Christianity: An Christianity: An OverviewOverview

Christianity is Christianity is considered a world considered a world

religion.religion.

Why?Why?

44thth Oldest World Religion Oldest World Religion

Rank of world religionsRank of world religionsOldest = HinduismOldest = HinduismJudaism Judaism BuddhismBuddhismChristianity Christianity

Christianity grew out of the Christianity grew out of the Jewish faithJewish faith

The Jewish faith is The Jewish faith is monotheisticmonotheistic

Jews believe God would Jews believe God would send a Messiah (Savior) send a Messiah (Savior) to bring salvation to the to bring salvation to the people of Israel.people of Israel.

Christians believe that Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah sent promised Messiah sent by God.by God.

Christian Population – Christian Population – Largest in the WorldLargest in the World

Estimated 1.6 – 2 Estimated 1.6 – 2 billion followers billion followers globallyglobally

Christian population Christian population currently growing in currently growing in Africa, Latin Africa, Latin America and Asia America and Asia while declining in while declining in North America and North America and EuropeEurope

Jesus ChristJesus Christ

““Jesus” a Jesus” a translation of the translation of the Hebrew name, Hebrew name, Y’shua. “Christ” is Y’shua. “Christ” is a variation of the a variation of the Greek word Greek word “Christos” “Christos” meaning “the meaning “the anointed one.” anointed one.”

The Beginning of The Beginning of ChristianityChristianity

Jesus born in Jesus born in Bethlehem, present day Bethlehem, present day Israel in 4 C.E. Israel in 4 C.E.

Christians believe that Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God, Jesus is the son of God, born on earth to born on earth to redeem the human redeem the human race.race.

After Jesus’s birth, little After Jesus’s birth, little is known about his life is known about his life until early adulthooduntil early adulthood

Christianity officially Christianity officially begins with the death begins with the death of Jesus in 33 C.E.of Jesus in 33 C.E.

Religious Text: The Religious Text: The BibleBible

Believed to be the Believed to be the inspired by the word of inspired by the word of God and passed onto God and passed onto Jesus' disciples. Jesus' disciples.

The Bible is divided into The Bible is divided into two sections: Old and two sections: Old and New Testament. New Testament.

The Old Testament is The Old Testament is made up of 39 sacred made up of 39 sacred texts from the Torah texts from the Torah (Jewish religious text).(Jewish religious text).

The New Testament is The New Testament is made up of 27 books made up of 27 books from the years following from the years following the ministry of Jesus.the ministry of Jesus.

Christians believe there are Christians believe there are three “parts” of Godthree “parts” of God

Known as the Holy TrinityKnown as the Holy Trinity The FatherThe Father The Son (Jesus)The Son (Jesus) Holy GhostHoly Ghost

God the FatherGod the Father

Christians believe Christians believe that God is the that God is the father of all things. father of all things. He is the creator He is the creator of life, the universe of life, the universe and all things in it, and all things in it, including Jesus including Jesus Christ. Christ.

God the SonGod the Son Christians believe the Christians believe the

Jesus, although Jesus, although taking the human taking the human form, was God in the form, was God in the flesh. Jesus was the flesh. Jesus was the Son of God, and Son of God, and placed on earth to placed on earth to feel human emotions feel human emotions and teach the people and teach the people of the earth God’s of the earth God’s message of love and message of love and forgiveness. forgiveness.

The Holy GhostThe Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost has a variety of roles The Holy Ghost has a variety of roles including:including:

witnessing of the Father and His Sonwitnessing of the Father and His Son revealing the truthrevealing the truth cleansing sinscleansing sins and giving us comfort and peace. and giving us comfort and peace.

““Big Ideas” of Big Ideas” of ChristianityChristianity

Jesus is the Son of GodJesus is the Son of God Before his death, Jesus traveled the Before his death, Jesus traveled the

Middle East – preaching his message of Middle East – preaching his message of love, tolerance and faith. love, tolerance and faith.

Christianity embraced social outcasts Christianity embraced social outcasts and sinners and challenged the rigid and sinners and challenged the rigid religious and social structure of both religious and social structure of both the Jewish and Roman cultures and the Jewish and Roman cultures and faith.faith.

Jesus preached mercy and forgiveness. Jesus preached mercy and forgiveness.

Jesus was crucified in 33 Jesus was crucified in 33 C.E.C.E.

His death is viewed as His death is viewed as the beginning of the beginning of ChristianityChristianity

Killed by the Romans and Killed by the Romans and his death was supported his death was supported by the Jewish community by the Jewish community who felt challenged by who felt challenged by his teachingshis teachings

Christians believe in Christians believe in dying and rising from the dying and rising from the dead, overcame human dead, overcame human sin and made redemption sin and made redemption possible. possible.

Basic Christian BeliefBasic Christian Belief

Whoever believes in Whoever believes in Jesus, follow his ways Jesus, follow his ways and asks for forgiveness and asks for forgiveness of their sins will be of their sins will be allowed to enter the allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. kingdom of heaven.