The 4 main branches of Christianity (with explanation)

Christianity is the largest monotheistic religion with the largest number of followers in the world. However, it is not a single homogeneous belief system.

There are several main branches of Christianity. Let's see what they are.

• Related article: "Types of religion (and their differences in beliefs and ideas)"

The 4 main branches of Christianity

Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, they believe that he is the son of God and the messiah who was crucified and rose from the dead to give eternal life to those who believe in he.

Being such a vast and ancient religion, many Christian communities have branched out for different reasons giving way to the creation of other religious variants.

1. Protestantism

It is one of the most important branches of Christianity, with more than 900 million followers around the world. Born in the 16th century when Martin Luther, considered today as the father of Protestantism, since it is he who officially dissociated himself from the Catholic Church in 1517.

The Protestants They only accept two sacraments: baptism and the Eucharist. They do not know the authority of the pope because they only recognize Christ as the leader of the church. For them, the Bible is the only text of God's teachings.

They oppose the sale of indulgences, so they believe that salvation depends on the faith of the people and not on the works that are done. They do not believe in purgatory, in the sacrifice of mass, or in the intercession of the departed saints. They do not allow the use of religious figures or images.

Due to its extension in the world and the number of followers, it is considered one of the most influential branches of Christianity.

2. Orthodox

The Orthodox churches separated from the Catholic Church in the 11th century, although they maintain many similarities with this one. It constitutes a community of independent churches, each governed by its own bishop. This branch of Christianity arises from the definitive separation from the Christian Church by finding differences and not accepting the modifications that the Roman Church proposed. Hence the name "orthodox" which means "right belief", as they maintain the original creed of the Christian Church as the source of the holy spirit, deny the existence of purgatory, reject the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary and ignore the concept of original sin that the Roman Church adopted.

The countries with a greater presence of Orthodox Christianity are Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Russia, among other nations.

One of the most noticeable differences with the Roman church is that in the Orthodox church men who are married to a woman of good repute may be ordered, so there are deacons and married priests. Without a doubt, the Orthodox Church is one of those with the most followers in the world.

3. Catholic

It is the branch of Christianity formed by the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church in Western Europe. It has its center in the Vatican which recognizes the Pope as its supreme authority. Of the existing branches of Christianity, this is the one with the most adherents, with 1214 million faithful.

Besides the worship of Jesus, is characterized by the importance it gives to the Virgin Mary and the saints. The Catholic Church argues that it is the only church founded by Christ that was entrusted to the Apostle Peter, and that is why it is claimed as a "sign and instrument of intimate union with God."

The doctrine of the Catholic Church has been based on doctrines and concepts that are not present in the Bible and that are transmitted through the apostolic tradition, this is one of the main reasons for the separation with Orthodox and Protestants.

Its main rites and sacraments are baptism, communion, the Eucharist and marriage.

• You may be interested: "Saint Thomas Aquinas: biography of this philosopher and theologian"

4. Anglican church

It is founded and practiced in England and some parts of the United States. It is a broad fraternity of 40 autonomous provinces of mutual dependence that is defined as faith, practice and spirit of the member churches of the well-known “Anglican Communion” that are the churches what are in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is one of the largest Christian communions in the world, with 98 million members.

They consider themselves to be part of the Christian church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic, and Reformed. For many it represents a form of non-papal Catholicism or a form of Protestantism without founding figures such as Martin Luther or John Calvin.

Anglican Christianity has deep roots in the centuries before the sixteenth century, the core of the Anglican faith is found in the Bible, the 39 articles of the Christian faith and the book of common prayer, which summarizes the teaching of the first five centuries and rejects the subsequent evolution of the Church Catholic

They reject the cult of images and all their bishops have the same rank sharing the leadership of the Church. They accept the Bible but are given freedom of interpretation. Clergymen can marry.

Bibliographic references:

• Bornkamm, Günther (2002). Paul of Tarsus. Barcelona: Follow me editions.
• Theissen, Gerd (2002). The religion of the early Christians. Salamanca: Follow me editions.
• Draper, Jonathan (2006). The apostolics fathers: the Didache. The Expository Times 117 (5): 177-181.