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Christianity
Christianity is the world's largest religion. It is centered on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, Son of God. Around 2.1 billion followers around the world believe in Christianity. Subdivisions of Christianity include the Roman Catholic Church, Mormon Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Baptist Church, Methodist Church, and more. As in the case of Islam and Judaism, Christianity is an Abrahamic religion.
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity traces the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the Holy Land, to a virgin named Mary. The birth of Jesus is the realization of the Old Testament prophecies about a Messiah who would save the Jewish people. Around the age of 30, Jesus began teaching through parables and performing miracles. His twelve disciples helped him. When Jesus claimed that he spoke to God, officials became outraged and persecuted him. He was eventually crucified for being a heretic. His body was placed in a tomb. Three days later, a group of women discovered that the tomb was empty. Jesus was alive again—God had resurrected him. After some time, he went to heaven. Christianity first spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and then to Europe and some parts of India, before going worldwide.
Beliefs in Christianity
The beliefs of Christianity focus on God and Jesus Christ, the son of God. According to Christianity, the single God is made of three entities: God, the Holy Spirit, and the Son of God. Together, this is the Trinity. Christians believe that God created the world in seven days. Because of Adam and Eve’s original sin, humans are born with the impulse to do negative things. Christians also believe that Mary conceived Jesus without sin through Immaculate Conception, and that Jesus died to help save mankind. Christianity believes in the existence of the Devil and the apocalypse, or the end of the world. The two volumes of the Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament, are the most important religious texts for Christians. The Old Testament is the original holy book of Judaism, while the New Testament includes the accounts of the life of Jesus and the Church. The holy days of Christianity include Easter, Christmas, Lent, All Saints’ Day, Epiphany, and more.
Christian Customs
Worship in Christianity involves praising God through songs, prayers, speeches and readings. Sacraments are the rites of Christianity that are used to worship God during significant life events. Each subdivision of Christianity may have its own different practices when it comes to the sacraments. Most Christians, however, recognize the Seven Sacraments or Divine Mysteries of Christianity. These are: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, the Eucharist or Holy Communion, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony or Marriage, and Reconciliation of a Penitent or Confession. Of these, the two most common sacraments of Christianity are Baptism and the Eucharist. Baptism is the cleaning of an individual’s sins with water. It has a different meaning for each Christian subdivision; for some it symbolizes salvation. The Eucharist is generally based on the Last Supper that Jesus shared with his disciples. For many Christians, it symbolizes freedom from sin. by typesofhistory.com
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