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References

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	[[Category:Christians\|Christians]]		[[Category:Christians\|Christians]]
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Nick at 09:34, 14 September 2009

2009-09-14T09:34:18Z

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	[[Image:Cross of the Morro do Pai Inácio.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|~~<center>~~[[Christian Cross]]]]		[[Image:Cross of the Morro do Pai Inácio.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|[[Christian Cross]]]]
	A '''Christian''' is a person who adheres to [[Christianity]], an [[Abrahamic]], [[Monotheism#Christian view\|monotheistic]], [[religion]] based on the life and teachings of [[Jesus\|Jesus of Nazareth]], who Christians believe was the [[Messiah]] (the [[Christ]] in [[Greek language\|Greek]]-derived terminology) prophesied in the [[Old Testament]]/[[Hebrew Bible]], and the [[Son of God]].<ref name=BBC>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ataglance/glance.shtml "BBC — Religion & Ethics — Christianity at a glance"], [[BBC]]</ref>		A '''Christian''' is a person who adheres to [[Christianity]], an [[Abrahamic]], [[Monotheism#Christian view\|monotheistic]], [[religion]] based on the life and teachings of [[Jesus\|Jesus of Nazareth]], who Christians believe was the [[Messiah]] (the [[Christ]] in [[Greek language\|Greek]]-derived terminology) prophesied in the [[Old Testament]]/[[Hebrew Bible]], and the [[Son of God]].<ref name=BBC>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ataglance/glance.shtml "BBC — Religion & Ethics — Christianity at a glance"], [[BBC]]</ref>

Nick: Protected "Christian" [edit=autoconfirmed:move=autoconfirmed]

2009-09-14T09:34:07Z

Protected "Christian" [edit=autoconfirmed:move=autoconfirmed]

← Older revision	Revision as of 09:34, 14 September 2009
(No difference)

Nick: New page: [[Christian Cross]] A '''Christian''' is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, [[Monotheism#...

2009-09-14T09:34:00Z

New page: thumb|right|300px|<center>[[Christian Cross]] A '''Christian''' is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, [[Monotheism#...

New page

[[Image:Cross of the Morro do Pai Inácio.jpg|thumb|right|300px|<center>[[Christian Cross]]]]
A '''Christian''' is a person who adheres to [[Christianity]], an [[Abrahamic]], [[Monotheism#Christian view|monotheistic]], [[religion]] based on the life and teachings of [[Jesus|Jesus of Nazareth]], who Christians believe was the [[Messiah]] (the [[Christ]] in [[Greek language|Greek]]-derived terminology) prophesied in the [[Old Testament]]/[[Hebrew Bible]], and the [[Son of God]].<ref name=BBC>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/ataglance/glance.shtml "BBC — Religion & Ethics — Christianity at a glance"], [[BBC]]</ref>

==What is a Christian?==

A wide range of beliefs and practices is found across the world among those who call themselves Christian. The [[English versions of the Nicene Creed in current use|Nicene Creed]] was established in the 4th century as an expression of Christian faith in the face of [[heresy]].<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11044a.htm First Council of Nicaea], ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]</ref><ref name = "Creed">Citation | last= Johnson | first= Timothy | title= The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters | publisher= Doubleday Religion | year= 2003</ref>

A 2007 survey in the [[United States]] identified the following five typical [[United States|American]] categories:<ref name=5kinds>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2007/004/1.19.html "5 Kinds of Christians — Understanding the disparity of those who call themselves Christian in America.] ''Leadership Journal'', Fall 2007. </ref>
* ''Active Christians:'' Committed to attending church, Bible reading, and [[evangelism|sharing their faith]] that [[salvation]] comes through Jesus Christ. They also accept leadership positions in their church.<ref name=5kinds/>
* ''Professing Christians:'' Are also committed to "accepting Christ as Savior and Lord" as the key to being a Christian, but focus on personal relationships with God and Jesus more than on church, Bible reading or sharing faith.<ref name=5kinds/>
* ''[[Liturgy|Liturgical]] Christians'': High level of spiritual activity, mainly expressed by attending and recognizing the authority of the church, and by serving in it or in the community.<ref name=5kinds/>
* ''Private Christians:'' Believe in God and in doing good things, but not within a church context. In the American survey, this was the largest and youngest segment.<ref name=5kinds/>
* ''Cultural Christians:'' Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation. They are the least likely to align their beliefs or practices with biblical teachings or to attend church. They favor a [[universalism|universality]] theology that sees many ways to God.<ref name=5kinds/>

Other countries may not show the same variety, especially where there is active [[persecution of Christians]].

People who have a distinct heritage and come to believe in Jesus may also identify themselves differently. ''[[Messianic Judaism|Messianic Jews]]'' believe that they are a sect of [[Judaism]] and that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and the [[Divinity|Divine]] [[Salvation|Savior]]. They seek to live in obedience to the remaining aspects of the Mosaic Law found in the [[Torah]], see also [[Biblical law in Christianity]].

As the identification of the Messiah with Jesus is not accepted within Judaism, in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] Christians are called ''Notzrim'' ("[[Nazarene]]s"), originally derived from the fact that Jesus came from the city of [[Nazareth]] in [[Israel]].<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=nazarene Nazarene] at Etymology Online </ref> However, [[Messianic Judaism|Messianic Jews]] are referred to in modern Hebrew as יהודים משיחיים (''Yehudim Meshihi'im'').

