Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), d. c.215, Greek theologian. Born in Athens, he traveled widely and was converted to Christianity. He studied and taught at the catechetical school in Ale...

(Encyclopedia) baptism [Gr., =dipping], in most Christian churches a sacrament. It is a rite of purification by water, a ceremony invoking the grace of God to regenerate the person, free him or her from sin, and mak...

(Encyclopedia) evil, antithesis of good. The philosophical problem of evil is most simply stated in the question, why does evil exist in the world? Death, disease, and sin are often included in the problem. Traditio...

(Encyclopedia) Zionites: see Christian Catholic Church. ...

(Encyclopedia) Rufus, in the New Testament. 1 Son of Simon of Cyrene. 2 Christian in Rome. Perhaps the same as 1. ...

(Encyclopedia) liberation theology, belief that the Christian Gospel demands “a preferential option for the poor,” and that the church should be involved in the struggle for economic and political justice in the...

(Encyclopedia) Moro, Aldo älˈdō môˈrō [key], 1916–78, Italian political leader. A lawyer, he entered national politics in 1946, when he was elected to the constituent assembly as a member of the Christian De...

(Encyclopedia) Calixtus, Georgius kəlĭkˈstəs [key], 1586–1656, German Protestant theologian, whose original name was Georg Callisen. He extended the influence of Melanchthon, and sought a basis, such as the A...

(Encyclopedia) Söderblom, Nathan näˈtän söˈdərblo͞omˌ [key], 1866–1931, Swedish churchman, primate of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, archbishop of Uppsala. He was professor of the history of religion and ...

(Encyclopedia) Sønderborg söˈnərbôr [key], Ger. Sonderburg, city (1992 pop. 25,551), Sønderjylland co., S Denmark, on both sides of the Als Sund. The older section of the city is situated on Als Island and is ...