Christianity The World s Largest Religion (and arguably the most influential)
Huge Numbers Christianity lslam Hinduism Buddhism Sikh Judaism Other
Great Variety Roughly 50% of all Christians are Roman Catholic Many ( 10%) follow one of the Orthodox traditions (Greek, Russian, other) Most of the rest follow one of the many Protestant religions, among which there is also tremendous variety (over 500 in US)
The name of the religion comes from the title The Christ, meaning the savior, given to Jesus of Nazareth. The religion s very name asserts that Jesus time on earth made possible the salvation of mankind.
Before we begin we must consider our sources A word about the Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John And what historians generally agree on...
Jesus Ministry He became prominent in his early 30s Heralded by John the Baptist Announced that Kingdom of Heaven had arrived Collected Disciples, esp. Simon (Peter), John and James
The Elements of Ministry Parable Themes Who shall be saved? (sower, prodigal, many others) Forgiveness (unmerciful debtor, throw 1 st stone) How shall we act? (Good Samaritan) Miracles Healing, always with Your faith has healed you Walking on water, Loaves and Fishes
The core message The Sermon on the Mount The Beatitudes (anti-intuitives the last shall be 1 st ) You have heard. (more than just right action - right intent, right effort) Salvation (Lay up treasures in heaven; Ask and ye shall receive; Road is hard; Follow not false prophets) The Lord s Prayer (aka Our Father or Paternoster)
The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever
So, briefly, what are his teachings? Love your neighbor as yourself; Love your enemies; turn the other cheek Judge not that ye may not be judged Thou canst not serve both God and Mammon; render unto Caesar that which is Caesar s Blessed are the meek, the poor, the downtrodden
Into Jerusalem After creating a stir in Galilee, Jesus dramatically challenged those in power by Riding into Jerusalem an intentional fulfilling of the prophecies
And turning over the tables of merchants outside a synagogue Into Jerusalem
These actions, coupled with teachings that questioned Levitical rules, show just how schismatic Jesus is.
The Situation Heats Up Authorities seek his arrest, and bribe Judas w/ 30 pieces of silver Anticipating this, Jesus has a Last Supper, at which he establishes the practice that becomes Communion.
Arrest and Conviction After a night of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene, Jesus is arrested, betrayed by Judas kiss
Arrest and Conviction His torment at the hands of soldiers includes being given a crown of thorns
Arrest and Conviction The Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate, gives the crowd the decision on Jesus fate, then washes his hands.
Crucifixion (and, Christians believe, Resurrection) Bore cross through streets Crucified on a Friday (Good Friday) 7 Last Words Sunday morning, visitors to tomb find its stone rolled away Jesus said to have risen from death & walked again among men before ascending to heaven
Central Christian Beliefs Jesus uniqueness Jesus resurrection making possible salvation for others Monotheism (though Doctrine of Trinity) (And saints) Bible as holy book Judgment at death
Central Christian Practices Baptism Communion Celebration of Easter Sunday as Sabbath Conversion available to anyone
Though the first important church leader is clearly Peter.. The spirit descends upon him at Pentacost Among other things, this descent establishes that Kosher laws do not need to be followed by Christians (Acts 10:10-16)
.the most critical role in early Christianity is played by Paul His own conversion experience The Road to Damascus Writes and travels extensively His letters a major portion of New Testament (Romans, Thesselonians, Corinthians, etc.)
Paul s Additions & Modifications Conversion of Gentiles Articulates specific doctrine on many issues including: Faith above (Jewish) law or philosophy Sexuality, marriage (celibacy is preferred, but marriage necessary to guard against temptation) Relationship to authority (obey it!)
Note - Though Jesus lived in Palestine and would have spoken Aramaic And though the writings of the Old Testament are in Hebrew The gospels and Paul s letters were written in the international language of the time: Greek. The word Christ is Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah.
Christianity was born and grew in its early years in the context of the Roman Empire The Empire s brutal persecution of Christians is well known Then came..
