Christianity, at its core, is centered on the belief in one God who created the world and loves humankind deeply. This belief system is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, who lived approximately 2,000 years ago in what is now Israel and Palestine. The central event in Christianity is not viewed as a “human sacrifice” in the way the term is often understood, but rather as the voluntary offering of Jesus Christ Himself, who is considered both fully divine and fully human, to bring about reconciliation between God and humanity.

The concept of Jesus’ death and resurrection is foundational to Christian faith. It is seen as the ultimate act of love and redemption, a fulfillment of God’s plan to restore a broken relationship with humanity due to sin. The New Testament presents Jesus’ crucifixion as the willful and self-giving act of the Son of God. For instance, John 10:18 quotes Jesus saying, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” This passage highlights the belief that Jesus’ death was not a meaningless tragedy but was foretold in the Hebrew Scriptures and served a divine purpose.

Christianity, therefore, is understood by its followers not as a cult centered around a human sacrifice, but as a faith based on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This event is seen as God’s loving action to redeem and save humanity, offering forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life with God. The term “cult” typically connotes a religious practice or group that is considered unorthodox, secretive, or controlling, which contrasts with Christianity’s global presence, historical openness, and its teachings on love, freedom, and dignity.