 There is only one god.
God has created the world distinct from himself but is believed to be active within it.
Humans are created at a distance from God and are responsible for their own lives. God is judge of all that they do, but also seeks to help them when they go wrong. ·
God reveals himself in three 'persons': Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit. However, these three persons are regarded as a unity, sharing one 'substance'.
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 which had gone wrong. He was crucified as a criminal and was seen alive after he was dead and buried.
Christians believe that during Jesus' life he had shown people how to be reconciled to God and to each other.
Jesus' death and resurrection was a form of atonement for the actions of humans and restored them to their correct relationship with God.
Christians believe they should live according to the example of Jesus Christ by: Loving God Loving fellow human beings as one loves oneself Sharing the Christian message .
Christians have only one life. This life is judged after death by the way it was lived. Heaven is where the soul resides if one lived a good life while eternal punishment awaits in Hell for those who lead a bad life. Whether 'heaven' and 'hell' literally exists is hotly debated in some theological circles.
The Christian place of worship is called a Church. They are often built in the shape of a cross with the altar facing east towards the rising sun.
The word "church" can also refer to the total group of Christians and individual religious denominations such as "The Anglican Church" or "The Methodist Church".
The Bible is the Holy Book. This is divided into the Old Testament, which incorporates the Hebrew Bible, and the New Testament, which details the life of Jesus and a selection of beliefs and writings of the early church.
* Christian symbols include: The Crucifix - an image of Jesus crucified on the cross The Cross - without the figure of Jesus, indicating that he has risen from the dead.
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