Christianity in Atlasia

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Christianity in Atlasia is a very diverse movement which has undergone a large number of changes since the country's founding. There are two dominant schools of religion among Atlasian Christians, the Leipian, or liberal, and the Reconstructionist, or conservative. The former emphasizes using the teachings of Jesus as moral and ethical guidelines for the betterment of society, while the latter is more concerned with personal devotion and supplication to God (and hence resembles more traditional Christianity). These two factions are often in disagreement with each other, with Leipians accusing Reconstructionists of reliance on superstition, and Reconstructionists accusing Leipians of secularization and rationalization of an essentially spiritual religion. The Atlasian Bible Study group was founded in 2071 in order to strengthen the power of the Reconstructionists, who have historically been a much less influential group than the Leipians.

Contents

Denominational basis

Roman Catholicism

Traditionally, the religion known today as "Roman Catholicism" has tended to shun open discussions of theological orientation, believing that as the universal church it transcends artificial definitions. However, there has been nothing short of an all-out war within the Church in Atlasia over issues such as interpretation of the Bible, or sin and the afterlife, etc. Many bishops have taken a more liberal theological view than the official doctrine of the church, accepting higher criticism of the Bible and allowing "sinners", such as practicing gay and lesbian couples, convicted felons, and even masturbators to be church members and receive the Sacraments. In many cities where the Catholic church has a strong presence, there are separate churches catering to various theological, Biblical, and social views; in general, the more working-class churches tend toward a more Reconstructionist view while the larger, urban, middle-class churches tend toward Leipianism.

A survey of practicing (attending church at least twice a month) Catholics found that 37% take a traditionalist view of religion and society, 44% take a progressive or liberal view, and 195 do not know or take neither view. Differences were usually attributable to factors such as social class, ethnicity, personality traits (extroversion or introversion), and urban/rural status.

Protestantism

In general, Protestant denominations are stratified by their theological orientation. While the majority of Protestant denominations in Atlasia have historically favored a liberal theological perspective, a growing number have embraced traditional literally-oriented Christianity. These groups, formerly known as Sectarians and located mostly among lower-class residents of the Southeast, have attracted a much larger base in recent years and are becoming widely disseminated all over Atlasia. This is particularly true of the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination which is now common in middle-class Suburban areas of the Northeast and Mideast as well as its original Southeastern home.

Leipian denominations

These denominations have all embraced Leipianism as an official doctrine. They tend to be more liberal, mainline, white, urban, and middle class:

Reconstructionist denominations

These denominations support Reconstructionism and conservative theological doctrine. They are more fundamentalist, ethnically diverse, rural, and working class, but they have a growing base among all demographic groups. In general, these denominations are growing while more liberal ones are declining in membership:

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