FOR PEOPLE
AND PLANET
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?.
- Mark 8:36
CHRISTIANITY AND FINANCE
With almost 2.4 billion members and a history dating back more than 2,000 years, Christianity is one of the world’s largest and most geographically diffused faiths. Christianity has had a profound impact on many societies, particularly in the Western world. As well as shaping art, culture and philosophy over the centuries, it led the way in establishing schools and hospitals, championing human rights and campaigning to end slavery. For indigenous peoples, however, the introduction of Christianity is also bound up with the oppression and exploitation of colonialism.
CORE BELIEFS & PRACTICES
Christians believe in a single, eternal, all-powerful God who created everything. Most Christians understand God to exist in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit – the concept of the Trinity.
They believe that God’s universal love is the essential component of his being ('God is love', 1 John 4:8) and that his son Jesus Christ, who lived in present-day Israel in the 1st century AD, took on human form, died on the cross to redeem humanity, and rose again.
Christians follow Jesus's teachings, narrated in the Bible, which comprises the Old Testament (the time before Jesus) and the New Testament (the teachings of Christ). While all Christians share common foundational beliefs, there is huge variety in how the Christian faith is practised in both the key established
Christian traditions (Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches) and the newer traditions of the last 150 years (including Evangelical, Charismatic/Pentecostal, Independent churches).
Christian values often centre on care for the earth, human dignity, and social and economic justice. Because of this, economy and society, in Christian thinking, is measured not by the wealth that is acquired by those who gain most, but by the benefit to those who are disadvantaged, poor, and marginalised.
Christian practices involve prayer, gathering for worship and participating in sacraments (such as Baptism and Eucharist/Communion). Believers are called to love their neighbours, show forgiveness, live righteously, and spread the message of the Gospel.
'Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.'
– Luke 12:33
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KEY ESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination, with 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Catholics recognise the Pope, or Bishop of Rome, as the successor to Saint Peter who was appointed by Jesus Christ ('you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church', Mathew 16:18).
As head of the Catholic Church. the Pope holds power of jurisdiction over the church on faith and moral matters. The Catholic Church has a hierarchical structure with rules and ordinances expressed in Canon law. THE bishopric of Rome, or the Holy See, is its central governing authority.
ORTHODOX CHURCHES
Orthodox Christianity is one of the major branches of Christianity, encompassing a diverse group of autocephalous (self-governing) churches that share a common theological and liturgical tradition.
Orthodox Christianity traces its origins back to the early Christian Church and the apostolic period, but split from the Catholic Church in the Great Schism of 1054. Orthodox churches are mainly found in Russia, Eastern Europe and parts of Africa.
Followers believe Orthodoxy is the true faith. Today there are around 300 million followers worldwide.
PROTESTANT CHURCHES
Protestantism is the second biggest branch of Christianity. It arose in the 16th century following the Protestant Reformation, Christianity's second major division, which sought to reform aspects of the Catholic Church.
There are around 650 million followers globally, around a third of all Christians. Protestantism has a wide range of denominations, each with its own theological emphases, worship styles, and organisational structures. Some well-known denominations include Anglicans, Baptists, Calvinists, Lutherans, Methodists, and Pentecostals.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.,
– 1 John 4:7-12
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?
FaithInvest works with all major faith traditions to promote faith-consistent investing and grow the FCI Movement. We also offer a range of services including supporting faith groups to develop investment policies and guidelines aligned to their faith values; governance and communication; training on faith-consistent investing; and FCI scoring and benchmarking.
SUPPORT US
By donating to FaithInvest, your gift helps us develop the free-to-access tools, programmes and resources needed to support faith groups as across as wide a range of geographies and capacities as possible. We are very grateful for any support you can give us.