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?
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.
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.
God calls Christians to oppose racism or prejudice of any kind. Over the centuries Christians have led campaigns to establish rights for minorities and groups who are oppressed because of their race or ethnicity.
Christians have a very positive view of sex. The Bible begins with the ancient story of Adam and Eve. In it a man and woman enjoy their naked bodies and God takes delight in them having sex.
It is love that makes death so awful. It is the fact that you truly love someone that means you grieve when they have left life behind and left you behind.
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?
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.
God calls Christians to oppose racism or prejudice of any kind. Over the centuries Christians have led campaigns to establish rights for minorities and groups who are oppressed because of their race or ethnicity.
Christians have a very positive view of sex. The Bible begins with the ancient story of Adam and Eve. In it a man and woman enjoy their naked bodies and God takes delight in them having sex.
It is love that makes death so awful. It is the fact that you truly love someone that means you grieve when they have left life behind and left you behind.
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.
