Sacraments
Baptism, Communion, Confession, Marriage, Ordination — the rites that mark Christian life, and where traditions sharply disagree.
6 topics
Anointing of the Sick
The Anointing of the Sick, a sacrament in the Christian tradition, was once primarily reserved for those on their deathbeds, but its use has expanded signifi…
Baptism
Baptism, as practiced by early Christians, has deep roots in Jewish purification rituals. Before Christianity, various Jewish sects engaged in ritual washing…
Communion
The practice of Communion, also known as the Eucharist, was so contentious that it played a significant role in the first major split in Christianity, the Ea…
Confession
The practice of confession in Christianity was not formalized until the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, which required all Christians to confess their sins a…
Marriage
The Christian church only began formally officiating marriages in the 12th century, much later than many people assume. Before this period, marriage was prim…
Ordination
The practice of ordination has roots in ancient rituals that predate Christianity by thousands of years. In various early cultures, religious leaders were of…