Christianity is composed of so many sects that it is difficult to make general statements about it. A man named Henry Burton Sharman compiled a book called Jesus as Teacher* in which he placed all the verses from the Bible that could be directly attributed to Jesus. Some Bibles have Jesus's words printed in red. Perhaps this would be a good place to start in defining Christianity, from the words of the great teacher, or Savior, who founded it.
According to his own words, Jesus taught a way of life based on love that would unite all people in the common bonds of brotherhood and orient them to a more exalted state of consciousness in which they would have communion with God the Father. He called humanity back towards the primordial state described in Genesis in which Adam and Eve lived in harmony with each other and with Nature in the original state of paradise.
Also see, Books on Christianity, Sites on Christianity, or our home page, spiritual-paths.com
We have divided these sites into the following categories:
http://www2.evansville.edu/ecoleweb/
Creating a hypertext encyclopedia of early church history on the world-wide web.
The Early Church On-Line Encyclopedia (Ecole) Initiative is a cooperative effort on the part of scholars across the internet to establish a hypertext encyclopedia of early Church history (to the Reformation) on the World-Wide Web.
The site descriptions that follow (until the next divider) are taken from links provided by the United Religions Initiative.
http://www.christianitytoday.comt/
Christianity Today, Inc. site fosters Christian communications, provides abundant Christian content, and affirms Biblical values.
Their purpose is to cultivate an online community that provides Christians with the opportunity to fellowship with one another, to encourage spiritual growth through abundant Christian content, and to communicate the depth and transforming power of the Gospel to all who visit this site.
A fellowship of Churches, now 330, in more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian traditions.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) is an international Christian organization built upon the foundation of ecumenical collaboration, grounded in the ancient prayer of Jesus for unity in his church.
The WCC exists to serve the ecumenical movement by encouraging in its members a common commitment to follow the gospel. It serves so that people everywhere may see the glory of the Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The prayer of the WCC is for the renewal and faithful response of the church in witness and service to the world.
The goal of the WCC is not to build a global "super-church", nor to standardize styles of worship, but rather to deepen the communion of Christian churches and communities so they may see in one other authentic expressions of the "one, holy, catholic and apostolic church".
The Eastern Orthodox Church traces its history back to the beginnings of Christianity at the time of Christ. One of the beatitudes states, "blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Through its various spiritual practices, such as prayer, fasting, vigils, prostrations, study of the scriptures and putting their principles into practice in daily life, and work for the good of mankind, the Eastern Orthodox Church seeks to draw men and women into communion with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
In its long history, it has produced many saints who have demonstrated the high level to which the human soul can ascend through arduous discipline, grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
One of the outstanding seminaries of the Eastern Orthodox Church. They offer graduate theological education programs, retreats, publications, library and internet services, a bookstore, and a continuing outreach program provided by the ministries of its graduates.
This is the home page of the Orthodox Church in America. It contains useful information about Orthodoxy, as well as a directory of churches. Some of the topics covered are: The Orthodox Faith, Questions & Answers, Feasts & Saints of the Orthodox Church, The Local Orthodox Churches, The Orthodox Church in America and its Dioceses, Directory of Parishes, Institutions, and Monasteries
http://the-internet-eye.com/stjohn/default.htm
A web page dedicated to Saint John Maximovitch (1896-1966), considered a saint in his own lifetime. You can download a free program which tells about the lives of hundreds of Orthodox Saints. Tells the life story of Saint John Maximovitch, and presents many of his own writings and personal recollections about him by others. A truly inspiring site.
http://www.gtu.edu/library/LibEChurch.html
A good general site listing the various branches of the Eastern Orthodox church, some other sites containing information and articles, a list of electronic periodicals, and a list of seminaries and other educational resources
A web site featuring short quotes from some of the greatest Saints and teachers of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Also has a link to the Punx to Monks website for Radical Seekers of Truth, directed to youth and featuring the magazine, Death to the World, as well as numerous articles.