Constantine - whose policies manipulate Christian development Conversion after successful battle 313 - Ends persecution of Christians; paves the way for it to become THE religion of the Empire Calls for council of Nicaea to resolve theological disputes with the expectation of achieving unanimity
Nicene Unity The Nicene and subsequent Creeds Jesus as one with Father the full deity of Jesus Christ The Trinity The Catholic (whole world) Church, and its Petrine authority These and other church teachings are reinforced as the law of the Empire Conformity to these becomes the one valid belief
and this sets the tone of one right way that has characterized Western Christianity ever since.
Roman Catholicism Belief The Seven Sacraments as the way to salvation Confidence in the Church and the Pope Beliefs of Nicene Creed Saints Practice Sacraments administered by clergy Communion practiced at every mass Emphasis on confession and penance
Historical Points In the West, The Roman Catholic Church survives Rome s fall and sustains its organizational structure. The Roman Catholic Church is the most powerful POLITICAL entity in Western Europe between 400 and 1500.
Historical Turning Points 1054 - Leadership disputes (rather than doctrinal ones) cause a split between the Roman Church and the various Orthodox churches in the East The church s essentially unlimited power and control in Europe inevitably leads to corruption Successfully challenged by the Reformation (early 1500s more on that later), the church instituted many reforms at the Council of Trent, which also firmed up much liturgy and dogma
Vatican II - 1965 Very recently the Roman Catholic church instituted another major set of reforms, including Allowing mass in the vernacular Turning the priest around to face the congregation Loosening some behavior restrictions (meat allowed on Fridays, for example.)
The Protestant Reformation As mentioned before, there was a successful schism within Western Christianity beginning with a protest by Martin Luther in 1517 This led the way for literally thousands of new sects of (Western) Christianity, known collectively as Protestantism
Early strains of Protestantism Spread Lutheranism Belief & Practice Salvation comes from faith No intermediary; read the Bible Lutheranism spread through Northern Germanic areas (N. Germany, Scandinavia) Belief & Practice Salvation is Predestined Most are damned; hard work is the mark of the saved Spread Calvinism Pockets throughout Europe, esp. England, France, Scotland
Then there s Anglicanism Henry VIII, - concerned that he had no legitimate male heir - emboldened by other Protestant movements Declares himself the head of the Church of England
More Protestantisms branch off from these Branching of Protestantism Lutherans Calvinists Anglicans "Church of England" Anabaptists Puritans England Episcopalians United States Baptists Congregationalists Colonies/US Presbyterians Scotland Methodists England, then US Pentacostals (Assemblies of God, etc.) US, and spreading Quakers England Amish & Mennonite Huguenots France, "low countries" Separate American Christian Denominations emerging in the 19 th Century Mormons, 7 th Day Adventists/Jehovah s Witnesses, Christian Scientists
Religion in the United States Beginnings Constitutional wording The end of Establishment (in England, this led to antidisestablishmentarianism)
Christianity is by far the most common religion in the US Somewhere between 71% and 82% of Americans identify themselves as Christian (depending on how the question is asked.) Of those, a little less than one third 20 to 24% of total population - are Roman Catholic Most of the rest belong to an array of over 500 branches of Protestantism.
OK so how can I wrap my mind around understanding the myriad Christian groups in the US? Here s a possibility, but. a caution: these designations are flawed! Still, they re better than nothing.
One way of categorizing the Major American Protestantisms Liberal Protestants (in general.) Bible is symbolic, metaphorical, elastic, adaptive Less emotive Emphasis on church as a community institution Conservative Protestants (in general ) Bible is literally true, infallible, authoritative, static Emphasis on personal conversion experience Evangelism is a important duty
The Various Groupings of American Protestants Mainline Protestants Evangelical Protestants Other Groups Lutherans Most Methodists Congregationalists Episcopalians Presbyterians Some Baptists Most Baptists Some Methodists Assemblies of God & other Pentecostals Jehovah s Witnesses 7 th Day Adventists Mormons (Church of the Latter Day Saints) Christian Scientists Quakers Amish
What (roughly) is the Religious Makeup of the United States? Roman Catholic Mainline Protestant Baptist Other Evangelical Mormon Other Christian Judaism Islam Buddhist Other
Christianity The World s Largest Religion