INDEPTH: CHRISTIANITY
The World
CBC News Online | February 18, 2005
(Steve Russell/Toronto Star) |
Christianity is found in all parts of the world, and Christians make up more than a quarter of the world's population.
Christians believe that God is three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. The three persons are seen as one.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who came to earth as a man to restore the relationship between humans and God. He was executed by crucifixion, which was a painful and degrading option, reserved at the time for criminals. Jesus’ death and resurrection brought about atonement, which is the potential to bridge the gap between humanity and God caused by sin. There are two major types of Christians: Orthodox and Western Christians. Western Christianity is divided into Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
There are over 1,000 Christian denominations in North America alone, as well as thousands of independent, unaffiliated congregations, all of which agree that Jesus is the Son of God and is a source of human reconciliation with God. Many Christians still seek to convert others to their religion.
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