Christianity

A monotheistic religion that originated in the Near East during the first century CE, and whose essence is the belief in Jesus Christ, Christianity is a theo-centric faith proclaiming the existence of a personal God, one in the Holy Trinity. The God of Christianity is an autonomous, indivisible, immaterial being, an absolute unity possessed of infinite life and totally distinct from the world. Each of God's persons has only one and the same divine nature and remains in a reciprocal personal relation with the others on the basis of its origin. God the Father is the principle that originates the Son and the Holy Spirit (Filioque). As the Almighty Father, God is the creator of the entire universe, which he sustains in existence and upholds in its activities, guiding both the lives of individuals and the history of human communities (divine providence). Having elected humankind from all earthly creatures, both as spiritual creatures (human soul) and material beings (human body), God has granted humans immortality. He created humans in his own image and likeness, and bestowed on humans his grace and friendship (God's children). Human disobedience against God's decrees (original sin) is understood not as having caused God's revenge, but as having brought about the promise of salvation already outlined in the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. Thus, [Page 173]Christianity has its source in Judaism and is considered a revealed religion. This entry provides a detailed overview of the history of Christianity from its sources in Judaism and development through the Roman period, through the Middle Ages and into the modern era, an outline of Christian doctrine, and an explanation of Christianity's understanding of, and relationship to, time.