Intro to Christianity by Oprah Winfrey Network
Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in the world, with approximately 2.2 billion followers. As a religion, it is based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Te term is from a Greek word Christos which means followers of Christ.
The Ten Commandments or the Tablets of the Law are the laws that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses after leading them out of Egypt. In essence, they are a summary of the hundreds of laws found in the Old Testament Law.
The Lamb of God represents Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless sacrifice offered by God to atone for the sins of man.
The dove represents the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost in Christianity. The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove when he was baptized in the Jordan River.
Bread and wine represent the Lord's Supper or Communion. Bread symbolizes life. It is the nourishment that sustains life. Wine represents God's covenant in blood, poured out in payment for mankind's sin.
The cross is used in many Christian churches as a symbol of the Savior's death and Resurrection and as a sincere expression of faith and love.
The Bible is a collection of sacred texts or scriptures that Jews and Christians consider to be a product of divine inspiration and a record of the relationship between God and humans.
C h r i s t i a n i t y
Quick Facts on Christianity
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Christians believe in the Holy Trinity: the Father (God), the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.​
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The cross is the symbol of Christianity
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Christians believed that Jesus will return to earth again which is also known as the second coming.
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The primary sacred text of Christianity is the Bible. It is made of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament.
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The old testament is identical to the Jewish Bible while the new testament is a collection of christian writings that includes biographies of Jesus Christ and the apostles, letters to the church, and apocalyptic work.
Christian practices vary by denomination, but common elements include a Sunday worship service, private and corporate prayer, study and reading of the Scriptures, and participation in the rites of baptism and communion. Distinctive Catholic practices include recognition of seven sacraments, devotion to Mary and the saints, and veneration of relics and sacred sites associated with holy figures. Eastern Orthodoxy holds many practices in common with Catholicism, but is especially distinguished by the central role of icons.
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The most important Christian holiday is Easter, a spring holiday that celebrates Christ's resurrection from the dead. Easter is immediately preceded by Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. The 40 days prior to Easter form the Lenten season, a time of fasting and repentance.
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Another holiday that has become important is Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus on December 25 (January 6 in Orthodox Churches).
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Saints' days are also important. Some of these, such as St. Patrick's Day and St. Valentine's Day, have come to play a prominent role in popular American culture.
