1.0 Introduction
Christianity is a movement in relation to other cultural influences. Different movements have occurred in history, influencing the social, political and cultural beliefs and practices of people and communities. Significant movements defining and clarifying Christianity in relation to other cultural influences are events that are not necessarily represented by a specific church, which had political, social and cultural effects on the members of specific communities. In this regard, movements in Christian circles should fulfil key requisites, including not being represented by a specific church, being championed by a revolutionist, should have happened within specific timelines, and pursued specific objectives. Finally, a significant movement should have had social, political and cultural ramifications. This study analyzes five key events that defined and clarified Christianity as a movement, including (i) St Jerome Bible translation into Latin.
2.0 Analysis and Discussion
(i) A.D. 383- 404: St Jerome Bible translation into Latin
One of the marks of Christianity as a movement has been spreading the religion to many cultures beyond Israel. Although Christianity was perceived as a Jewish religion for this special community, its teachings have spread across the world, influencing the culture and practices of many communities miles away from Israel. One remarkable event was the adoption of Christianity into the powerful Roman Empire. The Romans played a key role in expanding the Christianity movement to its colonies, and this could not have happened without addressing the language barrier.[1].
One of the barriers to the Christian movement was language. In AD 383-404, the Bible still had a few translations, which meant the Christianity movement would not have a strong cultural and political influence in specific areas. However, Jerome, who had originally translated the Bible from Greek, went ahead to create the Latin version. Translating the Bible into Latin was a critical event for Christianity, allowing the religion to find significant inroads among the influential Roman people. Jerome was well acquainted with Hebrew when He took on the process of coming up with the Latin manuscript of the Bible. By translating the Bible from Greek, the religion was increasingly embraced in the Roman Empire, sparking a new development in the spread of Christianity in Europe.
Translation of the Bible into Latin was critical due to the strong influence of the Roman people. Jerome was passionate about making his contribution to this movement, a move that led him to move to Jerusalem to execute his project. Moving to Jerusalem was critical, for it gave him a better grip on Jewish scripture commentary. This event would not have happened without the contributions of other notable figures around Jerome. One of these notable figures was Paula, a wealthy Roman aristocrat. He went ahead to fund Jerome’s project by paying for his stay at a monastery in Bethlehem, enabling the translation to happen to completion.
This event had significant social and cultural ramifications. It is worth noting that in the 1st century, Greek was a language of only a fraction of the Christian community. For this reason, religion did not spread quickly through the Roman Empire.[2]. However, the creation of the Latin translation became a hallmark of reform regarding the spread of Christianity in Rome and Europe. The Latin version of the Bible saw Christianity spread in the western region. The Latin version of the Bible was significant, for it was regarded as the Bible of the western Church until the periods of reformation. This Bible translation saw Christianity spread far into the western world, and the Church grew in this region.
(ii). AD249-251: Decius Trajan Persecution of Christians
Another critical event that marks Christianity as a movement is the continued growth of this religion amidst political resistance. Christianity has become subject to political forces for a long period. In Rome, religion was largely influenced by the religious ideologies of the ruling emperor. Decius Trajan, the Roman emperor, took over at a time when Christians had enjoyed peace for a period. For this reason, the number of Christians grew in the expansive Roman Empire. The growth of Christianity in the Roman Empire was critical because of the strong influence of the Romans in Europe and other parts of the world.
Early Roman civilization meant that the Romans would have a significant political, social and cultural influence. For this reason, growth in Christianity would spread this influence to the region. When Decius took over the reign of Rome, Christians had relative peace for a time. Decius was keen to change this by enforcing what he would call the national religion to be observed among all Roman citizens.[3]. In this regard, the new rule was not exclusive to Christians. He made a rule that Christians should worship Caesar and the national gods. This decision came amidst the fears that Christianity would rapidly grow and possibly convert the whole Roman Empire.
For political reasons, primarily the fear that Christianity was growing so fast and would take over the region, Decius resolved to do all he could to stamp out the Church. His approach in executing this event was not to create Christian martyrs. Instead, he targeted the top church leaders, especially the Bishops, reconverting them into paganism and possibly making them apostates. His plan was based on the rationale that if bishops and key church leaders reconverted or were destroyed, another lay Christians would depart from Christianity into paganism, the new national religion.
