Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament of the Bible. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the savior of humanity. Here is an overview of some of the core beliefs of Christianity: God Christians believe in one God who exists as three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. This is known as the Trinity. God is the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and omnipresent creator of the universe. God is love and perfectly good. “For there is one God, and there is one…
Author: Richard Curi
The verse Romans 1:22 states “Claiming to be wise, they became fools.” This verse comes in the midst of Paul’s explanation of God’s wrath against mankind’s unrighteousness and ungodliness. In the preceding verses, Paul argues that although God has made himself known to all people through creation, people have suppressed the truth about God, exchanged the glory of God for images of created things, and did not honor God or give thanks to him. As a result, their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21). Professing to be wise while acting foolishly shows that human wisdom…
The Bible does not use the term “marine spirits,” but it does refer to spiritual forces that oppose God’s kingdom and operate in the “heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Some Bible scholars believe these forces may include spirits that have domain over bodies of water like oceans, seas, and rivers. While the Bible does not provide a definitive list of different types of spirits, it does teach some key truths about spiritual warfare that can help us understand how to respond to evil spiritual forces, including potential marine spirits. The reality of spiritual warfare The Bible affirms the reality of spiritual…
The Comma Johanneum refers to a short passage found in some manuscripts of the First Epistle of John at 1 John 5:7-8. The passage reads: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. The section in bold above, known as the Comma Johanneum, is the controversial part. It explicitly states the doctrine of the Trinity, saying that “there are three that bear record…
Creationism, based on a literal interpretation of the Bible, offers explanations for vestigial organs that differ from evolutionary theory. Here is an overview of the creationist perspective on vestigial organs in around 9000 words: Vestigial organs are defined as body parts that are anatomically present but serve no apparent function. Examples commonly cited as vestigial include the appendix, wisdom teeth, the coccyx, body hair, and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Evolutionary theory considers these remnants of organs that served an ancestral purpose but are no longer needed. Creationism rejects vestigial organs as evidence of evolution. According to the creationist view, God…
The sideways cross, also known as the Saint Peter’s Cross, has been a symbol of Christianity for centuries. But what exactly does it represent and what is its significance? Here is an in-depth look at this unique Christian symbol. The Origin of the Sideways Cross The sideways or upside-down cross is believed to originate from the crucifixion of Saint Peter, one of the most prominent disciples of Jesus Christ. According to tradition, Peter was martyred in Rome during the persecution of Nero in the 1st century AD. He requested to be crucified upside down as he felt unworthy to die…
Axiology is the philosophical study of value. It aims to understand the nature and grounds of value, what things or states of affairs are valuable, and why. The term was coined in the early 20th century from the Greek axios, meaning “worthy,” and logos, meaning “study.” The questions axiology tries to answer include: What is value and what does it mean to say something is valuable or has value? What types of things can have value – is it limited to moral values or does it include other values too, like aesthetic value in art or economic value in prices?…
Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, was a French Catholic nun who lived from 1873 to 1897. She is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church and is renowned for her “Little Way” spirituality which emphasized doing small everyday tasks with great love. She lived a cloistered life in a Carmelite monastery in Lisieux, France and died at the young age of 24 from tuberculosis. She was canonized in 1925 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. Thérèse was born…
Prince Caspian, the second book in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series, contains many powerful Christian themes that point to biblical truths. Here are some of the main Christian themes found in Prince Caspian: Restoration A major theme in Prince Caspian is restoration. Narnia has fallen into a state of oppression and despair under the rule of Miraz. Aslan must restore Narnia to its former glory and freedom. This parallels the Christian idea of restoration – God restoring humanity and creation through Jesus Christ. After the fall, sin corrupted the world, but God promises to make all things new again…
The creation mandate, also known as the cultural mandate, refers to God’s command in Genesis 1:28 for mankind to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” This mandate establishes human beings as God’s representatives on earth, giving them authority and responsibility over creation. There are several key aspects to the creation mandate: Procreation – God commands mankind to “be fruitful and multiply.” This refers to populating the earth through having…