Christianity Outline: Historical Background, Key Principle and doctrines, Current followers, Intolerance, and Key ceremonial practices.

A. Historical Background

1) Jesus's Life

a) Joseph was the legal father of Jesus. According to biblical information, an angel appeared to Mary, a virgin, and alleged to her that she would bear a child who would be the Son of God.

b) Jesus, also called Jesus of Galilee or Jesus of Nazareth, was born in Bethlehem of Judea, about 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) from Jerusalem.

c) Guided by the words of an angel, shepherds came to the birth of Jesus, and knelt in love before the holy child lying in a manger.

d) Wise men made a journey to Bethlehem see Jesus; they followed a bright star that is now called the star of Bethlehem

e) When Jesus was approaching 30 years of age, a prophet appeared, declared the near approach of the lengthy expected Messiah.

f) In order to get ready to be a minister, Jesus set off into the wilderness, for forty days and forty nights, he fasted and resisted temptation.

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Ch...

English: Resurrection of Christ

Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber to b...

After returning, a group gathered of disciples who recognized him as the Messiah (aka Christ) Jesus chose 12 apostles to spread his message, he told them to give up all ties to family and work in order to become the "fishers of men"

g) Followers of Jesus, and Jesus, went through the settlements in Galilee and the countryside surrounding Galilee preaching the message of religious reform and divine love. Jesus preformed miracles and had healing powers. He taught through parables, and told that every person could be saved.

h) Jesus' ministry was opposed by the Pharisees because of his interest in the poor, and because his disapproval of the Jewish society. (Jesus saw that many of the Pharisees followed only the letter of the commandments and forgot the spirit. For this he denounced them). They accused...