JAIN DATABASE at sunsite.unc.edu Jain Study Center of North Carolina Federation of JAINA Information/comments to: varia@med.unc.edu ============================================================================ CHRISTIANITY JAIN BBS EMAIL BULLETIN Date: Mon, 11 Jul 1994 GLIMPSES OF WORLD RELIGION SERIES COMPILED BY PRAVIN K. SHAH ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part of a series of Glimpses of World Religions. This series provides information on the major religions of the world using the same format. Religions reviewed in this series are: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Budhism. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHRISTIANITY Founded: Christianity began about 2,000 years ago in Palestine. Founder: Chhristianity is based on the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), believed to be the Son of God. Major Scriptures: The Christian Bible which consist of the Old Testament (39 Books of Hebrew Bible) and the New Testament (27 Books). Some sects (Catholic and some Protestants) also recognize an additional 7 Books of the Apocrypha. It also contains a collection of early Christian writings proclaiming Jesus as lord and savior. Sects: Christianity is divided into three main sects; Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. Among Protestants there are over 2,000 smaller sects, including Lutherns, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Unitarians. Adherents: Over 1 billion, largest of religions. Goals: The goal of Christianity is eternal life with God in heaven, a perfect existence in which God's glory and bliss are shared. It is also a personal life, enjoyed differently by individuals according to the amount of grace received and accepted in life. Path of Attainment: Man's plight is caused by disobedience to God's will as revealed in the law of God found in the Bible. God's justice demands that a penalty must be paid for that disobedience. That penalty was paid by God himself taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus and dying the ignominious and completely undeserved death of a criminal on a cross. By this sacrificial act, God, out of sheer grace and love made it possible for all those who believe in the saving power of this act to have credited to their account the complete and perfect obedience of Jesus so that God regards them the same as if they had never sinned. Jesus' resurrection from the dead is proof of God's power over sin and death and proof that he can save in this way. Those who accept God's gift of salvation are empowered by the Holy Spirit to begin to live a life of increasing virtue and obedience to God and in this way show their gratitude to God for freeing them from the guilt of their sins. The good Christian lives a life of virtue and obedience to God out of gratitude to God for sacrificing Jesus for the sins of all who come to accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. Jesus is to return again to judge the world and bring God's rule to the earth. Through following the law of God as found in the Holy Bible and through God's grace, man attains salvation. Synopsis: Christianity is the religion of about a billion people whose belief system centers on teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that the original human beings rebelled against God, and from that time until the coming of Christ the world was ruled by Sin. Jesus of Nazareth was and is the Messiah or Christ promised by God in the prophecies of the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible). By his life, death, and Resurrection Jesus freed those who believe in him from their sinful state and made them recipients of God's saving Grace. Many also await the Second Coming of Christ, which they believe will complete God's plan of salvation. The majority of Christians adhere to the Apostles' Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. Who was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He appeared to his disciples, commanding them to spread the good news of salvation from sin and death, to all people. He ascended unto Heaven and Sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I also believe in the Holy Ghost, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Christians are monotheists (believers in one God). The early church, however, developed the characteristic Christian doctrine of the Trinity, in which God is thought of as Creator (Father), Redeemer (Son), and Sustainer (Holy Spirit), but one God in essence. Christianity has an unswerving belief that it is the only true religion, the only path to salvation. This engenders a missionary zeal, an urgency to evangelize around the world. Stress is placed on acceptance of Jesus as God and Savior, on good conduct, compassion, service to mankind, faith, and preparation for the Final Judgement. Only good Christians will be saved. A substantial differences in faith exist among the various churches. Those in the Protestant tradition insist on Scripture as the sole source of God's Revelation. The Roman Catholics give greater importance to the tradition of the church in defining the content of faith, believing it to be divinely guided in its understanding of scriptural revelation. They stress the role of ecumenical councils in the formulation of doctrine. In Roman Catholicism, the pope is regarded as the final authority in matters of belief. A prominent feature of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is Monasticism. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have an all male threefold ministry of bishops, priests, deacons, and several minor orders. The Roman Catholic church is headed by the pope. In the Orthodox churches and those of the Anglican Communion (which retain the threefold ministry) major decisions are made by the bishops acting as a group with lay consultation, sometimes with votes. Church government among Lutherans, Reformed, and other Protestants generally involves the laity even more fully, policy being determined either by local congregations or by regional assemblies composed of both clergy and lay people. Most Protestant churches, including some provinces of the Anglican Communion, now permit the ordination of women. In most Christian churches Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection, is observed as a time of rest and worship. The resurrection is more particularly commemorated at Easter, a festival in the early spring. Another major Christian festival is Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus. Ten Commandments from the King James version of the Bible. * I am the Lord thy God * Thou shalt have no other gods before me * Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images * Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain * Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy * Honor thy father and thy mother * Thou shalt not kill * Thou shalt not commit adultery * Thou shalt not steal * Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, covet thy neighbor's wife, covet thy neighbor's manservant, covet thy neighbor's maidservant, nor ox, nor ass Beliefs: In God the Father, Creator of the universe, reigning forever distinct over man, his beloved creation. Man is born a sinner, and that he may know salvation only through the savior, Jesus Christ, God's only begotten son. That Jesus Christ was born of Mary, a virgin. That Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, then resurrected from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father as the final judge of the dead and that He will return again as prophesied. That the soul is embodied for a single lifetime, but is immortal and accountable to God for all thoughts and actions. In the historical truth of the Holy Bible, that it is sacred scripture of the highest authority and the only word of God. That upon death the soul enters Heaven, Purgatory (Roman Catholics) or Hell according to its earthly deeds and its acceptance of the Christian faith. There awaiting the Last Judgement when the dead shall rise again, the redeemed to enjoy life everlasting and the unsaved to suffer eternally. In the intrinsic goodness of mankind and the affirmative nature of life and in the priceless value of love, charity and faith. God exists as three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and these three are one infinite, eternal, holy God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory (Holy Trinity). Satan exists and is the chief agent of evil, deception and darkness in this world. Golden Rule: Do unto others as they would do unto you. ==============================================================================