hristian Beliefs and Modern History
Let s Break It Down Scriptures Beliefs Denominations Practices
Old Testament v. New Testament Old Testament Basically the TaNaKh or Hebrew Bible New Testament The Four Gospels Epistles- Letters
Christian Beliefs There is only one God God is three in one or a Trinity The Holy Spirit is God Jesus Christ is God Jesus is fully God and fully man Jesus was sinless Jesus' death was a substitutionary sacrifice. He died and paid the price for our sins so that we might live. The Bible is the "inspired" or "God-breathed," Word of God Salvation is a free gift of God There is eternal life after death Salvation is solely believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Trinity Mystery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g2s5zidco0
Church Split in 1054 AD (Great Schism) Roman Catholic Church Rome Papacy Succession Pope Infallible Vicar (substitute for Christ) Eastern Orthodox Church Constantinople Apostle Succession Ecumenical Patriarch Equally as important to other Bishops Not Substitute
Crusades Started by Pope Urban II in 1095 AD Crusade- Holy War Roman Catholic Church saw spread of Islam from Middle East to southern Spain as a threat Also Roman Catholic Church saw Crusades as an opportunity to make money Objective of the war was to reclaim the Holy Land.
Video on Protestant Reformation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o8oielbnxe
Protestant Reformation Roman Catholic Church in 1500s Church had become powerful, wealthy, and corrupt Very involved in all political affairs in Europe People sensed many church abuses
Protestant Reformation Church Abuses Selling of indulgences Indulgences- tickets sold to have less time in purgatory Nepotism Immorality among the priesthood Excessive veneration of the saints Relic Worship
Protestant Reformation Martin Luther Once a successful German lawyer but became a monk and professor at Wittenburg Studied the Bible intensely and came to an important conclusion according to Ephesians 2:8-10 ( 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.) Salvation comes only from faith in Jesus Christ, opposed to the Catholic belief which emphasized in both faith and good works Also Bible has sole authority, not the pope
Protestant Reformation Martin Luther He wanted to reform the church, not start a new one Posted 95 Theses and thousands of copies spread through Germany As result many German princes converted Martin Luther got excommunicated Excommunicate- Banished from the church Lutheran church is formed in most of Germany Thirty Years War erupted
Protestant Reformation John Calvin Led a city wide conversion to Protestantism in Geneva, Switzerland Developed Calvinism Calvinism focuses more on predestination Predestination: Been elected to be saved from the beginning Calvinism spread into France
Protestant Reformation King Henry VIII Was once a devout Catholic King He wrote the Defense of the Faith Used against Martin Luther s teachings. Henry VIII was first married to Catharine of Aragon but she never produced any male heirs. Just one female heir named Mary. He wanted a divorce but the Pope would not grant the divorce to him.
Protestant Reformation King Henry VIII Henry VIII breaks ties with Roman Catholic Church He forms the Anglican Church Church of England King is Head of the church Marries Anne Boleyn, but only has Elizabeth as daughter ( later known as Queen Elizabeth I) Marries another and she bears a son named Edward.
Protestant Reformation Ulrich Zwingli Started in Switzerland Most radical based on belief on Baptism Everyone both Catholic and Protestants stuck with Infant Baptisms Anabaptists completely were against them. Had to be baptized as an adult Radical for believing in separation between church and state Anabaptist- Rebaptizer
Catholic Reformation (Counter Reformation) Council of Trent Scripture and tradition have equal authority Only Roman Catholic Church can interpret Scripture Faith and good works earn salvation Purgatory is a real place Indulgences are ok, but can t sell them.
Changes in the Church First Vatican Council of 1854 Pope Pius IX declared Immaculate Conception Virgin Mary is free from original sin Strengthen idea of Ultramontanism Strongest authority comes directly from the Pope Strong emphasis on spiritual renewal because many people such as Karl Marx, Frederich Nietzsche openly attacked Christianity
Changes in the Church Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965 Started tolerating other churches and reconcile past schisms Enhanced scientific-historical studies of the Bible which were resisted before Galileo Galilei s perspective on the planet s revolve around the sun, not the earth Vernacular languages permitted during Mass. Advanced ideas of freeing people from political and economic oppression.
Christian Holidays Christmas celebrates birth of Jesus Epiphany- Celebrate the day wise men came to Bethlehem Ash Wednesday- 40 days before Christmas Somber reminder of sin 40 Days of Lent- Celebrated through fasting Holy Week Palm Sunday: Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem Maundy Thursday: Celebrate Last Supper Good Friday: Execution and burial of Jesus Easter: Resurrection of Jesus Ascension Day 40 Days after to celebrate Jesus ascension to heaven