Preliminary Studies of Religion Depth Course: Christianity Essay

Christianity is more than a belief in one God. It isn’t just something a person is baptised into to. Christianity is a source of hope for those who doubt, it is a guide for those who are lost and it provides answers for those who wonder. Christianity is the belief in one true God and from there come various interpretations that religions such as Anglicanism, Christianity and Lutheranism have taken and formed a more specific faith. In this preliminary year we will explore the beliefs, values, ethics, rituals and practices of Christianity. The course will open your mind to enlighten and enrich your knowledge on what is, the worlds most dominated religion. We just have to look over history to see the impact that one man has made on a society. Today characteristics of Christianity stem from the major events of Christ’s life and various interpretations of his predecessors. Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem in approximately 4 BCE. Up until age 30 we are unaware of the occurrences in Jesus’ life. Christians believe that God sent Jesus to preach God’s word and demonstrate the morals, values and ethics, through which Jesus lived. Christianity evolved around the first century AD, branching off from Judaism, Christianity shared the ethical teachings of Christ. Christians have faith in Jesus as the model of Christianity through the way he lived his life; preaching, healing and humbling the supreme presence of God. Jesus conveyed his unheard of message through parables to the outcasts of society; prostitutes, the disabled etc. were his followers. Faith came from the divine actions of healing, commanding the forces of nature and the forgiving of sins. So what do Christians believe? There are several principle beliefs of Christianity that share a commonness that dominates the foundations of Christianity. First of all they believe in the divinity as well as the humanity of Jesus Christ. This means that Christians take Jesus a legit being but that he is also one with God – divine. This leads on to the core belief of the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. This belief in itself forms the foundation of all Christian beliefs which this event solidifies the dominance of Christ within Christianity. From this divine event, there is a core belief in the trinity, a belief that God exists as 3 beings Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So another legacy of Jesus Christ is evident in Christian ethics based from the 10 Commandments and the Beatitudes as well. The Ten Commandments are viewed as the Law of God, his divine message conveyed through the way one should live their life. The greatest commandment is found in Matthew 22:36-40 where he is asked what is the greatest commandment? He replies quite simply â€Å"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind† Jesus also then goes on to emphasise the importance of the 2nd greatest commandment; â€Å"love your neighbor as yourself†. The Beatitudes laid down by Matthew and Luke are expressed as teachings through the blessings of various virtues of Christians. The Beatitudes and Ten Commandments are focused on Humility, Love and Compassion and are heavily practiced today through the interpretations of Christians. Christian practices refer to the way one practices their religion. In todays society Christian practices vary depending on the interpretations of Christian variants which include rituals and sacraments for example prayer, communion and baptism. Prayer is used as a spiritual connection to God and is highly encouraged throughout the bible. Communion and Baptism are both sacraments that again interpreted accordingly express ones faith and dedication to God. Baptism is the first initial step towards a relationship to God and following his Laws and the teachings of Jesus. Communion on the other hand relates back to the belief in the death and resurrection of Christ, it establishes belief and a relationship between human, Jesus and God. All of these Christian practices are fully implemented in the Churches of today’s Christian societies and have been practiced as a part of this religion for thousands of years. So where to from now? Year 11 is a year of growth and learning. We will look at these aspects in further detail to obtain the fullest knowledge of Christian practices beliefs and ethics and the impact these have through the legacy of Jesus Christ. Since the birth of Christ his legacy whilst yes wasn’t embraced completely throughout his lifetime has had a huge impact on the modern society, over approximately 2.1 billion people world wide follow the faith that was built from one man, one belief and one teaching that went against everything that society knew. The legacy of Jesus Christ is everlasting, a continuous evolution of the interpretation of the core values, teachings and beliefs of Christianity. Good luck for your journey that you will all take for year 11 and thank you for attentively listening to the legacy of Jesus Christ.