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Christianity

Christianity is the most popular religion in the world with well over two billion followers.

It is also the largest religion in Britain, with around 42 million people regarding themselves as nominally Christian; about 6 million of these are actively committed to the faith.

Christians are people who believe that Jesus Christ, who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago, is the Son of God, and who follow his teachings and those of the Christian churches that grew up after his death.

Key Facts

• 2,000 years old


• Began in the Middle East


• Founded by the followers of Jesus Christ


• Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that:
  
• God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins (i.e. its non-good behaviour, or its disobedience to God)
• Jesus was fully human, and experienced this world in the same way as other human beings of his time
• Jesus was tortured and gave his life on the Cross (at the Crucifixion)
• Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion (the Resurrection)


• Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament


• Christians believe that there is only one God, but that this one God consists of 3 "persons"
  
  • God the Father
  • God the Son
  • The Holy Spirit


• Christians worship in Churches; their spiritual leaders are called priests or ministers


• The Christian holy book is the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments


• Christian festivals such as Easter and Christmas are major milestones in the Western secular calendar

'My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.'
The Dalai Lama

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