Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world, with more than 2 billion

followers. The Christian faith centers on beliefs regarding the birth, life, death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. While it started with a small group of adherents, many historians regard the
spread and adoption of Christianity throughout the world as one of the most successful spiritual
missions in human history.

CHRISTIANITY BELIEFS

Some basic Christian concepts include:

-CHRISTIANS ARE MONOTHEISTIC, they believe there’s only one God and He created the
heavens and the earth. This divine Godhead consists of three parts: the Father (God Himself), the
son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit.

-The essence of Christianity revolves around the life, death and Christian beliefs on the
resurrection of Jesus. Christians believe God sent his Son Jesus, the messiah, to save the world.
They believe Jesus was crucified on a cross to offer the forgiveness of sins and was resurrected
three days after his death before ascending to heaven.

-Christians contend that Jesus will return to earth again in what’s known as the Second Coming.

-The Holy Bible includes important scriptures that outline Jesus teachings, the lives and
teachings of major prophets and disciples, and offer instructions for how Christians should live.

-Both Christians and Jews follow the Old Testament of the Bible, but Christians also embrace the
New Testament.

-The cross is a symbol of Christianity.

-The most important Christian holidays are Christmas (which celebrates the of Jesus) and Easter
(which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus).

Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God fully human and fully divine and that
through believing in him and following his teachings they can inherit eternal life.
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY

The history of the Christian Religion and the Christian church began with Jesus and his
apostles. Christianity is the religion that is based on the birth, life death, and resurrection and
teaching of Jesus Christ.

Christianity began in the 1st century AD after Jesus died as a Jewish sect in Judea but
quickly spread throughout the Roman empire. Despite early persecution of Christians, it later
became the state religion. In the middle ages it spread into Northern Europe and Russia. During
the age of exploration, Christianity expanded throughout the world, it is currently the largest
religion of the world.

The religion had schisms and theological disputes that had as result four main
branches:

*THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

*THE EASTERN ORTHODOX CHURCHES

*ORIENTAL ORTHODOXY

*PROTESTANT CHURCHES

Most of the first Christians were ethnically Jewish proselytes. An early difficulty came
from non-Jewish converts. There was the question if they had to become Jewish before
becoming Christian.The decision of St. Peter, was that they did not, and the matter was further
addressed with the Council of Jerusalem.

The doctrines of the apostles brought the Early Church into conflict with some Jewish
religious authorities, and this eventually led to the martyrdom of SS. Stephen and James the
Great and expulsion from the synagogues. Thus, Christianity got an identity distinct from
Judaism. The name CHRISTIAN was first used for the disciples in Antioch, as recorded in (Acts
11:26)

Christianity traces its beginning to the miraculous birth, adult ministry, death and
resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, known as Jesus Christ . Over 2000 years ago in
Palestine(today’s Israel), Jesus was born into humble Jewish Family. His mother was a young
peasant woman named Mary.

Christians believe that his father was the Holy Spirit of God, making Jesus both fully
human and fully divine. His earliest followers came to believe that he was the Messiah, or
messenger, sent by God to free God’s people from slavery, sin, and death. God sent his son Jesus
in human for so that people would better understand God as a caring and loving parent.
 Jesus lived and experienced the suffering of humans. Jesus healed the sick and told
stories, or parables, and preached sermons that taught what God wanted people to do.To love
God with all their hearts and love their neighbors as themselves. Jesus taught by example. By
being loving and forgiving himself, Jesus taught others to be loving and forgiving, especially
toward those who were considered outcasts in society. This is the central message and style of
Jesus’ teaching.

During his adult ministry, Jesus built up a loyal following, led by his twelve disciples.
But Jesus also made enemies among the religious and political leaders of his time. In the end,
these powerful leaders were so threatened by Jesus’ growing following that the Roman governor
sentenced Jesus to death and had him crucified. The third day after Jesus’ death, his followers
found his tomb empty and discovered that he had been raised from the dead. Christians believe
that the painful sacrifice of Jesus’ life on the cross shows how much God loves God’s people.
Jesus paid with his life on Earth for the sins of the world.

Christians believe that in raising Jesus from dead, God showed that Jesus message of love
and forgiveness was more powerful than death, and that believing in Jesus and following the
example of his life and his teaching would lead to eternal life after death. The Resurrection
(rising the dead) is the sign of God’s salvation offered to all people.

After his resurrection, Jesus Christ’s followers spread his message throughout the world,
creating the Christian Church. Today there are about two billion Christians living all over the
world.

WHAT ARE THE SACRED TEXTS OF CHRISTIANITY?

-The sacred text of Christianity is the Holy Bible.

