Christianity is a religion centered on the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for the sins of humanity and was resurrected. It’s the world’s largest religion, with over 2.38 billion followers. Key tenets include the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the belief in Jesus’s divinity and his role as Saviour, and the promise of eternal life for believers. The Bible, comprising the Old and New Testaments, is considered the inspired word of God and the foundation of Christian belief.
- One God: Christians believe in one God, who is both creator and sustainer of the universe.
- The Trinity: God is believed to exist in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus as Messiah: Jesus is seen as the promised Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, who came to save humanity from sin.
- Divinity of Jesus: Christians believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human.
- Sacrifice and Resurrection: Jesus’s death on the cross is considered a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and his resurrection is seen as proof of his victory over death and sin.
- Salvation: Christians believe that through faith in Jesus and his sacrifice, they can receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God.
Major Forms of Christianity:
While Christianity is unified in its core beliefs, it has various branches and denominations. Christianity is broadly divided into three main branches: The Catholic Christianity, The Orthodox Christianity, and Protestantism. Within Protestantism, numerous denominations exist, such as Anglicanism, Lutheranism, Methodism, and Baptists, among others. These denominations often differ in theology, practices, and governance structures.
The Catholic Church teaches that it is the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission, that its bishops are the successors of Christ’s apostles, and that the Pope in Rome is the successor to Saint Peter, upon whom primacy was conferred by Jesus Christ. The word Catholic means universal. It is among the world’s oldest and largest international institutions and has played a prominent role in the history and development of Western civilization. This church emphasizes the importance of the Christian values, and sacraments.
Catholics believe in one God who exists as three distinct persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Catholics believe Jesus is both fully God and fully human, who came to earth to redeem humanity from sin through his death and resurrection. Catholics consider the Bible to be the sacred record of God’s revelation and teachings. Catholics believe in the promise of eternal life with God for those who follow Jesus’ teachings and place their faith in him.
The Catholic Church has a hierarchical structure, with the Pope as the chief pastor or visible leader, followed by cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons and the laity. The church consists of 24 autonomous churches, including the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, which comprise almost 3,500 dioceses around the world, each overseen by bishops. Catholics believe that the Bible along with the sacred apostolic tradition is an important source of teaching and guidance. Catholics believe the Church is the body of Christ on earth, and the Pope is the successor to St. Peter, whom Jesus appointed as the first leader of the Church. Catholics have a special reverence for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, and for the saints, who are considered role models and intercessors.
Catholics gather for Mass, a central worship service where they receive the Eucharist (Communion), hear scripture readings, and engage in prayer and praise. Catholic churches often have architectural designs that reflect their beliefs, such as crosses, stained glass windows, and altars. Catholic churches are seen as sacred spaces where God’s presence is felt, and where Catholics gather to worship and receive grace. Catholicism recognizes seven sacraments as channels of God’s grace. The sacraments are often classified into three categories: the sacraments of initiation (into the Catholic Church and the mystical body of Christ), consisting of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist; the sacraments of healing, consisting of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance and the Anointing of the Sick; and the sacraments of service: Holy Orders and Matrimony.
The Catholic Church operates tens of thousands of Catholic schools, universities and colleges, hospitals, and orphanages around the world, and is the largest non-government provider of education and health care in the world. Among its other social services are numerous charitable and humanitarian organizations.
Orthodox Christianity:
There are three types of Orthodox Churches. The First ones are the the Eastern Christians which recognise the seven ecumenical councils and usually are in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The second ones are the Oriental Orthodox Christians composed of six autocephalous national churches: the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria; the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and its constituent autonomous Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church; the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; the Armenian Apostolic Church; the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The Third Ones are the ancient Christians that belong to the Church of the East, comprising the Assyrian Church, the Chaldean Church and the Syro-Malabar Church, the latter two churches became part of the Catholic communion.
