Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with an estimated 2 billion followers worldwide. It is based on the teachings and beliefs of Jesus Christ, a Jewish teacher who lived in Palestine during the first century CE. Christianity is often viewed as a monotheistic religion, but some denominations also include elements of polytheism, pantheism, panentheism, and other beliefs. Christianity has several core beliefs that are shared among its various denominations. These include: the Trinity — the belief that there is one God in three persons (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit); Jesus is God incarnate; the Bible is the inspired and authoritative Word of God; and God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving.
The Christian faith is highly diverse and is expressed in numerous denominations throughout the world. The beliefs and practices of Christianity vary from denomination to denomination, with beliefs and practices ranging from non-liturgical Orthodox denominations to liturgical mainline denominations to progressive denominations. Despite these variations, the core beliefs of Christianity remain the same. The Catholic Church, for example, teaches that the Sacraments are “the source and summit of the Christian life,” and that “the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of faith and life in the Church.” Some Protestant denominations teach a doctrine of sola scriptura, which means that the Bible is the sole source of Christian faith and practice. Other denominations teach that Scripture should be interpreted in light of tradition, reason, and experience.
The Bible is a foundational part of the Christian faith, and it is the source for many core beliefs about God, salvation, and the Christian life. The Bible contains stories about Jesus’ life, his teachings, his death, and his resurrection from the dead. The four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — provide an account of Jesus’ life and ministry. The rest of the New Testament — Acts, the Epistles (letters), and Revelation — provide instructions on the life of faith and how to live in the world.
For Christians, salvation comes through belief in Jesus as the Son of God and acceptance of his death and resurrection as payment for sin. This is referred to as justification. It is believed that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God offers forgivenes and a new relationship with humanity. The Bible also teaches that Christians should strive to grow in their faith and live according to God’s will.
Christianity also promises a life after death, with the belief that those who die in Christ will rise again. This is referred to as the doctrine of the resurrection. Those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
Christianity also has a strong set of values, which many members of the faith strive to live by. These values include love, forgiveness, justice, mercy, and humility. Christianity teaches that all human beings are created in the image of God and should strive to live in harmony with one another.
Worship
The Christian faith emphasizes the importance of worship and prayer. Through worship and prayer, Christians come before God and express their love and adoration for Him. Worship can take many forms, including services in churches, private prayers, and personal devotions. Worship services in churches typically involve singing, praying, reading scripture, and sometimes preaching. Personal devotions and prayer can take place anywhere and at any time, as a way to offer heartfelt devotion to God and to thank Him for His blessings.
In addition to worship and prayer, many Christians engage in mission work and evangelism, which is the sharing of the Gospel with those who have not yet heard it. Christianity also places a great emphasis on good works, with Christians being called to serve the less fortunate and to look out for and care for the vulnerable in society.
Sacraments and Rituals
Many Christian denominations also observe certain sacraments and rituals, such as baptism and communion. Baptism is the ritual of cleansing, or washing away, a person’s sin. Communion is a ritual where Christians remember Jesus’s sacrifice of His body and blood on the cross. In communion, a person consumes bread and wine as symbols of Jesus’s body and blood.
Other common sacraments and rituals of Christianity include the rite of confirmation, the prayer of blessing and healing, and the anointing of the sick. Confirmation is a sacrament where a person publicly declares his or her faith in Jesus Christ. The prayer of blessing and healing is a prayer offered for someone who is ill or suffering and a request for divine healing. The anointing of the sick is a special blessing of healing and comfort given to someone suffering from an illness or injury.
Church Practices
Many Christian denominations also have specific practices and beliefs regarding the Church. For instance, some churches emphasize the importance of the clergy, the sacraments, and the sacramentals, while others may place more emphasis on the importance of the laity and the spiritual practices of the Church. Likewise, some churches have set liturgical practices that are followed during services, while others may be more flexible and open to personal interpretation.
Christians also have a variety of beliefs about the role of the Church in society. Some denominations view the Church as an institution that provides spiritual guidance and protection, while others may view the Church as a moral institution that works to promote justice and peace in the world.
Eschatology
Eschatology is the belief in a “final period of history” that includes the return of Jesus. Most Christians believe that Jesus will one day return to earth to bring about the final restoration of all things. This belief is called the “Second Coming,” and it is one of the core beliefs of Christianity.
Eschatology also includes beliefs about the afterlife and the resurrection of the dead. Most Christian denominations teach that the souls of the faithful will go to Heaven and the souls of the unfaithful will go to Hell.
Theology
Christian theology is the study of God and His relationship with humanity. Christian theologians strive to understand and articulate the core teachings and beliefs of Christianity, focusing particularly on the Trinity, Jesus, Scripture, and salvation. Theology is also used to study the history of the Christian faith, from its origins to its current state.
Christian theology can be divided into two major branches — systematic theology and historical theology. Systematic theology studies God and His attributes, exploring the nature of God and His relationship to humanity. Historical theology examines the major themes of the Christian faith, looking at the development and changes in theology throughout the history of Christianity.
