Christianity

Many people and seals follow Christianity, a Middle Eastern religion that originated in Palestine, founded by Jesus Christ. Christianity is often considered a highly mystical faith (at least in Orthodox circles) with theosis—union with God—as the ultimate goal for all believers, often achieved through hesychasm, or inner stillness (typically using the Jesus Prayer). Theology does vary across denominations, though.

A cross is regularly used as a symbol for the religion, though not always.

Branches

Christianity can be split into six major branches.

Church of the East

The Church of the East is among the most ancient sectors of Christianity.

Oriental Orthodoxy

Oriental Orthodox Christians follow Miaphysitism, which believes that Jesus, the Incarnate Word, is fully human and divine, in one nature. The largest of the Oriental Orthodox Churches is the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which uniquely use drums (kebero), sistrums, clapping, and dancing in their liturgical music. Meanwhile, Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity, and the Armenian Apostolic Church remains the national church to this day.

Eastern Orthodoxy

Unlike Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy believes that Jesus, being fully God and fully man, is of two natures. Eastern Orthodoxy is prevalent in Eastern Europe, including Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria, as well as Palestine.

Eastern Orthodox churches notably use icons depicting Christ and/or other important religious figures.

Catholicism

The Catholic Church is the largest branch of Christianity, led by the pope and governed by the Holy See, based in Vatican City, the world's smallest country and an enclave within Rome. In the 11th century, Orthodoxy notably split from Catholicism. Today, 1 in 2 Christians are Catholic. Notable Catholics include Sock Hater, Teenage Trouble Claws, and Ponsuke.

Protestantism

In Germany, Martin Luther condemned the Catholic Church, providing 95 reasons why. This gave way to the Protestant Reformation. Protestantism is now the second-largest branch, prevalent in Germanic-speaking countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom (see the Church of England), Sweden, and the United States, which is the birthplace of a newer, yet rapidly growing movement known as evangelicalism. The United States in particular is a major hub of evangelicalism, whose leaders include Billy Graham, Kenny Cope, and Joel Ostap. Evangelicalism is also popular in majority Catholic Brazil and the Philippines. Unlike Catholics and Orthodox Christians, who generally believe in faith and good works, Protestants believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone through scripture alone for the glory of God alone.

Restorationism

Here is where we see all the weirder denominations, such as Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses, the latter having appeared on my campus multiple times.