Christianity is the name of the religion, and its followers are known as Christians.
Christianity is focused on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the Son of God. Jesus was born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.
Today, there are over 2.2 billion Christians around the world, making Christianity the most followed religion.
Five key facts
Watch to find out how Jonnie lives his life according to Christian teachings, including how he worships and what he eats.
My name is Jonnie and I'm a Christian. I believe in one God who has shown himself to us in three ways. This is called the Trinity: God, the Father in Heaven, Jesus who was God in human form and the Holy Spirit who is with us always. I believe that Jesus was killed but then came back to life, which we call the resurrection, and went to heaven. He showed God's love for everyone by opening the way for us to escape hell and join him in heaven when we die. I can talk to God anywhere, so I often start the day with a prayer asking for God's help during the day. But on Sundays I come to church to worship with my friends and family.
There are different denominations in Christianity and I belong to the Church of England. During the service we'll hear someone read from the Bible and it'll be explained by our priest. The priest has different names in different denominations, so they might be called a vicar or a minister or a pastor. Some Christians like to dress up when they go to church but most of the time we can wear whatever we like. But the priest or minister usually wears special clothes, called vestments.
In some denominations like the Catholic Church, the vestments might be a bit more elaborate. And in others, like the Baptist Church, the pastor might just wear a normal suit. There are no rules about what I should eat but some Christians eat fish instead of meat on Fridays and on holy days. And some might even fast sometimes, meaning they go without food altogether. Before a meal, we often say grace thanking God for our food.
What do Christians believe and how do they worship?
Click the image below to discover more about Christianity.
Religious symbol
The cross is the symbol of Christianity. Jesus Christ was executed by the Romans and died by being crucified on a wooden cross. Christians remember his death and resurrection by wearing crosses. Sometimes crosses will have a figure of Jesus on them. These are called crucifixes.
Denominations
Christians share many beliefs, but they don’t all agree on everything. This has resulted in the development of different groups within the religion called denominations. Examples of these include Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic.
Different Christian denominations worship in different ways. Anglicans, Catholics and Orthodox Christians have a set form of worship. It is a formal ritual based around the sacraments, particularly Holy Communion. This type of worship is called liturgical worship.
Other Christian churches, such as Baptists and Quakers, practice non-liturgical worship. This kind of worship has no set form and often does not involve Holy Communion. Non-liturgical worship is usually centered on Bible readings, a sermon, music and prayers.
As well as worshiping in different ways, Christian churches do not always look the same. For example, many Orthodox and Catholic Churches are more ornate and detailed, whereas Baptist or Methodist chapels are usually much simpler buildings.
Inside a church
Click the picture below to explore the inside of a Christian church.
The Christian Trinity
Most Christians believe God is revealed in three forms. This is called the Trinity. The word ‘trinity’ comes from the word ‘tri’ meaning ‘three’ and ‘unity’ meaning ‘one’. There are three distinct persons to this one God, and these three persons form a unity. This belief is called the doctrine of the Trinity. Click on the picture below to see how the concept works.
Resources for teachers
Looking for more KS3 religious studies resources? This collection of videos covers a range of topics and religions to support your teaching.
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