Orthodox Christianity is a major branch of Christianity that traces its roots back to the early Christian Church. It emphasizes the preservation of traditional beliefs and practices, including the first seven Ecumenical Councils, and liturgical practices passed down through generations and views itself as the true orthodox church established by the apostles. This branch emphasizes the continuity with the apostolic church, its liturgy, and territorial churches. The primary worship service is the Divine Liturgy, which is celebrated weekly and is seen as a reenactment of Christ’s sacrifice.
Like Catholics, Orthodox churches recognizes seven sacraments, or holy mysteries, including Baptism, Confirmation (Chrismation), Eucharist (Holy Communion), Penance, Holy Unction, Holy Orders, and Marriage. The use of icons, sacred images, is a significant feature of Eastern Orthodox worship and is seen as a way to venerate and honor Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. Unlike Catholics, Orthodox churches reject the filioque clause in the Nicene Creed, which states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Orthodoxy is composed of numerous self-governing autocephalous churches that are united in faith and practice, but not under a single central authority. Nevertheless, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised by the world wide orthodox churches as primus inter pares (“first among equals”), a title formerly given to the Patriarch of Rome until the East–West Schism in 1054.
Protestantism is a major branch of Christianity that emerged during the 16th-century Reformation. It emphasizes the Bible as the ultimate source of religious truth and authority, the concept of salvation by grace through faith, and the priesthood of all believers. The Protestant Reformation began in the early 16th century with figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin. It challenged the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. Protestantism spread rapidly across Europe and later to other parts of the world. Protestantism had a significant impact on European culture, politics, and society. It contributed to the rise of modern democracy and individual freedoms. It continues to be a major force in Christianity worldwide. This branch of Christianity due to its very liberalised concepts have various forms and denominations such as
- Anglicanism emerged from the Church of England during the 16th-century Reformation, when the English monarch Henry VIII broke away from the authority of the Pope in Rome, in order to annul his marriage. This branch with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its nominal head, includes the Church of England, the Episcopal Church in the USA, and other national churches.
- Lutheranism: A Protestant denomination emphasizing salvation by grace through faith. It is named after Martin Luther, a key figure in the Reformation.
- Methodism is a Protestant Christian tradition, founded by John Wesley in the 18th century as a revival movement within the Church of England, emphasizing personal piety and social responsibility. Methodists use a four-part approach to understanding and living their faith: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience.
-
Baptists: a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by their practice of believer’s baptism (baptizing only those who profess faith) and their preference for immersion over sprinkling or pouring. They emphasize the authority of the Bible and congregational governance.
- Calvinism: a major branch of Protestantism that emphasizes the sovereignty of God, predestination, and the importance of Scripture and grace in salvation. It is named after John Calvin, a key figure in the Reformation.
- Presbyterianism: A Protestant denomination with a focus on a system of church governance by church elders called presbyters. Presbyterians generally adhere to reformed theological principles, which emphasize God’s sovereignty, salvation by grace through faith in Christ, and the authority of Scripture. Presbyterianism emerged from the Scottish Reformation led by John Knox.
- Pentecostalism is a movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes a direct, personal experience of God, often manifested by spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and healing. It’s characterized by a belief in the “baptism with the Holy Spirit” and the power of the Holy Spirit to empower believers to live a more evangelical form of Christianity. Pentecostalism began among poor and disadvantaged people in the USA at the start of the twentieth century, with the Azusa Street Revival in San Francisco in 1906 led by the African-American preacher William Joseph Seymour. Pentecostals believe that God continues to perform miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Pentecostal worship services are often characterized by enthusiastic expressions of faith, such as clapping, shouting, and raising hands. Pentecostalism is willing to fit in with local cultures and use local music and other cultural elements in worship, and sees the value of teaching the Christian message through religious ways of thinking and talking that are already familiar to local people. Some Pentecostal scholars consider that ‘It may be appropriate to consider Korean Pentecostalism as a culturally indigenous form of Korean Christianity interacting with shamanism, just as African Pentecostalism is in constant interaction with the African spirit world, and as Latin American Pentecostalism encounters folk Catholicism and Brazilian spiritism, likewise they mix Indian folklore and Chinese folklore in their respective areas’. Some of the Pentecostals tend to keep away from people of other faiths and other denominations for fear of contamination of their own faith and to reduce distraction towards the worldly materialistic life. Some issues with Pentecostal churches include potential for false doctrines, and personal delusions. Also pastors who are conservatives or liberals can create a judgmental environment for those who don’t conform to their values. Some pastors can be perceived as overly dramatic or intense by some. There are also incidents of some pastors putting service as a money making exercise and becoming rich using various farce healing dramas and mass hysteria. There are also disagreements on specific beliefs and practices, as Pentecostalism is a diverse movement. The lack of a single, universally accepted authority on doctrine leads to confusion and division within the Pentecostal movement.
