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| − | {{quote | text={{web_verse|john|3|16}} [[John 3:16]]}}
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| − | [[Image:Christians at lourdes.jpg|thumb|Christians marching in a procession at [[Lourdes]].]]
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| − | ''Synopsis:'' Christianity is the world's most widely practiced [[religion]] and although it has many [[denomination]]s and great diversity, all Christians are united in [[Jesus Christ]]. At the heart of Christianity is a loving creator [[God]] who is also our redeemer.
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| − | __TOC__
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| − | {{topics}}
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| − | * [[God]] | [[Jesus Christ]] | [[Essence of Christianity]]
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| − | * [[Bible]] | [[Christian literature, art, music and media]]
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| − | * [[Church]] | [[Church history]] | [[Denominations]]
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| − | * [[Famous Christians]]
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| − | * [[Christian doctrine and debates]] | [[Grace]] | [[Love]]
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| − | * [[Current issues]] | [[News]]
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| − | * [[Cults and other religions]]
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| − | * [[Places]] | [[Mission]] | [[World-wide church directory]]
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| − | {{opinions}}
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| − | ==Main article==
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| − | [[Image:Mount sinai.jpg|thumb|Sunrise at [[Mount Sinai]] in [[Egypt]]. It was in this region that [[God]] revealed himself to [[Moses]] and showed his [[love]] and [[grace]] with the statement "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and the slavery" in [[Exodus 20:2]].]]
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| − | Christianity is the world's most widely practiced [[religion]]. At the heart of Christianity is a loving creator [[God]] who is also our redeemer.
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| − | The name comes from the [[Koine Greek|Greek]] word [[Christos]], meaning "annointed", a reference to [[Jesus]].
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| − | ===[[Essence of Christianity]]===
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| − | [[Christianity]] is about [[God]] reaching out his hand in friendship to mankind. Christians believe that the whole world and everything in it was created by God. God is a personal being, and by some mystery that we cannot understand, he is three, yet one: [[God the Father|Father]], [[Jesus|Son]] and [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]] (see the [[Trinity]]). He created people in his image, to [[love]] him. Yet every person has rebelled against God. Yet instead of turning his back on us, God became a man, [[Jesus]], who was born about 4 BC and lived among us. He taught a message of love throughout Palestine but public opinion turned against him and he was executed as a young man. He died because of us - the death that we should have died. He was crucified on a cross, but he rose from the dead, and now calls us to trust him, to love him and to [[repent]] of our rebellion. If we do this, then we our relationship with God becomes restored and we will live forever with God.
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| − | Many non-Christians may think that being a Christian is about belonging to a particular [[church]] or following a certain set of rule. Most Christians however would agree that at its root, being a Christian means to be in a living relationship with [[Jesus Christ]].
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| − | ====[[Love]]====
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| − | An underlying theme of Christianity is love, in particular, God's love for people. [[1 John 3:16]] tells us that Jesus' love was so great that he lay down his life for his us
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| − | : ''{{web_verse|1 John|3|16}}
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| − | Early in the [[New Testament]] Jesus summarized the Law, saying that we should love God, and love our neighbour, in [[Mark 12]]:28-30
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| − | : ''{{web_verse|mark|12|28}}''
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| − | : ''{{web_verse|mark|12|29}}''
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| − | : ''{{web_verse|mark|12|30}}''
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| − | ====[[Grace]]====
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| − | Another key concept in Christianity is grace. Grace is [[God]]'s [[love]] poured out on undeserving humanity. The doctrine about grace teaches us that although all people have fallen short of the glory of God and have [[sin]]ned and turned away from God, God loves us still. Nothing we do can restore us to a right relationship with God. It is only through faith in [[Jesus Christ]], in his death and resurrection that we can return to God. This gift of restoration of right relationship with God is called grace.
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| − | ===[[Bible]]===
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| − | [[Image:Biblewithlight.jpg|thumb|An open Bible.]]
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| − | The Bible is the collection of documents acknowledged by Christians to be inspired by God. It contains 66 books and is divided into the [[Old Testament]] and the [[New Testament]]. It tells of the story of the [[creation]] of the universe and [[man]] by [[God]], the rebellion of man against God and his rescue plan for humanity through his Son, [[Jesus Christ]]. It tells of the history of the nation of Israel leading up to the time of Jesus, and then the formation of the early church following Jesus. Not only does it record history, it also contains stories and parables, poetry, proverbs and prophecy.
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| − | ===[[Church]]===
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| − | A [[church building]] is a building used in [[Christian]] [[worship]]. The term church also refers to the combined Christian community of believers.
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| − | ====[[Church history]]====
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| − | Since the [[church]] was formed, major events and conflict, often over matters of [[doctrine]] have resulted in significant rifts in the church. One of the most notable debates in the Christian church has been the debate about [[salvation]] (being saved) by faith alone (belief in Jesus and nothing else) or through faith and good works (belief in Jesus ''and'' performing good deeds). This debate was the key issue in the [[Reformation]] of the sixteenth century and lead to the split of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] with the formation of [[Protestant]] churches such as the [[Lutheranism|Lutheran Church]].
