Christianity

Christianity traces its origins back to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in the first century AD. It is now the world's most-practised religion, with more than two billion followers.

The Holy Trinity of The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost are central to Christian worship, which often takes place in a church.

The church also provides a community of believers who uphold the lifestyle and practices of the faith. These include a historical quest to share the good news (gospel) of Christ, which has produced an emphasis on mission. Salvation and redemption are other common themes in the Christian doctrine.

History

Jesus of Nazareth was born to Mary and Joseph sometime around 4 BC. Many Christians believe that Joseph was the father in name only, as Mary was a virgin at the time of conception.

Jesus had a short (possibly less than one year) but very public career as a preacher, healer and miracle worker. His teachings and parables gathered wide public attention across Palestine, then controlled by the Roman Empire.

Around 30 AD, the Romans put Jesus on trial, then put him to death by crucifixion. Christians believe that He rose from the dead (the resurrection) after his execution, and was seen by many people before he ascended into heaven.

Christians also believe that although Jesus was the Son of God, he was both human and divine. They interpret that Jesus is Messiah or saviour predicted by the Jewish people at the time of Christ's birth.

During the New Testament period, the nature of the Christian community changed dramatically.

The original metaphor of the church was as the body of Christ, with all parts being of equal importance under the headship of Jesus. This evolved into a hierarchical organization, one with vertical levels of authority including bishops, priests, and deacons.

Beliefs

Christians believe one's life is judged by the way it was lived. Judgment is made after death.

Those who believe in Jesus and live by his teachings are forgiven their sins, and because of this redemption will then spend eternity in heaven. Christians are judged for their works, and their deeds determine how they will be rewarded and whether they will be allowed into heaven in the after-life.

Many Christians believe those who do not accept Jesus Christ as saviour do not earn passage to heaven.

The Bible is the sacred text, which is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the scripture shared with the Jewish faith and addresses, among other things, the creation of the world.

The New Testament details the life of Jesus and a selection of beliefs and writings of the early church.

Rituals

Prayer, the attempt to communicate with the divine through the spoken word, is a key component of Christian devotion. It is practised both at church and in the private home.

At church, a priest or minister leads the religious service. Congregants sit in rows, or pews. In many Protestant churches, this may involve a sermon from the pulpit.

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches give a prominent role to the Seven Sacraments, or holy rites. Instituted by Jesus, these "sacred mysteries" highlight the divine grace of God:

• Baptism (Christening)
• Holy Eucharist (Communion)
• Penance (Confession)
• Confirmation
• Matrimony
• Holy Orders (Ordaining of priests)
• Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites)

Many Protestants and other branches of Christianity observe only the Baptism and Eucharist sacraments.

Variations

A schism in the 16th century saw the Protestant denominations split from the Catholic Church. Both Catholics and Protestants agree on certain beliefs including:

• Jesus' crucifixion, incarnation, resurrection and His promised return to earth
• The Eucharist, which is the ritual of sharing bread and wine symbolizing Christ's body and blood
• The Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
• The virgin birth of Jesus
• Baptism
• The Bible

However, Catholics and Protestants disagree on other important aspects of Christianity:

• The authority of the Pope.
• The authority and accessibility of Scripture.
• The exact meaning of the Eucharist.

There are four main strands within the Protestant churches: Anglican/Episcopal, Lutheran, Reformed/Presbyterian and the Free Churches.

Holy days

Christians follow the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus throughout each year. Here are a few of the major religious dates marked on the Christian calendar:

• Christmas - A celebration of the birth of Christ.
• Good Friday/Easter Sunday - This marks the crucifixion as well as the Resurrection of Christ.
• All Saints Day - Celebrated on Nov. 1 by Catholics and Anglicans.

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"By reading the descriptions of different religions, it appears the intent of 'religion' is to better ourselves, give answers and, most importantly, find peace within. If that really is the case, then can believing in a god do us any harm?" — Chris, Saskatchewan
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