In this period, he decreed that Christian bishops and leaders would sacrifice to the national gods and Caesar on a fixed day. Also, everyone was to taste the sacrifice. This event was an intentional attack on Christianity to punish its followers. As a result of the decree, Christians in Rome had two alternatives, to denounce their faith and sacrifice to the gods or die. Many Christians denounced Christ, were apostates and worshipped national gods.
However, many Christians refused to sacrifice and were brought to death through torture. The torture and death of strong Christians were executed brutally to create fear. While this event could have been thought to have stopped Christianity, it did not.
(iii) AD258: Martyrdom of Cyprian
The ‘Martyrdom of Cyprian’ is an event that marks Christianity as an unstoppable movement. It is worth knowing that Cyprian was no ordinary person. He was a popular theologian and Bishop. His death in AD 258 significantly impacted Christianity in Rome and other parts of the world. Cyprian lived at a time when Christians were highly opposed to the Roman law supporting paganism. The emperor made decrees targeting Christianity and the faithful.[4]. Christianity was a political threat to these rulers due to the huge following it attracted in Rome.
One of the decrees made in ad 258 was a law that every religion was to seek permission to exercise its religion from the Roman authorities. Also, for the religion to be practised, it had to be recognized by the Roman state. Unfortunately, the state refused to recognize Christianity, prompting people to secretly meet for gatherings considered illegal by the authorities. Equally, in Cyprian’s time, the Roman law stated that one could practice his religion freely but was not free to change or persuade others to become followers.
Cyprian, a popular bishop and theologian, stood for faith at a time when conversion to Christianity was rampant in Rome. It is against the tide of Christian conversions in secret home meetings that fear crippled the authorities. Christians failed to neither worship Caesar nor made sacrifices to the national god. For this reason, authorities felt that Christians were planning to rebel against the emperor in these secret meetings. This misguided belief by the authorities saw a decree made to persecute Christians, especially those leading the flock. The threat of persecution and death was real, for the state was determined to eliminate the Church.
As a vocal leader, Cyprian stood for faith and was persecuted and killed. The persecution against Christianity at this time differed slightly from the earlier ones. The Christians and their leaders at the time were subjected to more terrible and cruel suffering. This happened because, unlike the first and second-century persecution, which individuals drove, this one was a plan of the state. The state was determined to end Christianity, but this could not suffice thanks to the Martyrdom of Cyprian, and others, which encouraged others to soldier on.
Cyprian martyrdom was a critical event that sparked committed Christians to stand strong for their faith regardless of the persecution. The political environment at the time was tense, and Christians were at crossroads. It is also worth noting that Cyprian martyrdom was critical in motivating the Church since the persecution of the Church at the time was more organized and systematic than that of the first.[5]. In its passion for advancing paganism and destroying Christianity, the state used all the resources at their disposal to destroy the Church. Cyprian, the theologian and Bishop, was an example of encouraging Christians left behind to pursue their faith relentlessly amidst the threats.
(iv) AD754: Emergence of the pro-Nazi German Christian Group
One of the events that marked Christianity as a movement was the event of the German Nazi era. In this era, many Germans were Christians, with an estimated 40 million Protestants and another 20 million Catholics. A significantly small fraction of the population belonged to other Christian faiths. At the time, the German Evangelical Church was the leading protestant Church in number and influence, followed by the Roman Catholic Church. The two became pillars of this society, shaping the culture and attitudes of the people. While the Church was strong, attempts were made to promote other ideologies, including National Socialism and loyalty to governing authorities.
The German Church became a voice against ideas relating to the convergence of Nazi antisemitism with widespread and deep-seated anti-Jewish prejudice. The emergence of the pro-Nazi German Christian Group concerned the German Evangelical Church. While a few raised concerns, this group was maintained among the German Evangelical Church. The objective of this group was to fuse Christianity in Germany with National Socialism.[6]. Although the German Evangelical Church was supposed to condemn this group and its ideologies, it remained silent on the matter. This silence would then turn out in the future to be a critical problem for the nation.
The emergence of the pro-Nazi German Christian Group (a section of the German evangelical Church) promoted a racially pure church by attacking Jewish influences on the Christian faith. It was this move to create a racially pure church that was free of the Jewish influence that prompted a backlash. This backlash happened as a way to resist the effort to Nazify the German Evangelical Church. Those protesting formed the Confessing Church. However, another mistake happened when the confession Church remained part of the larger German Evangelical Church.
