Christianity

Christians believe in one God who created the universe. Within creation, human beings have a special relationship with God, and responsibility for the rest of creation.

Through human wilfulness, expressed in the narrative of Adam and Eve, this relationship was broken. God showed his love for all humanity by becoming ahuman being, sending His son Jesus to bring humanity back to a personal relationship with God.

Jesus' life and teaching demonstrated that God is with his people and called upon them to build that relationship with Him. For Christians, His death was not the end, but the beginning. After three days He was raised from the dead (the resurrection).

Jesus lived His life as a practising Jew but He was recognised by His followers as the expected Messiah (Hebrew word) or Christ (Greek word).

It was after His death that the name 'Christians' was given to His followers. His disciples founded the Christian church.

Christianity started in Jerusalem and spread rapidly to other parts of the world.

Christians believe in one God who revealed Himself to humankind as three different ‘persons':

  • God the Father, who created the world
  • God the Son - Jesus Christ who redeemed humanity
  •  God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens and guides the people of God.

Christians believe in the forgiveness of sins through the death of Jesus on the cross. There is a strong sense of service for others based on an understanding of love.

From its earliest days, there has been much diversity within Christianity. Over the centuries, the differences became divisions and various traditions of Christianity came into being. There has always been some debate about the interpretation of the Christian Gospel (message of Jesus). Practice within the churches also differs, although in recent years these differences have been reduced.

The various traditions, (Churches or denominations) include:

  • The eastern or Orthodox tradition
  • The western or Roman Catholic tradition, with the Pope at its head
  • The Protestant tradition arose out of the Reformation period of history.
    In England, since the sixteenth century, the Church of England has been the‘established church'. The monarch is the head of this church.The whole country is divided into dioceses, with a Bishop at its head. Each diocese is dividedinto parishes. The Church of England is sometimes referred to as the Anglican Church.
    Protestant churches include Baptists, Methodists, United Reformed Church (URC), Brethren, Salvation Army, Pentecostals/Assemblies of God, Christian Science
  • Today, there is an active movement among churches that works towards Church unity or ecumenism. Churches Together in Devon is an organisation working to this end.

Followers: Christians

Holy Book: Bible - consists of the Old Testament, originally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament, written in Greek. It is seen as the accounts of God'sinteractions with humanity. It has been translated into many languages

Main Religious Festivals: Easter and Christmas with other associated festivals observed by some churches

Holy Day: Sunday

Language:Worship is usually conducted in the mother tongue of worshippers. Until the 1960s the Roman Catholic tradition used Latin