Dogma is a set of core beliefs such that their disputation or revision by a person effectively means that the person no longer accepts that religion. In other words, dogma offer structural rigidity to a religion.
In the history of Christianity, there is one event so significant that it defined the essential Christian dogma. This event is the conception of Nicene creed by the first council of Nicea.
Nicene Creed - in both its conception at the First Council of Nicea in AD 325 and its subsequent expansion at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381 - has come to be the most widely used statement of faith in Christian history.
Essential elements of the Nicene creed are that:
(1) Jesus Christ is the Son of the God, and is in essence God.
(2) Jesus Christ came to Earth for salvation of Human beings.
(3) Jesus Christ died for our sake, for our salvation.
(4) Jesus Christ resurrected after death, and rose to heaven.
(Salvation: God must punish the sinner. Salvation is the way He has provided for escape)
This set of dogma, a subset of Nicene creed, alone is sufficient to characterize that Christianity is history-centric.
All Major Denominations of Christianity accept Nicene Creed: Nicene Creed is embraced by millions of Christians of virtually every denominational tradition. Popularity of Nicene creed can still be seen today as it is recited or otherwise affirmed in the midst of worship by Roman Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and many other denominations. Membership of these denominations [1] suggests that the majority of Christians recite or affirm the Nicene creed.
Some Minor Denominations of Christianity Reject Nicene Creed: There are some minor denominations that actually reject the Nicene creed - to be clear, they do not reject every dogma in the Nicene creed but the totality of the creed. Jehovah's Witnesses (about 20 million people), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (less than 20 million people) are two examples of denominations that reject Nicene creed.
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Where Nicene Creed is rejected, it is only on finer points: Denominations that reject the Nicene creed still consider the scriptures authoritative. However, scriptures support some of the dogma in the Nicene creed explicitly. Besides, their disagreement in on finer points of the Nicene creed and accept the essential elements listed above. For example, Jehovah's witnesses do not believe in the Trinity. However, Jehovah's Witnesses still believe that Jesus is the Son of the God, that he died for our salvation, and that he resurrected (again, a finer point that it was not in body but in spirit)..
How about Unitarian Universalists? Yes, Unitarian Universalists do not accept any part of Nicene creed. However, they are not Christian. Today, Unitarian Universalism welcomes a diversity of beliefs. And while the Bible served as the sacred text for some founders of this faith, individual Unitarian Universalists today find guidance in many written materials, including sacred texts and scriptures of other religious traditions.
What can we say about the Nicene creed?
Master Narrative of History for Christians: The list of dogma above can be called the Master Narrative of History for Christians. They have believed them for centuries and these dogma are accepted as fact without question.
History-Centrism: Besides fitting the criteria for History-centrism listed a previous blog, they stand out in one obvious fact. There is nothing spiritual in the list above. No key message from God. All it has is foundational Dogma that establishes Jesus as the True historical figure.
References:
[1] List of Christian denominations by number of members
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