they are different, and preached Christ, different theories and concepts of salvation and impose different ethical and religious obligations on converts.Some of them were forced to Gentile Christians to be circumcised, observe the rules of kashrut, observe the Sabbath and do other judgments of the Mosaic Law.Others, however, canceled all of the requirements of the Old Testament, not only in regard to the heathen converts, but also for themselves.Besides, someone thought of Christ the Messiah, a prophet, but the man, but someone has to impart His divine attributes.Soon came the formation of dubious traditions, like the Immaculate Conception, the stories about the events of his childhood, and more.In addition to all the different estimated saving role of Christ.All this has led to considerable contradictions and conflicts within the first Christians and initiated East-West Schism.
from the New Testament clearly seen similar divergence of views (up to mutual rejection of each other) between the apostles Peter, James and Paul.Modern scientists investigating the separation of churches, isolated at this stage of the four major branches of Christianity.In addition to the three above mentioned leaders, they add a branch of John - as a separate and independent alliance of local communities.All this is natural, given that Christ has not left any governor, any successor, and do not give any practical guidance on the organization of the Church of the faithful.New communities were completely independent, subject only to the authority of the preacher and the founder of their elected leaders inside.Theology, liturgy and practice were in each community becoming independent.Therefore, there were episodes of division among Christians from the beginning and they were mostly doctrinal character.
Poslenikeysky period
After Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, and especially after the year 325, when the first ecumenical council in the city of Nicaea, he has dealt bountifully with orthodox party actually has absorbed most of the other areas of early Christianity.Those that remained, declaring heretics and were outlawed.Christian leaders in the face of the bishops received the status of public officials with all the legal consequences of his new position.As a result, in all seriousness the question arose administrative structure and management of the Church.If in the previous period were the reasons for the separation of church doctrinal and ethical, in poslenikeyskom Christianity added another important motive - a political one.So, behind the church fence and could be kafolik faithful who refused to obey his bishop, and the bishop does not recognize the legal authority over them, such as the nearby metropolitan area.
Division poslenikeyskogo period
We have found out that it was the main cause of the separation of churches during this period.However, clerics often tried to paint the political motivation doctrinal tone.Therefore, this period provides several examples of very complex in nature splits - Arian (named after its leader, the priest Arius), Nestorian (named after the founder - the patriarch Nestorius), Monophysite (from the name of the doctrine of the single nature in Christ) and many others.
Great Schism
most significant split occurred in the history of Christianity at the turn of the first and second millennia.United hitherto orthodox catholic church in 1054 was divided into two independent parts - east, is now called the Orthodox Church, and the western, known as the Roman Catholic Church.
reasons for the split in 1054
In short, the main reason for the separation of church in 1054 - the political.The fact that the Roman Empire at that time was two independent parts.Eastern part of the empire - Byzantium - Rules Caesar, whose throne and the administrative center was located in Constantinople.The emperor was also the head of the church.Western Empire actually rules the bishop of Rome, concentrated in his hands, both secular and spiritual power, and moreover, to claim power and Byzantine churches.On this basis, of course, soon arose disputes and conflicts, as expressed in a number of church claims to each other.Petty, in fact, chicanery gave rise to a serious confrontation.
Eventually, in 1053 in Constantinople by order of the patriarch Michael Cerularius were closed all the churches of the Latin rite.In response, Pope Leo IX sent to the capital of the Byzantine embassy headed by Cardinal Humbert, who was excommunicated from the church of Michael.In response, the Patriarch assembled Cathedral and mutually anathematized papal legate.Just this little attention, and inter-church relations continued in the usual way.But twenty years later, the original little conflict was realized as a fundamental division of the Christian Church.
Reformation
next major schism in Christianity, is the emergence of Protestantism.It happened in the 30s of the XVI century when a German monk of the Order of Augustinian rebelled against the authority of the Bishop of Rome, and dared to criticize a series of doctrinal, disciplinary, ethical and other provisions of the Catholic Church.What was the main reason for the separation of churches at the moment - it is difficult to answer unequivocally.Luther was a committed Christian, and his main motive was to fight for the purity of faith.
course, his movement became a political force and for the liberation of the German churches from the power of the Pope.And this, in turn, unleashes secular power, no longer constrained requirements of Rome.For the same reason the Protestants continued to be divided among themselves.Very quickly, in many European countries began to appear of their own ideology of Protestantism.Catholic church began to crumble - many countries have dropped out of the orbit of influence of Rome, others were on the verge of it.Protestants themselves at the same time did not have a single spiritual authority, a single administrative center and this is somewhat like the organizational chaos of early Christianity.A similar situation is observed in their environment today.
Modern splits
What was the main reason for the separation of churches in the old era, we found out.What happens with Christianity in this respect today?First of all, I must say that the major schisms since the Reformation no longer arise.Existing Church continues to share with each other for such a small group.Among Orthodox Old Believers were, the Old Calendar and catacomb splits, from the Catholic Church and several groups separated and Protestants constantly split up, since its inception.Today, the number of Protestant denominations - more than twenty thousand.However, nothing fundamentally new has not appeared, except for a few organizations like poluhristianskih Mormon Church and Jehovah's Witnesses.
important to note that, first, most of the churches today are not connected with the political regime, and separated from the state.And secondly, we have the ecumenical movement, which seeks to bring together, if not merge the various churches.In these circumstances, the main reason for the separation of churches - ideological.Today, few people seriously reconsidering dogma, but a huge impact of the movement for getting the ordination of women, gay marriage wedding, etc.In response to this, each group stands apart from the others, occupying its position of principle, keeping the whole dogmatic content of Christianity intact.