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| − | ====[[Denominations]]====
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| − | Although there is only one universal Christian [[Church]], there are tens of thousands of [[Christian]] denominations or churches. These denominations have formed and divided since the time of [[Christ]], because Christians have had differences in beliefs and practices. Some of the main groups include [[Eastern Orthodoxy]], [[Roman Catholicism]] and the [[Protestant churches]] and [[Pentecostal churches]].
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| − | ===[[Christian literature, art, music and media]]===
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| − | Throughout church history, people have devoted themselves to great works of literature and art for God's glory and honour.
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| − | ====[[Christian music]]====
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| − | Since Christians have met together, they have sung to God and about God. Early Jewish Christians probably sung [[psalms]]. In later centuries, monophonic [[Gregorian chants]] were widely sung. During and following the Protestant [[Reformation]], hundreds of [[hymns]] were written by men like [[Martin Luther]] and [[Charles Wesley]]. In recent decades, [[Contemporary Christian Music]], Christian music in rock style, has become increasing popular.
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| − | ====[[Christian movies]]====
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| − | Some of the most well-known movies have strong [[Christian]] themes. One of the earliest Christian movies was [[The Ten Commandments (movie)|The Ten Commandments]] by [[Cecil B. DeMill]]. In 2004, [[The Passion of the Christ]], describing the night of [[Jesus]]' death was a film that made a world-wide impact. In 2005, the movie [[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]] was being released based on the famous book by [[C.S. Lewis]].
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| − | ====[[Christianity and the internet]]====
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| − | Since the beginning of the world wide web, Christians have been involved in creating websites dedicated to different aspects of [[Christianity]]. Some of the most important ones have been sites containing the [[Bible]] in different versions like [[BibleGateway]] ([http://www.biblegateway.com biblegateway.com])
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| − | ===[[Religious clothing and symbols]]===
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| − | There are no requirements in [[Christianity]] about what we should wear, although, in many denominations there are special uniforms for those involved in the organisation and running of the denomination. Many Christians also wear symbols of their faith, such as a cross or [[crucifix]]. In many countries with predominant [[Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Roman Catholic]] populations, people may erect a [[shrine]] or symbol of an aspect of their faith that is important to them. In the [[Reformation]], there was a backlash against these symbols which were often seen as [[idol]]s.
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| − | ===[[Christian doctrine and debates]]===
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| − | Doctrine means a set of beliefs or teaching. Various [[Creeds]] and catechisms have been written as statements of the beliefs of different Christians. Today there are still considerable differences in understanding on major themes in Christianity like [[justification]], [[salvation]] and [[grace]].
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| − | Christians believe in one God who is yet three persons as described above. They also believe that [[Jesus]] was both a man and both God, and that he bore the [[sin]]s of mankind on the cross and was resurrected three days later.
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| − | Christianity is primarily are religion of [[love]]. It is about God's love for us, and our response. We are asked to respond by loving God with our whole hearts, and loving our neighbours, including our enemies, as ourselves.
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| − | However, the Bible also makes clear that the every person has rebelled against God and sins. In the [[Romans|Book of Romans]] it says that "all have sinned". Later however, the author goes on to tell us that we can be forgiven and appear without sin before God, and that this is through the faith in [[Jesus]] and his death and resurrection.
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| − | ===The [[Persecuted Church]], [[Mission]] and [[Places|Christianity around the world]]===
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| − | The world's 5 inhabited continents contain almost 7 billion people. The population is increasing rapidly, and it doubled between 1960 and 2000. There are 237 independent states. 66 of these have significant restrictions on religious belief. About 30% of the world's population call themselves [[Christian]] (2 billion people), 20% call themselves [[Muslim]] (1.3 billion people), 15% are [[non-religious]] (1 billion) and 13% call themselves [[Hindu]]. Although [[Europe]] is rapidly becoming secular and non-religious, the majority of Christians live in areas where European settlement or missionary work has been significant. [[Asia]] is the least evangelised continent. Of Christians, there are about 1 billion [[Roman Catholic]], 700 million [[Protestant]] and 550 million [[Eastern Orthodox]] Christians.
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| − | ==Quotes==
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| − | ''John Lennon'' - Evening Standard (London, 4 March 1966)
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| − | : [[Christianity]] will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than [[Jesus]] now; I don't know which will go first — rock and roll or Christianity.
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| − | ''[[C.S. Lewis]]''
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| − | : I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
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| − | [[Martin Luther King]]
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| − | : My parents would always tell me that I should not hate the white man, but that it was my duty as a [[Christian]] to love all.
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| − | ==Links==
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| − | * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity Wikipedia - Christianity]
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| − | * [http://www.thinkapologetics.com ThinkApologetics.com]
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| − | {{returnto}} [[Main Page]]
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