Christianity - Research Paper Example

Christianity is the world’s largest and most widespread religion with more than 2 billion followers world-wide. Christianity proclaims belief in one God called ‘monotheism’. In primitive times, among the primitive people many religions existed having many God and this is termed as ‘polytheism’. The idea of one God, ‘monotheism’ developed over a period of time which gave rise to the idea of ‘monolatry’ wherein other God’s exist but only one God is worshipped. During the 14th Century B.

C, Egypt introduced the idea of monotheism wherein the sun was worshipped as the one God. This idea failed. Around 800 years before Christ, a Zoroastrian religion in Persia claimed that there was the great one God. True monotheism, the belief in one God is held by the Christians, Jews and Mohammedans and this is generated from the Hebrew religion as witnessed in the Old Testament of the Bible. The origin of Christianity can be connected with Judaism, the parent religion. The time of Jesus Christ which can be described as the ‘known world’ was largely under the dominions of the Roman’s.

(Rosten, 1975) The origin of Christianity can be traced to Circa, between 2100 B.C and 1500 B.C. The story begins with Abraham who was chosen by God to spread His word. Abraham wife Sarah was barren and unable to produce a child which was to lead the nation. Abraham, with the consent of Sarah, then had sex with their Egyptian servant Hagar who conceived and delivered Ishmael. However, Sarah in the latter years conceived Abraham baby and gave birth to Isaac. This division of Abraham’s message into separate religions was due to the two sons- Ishmael and Isaac.

Muslims believe that Ishmael was the apostle, prophet and the legitimate successor. While Christians and Jews believe Isaac (resulting from the conception within marriage) is the true one carrying Abraham divine message. The Hebrew bible tells the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis, chapters 12 through 25. God tests Abraham by telling him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. The son waits for his throat to be sundered. Abraham takes a breath, closes his eyes, draws back his arm and then……..hears a voice, “Stop!

Do not do it. I see now that you truly fear me.” Abraham drops the knife and both father and son sob tears of relief. (Rosten, 1975) From Abraham’s original family begins the division between the religions. Christians believe and follow the teachings of Abraham, Moses and Jesus Christ. Jews continued their split from Christianity by not accepting Jesus as the ‘Son of God’. Further Jews believe God is spiritual and has no human attributes.

Jews do not believe in original sin (Adam and Eve ate the forbidden apple and original sin was created) nor do they believe in heaven or hell. (Rosten, 1975). Two shrines in the Holy land are dedicated to Abraham. At Hebron, the Haram el-Khalil sits atop the cave of Macpelah, where Abraham and family were buried, and Genesis chapter 25 verses 9. According to Genesis chapter 22, the Dome of the Rock, in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old city, encloses the peak of Mount Moriah is where Abraham went to sacrifise his son.

As Bruce Feiler stated “Abraham is the shared ancestor of Judaism, Christianity and Islam…………He is the father, in many cases the biological father- of 12 millions Jews, 2 billion Christians and 1 billion Muslims around the world.” (M.Div, 2006) Schopenhauer states “Christianity, is a profound philosophy of pessimism; the doctrine of original sin (assertion of the will) and of salvation (denial of the will) is the great truth which constitutes the essence of Christianity”. (Durant, 1961) As of the 21st century, Christianity was still the faith with the largest number of followers in the world.

One estimate states that are 159 millions Christians in the United states, as of 2001. (The total U.S. population is 293 million). In Canada, approximately 21 million of Canada’s 29 million citizens consider themselves Christians. According to the 2003 estimates, there are approximately 51million Catholics in US. (M. Div, 2006) The Bible is the Holy book of the Christians and is divided into as the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament, the Pentateuch, consists of the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) which contains the story of the formation of the people of God: Abraham and the patriarchs, Moses and the oppressed Hebrews in Egypt, the birth of Israel in the Sinai covenant, the journey to the threshold of the Promised Land and the discourses of Moses.

Further the Pentateuch examines the promises made by God to the patriarchs, and forward to the continuing fulfillments of these promises. Moses received the ‘Ten Commandments’ from God (Exodus chapter 20 verses 2 to 17) wherein God delivers His commandments for man. (The New American Bible, 1987)The Ten Commandments are:1. I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other Gods before me2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain3. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy4. Honor your father and your mother5.

You shall not kill6. You shall not commit adultery7. You shall not steal8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. (The New American Bible, 1987)Christianity bases its teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land, 2000 years ago and is the son of God. The life of Jesus, teachings and His crucifixion can be found in the set of “Gospels” which have been written between 30 and 100 years after Jesus life on earth and this formed the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible.

Jesus figure emerges from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The apostles and the entire Christian community believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Let us pause a moment and wonder if Jesus had not died and risen what would have happened? If Jesus had not risen then He would have remained a teacher. His words and teachings became very important and have played a vital role in the formation of Christian’s rules and doctrines. Jesus is God born of God. The New Testament is a collection of 27 books written in the seventy years following the resurrection of Jesus.

The Church has officially recognized these books as inspired by God, as the word of God. These books have been written by the Jesus’ apostles and the evangelists of the early church. In the 4th century, Empress Helena traveled from Rome to Jerusalem as God gave Helena dreams revealing the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. She ordered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built over those two spots. (Fr. Francis, 1996) Therefore Christians believe there is only one God whom they call ‘Father’.

