Christianity Sian, Adam, Harry, Martha and Stacie

Christian holy book The Bible The Bible is not just one book, but an entire library, with stories, songs, poetry, letters and history, as well as literature that might more obviously qualify as 'religious’. Hymn books Hymnal, hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs that people use in a church or at home.

The Bible The Christian Bible has two sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the original Hebrew Bible, the sacred scriptures of the Jewish faith, written at different times between about 1200 and 165 BC. The New Testament books were written by Christians in the first century AD.

Old Testament

New Testament

An umbrella of beliefs There are so many different denominations in Christianity that it is difficult to generalise when referring to ‘Christian Beliefs’.

Christian Denominations These are the major denominations found in England Amish Anglican/Epicopalian Baptist Catholic Lutheran Orthodox Presbyterian Protestant Seventh-Day Adventists

Main Christian beliefs Most Christians meet for worship on a Sunday A service would usually consists of prayers, hymns/psalms and teaching Most Christians would meet for worship in a church. This is a picture of a traditional church building. Hymns are often accompanied: traditionally by an organ. wI Commonly held Christian views are: -Jesus is the son of God -Jesus died on a cross for sin -Jesus rose again -There is a life after death generally believed to be in heaven and hell.

Symbolism In a church alter you may see either a cross or a crucifix. The Cross symbolises new life and the victory over ‘death’ i.e. that fact that Jesus rose again on the Sabbath day. The Crucifix is a symbolism of the pain and Suffering Jesus had to endure to rid the world of sin.

Ethical Issues affecting Christianity Abortion The church teaches that in all circumstances, abortion is wrong. The only situations were abortion is allowed by the church is when the intention is not to kill.

Ethical Issues affecting Christianity Homosexuality Same-sex marriage is a divisive issue in many Christian churches, but not all. The Anglican Communion still remains divided on the issue of homosexuality. This division however leads to racial tension between certain religious people and gay rights liberators.

Important times of the year Christmas Easter Harvest Lent Thanksgiving

Christmas Christmas is a Christian holy day that marks the birth of Jesus, the son of God. Christmas is marked on the 25 December (7 January for Orthodox Christians).

Eucharist The last supper Sharing of the Passover meal The Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion. At the meal Jesus ate bread and wine and instructed his disciples to do the same in memory of him. The prayers and readings in a Eucharistic service remind those taking part of that final meal and of the solemn words and actions of someone standing at the edge of death. Different churches have different ways of doing this, and different ways of understanding what it means, and what spiritual events are happening at the time.

Easter Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with the greatest joy.

Lent Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.

Special Events for Christians Christening Confirmation Believer’s Baptism Marriage Funeral