Monday February 5, 2018 Take up Chart from Friday Dialogue notes Time to Work on Assignments
History of Religious Pluralism
The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus speaks of the human condition, where good and bad people, enemies and friends-radically diverse people-live together. He compares the human condition to the farmer s experience of finding weeds among the wheat. He warns his disciples not to try to root out what they consider to be weeds, but live with them until the harvest. In the end, it will all be sorted out. As long as humans live on Earth, they are not to act as judges of others; God is the only judge who knows the truth about others. What does this parable teach about dialogue with others? Find situations around you (such as in your family, school, or neighbourhood) that fits this parable.
The Goals of Dialogue Tolerance: an attitude that recognizes the right of others to think, live, or worship according to their own beliefs Canadians tend to think of ourselves as tolerant people - we leave people alone and don t question them...sometimes not questioning can be seen as refusal to accept differences Dialogue: an interaction, mostly through conversation, with another whose thoughts, life, and worship are different.
Christianity and Evangelization Evangelization: comes from a Greek word meaning to proclaim good news. It refers to the Church s mission to bring the good news of Jesus and his love to people in places where the Gospel has not been heard before or where it has been forgotten. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the writers of the Gospels, are called evangelists for the same reason.
The Great Commission Jesus gave his disciples the great commission: All authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Christianity and Evangelization Jesus was the incarnation of God - meaning that the One God was Trinitarian (three persons): Father, Son, and Spirit. Jesus revealed who God was by showing people a God who healed people, loved the poor, raised the dead, and set people free. The disciples felt compelled to proclaim what they had witnessed.
Christianity and Evangelization The issue with evangelization, was that spreading the message of Jesus was dangerous because it did not fit with the time period People in the Roman Empire felt threatened as they worshipped the emperor
Christianity and The Roman Empire 1st Century Outreach done by the disciples following the examples of Jesus 3rd Century Great scholars joined the Christian movement and were able to translate the Christian message into Greek philosophy 2nd Century Preachers and healers went to cities of the empire. People were drawn to Christianity because of its focus on love, acceptance, etc. 4th Century Christianity was declared the sole legal religion of the empire
5th Century Christianity filled the void when the Empire collapsed. Bishops became civil leaders, judges, and rulers in the West. In the West, where Byzantine Empire ruled, Church was closely allied to power of the court. 1500-1950 Separation caused by Protestant Reformation. Some groups broke away from the church because they wanted major changes or reforms to the church. These groups became known as Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Anabaptist, etc. Christopher Columbus discovered new land with inhabitants and European Christians felt it was their duty to make these people Christians and show them the truth about God. 600-1500 Christianity became the dominant religion of Europe. Most evangelization was the work of monks who set up monasteries across Europe. 1950 - Present The age of dialogue: Church believed condemnation was not the way, but rather, dialogue. The Church realized there are worthy elements to other religions, socio-economic development, salvation in this world as well as the next, and focus on the community and society, rather than just the individual.
1. How do world events and media hurt our chances for positive dialogue? 2. Why is interfaith dialogue important?
Section Review 1. Explain what Jesus meant when he gave his disciples the great commission. (pg. 13) 2. Describe how the disciples carried out the great commission. (pg. 13) 3. Summarize how the Church began to change its approach to other religions after 1950. (pg. 19) Checking for chart and reflection completion. Questions due at the end of class.