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Christianity HISTORICAL   BACKGROUND-Cont.
Baptist Churches

Religious Program Specialist 3 & 2, Module 01-Personnel Support
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Statute of Religious Liberty, gave legal status to the principle of the separa- tion  of  church  and  state. BRANCHES  OF  CHRISTIANITY Even in the early years of the church, branches, or groups holding beliefs opposed  to  official  doctrine,  developed.  But  Christianity  remained  practi- cally  one  great  community  for  almost  a  thousand  years.  In  the  800s, however,  a  division,  between  the  church  at  Rome  and  the  church  at Constantinople  (now  Istanbul)  developed.  In  1054,  rivalries  between  these two  groups  resulted  in  a  final  separation  between  Greek  Catholics  and Roman  Catholics.  The  Eastern  church,  Greek  Catholics,  came  to  be  called the  Eastern  Orthodox  church.  After  the  Reformation,  many  groups  holding beliefs  differing  from  the  Eastern  Orthodox  and  Roman  Catholic  beliefs  de- veloped.  These  non-Catholic  Christians  are  generally  called  “Protestants.” CHRISTIANITY  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES From the arrival of the first settlers in America, the variety of expressions of the Christian religion in the United States has been extensive. As of 1977, there  were  over  800  distinct  groups  or  bodies  which  identified  themselves with  American  Christianity. The   majority   of   the   early   settlers   were   followers   of   the   larger   and better  known  contemporary  Roman  Catholic  and  non-Roman  Catholic (Protestant) groups such as, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Lutheran. A smaller representation of the early settlers identified with non-Catholic   groups   which   are   not   as   widely   known.   The   Mennonites, Quakers  (Friends),  Seventh-Day  Adventists,  and  the  Church  of  God  are included in these groups. Within America, Christianity is one of the largest religious communities. The  largest  percentage  of  naval  personnel  are  members  of  the  Christian community.  Christian  chaplains  comprise  the  largest  faith  group  included within the military chaplaincy. Groups Within Christianity Though   not   all   inclusive,   the   Christian   denominations   listed   in   the following  paragraphs  are  indicative  of  the  broad  spectrum  of  Christian worship  forms  found  within  the  United  States.  It  is  not  to  be  assumed, however, that all of the religious groups which are aligned with one of these denominations are similar in all of their beliefs or practices. ADVENTIST   CHURCHES.—Adventist   churches   stem   from   the   19th- century  preaching  of  William  Miller.  William  Miller  was  so  influential  that for  years  his  followers  were  known  as  Millerites.  Miller,  a  veteran  of  the War  of  1812  and  a  serious  student  of  the  Bible,  believed  in  the  imminent second  coming  of  Jesus  Christ.  Two  sacraments  are  observed,  Baptism  and Communion.  They  practice  immersion  as  the  Biblical  form  of  Baptism  and foot  washing  as  a  preparatory  service  for  Communion. Seventh-Day  Adventists  observe  their  Sabbath  on  Saturday,  tithe  their incomes,  and  abstain  from  tobacco,  alcohol,  and  drugs.  They  seek  religious 2-14







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