by Garrick Uygongco (G10E)

Roman Catholicism is one of the biggest influences on our history, art, music, and even education. But, how exactly did we get here? What else has Catholicism affected? Throughout history, how has Catholicism evolved or splintered? Before exploring all this, we must first understand that Catholicism and Christianity are two different yet closely correlated concepts.

Christianity refers to the beliefs stemming from the teachings, life, and death of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. With this comes three main denominations of Christianity.  Starting during the year 1054, the Great Schism split Christianity into two branches: Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Around the 1500s the Reformation began, and a new branch of Christianity called Protestantism was created.

Knowing the branches of Christianity now requires us to understand how they differ from one another. The Pope, the successor of St. Peter, is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, unlike Eastern Orthodox or Protestantism which have no sole earthly leader. When it comes to the beliefs of the major three denominations, there are of course differences and similarities among them, such as their views on the sacrament of marriage: Orthodoxy and Catholicism view it as an unbreakable vow, while Protestantism does not view it as a holy sacrament and heavily discourages but allows divorce. 

From these, what are the effects of these Christian denominations on history? Focusing on Roman Catholicism, this denomination has been a driving force in nations around the world for centuries. Countries such as Spain, England, Italy, and the Philippines have a deeply rooted and shared history with the Roman Catholic Church. If it were not for the belief in the Catholic Church, the Crusades to reclaim the Holy Land of Jerusalem would not have happened. Key historical periods such as the Spanish Inquisition and even the Age of Exploration would have changed course if it were not for the need to spread the Word of God.

We can still observe the effects of Roman Catholicism in politics to this day. One example is that the Philippines is one of the only few countries to not legalize divorce. There have also been other impacts that Catholicism has had on our social structures, such as the development of our current modern legal system. In the past, our legal systems would vilify those who were against established institutions by attacking those who dissent against the former’s pre-established social order. Nowadays, however, the purpose of the law is to keep evildoers at bay while protecting one’s individual rights – straying away from protecting abusive institutions and instead shifting a focus on each citizen’s well-being.

These are only a few samples, but we can already observe the effects of Catholicism not just in history but in modern-day politics as well. From the 16th century all the way to our contemporary period, our cultures, politics, histories, and even economies have been affected in one way or another by religion – paving a path to mold and shape our societies and established institutions.

References

Benz, E., Hick, J., McGinn, B., et al. (2022). Christianity. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity 

Cunningham, L., Frassetto, M., Oakley, F., et al. (2020). Roman Catholicism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism 

Foley, M. (2009). The Catholic Contribution to Western Law. Catholic Education. https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/the-catholic-contribution-to-western-law.html 

Hallam, G. (2014). Comparison between Orthodoxy, Protestantism & Roman Catholicism. Christianity in View.  http://christianityinview.com/comparison.html 

History.com. (2017). Catholicism. https://www.history.com/topics/religion/history-of-christianity 

Just, F. (2007). Who Are Christians?. Catholic Resources. https://catholic-resources.org/Courses/Christianity-Branches.htm 

National Geographic Society. (2022). Great Schism. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-schism 

The American Humanist. (n.d.). CATHOLICISM – Paths to Humanism. https://americanhumanist.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/catholicism.pdf 

The Economist. (2022). Why the Philippines is the only country where divorce is illegal. https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/02/13/why-the-philippines-is-the-only-country-where-divorce-is-illegal 

Wilkinson, F. (2022). The Protestant Reformation. National Geographic. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/protestant-reformation