Christianity W O R L D R E L I G I O N S 3 1 0 6
Origins P A G E S 2 6 4-269
Christianity The world s most successful religion Over 2 billion people call themselves Christians (1/3 of the planet) Began as a Jewish sect which spread through the Roman empire
Jesus Born 4 BCE in Judea, a Roman province Hebrew name, Yeshua ben Miriam ( Joshua, son of Mary ) Jesus of Nazareth, a preacher for three years, before being crucified by the Roman authorities Jesus did not write anything down. His followers wrote the new testament
Early Life Christ born in Bethlehem Raised in Nazareth near the Sea of Galilee
Family Life Parents Joseph and Mary Many brothers and sisters Father a carpenter Story of Jesus begins at age 30
John The Baptist Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan by John the Baptist Gospel of Mark: Chapter 1 (the oldest gospel)
Jesus Baptism As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17
Jesus Ministry John the Baptist is arrested Jesus retreats to the desert for 40 days to fast and pray He is tempted by Satan He returns and begins preaching that people must repent to prepare for the kingdom of God
Jesus Ministry For three years Jesus preaches He performs miracles He heals the sick Heads to Jerusalem for Passover
The Last Supper Jesus and the disciples share the Passover meal in Jerusalem
Crucifixion Jesus is arrested Tried for sedition Rebellion against the government Sentenced to death Crucified
Resurrection and Ascension Jesus is raised from the dead Ascends to heaven 40 days after the resurrection
Jesus ascends into heaven 40 days after Resurrection on a mountaintop Ascension
Day of Pentecost Ten days after the Ascension, fifty days after Easter Sunday, Jesus followers meet in an upper room They share a religious experience, Christianity is born They begin to spread Christ s teachings
Pentecost 10 days after Ascension The start of the Christian church.
Documentary Watch the documentary Who Was Jesus? Part 2: The Mission (42:00) Part 3: The Last Days (42:00)
Beliefs P A G E S 2 6 9-2 7 4
Roman Empire Christianity spreads through the Roman Empire Many episodes of persecution and martyrdom
Thrown to the Lions
Council of Nicea By the early 300s, 10% of Roman citizens are Christians Emperor Constantine assembles all the Bishops at Nicea 325 AD They hammer out the Nicene Creed They determine which books will become the bible The Nicene Creed (2:33)
What Christians Believe: The Nicene Creed 325 AD I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
What Christians Believe: The Nicene Creed 325 AD Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
What Christians Believe: The Nicene Creed 325 AD And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Nicene Creed 325-381 AD The fathers of the first council of Nicea 325 A.D.
The Nicene Creed 325-381 AD Pages 270 271 in your text breaks down the Nicene Creed
The Role of Women The Bible supports equality between the sexes Jesus interacted frequently with women in his public life and treated them with high regard The Church grew in societies that were largely dominated by men with women confined to domestic roles Modern Christianity is more open to the equality of women The Salvation Army was the first Christian Church to recognize full status for women in its ministry
Exploring Issues: Human Cloning Task Read pages 272 273 and answer questions 1-3
Practices, Rituals, Symbols & Festivals P A G E S 2 7 5-2 8 3
The Lamb of God Christian Symbols
Christian Symbols Cross, Crown of Thorns, Fish Chi-Rho, Trinity, Dove
Christian Symbols The Alpha and the Omega Also known as the Chi Rho
Christian Symbols The Cross
Catholic Cross (P. 280) Christian Symbols
Christmas and the Epiphany Begins with Advent (four Sundays before Christmas) Most Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25, however many Eastern Orthodox denominations celebrate Christmas on January 7 12 days after Christmas, on January 6, most Christians celebrate the Epiphany, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus
Christian Festivals: Easter Holiest week of Christian calendar. (Dates vary)
Sunday before Easter Sunday. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. His followers spread palm branches in his path. Palm Sunday
Good Friday Crucifixion affixed to the cross Between two criminals INRI posted on his cross Soldiers cast lots for his clothes
The first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Why? Christ s resurrection Easter Sunday (Question: Who discovered the tomb was empty?)