- **********************
Christianity can be classified as a monotheistic faith that shares common traditions and values with Judaism. These two major monotheistic faiths are referred to as ‘Abrahamic’ given the shared common ancestry through Abraham and his descendants (the so-called ‘Patriarchs’, as described in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis). The Christian scriptures are based on the Old Testament, which shares a great deal of material with Jewish scriptures, and the New Testament, which describes the work of Jesus as well as containing many letters written by St Paul and other early adherents to fledgling Christian communities and individuals growing up around the eastern Mediterranean.
History: Christianity began as a development of Judaism following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ (which means ‘anointed one’ in Greek). It soon grew into a faith open to non-Jews as well. Cllr Tom Aditya described that within a century of the death of Jesus, Christianity became a significant and radical religion active throughout the Roman Empire. Early Christians were persecuted by the Roman powers, but during the fourth century, Christianity became the state religion following the conversion of Emperor Constantine. Since then, Christianity has developed into one of the global faiths, with adherents in virtually every country. The values and beliefs have become embedded into the cultures of what we now refer to as ‘The West’. In the UK, the legal, political, educational, and many other aspects of society are based on Christian principles.
Jesus’ death and resurrection: Regardless of the various structures, at the heart of the Christian faith is the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is celebrated each Easter. Jesus was crucified on Good Friday. Christians believe that Jesus died to save us, and was resurrected after three days on Easter Sunday, and ascended to heaven where he is alive and concerned for us on earth. Jesus’ resurrection is remembered during the service of Holy Communion, or Eucharist, when Christians eat bread (Christ’s body) and drink wine (Christ’s blood). The symbolism of rebirth and renewal is very important to Christianity. Jesus taught a message that ‘no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ (John 3:3). The image of the cross has central importance to Christianity.
Baptism: Christian baptism is one example of how such rebirth or renewal can be recognised in a person’s life. Baptism, meaning ‘immersion’ is considered by many to be necessary for entry into Christianity. In some traditions it is is by full immersion in water, whereas in others water is sprinkled or poured on a person’s head. The symbolism is one of washing away of sin, of an older life, leading to renewal.
Prayer: Regular prayer is considered essential to Christian life. Prayer may be public or private and can take many forms. Traditional prayer during public worship is based on some form of ‘liturgy’ or public service, and involves supplication, thanksgiving, or intercession. A Christian’s prayer life will also be private and, of course, vary enormously from person to person. Prayer is a vital way of coming to know God, and through this relationship, of being able to be an active and effective Christian in the wider world.
Mission: The final words of Jesus before his ascension are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew as “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20). This is a clear commandment to all followers of Jesus to actively share their faith with everyone and to show others how Jesus’ teachings are for the whole world to share. This is one important aspect of the Mission. Christians are encouraged to be missional.
Beliefs and Rituals: Christianity is a redemptive faith, believing that God became directly involved in the life of all creation in the form of his son, Jesus, who is recognised as the saviour of humanity. He is the son of God and has a transformative quality. Christians believe that it is through Jesus that we can know God. It is through God’s grace that we are all saved and redeemed from our sin. Since the formation of the early church, a vast array of forms of Christianity have developed across the world. Christians often talk in terms of denominations (e.g., The Catholic Church, the Church of England, the Orthodox Church, the Methodist Church, The Baptist Union, the United Reformed Church, etc). These are more formal structures, but other types of churches or Christian communities are exploring other ways of being Christian (the Pentecostal churches, house churches, network churches, etc).
