One definition of Christianity……….
This list is Sourced from the Encylopaedia Britannica, Wikipedia, Beliefnet, and Adherents.com (a collection of 43,870 adherent statistics and religious geography citations). The list is based on number of members. For a complete list (which also includes atheism and agnosticism, see the Wikipedia article
or the Encylopaedia Britannica chart).
1. Christianity [Abrahamic, 27 AD] 2.1 billion adherents [Wikipedia | Britannica | Beliefnet]
Christianity is a monotheistic religion which is based on the teachings of the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth. Christians believe that Jesus, as the Son of God is part of the Trinity (God as three persons in one), the others being God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that Christianity fulfils Judaism. Most Christians believe that the death and resurrection of Jesus to be the cornerstone of their faith. Protestant offshoots of Christianity believe that salvation comes from the belief in God alone, whereas Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that faith, combined with good works is required for salvation.
The Christian scriptures are called the Bible – comprising two books, the Old Testament (based on the Septuagint) and the New Testament. Protestants and Catholics have the same books in the New Testament, but Martin Luther removed 7 books from the Old Testament during the Protestant reformation, considering them to be apocryphal. He also removed four books from the New Testament but was later persuaded to put them back – they were Hebrews, James, Jude, and Revelation.
Christians believe in Sacraments (Catholics and Orthodox and some Anglicans believe in 7: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Last Rites, Holy Orders, and Matrimony; some Protestants (following Martin Luther) believe in the sacramental nature of Baptism and Holy Communion, while others reject outright the concept of sacramental theology.
Christianity is generally broken into three branches: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Catholicism is the largest with over 1 billion adherents. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches split in the 11th century in an event called the Great Schism. Protestantism split from Roman Catholicism in in the 16th century in an event called the Protestant Reformation.
This article only supports my posting entitled :
Which church is correct?
“Today, the Catholics consider Protestants as apostates whom they cut off a long time ago.” – False – Catholics see Protestants as, “Separated brethren”.
The main problem, however, with your post is that you look to man for a definition of the church instead of trusting God’s definition.
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
The church is made of, “all who will come to Jesus”, not those who attend a particular man-made orginization.
Russ Cruzan
December 28, 2007
Yes, “separated brethren” is the politically correct way of saying the same thing. The Catholics I know obviously aren’t as PC as they need to be. ;-)
I know God’s definition, and not man’s, as you do. You see, I have a prophet speaking to me today just as they did in the past.
ifokus
December 28, 2007
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
If you are a true believer, why do you preach a “church” instead of a “Savior”. If you were filled with the Holy Spirit as you say you are, you would be a witness of Him, not your church.
Russ Cruzan
December 28, 2007
I’m sorry, but you are not making sense now. Your comment: If you are a true believer, why do you preach a “church” instead of a “Savior”. This comment comes out of nowhere, my friend, as has some of your others. I’m not putting you down – but we are not having a conversation when you bring up strange things that we are not discussing. Our conversation is now done. I simply don’t have time to discuss jibberish.
ifokus
December 28, 2007