Christianity Part III
by Pravin K. Shah
Christians are monotheists (believers in one God). The early church, however, developed the characteristic Christian
doctrine of the Trinity, in which God is thought of as Creator (Father), Redeemer (Son), and Sustainer (Holy Spirit), but one God in essence.
Christianity has an unswerving belief that it is the only true religion, the only path to salvation. This engenders a missionary zeal, an urgency to evangelize around the world. Stress is placed on acceptance of Jesus as God and Savior, on good conduct, compassion, service to mankind, faith, and preparation for the Final Judgement. Only good Christians will be saved.
A substantial differences in faith exist among the various churches. Those in the Protestant tradition insist on Scripture as the sole source of God's Revelation. The Roman Catholics give greater importance to the tradition of the church in defining the content of faith, believing it to be divinely guided in its understanding of scriptural revelation. They stress the role of ecumenical councils in the formulation of doctrine. In Roman Catholicism, the pope is regarded as the final authority in matters of belief. A prominent feature of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is Monasticism.
The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches have an all male threefold ministry of bishops, priests, deacons, and several minor orders. The Roman Catholic church is headed by the pope. In the Orthodox churches and those of the Anglican Communion (which retain the threefold ministry) major decisions are made by the bishops acting as a group with lay consultation, sometimes with votes. Church government among Lutherans, Reformed, and other Protestants generally involves the laity even more fully, policy being determined either by local congregations or by regional assemblies composed of both clergy and lay people. Most Protestant churches, including some provinces of the Anglican Communion, now permit the ordination of women.
In most Christian churches Sunday, the day of Christ's
resurrection, is observed as a time of rest and worship. The resurrection is more particularly commemorated at Easter, a festival in the early spring. Another major Christian festival is Christmas, which commemorates the birth of Jesus.
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