Christians in the World:
Churches, especially church buildings, are the most common and instantly recognisable feature of a Christian presence in British culture. For many people, however, the only times they will venture inside a church will be for the significant moments in their lives, such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Christmas and Easter services also attract infrequent worshippers. However, churches are open to anyone who wishes to attend, whether a professing Christian or not. Services are generally on Sundays, but many churches also hold communion or prayer services on some weekdays. Traditional denominations appoint ministers or priests to lead worship and maintain a cohesive Christian community. This may be less so in other more recent church structures, but some form of pastor is usually available as the first contact point for any community.
Being a Christian is not simply about going to church, however. The concepts of renewal and rebirth are explored in many ways by different Christians, but at the root is the need to be missional: to take the message of the Gospels into the world. Christians talk of their ministry to the world, which, translated, is all about service. Jesus taught that, whilst he was the Son of God, he was our servant, and that Christians should seek to serve for the glory of God and to help bring God’s Kingdom to the notice of all humanity. Again, it is through renewal that a deeper relationship with God can be found, and renewal requires transformation.
Social and spiritual transformation are essential parts of a Christian life, and Jesus provided a model — Jesus is often described as a model for all humanity. Caring for the poor, walking with the excluded, and challenging social injustices are all ways that society, and therefore humanity, can be transformed and renewed. Christians in the United Kingdom have been leaders of cultural and political systems that have cared for the poor and supported those on the margins of society.
Christianity in Bristol:
Christianity is the largest religious group in Bristol, with 32.2% of residents identifying as Christian. Bristol boasts a diverse wide range of Christian churches and organizations, including Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, and evangelical churches, as well as various Christian fellowships and groups. At the Harmony Festival, Cllr Tom Aditya described that Bristol has a rich history linked to Christianity, with notable figures like John Wesley and George Whitefield having roots in the city, and the New Room in Broadmead serving as a testament to early Methodist movements. Bristol’s churches actively engage in social action, supporting vulnerable children and families, and addressing issues like poverty and inequality, as evidenced by organizations like Noise 365 and the Bristol Churches City Fund. Churches in Bristol actively engage with the community, offering services and events, including online and in-person worship, children’s groups, and activities for young people.
-
University Connection: The Bristol University Christian Union (BUCU) provides a space for students to explore their faith, with various events and initiatives designed to support and encourage Christian students.
-
Historical Walk: Bristol Museums offers a walking tour focusing on the historical and social impact of Christianity in Bristol, highlighting its role in shaping the city’s identity.
-
Educational Resources: The Diocese of Bristol offers educational courses, like “Exploring Christianity,” to help individuals deepen their faith and understanding of Christian doctrine. The Catholic Church in Bristol offers various educational programs for learning about the Catholic Christian Faith. Catholic schools and parishes emphasize living out the Gospel values in daily life, fostering a community of faith and respect for all. Many programs encourage participants to apply their faith to daily life and engage in meaningful service.
-
Online Presence: Many churches in Bristol have online presences, including live-streamed services and online resources, catering to both those who can attend in person and those who prefer online participation
Useful links
»» The Church of England in Bristol: https://www.bristol.anglican.org/
»» The Catholic Church in Bristol: https://cliftondiocese.com
»» The Churches Together in Bristol: https://together4bristol.org/
»» The Methodist Church in Bristol: www.bristolmethodist.org.uk
»» The Baptist Union in Bristol: www.webnetwork.org.uk
»» The United Reformed Church in Bristol and South West England: www.urcsouthwest.org.uk
»» The Salvation Army Church in Bristol and South West England: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/SWD/
»» The Orthodox Church in Bristol: www.bristol-orthodox-church.co.uk/
»» The Seventh Day Adventist Church, Bristol: www.bristolcentral.adventistchurch.org.uk/
»» Bethel Church, Bristol: www.bethelchurchbristol.org/