The Religions Book

224

THERE IS NO

SALVATION

OUTSIDE

THE CHURCH

ENTERING INTO THE FAITH

I

s it possible to be a Christian

without also being a member

of the Church? Many people

today would answer “yes,” pointing

out that Jesus did not provide his

disciples with instructions for

setting up a religious institution.

Some would contend that, in order

to be a Christian, it is sufficient to

have a personal belief in Jesus,

without even belonging to the

Church, in any of its denominations.

Despite this argument, being

a member of the Church has been

considered an essential element

of Christian faith for most of

its history. At first, in the years

following Jesus’s death and

resurrection, Christians simply

IN CONTEXT

KEY MOVEMENT

The Fourth Lateran

Council

WHEN AND WHERE

1215 CE, Rome

BEFORE

1st century CE The first

Christian communities form.

313 CE The Roman Emperor

Constantine publishes the

Edict of Milan, allowing

Christians to worship freely.

1054 The Great Schism divides

the Roman Catholic and

Eastern Orthodox Churches.

AFTER

1545–63 The Council of Trent

reaffirms the seven sacraments

against Protestant calls for two.

20th–21st century The

ecumenical movement affirms

that all Christians, regardless

of denomination, are part of

one worldwide Church.