Evangelicals are theologically conservative Protestant Christians. Unlike many religious groups, Evangelicals are not defined by a single creed, liturgy, leader, or organizational structure. Rather, they come from a broad variety of churches and congregations all over the world and share a set of basic religious commitments and ethical sensibilities.
Arguably, what most defines Evangelicals is their shared devotion to living under the authority of the Bible, the necessity of a decisive conversion (being ‘born again'), the atoning work of Jesus on the cross, the responsibility of sharing the "good news" of God's forgiveness of sin, and the essential importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer, worship and private Bible reading.
Evangelicalism traces its roots to Jesus of Nazareth. The term "evangelical" derives from the Biblical Greek word for "good news" or "gospel," and Evangelicals look to the New Testament accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and the evangelistic ministries of his disciples as the origin of their movement. The Protestant Reformers referred to themselves and their churches as "Evangelical" in order to emphasize their commitment to the gospel message. In the past two centuries, there have been recurring movements, first among Christians in the West, and now, Christians in the global South, to affirm themselves as Evangelical, with an emphasis on the Bible, conversion and relevant cultural engagement through evangelism and mission.
Patheos.com is the premier online destination to engage in the global dialogue about Evangelicalism and explore and experience Evangelicalism in comparison to the world's other faiths and religious practices. Patheos is unlike any other online religious and spiritual site and is designed to serve as a resource for those looking to learn more about different belief systems, as well as participate in productive, moderated discussions on some of today's most talked about and debated topics. At Patheos, Evangelicals will get material that is confessional; critical and often in dialogue with other traditions in their world. Evangelical conviction will be the basis of the conversation with other traditions.
The Evangelical Gateway at Patheos is a place to:
• Explore Evangelical beliefs and histories through a deep library of accurate, balanced information on Evangelicalism, as well as through unique interactive lenses that allow visitors to compare, contrast and explore religions and belief systems in new and innovative ways.
• Enrich the global dialogue on religion and spirituality through responsible, moderated discussions on critical issues in Evangelicalism and across religious traditions in the site's unique Public Square.
• Experience Evangelicalism, both online and off, through a variety of multimedia applications and online directories.
• Engage in intra-faith discussion through the Evangelical portal, also called a Gateway, designed to provide a forum for discussion and public interaction.
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