Christianity, The World s Largest Religion - 1653 Words

Christianity consists of a lot more then what most people perceive of it. Not only is Christianity the world’s largest religion, but also includes more than 25,000 different denominational groups. The three branches of Christianity are Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. Each of these branches have numerous denominations within them. For instance, Protestantism includes Lutherans, Baptist, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, and Evangelicals. Ongoing conflicts about beliefs and practices caused the creation of these denominations. In 1504, the first division of Christianity into branches occurred with the creation of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. They separated due to the difference in†¦show more content†¦All Christians believe that all humans are sinful and in need of grace, and that only Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God through his death and resurrection. They also believe that th e Bible tells us who God is, how we can have a relationship with him, and how we can extend God’s love to other people. The branches of Christianity differ in heads of the church, how church is conducted, the importance of saints, and many other minor differences. Roman Catholics believe in a hierarchy with the Pope (Bishop of Rome) at the top. The Pope is the â€Å"Vicar of Christ† (Christ on Earth) and acts in his place to lead the Church in determining what is right and proper for all Catholics. He exercises authority over the 3,250 Bishops in the Roman Catholic Church and speaks on issues pertaining to faith and morals. Roman Catholic tradition of the Pope is based on the apostle Peter being ordained the first â€Å"pope† when Jesus declared, â€Å"And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it† (King James Bible Matthew 16:18). Cardinals, who have the right to