Important Issue in Philosophy: What Is Christianity?

Important Issue in Philosophy: What is Christianity?

Throughout the history of the world there has never been such as an epic movement than Christianity. In the course of the centuries this movement has influenced the cultural development of many nations with spiritual, social and moral values. However despite the great effect this movement has caused on the entire planet, the question remains, what is Christianity? People from the secular world answer that question by saying that Christianity is just another religion. Other religions answer by saying that Christianity is just a different faith. But Christians on the other hand, answer by stating that Christianity consists of a lifestyle that develops a personal relationship with God.

The Word Christianity derives from the word Christian, which means Christ-like, a follower or disciple of Christ. According to the Bible in the book of Acts in the chapter 11, verse 26, the term Christians was first referred to the disciples of Jesus Christ approximately around the years 60 and 63 in a city called Antioch in Asia Minor. The Bible, or the Holy Scriptures, is the text book Christians use for their daily devotion. These Scriptures play a very important role in the life of Christianity. The bible is divided into two parts. The first part is the Old Testament and the second part contains the New Testament. The Bible besides containing social, moral and spiritual values, it also contains vast information about world history as well.

According to the secular world, Christianity is defined just as another religion. When we see Christianity from a religious perspective, we find that it consist in a list of thousands of commandments that must be fulfilled by those belonging to the religion. All this is with the purpose to give the service and worship God deserves.

In religious practices the commandments perform several aspects in the life of those who practice them. Such as to be faithful to his/ her God, this describes Christianity as spiritual. Another example is, "Remember the Sabbath day, (which represents the seventh day of the week, that is Saturday) to keep it." This verse differs from the previous commandment to a remembrance of keep it a specific day in the week to dedicate it in a way to set themselves apart their daily activities. Instead, dedicate that time to perform certain social activities with their families or neighbors in the service of their God.

In the service to God there are several ritual and ceremonies that take place in this religion. One of these ceremonies is the gathering of people or the church to worship God. This ceremony denotes a social aspect. The commandment, "Thou shall not commit murder" shows the spiritual but also as a moral aspect. The reason for that is because we find the value life has before God and how He presses man to contribute to conserve it.

Furthermore, supernatural events, acts of compassion and symbolic meanings are the results of the prospects of Christianity when defined as a faith. First of all, a faith consists of belief, trust and loyalty to God at any cost. Now, when a person believes trusts and is loyal to his/her God, such a person has great expectations from