Christianization

Christianization is the process by which a person, community, or society becomes Christian, typically through individual conversion and the establishment of Christian institutions, practices, and norms within a culture. It often involves baptism, catechesis, church organization, and changes in public life.

Historically, it has occurred through missionary work, royal or state policy, and broader social change. In the Roman Empire, the Edict of Milan (313) tolerated Christians, and Theodosius I (380) made Nicene Christianity the empire’s official religion, accelerating institutional expansion and regional conversions.

In medieval Europe, conversion of peoples such as the Scandinavians and Slavs occurred through missions, monasteries, and political alliances between rulers and bishops. Local beliefs often persisted alongside Christian practices, producing syncretism or gradual replacement of older rites.

Outside Europe, Armenia adopted Christianity in 301, and Ethiopia developed a distinct Christian tradition. Across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, missions, colonization, and religious education reshaped societies, with lasting effects on language, law, literacy, and civic institutions.

Methods include preaching, baptism, catechesis, church construction, and schools; printing and liturgical calendars supported dissemination. The process varied from voluntary conversion to coercion or coercive policy, and frequently involved negotiation with or adaptation to preexisting religious cultures.

Scholars emphasize both changes in belief and social structures. Critics note cultural disruption and loss of indigenous traditions, while others highlight education and social services. Modern analyses stress regional variability, power relations, and the mixed legacy of Christianization.