Christianization
Converting to Christianity
Christianization is the process of converting a population, culture, or region to Christianity.
It can happen through missionary work, conquest, or gradual cultural absorption.
The term often describes historical transformations: the Christianization of Europe, the Christianization of pagan festivals.
Older practices may survive beneath a Christian veneer—sacred springs become holy wells, fertility rites become saints' days.
Defeating and seizing control
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- subjugationForcing into submission
- indigenousOriginating in a region
- settlerOne who colonizes territory
colonizer · empire · hegemony · domination · suppression · erasure · assimilation · acculturation
Ritual water purification ceremony
- catechumenUnbaptized person learning Christianity
- convertChange in form or faith
- proselytizeAdvocate one's beliefs
- evangelizeSpread religious doctrine actively
initiate · repentance · salvation · redemption · rebirth · confession · absolution · confirmation
Ritual water purification ceremony
- sacramentsSacred Christian rites
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- massQuantity of matter
- EucharistSacramental bread and wine
communion · prayer · worship · feast days · holy days · Christmas · Easter · pilgrimage
conquest
Defeating and seizing control
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
- subjugationForcing into submission
- indigenousOriginating in a region
settler · colonizer · empire · hegemony · domination · suppression · erasure · assimilation · acculturation · syncretism
baptism
Ritual water purification ceremony
- catechumenUnbaptized person learning Christianity
- convertChange in form or faith
- proselytizeAdvocate one's beliefs
evangelize · initiate · repentance · salvation · redemption · rebirth · confession · absolution · confirmation · anoint
baptism
Ritual water purification ceremony
- sacramentsSacred Christian rites
- liturgyFormal worship structure
- massQuantity of matter
Eucharist · communion · prayer · worship · feast days · holy days · Christmas · Easter · pilgrimage · procession
evangelism
Promoting beliefs to others
crusade · gospel · ministry · outreach · proselytism · disciple · congregation · flock · tract · Bible translation
theology
Study of the divine
catechism · sacrament · liturgy · canon · trinity · scripture · apostolic · ecumenical · exegesis · homily
- NorwayOslo, Bergen, Trondheim, fjord, fjords
- VikingsViking, longships, longship, raiding, Norse settlers
- Nordic HistoryViking Age, Viking raids, longships, runestones, Great Northern War
- Christian missionsforeign missions, missionary work, missionary societies, church planting, evangelists
- Colonial PhilippinesSpanish colonization, Augustinians, Dominicans, Franciscans, Jesuits
- early churchapostles, early church, Church Fathers, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles
Christianizationdechristianization
Eliminating religious presence systematically
Islamization · paganization · apostasy · Arabization · reconversion
Christianizationsecularization
Religion losing social significance
dechristianization · disestablishment · irreligion · disenchantment · separation of church and state
Christ, Christian, christen, Christianity, Christians, christening, christened, Christendom, Christology