FAQ about Christianity

What is Christianity?
Christianity started as a breakaway sect of Judaism. It is founded on the worship of Jesus Christ who is the Son of God.

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus was the son of Mary, a Jewish woman who was impregnated by the Spirit of God and bore him through a virgin birth. He was a prophet of God, a miracle worker, and is in fact God, thus being both fully human and God. He declared himself to be the long awaited Messiah of the Jews but was rejected by them. He was condemned for blasphemy and executed by the Romans at about thirty years of age under the charge of leading a rebellion. Christians believe he arose from the dead three days after his death and bodily ascended into Heaven.

What are the main Christian beliefs?
Christianity is a monotheistic religion, believing in one god. This God is a person separate from the things of the world, but sustaining them. It shares the same history as Judaism up to the time of Jesus Christ. Although they are very similar in many of their core beliefs there are two primary differences. The first is that Christians believe in original sin and that Jesus died to save mankind from that sin. The other is that Jesus is human, and God, and the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit of God. Christians claim that Jesus fulfilled many of the promises of the Hebrew Scripture (the Old Testament).
Christians believe that a Judgment day will occur and Jesus will return bodily to judge those that repent their sins and save them to join him in heaven. Most groups believe in hell and Satan for the unrepentant. The main beliefs are stated in The Apostle’s Creed in the West, the Nicene Creed in the East, and the Athanasian Creed which is of uncertain origin.

What is the Trinity?
Christians believe that God is a single eternal being existing in three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit.

What is The Holy Ghost or Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the bond that unites Christians with God. It is not a Force. God is personal, so the Holy Spirit is a personal presence.

What is the holy book of Christianity?
The Bible is the holy book. It is made up of the Old Testament, as given to the Jews, and the New Testament of Christ. The New Testament is comprised of four Gospels (narratives of Jesus' life), 21 Epistles, The Acts of the Apostles, and Revelation. Some Christians, mainly in the West, believe that the Bible is the absolute word of God. Other Christians, mainly in the East, believe that the Scriptures are inspired by God but written by men. The English translation of the Bible is mostly based on Hebrew and Greek texts with some small parts originating in the in Coptic, Latin, and Aramaic language. The present Bible was put together in the 4th century A.D.

What is the Messiah?
Messiah means Christ or Anointed One.

What is sin?
Sins are human faults, misdeeds, disobedience, or rebellions against God.

What is Original Sin?
Christians believe that God created the first human, Adam and Eve. All humans are descended from them. Adam and Eve were the first to disobey a command from God. Due to their Original sin all human beings are incapable of following God's will, nothing they do is ever completely pure, until God has regenerated them.

What is the Soul?
Christians generally believe in an immortal soul that is unique to each human individual. The soul is part of the body and exists with it. At the time of the final judgment the souls of deceased individuals will be reunited with their resurrected bodies.

What are the major sects of the Christian church?
Differences between Christians of the East and West led to a division in 1054 into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. In 1517 the Reformation began within the Roman Catholic Church leading to the major Protestant denominations (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed, and Anglican [Episcopalian]). Over the centuries, numerous denominations have broken with these major traditions, resulting in a spectrum of Christian expression.

What is prayer?
Prayer is where you praise God; thank him, and where you ask for help and guidance.

What is Supersessionism?
Supersessionism is the belief that the fact of the Jews' being chosen by God found its fulfillment through the message of Jesus: Jews who remain non-Christian are no longer considered to be a chosen people of God. This position has been softened or even completely abrogated by some Christian churches.

What is baptism?
Baptism occurs when an individual is immersed in water, or has water poured on their head, during a ceremony that officially celebrates becoming a Christian.

What is communion?
Communion is a symbolic or real participation in the Last Supper that Jesus Christ had before his death. Some form of wine and bread is used in this rite.

Who can be a Christian?
A Christian can be anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and his teachings. However, in general organized Christianity does not allow the mixing of other religions. You cannot be a Jewish/Christian, a New Age/Christian, a Wiccan/Christian, or a Hindu/Christian, etc.

How do I become a Christian?
To be a Christian, one must accept the major Christian beliefs, to follow the way of life that Jesus taught, and to be a part of the Christian community. Most communities have standards of belief which members are expected to accept. Most groups permit members to question these beliefs, however the leaders should advocate orthodox positions. Some groups have detailed standards of belief. Others use only the Bible, and some allow a good deal of variation in interpretation.

Do I have to go to church to be a Christian?
Not necessarily. Christians believe that God is wherever you are and wherever you decide to worship. However, some types of Christianity require participation in certain rites such as baptism, communion, marriage and others.

These questions are offered as a simple introduction to Christianity.
They are presented as an opportunity for further exploration and understanding. No claim is made as to their accuracy or validity.

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