-The Christian Bible has two parts:

*OLD TESTAMENT
-Which is essentially the Hebrew scriptures of Jesus time. he Old Testament lays
the foundation for the coming of the Messiah who would sacrifice Himself for the sins of the
world

*NEW TESTAMENT
-Which contains about the early church.
records the ministry of Jesus Christ and then looks back on what He did and how we are to
respond.

Both testaments reveal the same holy, merciful, and righteous God who condemns sin
but desires to save sinners through an atoning sacrifice. In both testaments, God reveals Himself
to us and shows us how we are to come to Him through faith .
 WHY ARE THERE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHRISTIANS?

From its beginning with a tiny group of Jesus followers, Christianity has spread
all over the world. Today, it is practiced by two billion people. As with any large group,
Christianity has experienced many different interpretations, disagreements and struggles for
power over the centuries. These have led to the growth of many different branches of
Christianity interpreting the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in different ways.

Christian Practices

- vary by denomination, but common elements include a Sunday worship service, private and
corporate prayer, study and reading of the Scriptures, and participation in rites such as baptism
and communion (known as sacraments).

Christian worship services generally include singing, prayer and a sermon. Most churches have a
special ritual for ordination, or designating a person fit for a leadership position in the church. At
home, most practicing Christians pray regularly and many read the Bible.

Many Christians will have been baptized, either as an infant or as an adult, and regularly
participate in communion (also called the Lord's Supper and the Eucharist). Baptism and
communion are considered sacraments - sacred rituals instituted by Christ himself. The Catholic
Church recognizes five additional sacraments, as well as many other distinctive practices that are
known as "sacramentals" or "devotions" and include praying the rosary and going on
pilgrimages.

Distinctive Catholic practices include recognition of seven total sacraments, Sunday mass,
devotion to the Virgin Mary and the saints, and veneration of relics and places associated with
holy figures. Eastern Orthodoxy holds many practices in common with Catholicism, but is
especially distinguished by the central role of icons: ornate images of Christ and the saints
believed to provide a connection to the spiritual world.

 Bible study

What is Bible Study? Followers of the Christian religion have been studying the
Bible for millenniums. At it's most basic level, studying the Bible involves reading it (or
hearing it), understanding what God is saying through the writer of the text, and
considering how it applies to life today.
 Christian Fasting

Practiced in many religions, including Christianity, fasting is an act which is most

accurately defined as an abstention from meat, drink and all natural food for a determined
period.

 Christian Monasticism

Monasticism was unknown in Christianity until the end of the third century. Most
of the early Christians continued to own private property after their conversion, and
marriage was not condemned.

 Christian Prayer

In the Christian religion, prayer is the act of communicating with God. Prayer can
take on different forms such as verbal, written, or silent communication.

 Christian Vestments

What are vestments? Roman Catholic clerical vestments and adornments are
almost entirely of ancient secular origin. The Church before the age of Constantine knew
no distinction between secular and religious dress, although drawings in the catacombs
show that the latter was dignified and rich.

 Christian baptism

Baptism is one of the two most important sacraments in Christianity. At its most
basic, it involves application of or immersion in water, a blessing, and the
pronouncement, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 Confirmation

What is Confirmation? In Christianity, confirmation is either considered a

sacrament or rite - depending on the beliefs - of the practitioners, ceremonially performed
in a church, which signifies the faith and commitment of a person, who desires to
publicize their convictions to their family, friends, and church, such as one being
undergoing baptism or one coming of age.

 Eucharist (Communion)

The Eucharist, also known as Communion or Lord’s Supper, is a sacrament (so-

called by Roman Catholicism) or ordinance (so-called by Protestantism) carried out in
Christian churches as an act of obedience to the instructions of Jesus Christ about
commemorating his death on the cross given the night before he died.
 Neo-Pentecostalism

Neo-Pentecostalism is a movement that has crossed denominational boundaries

and can be found in Protestantism and Roman Catholicism alike. The movement is
characterized by the manifestations in non-Pentecostal churches of what have been
traditionally categorized as Pentecostal experiences.

 Tithing in Christianity

What is Tithing? The word "tithe" literally means "to give a tenth part," such as
regarding produce or land, although in modern vernacular it often refer to one's financial
offering given for religious reasons, like in the Christian religion.

 catechism

A catechism is a class or manual on the basics of Christian doctrine and practice,

usually as a precursor to confirmation or baptism. Catechisms normally include lessons
on the creeds, the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, as well as the Hail Mary in
Roman Catholicism.
CHRISTIANITY

JEREMY DE LOYOLA
MACKY BOLINA
JOVEN CAGUIMBAL
RAFFY JAY CALAJATE
ARIES DELA PENA
DAISEREE BONGALONTA
TRISHA BERNAL
GILLIAN BORETA