Evangelical

The term 'evangelical' is not well-defined, and does not have a universally accepted meaning. The name was originally used to refer to those faith groups that followed traditional Christian beliefs, in contrast with two other movements: philosophical rationalism and legalistic Christianity. It is now normally used to refer to a major portion of the conservative 'wing' of Protestant Christianity.

Evangelicals tend to take very conservative views on social matters, such as access to abortion and equal rights for gays and lesbians. Many Evangelical congregations serve parishioners who are mainly of a single race. Fundamentalists comprise the most conservative wing of Evangelicalism. Most Evangelicals tend to be less anti-scientific and less literal in their interpretation of Biblical passages than are Fundamentalists.

Evangelicals generally believe in the historical doctrines of the Christian church:

• The original writings of the Bible, were inerrant (without error).
• God exists as a Trinity, consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Incarnation: that God appeared on earth in human form, as Jesus.
• Jesus Christ was born of a virgin.
• Resurrection: that after Jesus' death and burial, he arose again.
• Second coming: that Jesus return to earth is imminent.
• Heaven and Hell exist; the former is a place of eternal reward; the latter is a place of never-ending torture without mercy or any hope of cessation.
• Satan is a created being, was once an angel but is now an all-evil tormentor of humanity.
• Regeneration of the spirit: that a new believer undergoes a spiritual rebirth.
• Atonement: that through Jesus' death, the relationship between God and Man (which had been damaged by Adam and Eve's sin) has been restored.
• Justification: an act of God in which any person who accepts that they have sinned and who believes in the atonement of Christ is forgiven of their sins and brought into a close relationship with God.
• Salvation is attained by repentance of one's sins and trusting Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
• Inspiration: that the authors of the Bible were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

There are many additional beliefs regarded as important by various Evangelical organisations. Some Evangelical institutions refuse to hire faculty who believe that women should be eligible for ordination.