Christianity
Question 2. Three current issues that are of importance to humans around the globe
Global issues range from social, political, economic and environmental and they affect the entire humankind in spite of religion, ethnicity or race. Overpopulation is one of the current calamities that affects the wide scope of humanity. Human overcrowding is caused by the imbalance between the human population and the environment. The world population is currently estimated at 7 billion which is six times higher than in the 18th century. Overpopulation results in several adverse consequences such as environmental pollution, conflict and wars, decrease in water supply and depletion in natural resources. As a result, the world is at the forefront in sensitizing people against overpopulation to save the entire race of humanity from this scourge.
Unfortunately, some of the methods that are suggested to aid in curbing overpopulation contradict with the faith of Christianity in relation to the biblical context. For instance, overpopulation can be regulated if the public embraces family planning methods. On the contrary, some Christians believe that it is a religious duty to fill the earth through reproduction; hence, family planning is against their faith. In reference to the Bible, when God created the earth, he ordered Adam, the first man according to Christians, to go and fill earth; therefore, regulating the number of children they bear is considered an individualistic act. On the contrary, overpopulation is a global plight that the world should embrace any measures to curb this problem.
On the other hand, mass media has raised many concerns regarding the content aired on the media platform. Clerics and top religious officials have come into the limelight to blame the media and the internet for corrupting the morality in the society. In fact, this issue presents an ethical dilemma in the community because the media contributes largely in influencing the viewers. Conversely, media acts as a link between people due to its participation in conveying information from one point to another. The world attributes globalization to the presence of media and the internet since they play a vital role in connecting people around the world. Immorality is not only a social aspect, but also a problem that is highlighted in Christianity. In light of this, the clerics are entitled to protecting the faithful from being exposed to immorality in the society. As a result, the media experiences fierce criticism from Christians’ leaders and faithful for spreading immoral content in the society. However, Christians should not dispute media in a general context because there are important aspects, such as education, associated with the media; therefore, they should deter their flock from explicit content.
The third global issue includes the global diversity in religions and different faith conflicts. Christians, and other religion faithful, have been made susceptible to being religion protégés. The zeal to cling to a certain religion ideologies and despise the others affects the diversity in worship. This issue affects Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Jews among other religious followers. Religious extremists have a high chance of contributing to conflict escalation and interfering with international relations. With the presence of numerous religions, it is very difficult to justify the flexibility of religion diversity. Each religion compromises the other leading to hatred and misconception against one another. Christianity conflict is increasingly apparent especially against the Muslim counterparts in the view that they contribute to terrorism escalation. Muslim on the other hand retaliate by despising Christianity accusing them of insubordination hindering good relations among the religions. Therefore, Christian should embrace love to the neighbors abundantly in spite of their beliefs as stipulated in the bible.
Question 3. Core beliefs of Christianity
Christians identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ the son of God; hence, their behaviors are attributed to His teachings recorded in the New Testament in the Holy Bible. One of the most important concepts is that Jesus Christ descended on earth and died on the cross, crucifixion, and He rose on the third day, the resurrection. The major belief that delineates from the crucifixion and the resurrection is that God sent Jesus to save humanity from its sins. According to Christianity, the world was filled by sinful nature that was displeasing to the Almighty until He sent His son as a symbol of redemption to His people. The death and resurrection of the Christ reflects in today’s Christians lives because they believe unless a person is baptized and denounces sins, he or she cannot share the eternal life promised in the Holy Scriptures. Christians regard Jesus’ death as a substitution sacrifice because He died for every person in the world. Traditionally, salvation was represented through baptism where an ordained person could baptize people with water as a sign of new beginning of life as followers of Christ. Additionally, they believe salvation is free and remains the only link to eternal life after death. Secondly, Christians believe in a supreme being who is God and that there is only one God in the entire universe. They believe that he exist in Holy Trinity that comprises God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God is all-powerful, omnipresent and omniscient that he knows everything.
The third belief in Christianity is that Jesus Christ will return to the earth during the final judgment day. After resurrection, Jesus is believed to have rapture into heaven after completion of his earthly mission; however, Christians allege that there is a second coming of Jesus Christ. The sacred texts describe Jesus second coming as the end to humanity as each person will be held accountable of his or her deeds on earth. It is believed that the dead will rise again to meet with the savior. Christians believe that those who will be found sacred will go to heaven while the others will burn in hell until eternity. Hell is a place of punishment for those who failed to denounce their sinful nature and to recognize Jesus Christ as their savior.
Christians assert that the intense afflictions and struggle endured on earth will eventually pay off during the second coming of the Christ. He is associated with freedom and power to remedy his people, which were manifested when he resurrected from death. Christianity involves following the teachings of Jesus Christ and it teaches the followers that God is the most Supreme Being in the entire universe. Similarly, the second coming of Jesus Christ is predestined as one of the paramount essence of being a Christian. The Holy Bible acts as the sacred guidance text to Christians that stipulates all the teachings that Christians should follow. Finally, the above-discussed beliefs have played a key role in defining Christianity.