The confessing Church condemned Nazified theology advocated by the pro-Nazi German Christian Group. They also condemned the plans to nationalize the Church. However, the confession Church did not protest against the Nazi State. Instead, they constrained their effort to theological integrity and the autonomy of the Church. The compromise of the ideologies of the pro-Nazi German Christian Group by the Church saw authorities take over and persecute Jewish Christians. This event reveals Christianity as a movement that was subject to political and religious influence.
(v) AD563: St. Columbia’s missionary Journey to Scotland
The fifth event showing Christianity as a movement is Columbia’s missionary Journey to Scotland. Scotland and primarily Britain played a key role in the spread of Christianity in Europe and many of its colonies. Its success in advancing the Christian faith would not have happened without the critical missionary journey of St. Columbia to Scotland. This journey could have been said to be more random than planned for St. Columbia.[7]. The journey was necessitated by a dispute between Columbia and Finnian, his mentor, over the copyright of Jerome’s psalter translation.
Columba had initially produced a copy of this translation at St. Finnian’s monastery. His mentor, Finnian, claimed it, for he owned the original. An appeal was made to the king, who sided with Finnian, a decision rejected by Columbia. He rebelled against the king with the help of a clan, leading to the first conflict based on copyright. He also differed from the king on other matters, making it difficult for him to continue living in his home. Also, internal church politics saw several sanctions being levied on him. He had difficulty with local authorities prompting him to consider leaving Ireland.
Problems in his life were followed by St. Brendan’s vision of angels surrounding St. Columba. St. Columbia left Ireland for Scotland with 12 companions using a wicker canoe. Upon arriving in Scotland, he arrived at a place where Gael had been. He directed his troops to move further, settling in Iona on land gifted by the local king. Despite the political challenges he faced, He was committed to the cause of spreading Christianity in Scotland. He did not allow the political odds around his life to stop him.
It is evident that Columbia was determined to make a difference in spreading Christianity in the new country. After settling, he established a monastery at Iona, which became a catalyst for the resurgence of monasticism in the country. During his time, he pushed for the erection of churches and schools as a core component of his mission. Columbia’s monastery became popular as a school of missionaries. It sent many missionaries to different parts of the country, leading to the growth of Christianity.
3.0 Conclusion
In conclusion, this study reveals five significant events showing Christianity as a movement that has overcome the test of time. A careful analysis of these events reveals that Christianity has grown in size and influence, overcoming many odds. As a movement. Christianity has faced political, cultural and social resistance. One of the highlights from the five events is that Christianity has overcome significant odds from the state and political rulers who were opposed to its influence. Another key highlight is that the brevity of Christian leaders and reformists played a key role in sustaining the Christian movement.
Bibliography
Brian Stanley. “Christianity in the Twentieth Century: A World History.” Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 2018.
Cabrita, Maxwell. “Relocating World Christianity.” London: Leiden: Brill, 2017.
Dyron Daughrity. “The Changing World of Christianity: The Global History of a Borderless Religion.” New York: Peter Lang, 2010.
Douglas Jacobsen. “The World’s Christians: Who They Are, Where They Are, and How They Got There. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell, 2011.
Rodney Stark, “Review of the World Christian Encyclopedia, by David B. Barrett,” Sociological Analysis 44, no. 1 (Spring 1983): 70–71.
[1] Rodney Stark, “Review of the World Christian Encyclopedia, by David B. Barrett,” Sociological Analysis 44, no. 1 (Spring 1983): 70–71.
[2] Douglas Jacobsen, “The World’s Christians: Who They Are, Where They Are, and How They Got There. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell, 2011.
[3] Dyron, Daughrity. “The Changing World of Christianity: The Global History of a Borderless Religion.” New York: Peter Lang, 2010.
[4] Cabrita, Maxwell. “Relocating World Christianity.” London: Leiden: Brill, 2017.
[5] Brian Stanley. “Christianity in the Twentieth Century: A World History.” Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 2018.
[6] Rodney Stark, “Review of the World Christian Encyclopedia, by David B. Barrett,” Sociological Analysis 44, no. 1 (Spring 1983): 70–71.
[7] Dyron Daughrity. “The Changing World of Christianity: The Global History of a Borderless Religion.” New York: Peter Lang, 2010.
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