Christianity Essay -- essays research papers fc

Christianity religion was founded in Palestine by the followers of Jesus. One of the world’s major religions, it predominates in Europe and the Americas, where it has been a powerful historical force and cultural influence, but it also claims adherents in virtually every country of the world. Central Beliefs The central teachings of traditional Christianity are that Jesus is the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Latin Trinity is define as threefoldness, fundamental doctrine in Christianity, by which God is considered as existing in three persons. While the doctrine is not explicitly taught in the New Testament, early Christian communities testified to a perception that Jesus was God in the flesh; the idea of the Trinity has been inferred from the Gospel of St. John. The developed doctrine of the Trinity purports that God exists in three coequal and coeternal elements—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (LaCunga 360) It sees these â€Å"persons† as constituted by their mutual relations, yet does not mean that God in his essence is Father, or a male deity. Jesus spoke of a relation of mutual giving and love with the Father, which believers could also enjoy through the Spirit. Christians also believe that Jesus’ life on earth, his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven are proof of God’s love for humanity and God’s forgiveness of human sins; and that by faith in Jesus one may attain salvation and eternal life. This teaching is embodied in the Bible, specifically in the New Testament, but Christians accept also the Old Testament as sacred and authoritative Scripture (Weaver 5). Christian ethics derive to a large extent from the Jewish tradition as presented in the Old Testament, (Carmody, Christian Ethics 15) particularly the Ten Commandments, but with some difference of interpretation based on the practice and teachings of Jesus. Christianity may be further generally defined in terms of its practice of corporate worship and rights that usually include the use of sacraments and that are usually conducted by trained clergy within organized churches. There are, however, many different forms of worship, many interpretations of the role of the organized clergy, and many variations in polity and church organization within Christianity. Divisions within the Religion In the... ...as Islam. People may also become Christian because they have been brought up in a Christian family. Christianity also appeals to many people who are homeless or less fortunate than others because of the promise of a better life after death. Many people regard the Bible as being proof of Christianity, especially the New Testament. If 2 billion people follow Christianity there must be something in it that draws so many people. Whether it is the promise of eternal life or that anyone can become a Christian, or the fact that you belong to something Christianity is one of the largest religions in the world today and is still growing. Bibliography Beach, Waldo. The Christian Life. Richmond: The CLC Press, 1966. Carmondy, Denise, and John Carmody. Christian Ethics: An Introduction through History and Current Issues. Engelwood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1993. ---. Christianity: An Introduction. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1994. Craig, David. What Christians Believe.Boston: Oneworld Publications, 2000. LaCunga, Catherine. God For Us: The Trinity and Christian Life. New York: 1992. Weaver, Mary Jo. Introduction to Christianity. Belmont:Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1984.