<P> The East--West Schism of the 11th century and the Protestant Reformation of the 16th tore "Christendom" into hostile factions . Following the Age of Enlightenment of the 18th century, atheism and agnosticism became widespread in Western Europe . 19th - century Orientalism contributed to a certain popularity of Buddhism, and the 20th century brought increasing syncretism, New Age and various new religious movements divorcing spirituality from inherited traditions for many Europeans . The latest history brought increased secularisation, and religious pluralism . </P> <P> Western culture, throughout most of its history, has been nearly equivalent to Christian culture, and many of the population of the Western hemisphere could broadly be described as cultural Christians . The notion of "Europe" and the "Western World" has been intimately connected with the concept of "Christianity and Christendom" many even attribute Christianity for being the link that created a unified European identity . </P> <P> Though Western culture contained several polytheistic religions during its early years under the Greek and Roman empires, as the centralized Roman power waned, the dominance of the Catholic Church was the only consistent force in Europe . Until the Age of Enlightenment, Christian culture guided the course of philosophy, literature, art, music and science . Christian disciplines of the respective arts have subsequently developed into Christian philosophy, Christian art, Christian music, Christian literature etc . </P> <P> Christianity had a significant impact on education and science and medicine as the church created the bases of the Western system of education, and was the sponsor of founding universities in the Western world as the university is generally regarded as an institution that has its origin in the Medieval Christian setting . Many clerics throughout history have made significant contributions to science and Jesuits in particular have made numerous significant contributions to the development of science . The Civilizing influence of Christianity includes social welfare, founding hospitals, economics (as the Protestant work ethic), politics, architecture, literature and family life . </P>

Who was responsible for spreading christianity throughout europe