War inevitably turns people’s thoughts to the most important questions about life and death. Does life have any meaning or is it just a battle for survival? Is death the end?
It is central to Christian belief that when anyone in the world, no matter what their circumstances or religion, cries out to God, he hears and responds.
To follow Jesus requires faith. It is not possible to prove that God exists. But those who make a conscious decision to follow Jesus actively find that their lives are immeasurably improved by going through it in the company of the living God.
Those who take prayer to heart do not see it simply as a series of requests that God will change the world in the way they personally want. Rather it is an active way of participating in the working out of God’s plan for the world.
Scientific study accelerated during the 18th century. Alongside it came an energetic faith in the logical power of ‘reason’. Hope grew that the more humans could comprehend, the more their knowledge could be made to benefit the world.
The Roman Catholic Church experienced a turbulent period, from which it emerged revived. Pope Pius IX oversaw the loss of huge areas of Italy over which he was effectively king. At one point he was forced to flee Rome in disguise. When he returned it was to the tiny city-state within the city called the Vatican.
In the early years of the 20th century a movement began in Los Angeles which had a dramatic impact worldwide. In local churches events were taking place which seemed like those in the very first church in Jerusalem after Pentecost. Christians were speaking ecstatically in unknown languages (‘tongues’). Healings were taking place in ways that could not be explained by medicine. This was happening in response to prayers for the Holy Spirit of God to work in powerful ‘charismatic’ ways.
The most telling feature of world Christianity in recent decades has been the move away from a hierarchical church, dominated by priests, to one where the whole people of God together form the church. This was evident when Pope John XXXIII called the world’s Roman Catholic leaders together in 1962 for the second Vatican Council.
The Christian church is divided into many different groups, called denominations. Over the centuries different denominations have not had a good record of respecting each others’ differences.
During his final days on earth Jesus prayed that his disciples would be united. That unity has proved elusive, which means there are many different ways of living and worshipping as a Christian throughout the world.
There are about two billion Christians worldwide, and together they make up one church. However, they are gathered into groups which have slightly different practices and beliefs.
War inevitably turns people’s thoughts to the most important questions about life and death. Does life have any meaning or is it just a battle for survival? Is death the end?
It is central to Christian belief that when anyone in the world, no matter what their circumstances or religion, cries out to God, he hears and responds.
To follow Jesus requires faith. It is not possible to prove that God exists. But those who make a conscious decision to follow Jesus actively find that their lives are immeasurably improved by going through it in the company of the living God.
Those who take prayer to heart do not see it simply as a series of requests that God will change the world in the way they personally want. Rather it is an active way of participating in the working out of God’s plan for the world.
The Christian church is divided into many different groups, called denominations. Over the centuries different denominations have not had a good record of respecting each others’ differences.
During his final days on earth Jesus prayed that his disciples would be united. That unity has proved elusive, which means there are many different ways of living and worshipping as a Christian throughout the world.
There are about two billion Christians worldwide, and together they make up one church. However, they are gathered into groups which have slightly different practices and beliefs.
Scientific study accelerated during the 18th century. Alongside it came an energetic faith in the logical power of ‘reason’. Hope grew that the more humans could comprehend, the more their knowledge could be made to benefit the world.
The Roman Catholic Church experienced a turbulent period, from which it emerged revived. Pope Pius IX oversaw the loss of huge areas of Italy over which he was effectively king. At one point he was forced to flee Rome in disguise. When he returned it was to the tiny city-state within the city called the Vatican.
In the early years of the 20th century a movement began in Los Angeles which had a dramatic impact worldwide. In local churches events were taking place which seemed like those in the very first church in Jerusalem after Pentecost. Christians were speaking ecstatically in unknown languages (‘tongues’). Healings were taking place in ways that could not be explained by medicine. This was happening in response to prayers for the Holy Spirit of God to work in powerful ‘charismatic’ ways.
The most telling feature of world Christianity in recent decades has been the move away from a hierarchical church, dominated by priests, to one where the whole people of God together form the church. This was evident when Pope John XXXIII called the world’s Roman Catholic leaders together in 1962 for the second Vatican Council.
