It originated in Palestine in the 1st Century AD and is founded on the life and teachings of the Jesus Christ (4BC-29AD) who was a Palestinian Jew.
There are many different denominations. The major division is between Orthodox and Western Chrsitianity (which is divided into Roman Catholicism and Protestantism).
From the beginning, Christianity has sought to convert people, however, many Christians today feel there should be respect for what is good and true in other world cultures and religions.
Basic Concepts:
- There is only one God.
- God has created the world distinct from himself but is believed to be active within it.
- Humans are created at a distance from God and are responsible for their own lives. God is judge of all they do, but also seeks to help them when they go wrong.
- God reveals in three 'entities': Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. However these three persons are regarded as a unity, sharing one 'Element'.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, who came to earth as a man to restore the relationship between humans and God which had gone wrong. He was crucified as a criminal and was seen alive after he was dead and buried.
Christians. Christians believe taht during Jesus' life he had shown people how to be reconciled to God and to each other.
Jesus death and resurrection was a form of atonement for actions of humans and restored them to their correct relationship with God.
Christians believe they should live according to the example of Jesus Christ by loving God, loving fellow human beings as one loves oneself and by sharing the Christian message.
Christians believe that humans have only one life. This life is judged after death by the way it was lived. Heaven is where the soul lives if one lived a good life while eternal punishment awaits in Hell for those who lead a bad life.
The Christian place of worship is called a Church. They are often built in the shape of a cross with the altar facing east towards the rising Sun.
The Bible is the holy book. This is divided into the Old testament, which incorporates the Hebrew Bible found in Judaism, and the New Testament, which details the life of Jesus and a selection of beliefs and writings of the early church.
Christian symbols include: The Crucifix - an image of Jesus crucified on the cross and the Cross without Jesus, indicating that he has risen from the dead.