Milestones P A G E S 2 8 4-2 8 9
Baptism Christians believe the act of baptism cleanses their soul and signals the beginning of their Christian lives Early Christianity linked baptism teaching that the sacrament removes the stain of original sin The defiance of Adam and Eve left a spot on each person s soul and baptism reclaims the soul for God by entering the person into the salvation of Christ s death and resurrection Depending on denomination, baptism can take place and infancy or later in life (adolescence or adulthood) as a sign of choice
Holy Communion During the Passover Meal (the Last Supper) Jesus shared with his apostles bread and wine Take and eat; this is my body ; Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26: 26-28)
Holy Communion The Holy Eucharist (1:08) Evolved from a communal meal in a home Bread and wine = body and blood of Christ Transubstantion the host becomes the actual body and blood of Christ
Sacred Writings P A G E S 2 9 0-293
Sacred Writings The New Testament 1. The 4 Gospels 2. Acts of the Apostles 3. Letters to Churches (Epistles) 4. Revelations
Angel, Lion, Ox, Eagle
Written ~80 CE? The Gospels: Matthew Apostle, Jewish tax collector Connects Jesus to Old testament prophecy Has the Nativity story Has the Sermon on the mount
The Gospels: Mark Written ~70 CE? Associated with Paul and Peter The earliest gospel Shortest gospel No Nativity Most of Mark is incorporated in Matthew and Luke
Written ~85 CE? The Gospels: Luke A Greek Christian connected to Paul Well educated, a Physician Has the Nativity story Many stories of healing the sick
The Gospels: John Written ~100 CE? A follower of the apostle John? The Gnostic gospel Gnostic means knowledge More philosophical than the others
Acts of the Apostles Also written by Luke ~70CE Chronicles the missionary work of Peter and Paul in the early years of the church Emphasizes the Holy Spirit
Epistles Earliest works of the New Testament Mostly written by Paul ~ 50s and 60s CE Sent to Christian communities all over the Mediterranean.
Paul s Journeys
John (not the apostle) ~95CE Book of Revelations Written on the Isle of Patmos to The Seven Churches of Asia. Apocalyptic text predicting the imminent end of the world
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Groups and Institutions P A G E S 2 9 6-3 0 4
The Eastern Schism A schism is a break A split between Rome in the west and Byzantium (Constantinople [Istanbul]) in the east There was disagreement within the church The western Church believed that both the Father and Son sent forth the Holy Spirit The eastern Church believed that the power of the Holy Spirit came only from God the Father Handout Newspaper Article
The Eastern Orthodox Church Churches are constructed with a cross-shaped floor plan, meeting under a rounded central roof and are ornately decorated with religious icons The Orthodox service, called the Divine Liturgy, is usually long and very elaborate, focused on rituals established early in Christian history Eastern Churches are led by an Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul In 1965 the patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI met and lifted the excommunications that their predecessors had put in place so long ago
The Eastern Orthodox Church Only men can be Orthodox priests, and they are allowed to have been married before their ordination; however, once ordained, they cannot marry The Orthodox Churches promote monastic (living in a monastery) life for men and women Monastic priests and nuns are not permitted to have been married
The Roman Catholic Church Led by the Pope, who Catholics believe are successors to Saint Peter and hold the huge membership of the Church together In 1870 the First Vatican Council strengthened the pope s authority by making papal infallibility Roman Catholic doctrine
The Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church today is facing a shortage of priests, particularly in industrialized nations Catholic priests must be males and they must remain celibate (abstain from marriage) and chaste (abstain from sexual relations) They have a very strict personal code to maintain in an increasingly secular society Catholic priests cannot marry and are not permitted to be married before becoming ordained
The Protestant Churches With the translation of the Bible from Latin to German by Martin Luther Christianity began to spread across Europe Educated people could now read and interpret the gospels themselves, without the direction of Roman Catholic clerics Orthodox and Roman Churches had always focused on the importance of both faith and works, but Martin Luther introduced a new view that salvation by faith alone turns the expectation of belief inward Knowing God through the study of the Bible became more important than following long-established rituals of worship
The Protestant Churches This brought about the foundation of the Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican and other Christian Churches in the Protestant tradition Protestant Churches include (but is not limited to): The Lutheran Church The Calvinist or Reformed Church The Anglican Church The Baptist Church The Methodist Church (United Church) The Salvation Army The Pentecostal Church The Evangelical Movement The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons) The Jehovah s Witness