Jesus is the son of God who was sent to save man from his sinful ways and from death. The Roman Catholics believe that Mother Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ and that Mother Mary prays for her children i.e. mankind on earth and intercedes for them to her Son. Further Roman Catholics believe that Mother Mary is a virgin and conceived Jesus Christ in her womb (as per God’s will) through the Holy Spirit. Christians also believe in faith, i.e. through Jesus, His death and resurrection, Christians now have a true relationship with God who forgave man through Jesus death.

Christians believe in the ‘Trinity’ i.e. God as the father, Jesus as the Son and the Holy Spirit. Further Christians believe that there is life after death. Christians believe in saints who can be described as human beings who have lived a good and holy life on earth and who have performed miracles thus proclaiming God’s word. This title of ‘Saint’ is conferred by the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church through a process called ‘canonisation’. Christians believe that the saints intercede with God and pray for man on earth.

Talking to God or communicating with God is termed as ‘prayer’ by the Christians. The Christians believe in one baptism, wherein an infant or even an adult can be baptized which is an outward sign of an inward commitment to the teachings of Christ. (Kleeberg, 1976)Christian worship is found in the celebration of Mass which is the action of Christ and the people of God. The Mass reaches the high point of the action by which God in Christ sanctifies the world and the high point of Men’s worship of the Father, as they adore him through Christ, his Son.

The mass begins with the Introductory Rites which is entrance songs, greeting, penitential rite, opening prayer, Lord Have Mercy, Gloria, Scripture readings, Gospel, priest’s sermon, professions of faith, general intercessions, Liturgy of the Eucharist, preparation of the gifts, Eucharistic prayer, communion rite and the concluding rite. The purpose of these rites is to make the assembled people a unified community to listen to the word of God. A catholic priest is an individual who remains single and devotes his life to spreading the word of God and taking care of the masses.

A man, who answers God’s calling which is a vocation, undergoes seven years studying in a seminary before being ordained a priest. Only a Christian priest can administer the sacraments to the laity. Sunday is a very important day for the Christians as it involves mass, worship and thanksgiving. (Dewis,1982) However different churches of different denominations use various styles of worship. But the basic style is singing and praying to God. The Eucharist forms the most important part of the mass as the rite is established with Jesus who during the Passover, took bread and wine and asked his disciples to consume them and to continue to do this in His memory.

The wine represents Jesus blood and the breaking of the bread represents His body that was torn on the cross. (Dewis,1982) Some of the sub divisions of Christianity are, Roman Catholics, The Amish, Baptist church, Protestants, The Orthodox Church, Church of England, Exclusive Brethren, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodist Church, Pentecostalism, Salvation Army, Seventh-day Adventists etc. Christians celebrate the season of Advent which characterizes the beginning of the church calendar. Advent encompasses four Sundays beginning with the Sunday nearing November 30th and ends with Christmas.

Christmas which is the birth of Christ and it is on December 25. Epiphany celebrates the revelation of God to man through Jesus Christ. Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 wherein the three Magi (Casper, Melchoir and Balthasar) arrive in Bethlehem and worship Jesus. Lent or Lenten season which begins with Ash Wednesday is described as a 40 day fasting period wherein Christians repent and prepare for Easter. The last Thursday of the Lenten period is called ‘Maundy Thursday’ which symbolizes the day when Judas (one of Jesus disciple) betrayed Jesus and this led to Jesus crucifixion.

Good Friday, the last Friday in the Lenten season, is a day of fasting and Christians observe the day Christ carried His cross to Calvary where He was crucified. And Sunday is celebrated as Easter Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. (Frankiel, 1985)The chief commandments of the Church are:1. To hear Mass on Sundays and holydays of obligation2. To fast and abstain on the days appointed3. To confess our sins at least once a year4. To receive worthily the Blessed Eucharist at Easter Time5.

To contribute to the support of our pastors. The ethics of Christianity peaches equality of men and women but not violently overthrowing human practices which differentiate man and women. Jesus preached about tolerance, non-judgmental, peace and faith in God. He revealed God gives us free will and then allows us to sin (err), and even exposes us to evil, the prescription for which is faith and acceptance of Gods reign. Christ predicted that the Holy Spirit would inhabit those who willingly took up the cross, like him.

Other values include: forgiveness, love, being joyful and thankful, sacrifice of your desires for the needs of your neighbor (not through Law but interpersonally) valuing the truth and being true to yourself (no hypocrisy), a decentralized church, divine intercession through prayer and charity. Christianity is explicit about a one-man, one-woman marriage (it prohibits polygamy). (Frankiel, 1985)References1. Durant, Will. The Story of Philosophy. Simon & Schuster. 1961.2. Fr. Francis. New Testament and Selected Psalms.

The Christian Community Bible. Claretian Publications. 1996. 3. Frankiel, S. Sandra & Frankie, Tamar. Christianity: A Way of Salvation. Harper & Row, 1985. 4. Gonzalez, L. Justo. The Story of Christianity: Volume One: The Early Church to the Reformation. Harper & Row, 1984. 5. Kleeberg, Cumming Irene. Christianity. F. Watts, 1976.6. Latourette, Scott Kenneth. A history of Christianity. Harper & Row, 1975.7. M. Div, McIntosh Kenneth. The Controversial World of Biblical Archaeology. Mason Crest Publishers. 2006.8.

Rosten, Leo. Religions of America. 1975.9. The New American Bible. Thomas Nelson,Inc. 1987.10.The Weekday Missal. Collins Sons & Co Ltd. 1984.