Origins and Early Development
🌍The term "Catholic" derives from Greek "katholikos", meaning universal, reflecting early Christianity's aim to unify diverse believers into a single faith.
🕯️Early Christianity split into two main currents: the Judeo-Christian church in Jerusalem maintaining Jewish traditions, and Paul's Gentile Greek church rejecting Jewish laws and emphasizing salvation by faith.
Historical Turning Points
⚔️Roman Empire persecutions from the 1st to 4th century, including Nero's in 64 AD and Trajan's, paradoxically strengthened Christian faith and unity, elevating martyrdom to the highest honor.
👑Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 AD ended Christian persecutions, initiated Christianity's rise as the official Roman Empire religion, marking the beginning of traditional Roman Catholicism.
Theological and Political Evolution
🏛️The 4th century saw influential Catholic theologians like Augustine and Gregory the Great shape traditional Roman Catholicism through doctrines on purgatory, predestination, mass, saints, and canon law, while the Church's union with politics accumulated power, contrasting with Jesus' teachings of simplicity and humility.