This set of articles examines the subject of Christianity as I understand it after reading and studying the Bible over a period of some five decades, much reflection and consideration over that time, discussions with others, numerous resources (which I've noted when I can recall the source), and a fair amount of actual practice. My goal is to explain what Christianity is, in simple laymen terms, for those who wish to understand it better. This is not intended as an evangelistic tool (I am not an evangelist), but as informational.

There are many traditions, groups, and doctrines that have developed over the last 2,000 years and I am sure that there will be those whose view of Christianity differs from mine, so I don't want to imply that I am giving you an unbiased, holistic and/or thorough overview of the subject matter. But I am non-sectarian, so you will be getting my honest personal beliefs on the subject. At the same time, I must divulge that I operate within an American Protestant background which undoubtedly colors my viewpoints. But I have considered areas of difference with other traditions, and even within the American Protestant world I have been forced to consider a great many conflicting ideas and teachings. As a result, I've made every effort to try to discern the most meritorious of these arguments, sometimes changing my mind when I realized that I was wrong. Perhaps more useful is the ability I've learned to live with uncertainty on minor issues. There are some things which I have been unable to resolve and have to admit that I simply "don't know", despite how dogmatic some are in those regards. However, I can confidently say that all of the most important concepts and doctrines of Christianity offer no such veil of inconclusion. God has made the essentials so clear that even a child can grasp them. In those less-important areas where I am aware of different viewpoints, and I feel that I understand them adequately, and where it will not bog down the article text, I will try to include references to these other views. However, I'm not intending to create a comprehensive comparison of the doctrines of different Christian traditions or world religions.

My plan is to explain things in a logical, step by step, fashion - avoiding the use of terms that may be unfamiliar to the average person (or else defining them as I go). Although this is an exercise in explaining what I believe, I will try to include the reasons why I believe it. Each article is built on the foundation of the preceeding articles, especially the first 11. Reading them out of sequence will leave out a lot of context since each article can't include a review of every point made previously. So, in the interest of avoiding misunderstandings, I advise not skipping around so that everything will be understood in its proper context.

I will be adding articles as I have time, but I am on no fixed schedule. I hesitate to even guess how often I'll write. But hopefully, what is here now will answer some questions that people outside of (or new to) the faith may have. I may occasionally go back and update an article, but such updates are minor.

Although I'm confident that I've got the most important points right, I am always learning (sometimes unlearning or relearning) details. I am not a theologian, or a seminary professor, or a member of the clergy. If you want well-thought-out and detailed deep dives into the subject matter, you ought to check out the writings of such individuals as Deitrich Bonnhoffer, Watchman Nee, St. Augustine, Jonathan Edwards, Richard Baxter, John Calvin, Martin Luther, CS Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke, and many others. With me, you are getting the "Reader's Digest" version.

Finally, I want to emphasize that there is almost certainly nothing herein that hasn't been stated in the past by others, and in more detail. More than once, sometime after publishing an article that I thought contained a novel thought, I've run across someone who had stated the same before I had even conceived the article. It shouldn't surprise me (or anyone else) given that much smarter people than I have considered these topics over the last two thousand years. The only claim to originality I have is in my own style of presenting information and the particular logical progression I have used. An even that is, as far as it is effective, entirely due to endowments from our Creator. To Him be the glory.