>>I guess that Mother Teresa comes closest, at least in modern times, to being a well known example of practising Christianity as it is intended.
>
>And what were the intentions of Christianity, in your own words?
>
SNIP

The intentions of Christianity as I learned/understand it (mainly through listening and very modest reading of the Bible) could be summarized as (in no particular order):
- be respectful of all people and all things
- be honest in all that you say and do
- be a good example
- believe that Jesus has prepared the way for me
... and when I die I will be in Heaven. I understand Heaven to be a place free of want or worry or despair and a place where I will meet up with others who matter to me.

I don't feel any need to "promote" any of this to others.
I don't feel any need to argue any of this with anyone.
I don't feel that this is superior to anyone else's beliefs.
I don't feel that every word of the Bible is verbatim truth and so I don't let apparent conflicts between its words and scientific theories worry me at all. I don't even let apparent conflicts among its own passages worry me. I rely on the message as a whole rather than particular extracts.

I also intend this to be the first and last time that I write this personally on my views of my religion.