Christianization Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Individual conversion == {{Main|Conversion to Christianity}} James P. Hanigan writes that individual conversion is the foundational experience and the central message of Christianization, adding that Christian conversion begins with an experience of being "thrown off balance" through cognitive and psychological "disequilibrium", followed by an "awakening" of consciousness and a new awareness of God.{{sfn|Hanigan|1983|pp=25, 28–29}} Hanigan compares it to "death and rebirth, a turning away..., a putting off of the old..., a change of mind and heart".{{sfn|Hanigan|1983|pp=25–26}} The person responds by acknowledging and confessing personal lostness and sinfulness, and then accepting a [[Universal call to holiness|call to holiness]] thus restoring balance. This initial internal conversion is only the beginning of Christianization; it is followed by practices that further the process of Christianizing the individual's lifestyle, which according to Hanigan, will include ethical changes.{{sfn|Hanigan|1983|pp=abstract, 25–28}} While Christian theologians such as the fourth century Augustine and the ninth century Alcuin maintained that conversion must be voluntary,{{sfn|Allott|1974|p=72}}{{sfn|Brown|1963|pp=107-116}} there are historical examples of coercion in conversion. Constantine used both law and force to eradicate the practice of sacrifice and repress heresy though not specifically to promote conversion.{{sfn|Leithart|2010|p=302}}{{sfn|Lim|2012|p=498}} Theodosius also wrote laws to eliminate heresies, but made no requirement for pagans or Jews to convert to Christianity.{{sfn|Brown|1963|p=286}}{{sfn|Sáry|2019|pp=72-74, 77}}{{sfn|Hebblewhite|2020|loc=chapter 8; 82}} However, the sixth century Eastern Roman emperor [[Justinian I]] and the seventh century emperor [[Heraclius]] attempted to force cultural and religious uniformity by requiring baptism of the Jews.{{sfn|Kaldellis|2012|p=3}}{{sfn|Irmscher|1988|p=166}}{{sfn|Sharf|1955|pp=103-104}}{{sfn|Lichtenberger|Raja|2018|pp=85–98}} In 612, the Visigothic [[Sisebut|King Sisebut]], prompted by Heraclius, declared the obligatory conversion of all Jews in Spain.{{sfn|García-Arenal|Glazer-Eytan|2019|pp=5–6}} In the many new nation-states being formed in Eastern Europe of the [[Late Middle Ages]], some kings and princes pressured their people to adopt the new religion.{{sfn|Štefan|2022|p=101}} And in the [[Northern crusades]], the fighting princes obtained widespread conversion through political pressure or military coercion.{{sfn|Fonnesberg-Schmidt|2007|p=24}} === Baptism === {{Main|Baptism}} [[File:Piero, battesimo di cristo 04.jpg|thumb|upright=.8|baptism of Christ by Piero|alt=photo of painting by Piero of Christ's baptism]] Jesus began his ministry after his [[baptism]] by [[John the Baptist]] which can be dated to approximately AD 28–35 based on references by the Jewish historian [[Josephus]] in his ([[s:The Antiquities of the Jews/Book XVIII#Chapter 5|''Antiquities'' 18.5.2]]).{{sfn|Gillman|2003|pp=125–127}}{{sfn|Novak|2001|pp=302-303}} Individual conversion is followed by the [[Initiation|initiation]] rite of baptism.{{sfn|McKinion|2001|p=2}} In Christianity's earliest communities, candidates for baptism were introduced by someone willing to stand [[surety]] for their character and conduct. Baptism created a set of responsibilities within the Christian community.{{sfn|MacCormack|1997|p=655}} Candidates for baptism were instructed in the major tenets of the faith, examined for moral living, sat separately in worship, were not yet allowed to receive the communion eucharist, but were still generally expected to demonstrate commitment to the community, and obedience to [[Christ (title)|Christ]]'s commands, before being accepted into the community as a full member. This could take months to years.{{sfn|McKinion|2001|pp=5–6}} [[File:Baptism at Eastside Christian Church2018.jpg|thumb|modern baptism at Eastside Christian church|alt=photo of teenage girl being baptized at Eastside Christian church]] The normal practice in the ancient church was baptism by immersion of the whole head and body of an adult, with the exception of infants in danger of death, until the fifth or sixth century.{{sfn|Jensen|2012|p=371}} Historian [[Philip Schaff]] has written that sprinkling, or pouring of water on the head of a sick or dying person, where immersion was impractical, was also practiced in ancient times and up through the twelfth century.{{sfn|Schaff|1882|p=469}} [[Infant baptism]] was controversial for the [[Protestant Reformers]], but according to Schaff, it was practiced by the ancients and is neither required nor forbidden in the [[New Testament]].{{sfn|Schaff|1882|p=470}} === Eucharist === {{Main|Eucharist}} The celebration of the [[eucharist]] (also called communion) was the common unifier for early Christian communities, and remains one of the most important of Christian rituals. Early Christians believed the Christian message, the celebration of communion (the Eucharist) and the rite of baptism came directly from [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]].{{sfn|McKinion|2001|p=5}} [[File:Brooklyn Museum - The Communion of the Apostles (La communion des apôtres) - James Tissot.jpg|thumb|The Communion of the Apostles by James Tissot|alt=James Tissot painting of the last supper]] Father Enrico Mazza writes that the "Eucharist is an imitation of the [[Last Supper]]" when Jesus gathered his followers for their last meal together the night before he was arrested and killed.{{sfn|Baldovin|2000|p=583}} While the majority share the view of Mazza, there are others such as New Testament scholar [[Bruce Chilton]] who argue that there were multiple origins of the Eucharist.{{sfn|Armstrong |2007|pp=13–15}}{{sfn|Baldovin|2000|p=584}} In the [[Middle Ages]], the Eucharist came to be understood as a [[sacrament]] (wherein God is present) that evidenced Christ's sacrifice, and the prayer given with the rite was to include two [[Strophe|strophes]] of thanksgiving and one of petition. The prayer later developed into the modern version of a narrative, a memorial to Christ and an invocation of the Holy Spirit.{{sfn|Baldovin|2000|p=583}} === Confirmation === {{Main|Confirmation}} [[File:(1918) Cape Mount, Confirmation Class.jpg|thumb|Confirmation class of 1918 at Cape Mount|alt=photo from 1918 of African children all dressed in white for confirmation at Cape Mount]] In the early 1500s, [[confirmation]] was added to the rites of initiation.{{sfn|Alfsvåg|2022|p=1}} While baptism, instruction, and Eucharist have remained the essential elements of initiation in all Christian communities, theologian Knut Alfsvåg writes on the differing status of confirmation in different denominations:<blockquote>Some see baptism, confirmation, and first communion as different elements in a unified rite through which one becomes a part of the Christian church. Others consider confirmation a separate rite which may or may not be considered a condition for becoming a fully accepted member of the church in the sense that one is invited to take part in the celebration of the Eucharist. Among those who see confirmation as a separate rite some see it as a sacrament, while others consider it a combination of intercessory prayer and graduation ceremony after a period of instruction.{{sfn|Alfsvåg|2022|p=1}}</blockquote> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page