Introduction
Christianity
is one of the most mature of the world's religions and is
the most widespread. It is estimated that there are some
2 billion Christians in the world today (33% of the entire
population of planet earth). There are a huge number of
different theological views and beliefs, but they all are
founded on the teachings and examples attributed to one
central figure - Jesus Christ. It is estimated that there
are over 26000 Christian denominations (more than all the
variants of all the world's other faiths put together).
These denominations range from some rationalists and free-thinkers
(who accept ethical teachings but not Christ's miracles)
to fundamentalists (who militantly insist on the literal
truth of the Gospels and condemn all those who cannot bring
themselves to accept Christ). Christian lobby groups and
individuals exert an overwhelming influence in the dynamics
of world politics. The Living Christianity CD-ROM covers
these aspects in extensive detail in a manner that people
of all faiths fill find absorbing and astonishing, and yet
in a manner that is unbiased and progressive.
Beliefs
- more details
Despite the natural
social and theological developments within Christian movements,
there are a core number of essential and common teachings
that form the foundation of the Christian faith. These are
based on the belief that Jesus was God incarnate on earth.
Jesus - God on Earth
- more details
Jesus is the
central figure in all of Christianity. He was born a Jew
about 2000 years ago and he became active at the age of
30 as a preacher, teacher and a healer for about three years.
His crucifixion was as that of a common criminal. Christians
believe that through his death on the cross, "…God so loved
the world that he gave his one and only son…"
History - more
details
The history of
Christianity begins with Jesus Christ - a man of insignificance
who during his life was unknown outside the obscure corner
of the Roman Empire where he lived and died. By studying
the History section on the "Living Christianity" CD-ROM
you will be able to understand how the belief of a few people
in a remote and insignificant outpost of the Roman Empire
have outlasted all mighty empires since and how the various
churches, denominations, movements, and doctrines have come
into being. This is done by looking at the development of
the Church and the development and evolution of Christian
belief.
The Bible - more details
The Bible is
the holy book of Christians. The word Bible is derived from
the Greek word Biblia meaning 'The Books'. The Bible is
a collection of books written over a period of over 1300
years, written in diverse cultural and historical scenarios
and in a huge variety of styles and language. It is the
world's most translated book. It was translated into English
in the fourteenth century. For Christians and many people
of the world, the Bible occupies a unique position on a
bookself. For many Christians and even people of other faiths,
the power and meaning of the Bible goes beyond mere literature.
The Christian Calender
- more details
Christians have
festivals that mark key points of the year and celebrate
important events. These dates of these events is associated
with seasonal cycles rather than dates of the actual events.
The key festivals are Christmas (the feast that celebrates
the birth of Christ), Lent (the time for preparation for
celebrations of Easter), and Easter (a time for baptisms
and remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ).
Christian Movements
- more
details
Theological,
cultural, and social variations in the way people see and
interpret the deeds of Christ (as written in various versions
and translations of the Bible) have led to a huge number
of denominations and practices. Often these variations are
fundamental and irreconcilable. However, the Church hierarchy,
leadership, and laity stress the common belief of the power
of Jesus, and this is often enough for the denominations
to forgive the other differences.
Religious
Organisations and Educationalists Praise 'Living Religion
Series'
