Church architecture, also known as ecclesiastical architecture, has been evolving since the beginning of Christianity. The chief factors that have influenced Christian architecture are the influence of local styles, changing beliefs within the religion and innovation by various designers. This is why if one goes to any area in the world where Christianity is practiced; one will see that the church will resemble the building style of that particular area. When the history of Christian architecture is examined, it can be seen that a wide range of styles that are both secular and religious in nature have influenced it. Since the beginning of Christian architecture the style that has by far the most influence is the Gothic cathedral. It is safe to say that no...

The Sacrament Of Baptism When speaking of the sacrament of baptism it is natural to think of the process of dipping a person in water. Subsequently, when defining the word baptism it is defined as “to immerse, dip, or plunge under water; to wash.” The sacrament of baptism is far more than plunging under water. For the believer, it symbolizes much more spiritually. Water baptism first appears in the New Testament in the narratives concerning John the Baptist. It is here that baptism became recognized as a symbol of repentance and forgiveness by God of our sins. It is for the remission of sins and thus leads to salvation. Water baptism is a public vow of surrender to God and acknowledgment as God the Trinity–Father, Son, and Holy...

The cross is a common symbol in contemporary Christianity. However, the cross was not used by the early Christians until the second century AD because it was a bloody reminder to Christians of the brutal death of their savior. Early Christians used a fish symbol, known as the Ichthys, as a way of marking meeting places and greeting one another. Fish had a prominent role in the life of Jesus. He was a fisherman. When he first met some of his disciples, they had been fishing for hours without a catch. Jesus instructed the men to cast the net on the other side of their boat and they ended up catching fish. Another fish story in the New Testament is that the story of Jesus feeding thousands with only five loaves and fishes. Ichthys was also an acrostic. The...

The Ku Klux Klan, or as they are often called, “The Klan”, or the KKK for short, is one of the first terrorist organizations in the United States.  The Ku Klux Klan dates backs to the years following the Civil War, when ex-Confederate soldiers, angry because of being defeated by the Union Army and jealous over the social progress of African Americans during the period of Reconstruction formed the organization in a diabolical effort to scare Blacks back into slavery and to prevent them from exercising their voting rights as well as intimidating their northern supporters, known as “Carpetbaggers”, from coming to their aid. The Klan, who are identified by their ghoulish-looking, white, coned-shaped masks and robes and capes with red...

Christianity is divided into literally hundreds of denominations, each with its own set of beliefs and customs. In the United States, the largest denominations are Catholic, Protestant, and Baptist. These three branches of Christianity share many major beliefs, but they also uphold fundamental differences in their doctrines. Most Americans belong to one of these three groups, although the populations of each differ greatly by region. Catholicism is the oldest form of Christianity and the church from which most other denominations arose. Therefore, the history of the Catholic church is the history of early Christianity. After the crucifixion of Jesus, the Apostles continued to gain followers in Roman lands. Christians were at first persecuted in the empire,...

Christians in the United States celebrate two central religious holidays during the year, the first being Easter and the second being Christmas. Although both holidays have distinct Christian roots, Easter and Christmas have since become major secular holidays as well. Perhaps the greater part of Christians and non-Christians alike are unaware of the roots of these holidays despite the yearly celebrations. Because the resurrection of Jesus Christ combined with His death on a cross is considered the central aspect of the Christian’s belief system, Easter (or Resurrection Sunday) is the most important religious holiday for Christianity. For the Jewish community, Easter is an entire season, typically spanning fifty days. The Jewish Christian is known to...

One thing that the Christian faith aspires to offer is access to resources that will help an individual have a well rounded life. It is the Christian belief of wholeness that encourages the formation of programs that will minister to people in many different aspects of life. These programs are designed to improve relationships, promote goals, and rehabilitation. Relationship Improvements Within the Christian faith marriage is believed to be sacred. The marital vows are taken very seriously. It is not a wonder that marriage counseling is one of the major services offered within the Church. Statistics show that there are just as many divorces among Christians than Non- Christians. The need for marital counseling is at an all time high. It is true that there is...

The majority of people in the United States consider themselves Christian. However, the Christian faith covers a very broad range of denominations with various beliefs, customs, and restrictions. The world view of the Catholic church and that of the Baptist church are as different as the differences between the Baptist church and the Church of Later Day Saints. The aforementioned faiths differ in their view on things such as: family, marriage, sex, salvation, the after life, and general philosophy. The differences between these faiths can be very narrow, or very broad. Family is important to all Christian faiths. But, what each faith expects of their members regarding family is different. The Baptist faith typically avoids taking a stance on birth control,...

Christian, private and public schools alike all have the same basic goal: To educate the world’s youth so that they may grow up to be productive members of society. Christian schools take that basic principal and go even further with it. Christian schools not only educate children and prepare them for society, but also teach them how to be well grounded in Christian-based faiths and embrace their beliefs. This not only gives the students an educational background, but a strong moral compass as well. Christian schools assist students in developing their spiritual identity, bestow in them a sense of community obligation, and teach them how to express themselves in a positive and productive manner. Christian schools come in all shapes, sizes and faiths....

In today’s difficult economic climate, the existence of charities play an integral role in merely getting by for the economically disadvantages. With unemployment skyrocketing, Americans have been forced to re-evaluate our priorities and learn to appreciate what we really have. Studies show the average American has a fraction of the savings we need to be provided for in case of job loss, health issue, or other emergency, and about 85% of middle-class Americans only have the resources to miss three paychecks before losing their homes. For most of us, this is a scary proposition; three paychecks separate a comfortable lifestyle from poverty and homelessness. For those of us who are gainfully employed and surviving the recession, it’s become more...