Among [[Arab]]s (whether Christians, Muslims or belonging to other faiths), as well as in other languages influenced by the [[Arabic language]] (mainly in [[Islam|Muslim]] cultures influenced by Arabic as the [[liturgy|liturgical]] language of Islam), two words are commonly used for Christians: ''Nasrani'' (نصراني), and ''Masihi'' (مسيحي) meaning followers of the Messiah.<ref name="KhaledAhmed">Khaled Ahmed, [http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C02%5C19%5Cstory_19-2-2006_pg3_4 Pakistan Daily Times].</ref><ref name="SOFIR">Society for Internet Research, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005539.php The Hamas Charter], note 62 (erroneously, "salidi").</ref> Where there is a distinction, ''Nasrani'' refers to people from a Christian culture and ''Masihi'' means those with a religious faith in Jesus.<ref name="Tayler">Jeffrey Tayler, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=98dQ39WOoUUC&pg=RA1-PA41&lpg=RA1-PA41&dq=masihi+nasrani&source=web&ots=LESqWUSy43&sig=ABHlcsuLXyO4iZBR2gMP4dnoux8 Trekking through the Moroccan Sahara].''</ref> In some countries ''Nasrani'' tends to be used generically for non-Muslim white people.<ref name="Tayler">Jeffrey Tayler, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=98dQ39WOoUUC&pg=RA1-PA41&lpg=RA1-PA41&dq=masihi+nasrani&source=web&ots=LESqWUSy43&sig=ABHlcsuLXyO4iZBR2gMP4dnoux8 Trekking through the Moroccan Sahara].''</ref> Another Arabic word sometimes used for Christians, particularly in a political context, is ''Salibi;'' this refers to [[Crusades|Crusaders]] and has negative connotations.<ref name="SOFIR">Society for Internet Research, [http://www.sofir.org/sarchives/005539.php The Hamas Charter], note 62 (erroneously, "salidi").</ref><ref>Akbar S. Ahmed, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=kXY9AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=salibi+crusader&source=web&ots=R_6x5wvD-L&sig=iSIt3GH4P7yJg-OrI39idUrO0AA Islam, Globalization, and Postmodernity],'' p 110.</ref>

The word ''Nasrani'' is generally understood to be derived from ''Nazareth''<ref name="KhaledAhmed" /> through the [[Syriac]] (Aramaic). In some areas of the Arab world, tradition holds that it derives from ''nasr'' ("victory"), and means "people of victory" in reference either to early successes of the Christian religion or to the initial Christian Ethiopian support for [[Muhammad]] during his early conflicts in Arabia.{{Fact|date=October 2008}} ''Nasrani'' is also sometimes said to derive from ''[[ansar (Islam)|ansar]]'',{{Fact|date=August 2009}} which means "disciple". The [[Syrian Malabar Nasrani]] or ''Nasranee'' people are a Christian ethno-religious group from Kerala, India, possibly [[Jewish ethnic divisions#South and East Asia|Jewish]] in ethnic origin.

==Etymology==
The word comes from Greek {{polytonic|Χριστιανός}} (''christianos''), from {{Polytonic|Χριστός}} (''christos'') meaning "the [[anointing|anointed one]]."<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Christ Christ] at Etymology Online </ref> In the ([[Greek language|Greek]]) [[Septuagint]] version of the [[Hebrew Bible]], ''christos'' was used to translate the [[Hebrew (language)|Hebrew]] מָשִׁיחַ (''{{unicode|Mašíaḥ}},'' [[messiah]]), meaning "''[one who is]'' anointed."<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=messiah Messiah] at Etymology Online </ref>
{{wiktionary|Christian}}
The first known usage of the term Χριστιανός ''(christianos)'' can be found in the [[New Testament]]: "the disciples were first called Christians at [[Church of Antioch|Antioch]]."{{bibleref2c|Acts|11:26|31}} They were [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] and followers of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]]. The other two New Testament uses of the word also referred to the public identity of the Jews who followed Jesus prior to the adoption of Christianity by non-Jews. The Jewish king said the [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]] had almost persuaded the king "to become a Christian,"{{bibleref2c|Acts|26:28}} at the time meaning the [[Jewish Christianity|Jewish Messianic sect following Jesus]]. The [[Saint Peter|Apostle Peter]] encouraged believers who are abused "because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!"<ref>{{bibleref2|1Peter|4:16|Message|1 Peter 4:16, ''The Message'' paraphrase}}</ref>

The earliest recorded use of the term ''outside'' the Bible was when [[Tacitus on Christ|Tacitus]] recorded that [[Nero]] blamed the "Christians" for the [[Great Fire of Rome]] in [[64|AD 64]].<ref>[http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/tacitus.html Tacitus (c. 55 -117 CE): Nero's persecution of the Christians], online at Washington State University</ref>

"Christian" also means a member or adherent of a church or other organized group within Christianity. As an adjective, the term may describe anything associated with or thought to be consistent with Christianity, as in "the ''Christian'' thing to do."

==See also==
* [[Christendom]]
* [[Christian Church]]
* [[Conversion to Christianity]]
* [[Lists of Christians]]

==References==

[[Category:Christians|Christians]]
[[Category:Christian terms]]

Christian - Revision history

Beza 1598: /* References */

Nick at 09:34, 14 September 2009

Nick: Protected "Christian" [edit=autoconfirmed:move=autoconfirmed]

Nick: New page: [[Christian Cross]] A '''Christian''' is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, [[Monotheism#...