| The
Origins of Christianity |
| Christians
follow Jesus Christ who, we believe, shows
us what God is like in human form. Jesus was
a preacher and healer who lived 2,000 years
ago in the land of Palestine in the Middle
East. After his death, his disciples spread
his teachings far and wide. Christianity is
the world's largest religion. |
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Christians believe in one
God who created the world and watches over
it. God is everywhere and sees and knows everything.
Christians believe that God is kind and loving.
God is always ready to forgive wrong-doing
if the person is truly sorry and promises
to follow God's way.
They believe that from early times, God has
spoken to humankind, trying to guide them
and show them the right way to live. They
believe that Jesus was the son of God who
came to earth to save people from their sins.
Christians say that people can learn what
God is like from Jesus's life and example.
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Most
Christians believe that God can be seen in
three ways: as God the Father, who made and
cares for the world; as God the Son, who came
to earth as Jesus; and as God, the Holy Spirit,
meaning the power of God which is always at
work in the world. We call these three persons
in one God, the Holy Trinity. |
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The
Church
A church is a building where Christians worship.
Churches can be big or small, new or old,
ornate or plain. The floor plan of many churches
is in the shape of a cross.
The Cathedral
A cathedral is the main church in an area,
called a diocese, that is looked after by
a bishop. It contains the bishop's throne
or cathedra. |
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The Holy Bible is the name of the Christian
Scriptures. It consists of the Old Testament,
which comes from the ancient Jewish Scriptures,
and the New Testament, which contains accounts
of the life of Jesus and the experiences of
the early Christians. |
| Christians
celebrate the following festivals and fasts:
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter,
and Pentecost; and twelve Festival Days: Christmas,
the Name of Jesus, Epiphany, The Baptism of
Our Lord, The Transfiguration of Our Lord,
Easter, The Ascension of Our Lord, The Feast
of Pentecost, The Holy Trinity, Reformation
Day, All Saints' Day, and Christ the King.
The celebrations follow the life of Jesus,
beginning with the preparation for his birth
in Advent, the birth of the Christ child at
Christmas, the journey of discipleship in
Epiphany as the Wise Men follow the star to
Bethlehem, the preparation for Jesus's passion
and death during Lent and Holy Week, the resurrection
of Jesus from the dead at Easter, and his
ascension into Heaven. After his ascension,
we receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost and build our relationship with
the risen Christ during this season. |
| The
Cross is the main symbol of the Christian
faith, reminding us that Jesus died for us.
In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions in
particular, the cross usually includes a figure
of Christ on the cross, and is called a crucifix.
A palm cross is given to the congregation
on Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ's entry
into Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week. |
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Candles
are used in worship.
The Advent candle counts the days until Christmas.
The Advent ring of four candles counts the
Sundays before Christmas.
The Baptismal candle symbolises the passing
from darkness into light.
The Paschal candle symbolises the light of
the Resurrection.
The Votive candle symbolises a prayer 'going'
to God. |
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Fish is a symbol of faith. The letters
of the Greek word for fish 'icthus' stand
for 'Jesous Christos Theou Uios Soter', which
means 'Jesus Christ, God's Son, Saviour'.
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Communion
Wafers are used at the service called
Mass, Eucharist or Lord's Supper, and can
be plain or decorated with Christian symbols
such as the cross. |
| Images
of Jesus, Mary and the saints can be
in the form of pictures or statues, called
icons. In the Orthodox traditions, the icon
has special significance and is given particular
reverence as an aid to devotion. |
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Certificates
are usually given by a priest or minister
to commemorate special ceremonies and occasions
in the life of a Christian, such as baptism,
first communion or confirmation.
Greetings cards are sent to mark special Christian
festivals, like Christmas and Easter and also
to offer congratulations on a baptism, ordination,
wedding, etc. |
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Rosary
Beads are used to count prayers and
as an aid to devotion, mainly in the Catholic
tradition. |
| The worldwide community
of Christians is called the Christian Church.
Within it there are over 20,000 different
groups or denominations which interpret or
practise their faith in different ways. The
Christian Church is made up of several main
groups.
The
Church of England
The Church of England today witnesses the
continuation of Christianity in this country
since the Romans and the Celts brought the
faith to Britain. It has undergone many changes
and reforms, but still seeks to proclaim God's
love in every part of England. The Church
of England enjoys good ecumenical relations
with many other parts of the Christian family.
Roman
Catholic
About half of all Christians are Roman Catholic.
Their Spiritual leader is the Pope. The Roman
Catholic Church developed when the Christian
Church split into Eastern and Western parts
in the 11th century AD. The Western part became
the Roman Catholic Church, which has spread
throughout the world.
Orthodox
Church
The Orthodox Church developed after the Christian
Church split into Eastern and Western parts
in the 11th century AD. The Orthodox Church
is the Eastern part and is divided into Eastern
Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox.
Protestant
'Protest' can mean 'witness to the truth'
and Protestants witness to the truth of the
Bible. In the 16th century some Roman Catholics
thought their church had drifted away from
the truths in the Bible. They wanted to change
the Roman Catholic Church but as they couldn't,
they formed the Protestant Church. It includes
several denominations such as Baptists and
Methodists.
Pentecostal
and Black-led Churches
Pentecostal Christians believe that what happened
to the disciples at Pentecost still happens:
that is, the Holy Spirit can make people speak
words that come from God. |
| Websites
to Visit |
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Christianity for Children |
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Christianity
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