Spread of Christianity Among People Groups Essay -- Research Papers Ge

Spread of Christianity Among People Groups From the very beginning times of Christianity, its message has set with and transformed communities of people. Christianity itself grew out of a people group who had an identity that stretches back in time thousands of years. The worship of Yahweh, geographically born in ancient Mesopotamia (modern mean solar day Iraq) has spread through history to the farthest islands of the seas. Born into the people of Israel, Jesus gathered a small group of followers living and working with them until his hike to heaven. From these few, the Christian faith spread to other Jews in Israel and the further reaches of the Roman Empire, including parts of southern Europe and Southwest Asia. As Christianity was later adopted by the Roman Empire, much of Europe became the focus of conquest for Roman Christianity, though much of this was due in part to the fall of Western Rome. Rome and beyondJusto L. Gonzalez documents this spread of Christianity into Europe through the avenue of Romes influence. He quotes from a Roman Citizen, Paulus Orosius who condenses this historical phenomenon into his own words. He thoughtfully writes, If only to this residuum have the barbarians been sent within Roman borders,that the church of Christ might be filled with Huns and Suevi, with Vandals and Burgundians, with diverse and innumerable peoples of believers, then let Gods mercy be praisedeven if this has taken place through our own destruction.(1, p231) The various people groups documented by Gonzalez are primarily groups who claim a common ethnic and political identity in the form of a kingdom. These were at times conversions of coercion through political structures and at times conversions of conveni... ...cepted the gospel. any(prenominal) of these groups have either made the mistake of claiming the Christian religion as their own, while others have sought to make it their own. Rather, the truth is that the gospel becomes yours when you share it w ith another. (3) work Cited1. Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. San Francisco Harper Publishing, 1984. 2. Winter, Ralph D. Hawthorne, Steven. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Pasadena, CA The Paternoster Press LTD, 1992. 3. Coptic church, http//pharos.bu.edu/cn/, (5/6/99) 4. Frumentius, http//www.catholic.org/saints/saints/frumentius.html, (5/6/99) 5. Vikings, http//www.csn.net/advent/cathen/11115b.htm, (5/6/99) 6. Crusades, http//orb.rhodes.edu/encyclop/religion/crusades/Crusade.html, (5/6/99) 7. St. Patrick, http//wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm, (5/6/99)