The Rise of Christianity
From Jesus to Christ This FRONTLINE series is an intellectual and visual guide to the new and controversial historical evidence which challenges familiar assumptions about the life of Jesus and the epic rise of Christianity.
Western Religions About half of the people of the world practice Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. They are found on every continent, but tend to be concentrated in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Western Asia and North Africa. Christianity and Islam are growing influences in sub-Saharan Africa, often replacing indigenous faiths.
AN OVERVIEW OF EARLY CHRISTIAN HISTORY: 30 CE to 300 CE There was great diversity within Christianity during the first few decades after Jesus' execution. Some of Jesus' followers (and those who never met Jesus but who were inspired by his teachings) settled in Jerusalem. But others spread across the known world, teaching very different messages. "Even in the same geographical area and sometimes in the same cities, different Christian teachers taught quite different gospels and had quite different views of who Jesus was and what he did.". Gregory J. Riley, "One Jesus, many Christs," Harper SanFrancisco, (1997), Page 4.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY: 301 to 600 CE During the Anti-Nicene Era (about 170 to 325 CE) many religious movements were active in the Roman Empire: Christianity, Greek Pagan religion, Judaism, Mithraism, Roman Pagan religion, various secret mystery religions, etc. Religious tolerance was widespread throughout the empire, but it was only enjoyed by those adults who had fulfilled their civic duties.
The Beginning to 476 A.D. A chronology of the early church
History Christianity A collection of related sites telling the story of the early church