The Christianity that we know today arose primarily from the traditions of the early Christian church, the integrating of Christianity into the cultural structure of the Roman Empire when it was finally make the state religion by Emperor Constantine around 312 A.D., and the compilation of the Bible around 397 A.D. But is there an inner side to Christianity? Are there profound teachings within Christianity which have been carried forward in secrecy, hidden in the allegories and symbology of the Bible? These are question difficult to answer with any degree of certainly. However, there have been a number of people who have approached the teachings of Christianity from a more practical, even scientific standpoint, and have tried to bring forward the most useful aspects of these inner teachings. We will include some books and web sites that address these issues.
The Unity School of Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus and the healing power of prayer. Our three main areas of service are prayer, publishing and education. Unity School of Christianity is a center of spiritual light for people of the world. We are dedicated to letting this light shine so brightly that people become more aware of their spiritual nature and express it in their daily lives. We address physical, mental, and emotional needs through affirmative prayer and spiritual education. We serve those who seek inspiration and prayer support as well as those who use Unity teachings as their primary path of spiritual growth.
http://www.daskalos.org/us.htm
Welcome to A System for the Research of Truth: An Esoteric Christian exploration of the 'breadth, and length, and depth, and height' (Eph. 3:18) of life and consciousness. The System was founded over 70 years ago by the late Dr. Stylianos Atteshlis of Strovolos, Cyprus. Up until his passing in August of 1995, Dr. Atteshlis, known to his students as 'Daskalos', and to the world as 'The Magus of Strovolos', taught thousand and helped heal scores in the name of the Christ Logos and the Holy Spirit.
Buddhist, Hindus, Suffis, Gnostics, Essenes, and Rabbis called him a friend and a brother. Yet he was most at home with the Archangels and above all, the Beloved Joshua Emmanuel the Christ. For Daskalos (Greek for 'teacher'), was a Christian Mystic, whose life-long passion was to shed light on the path of Inner Christianity. He invited his listeners to explore the 'gardens of the other faiths,' but insisted that should we dust off our bibles, befriend the Gospels, and enter the most glorious gardens of 'kingdoms within'. For the Bible, asserted Daskalos, is primarily a spiritual guide, rich with mysticism, and complete in its teachings. Daskalos spoke of the compassionate God, and a most loving Son, and a path of promise and of peace.
http://members.aol.com/lcatholic/index.htm
The Liberal Catholic Church is one of thirty or more Catholic Churches in the world which are independent of Rome, such as the Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Old Catholic, etc. It teaches the Christianity of the Christ and administers the seven Sacraments which are regarded as channels of His blessing. It is a church wherein there is intellectual and religious freedom and a natural balance between ceremonial worship, devotional aspiration, and scientific and mystic thought.
http://www.qis.net/~daruma/index.html
The Quaker Electronic Archive and Meeting Place is a general-purpose Quaker archive and contains Quaker writings and other documents such as minutes and resource guides, as well as a message board. The archive offers a keyword search function, and links to other sites of interest to Friends.
http://www.imall.com/stores/dsschool/dsschool.html
The Divine Science School is the "thinking person's Christianity" and is a balance of the practical and the mystical. It is immediately useful in 21st century living. Divine Science proceeds in logical steps from a basic belief in an Omnipresent God to a broad understanding of your spiritual identity, inner powers, and Divinely ordained destiny.
All people have an innate desire, whether they recognize it or not, to discover and express the "image of God" within them. The Divine Science School provides on-campus and home study courses for people who are interested in gaining this life-transforming understanding.
We believe everyone is already a member of the church and is just not aware of it as yet. The Universal Life Church will ordain anyone that asks without question of faith, for life, without a fee. Just select "Be Ordained" to complete the process right here on our World Wide Web site. The church has two tenets: the absolute right of freedom of religion and to do that which is right. Anything else within the law is allowed.
As an ordained minister of the church, you too may ordain new ministers. The Universal Life Church will not stand between you and your God and recognizes that each person must choose his own path. Each person in the ULC is free to follow any path as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.