Christianity adapted from Molloy, ch. 8,

1
Christianity (adapted from Molloy, ch. 8, H.
Smith, The Worlds Religions, ch. 8)

• emerged from the Jesus movement within Judaism
  at a time of great turmoil
• Recall destruction of the Temple in 70 c.e.
• Some important concepts that will be important
  for understanding the essence of Christian
  belief
• Incarnation
• Resurrection
• Atonement
• Trinity

2
Jesus of History

• Jesus was part of Roman-dominated Jewish world
  life, works, teaching, death resurrection take
  place within a historical context marked by
  strategies of resistance
• Sadducees
• Pharisees
• Essenes
• Zealots
• (see the description of each of these in the
  chapter on Judaism)
• Jesus probably was most closely aligned with the
  approach of the Pharisees, though he disagreed
  with the narrowness of their vision. He stressed
  instead that Gods compassion was for all.

3
Jesus of History

• The Spirit of the Lord is upon me - Stands
  clearly in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets
  as conduits of contact between God (YHWH) and
  Gods people calling for covenant faithfulness
  and renewal.
• He expelled demons, healed, and worked wonders
  the power of God was manifest in him to those who
  followed him. Yet, this was not uncommon .
• Jesus stood out because of his desire to heal all
  humanity. He announced that Gods reign begins
  here and now YHWHs compassion is available to
  all and will work in and through all.
• Jesus wider vision got him executed.

4
The Teaching of Jesus

• Jesus taught Torah (the Commandments more)
  covenant faithfulness
• His invitational style was arresting see
  things differently ? life will be transformed
• Beatitudes (Matt. 5) antitheses youve heard
  it said in the past , but I say to you See
  the rest of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 57)
• Other teaching, particularly the great
  commandment (see Luke 10)
• Also, see Jesus command of Love - John 13 15
• Reiterated in other forms, e.g., by Paul in 1
  Corinthians 13 or Galatians 5

5
Christ the Christ-people (Christians)

• Christ of Faith
• Followers saw that he lived what he taught
• A man in whom the human ego had disappeared his
  life conformed to the will of God so as to make
  God transparent in him.
• Even more, they believed that he lives in spite
  of death he has transformed life AND death.
• Jesus apparent end was really the beginning
• Apostles Preaching absent Jesus / present
  Christ
• Paul early churches
• gospel ? Gospels (good news)

6
Christianity - Sacred texts

• The Old Testament
• The Septuagint
• The New Testament the early Christian literature
  
• Gospels
• (synoptic gospels) Matthew, Mark, Luke
• John
• Acts of the Apostles (Lukes Volume 2)
• Epistles (Letters)
• 13 attributed to Paul
• 8 others 1-2-3 John, James, Jude, 1-2 Peter,
  Hebrews
• Apocalypse (Revelation)

7
The Mystical Body the Church

• Christians are in-corp-orated into Christ
• Paul 1 Corinthians 12 the body
• Gospel of John 15 the vine the branches
• Those joined to Christ share in his life, here
  and beyond death
• As a human institution in history, the Church is
  always imperfect and flawed
• As the place where the spirit of Christ dwells, a
  perfect communion of saints

8
Essential concepts

• Incarnation
• Resurrection life in/beyond death
• Atonement
• Two understandings
• Payment of debt
• Reconciliation love beyond confines of ego
• Trinity Gods essence is relationship
• Christian experience of God ? theology of God

9
Christianitys Main Divisions

• Broad historical view
• 313 tolerated by Constantines Edict of
  Milan by the end of 4th century official
  religion of Roman empire
• 1054 the great East-West schism
• 1517 Protestant Reformation
• Late 20th-21st century an age of ecumenism

10
Roman Catholicism

• The Church as
• Mediator
• Teaching authority
• Sacrament
• Principle of sacramentality
• Seven Sacraments
• Community

11
Eastern Orthodoxy

• Formal split over filioque controversy
• More concerned with conservancy and continuity of
  teachings of early councils than with development
  of doctrine (as in West).
• Christ as icon of God
• Human being shares in this image
• Strong corporate view of church
• Strong emphasis on mystical
• Christ leads way to transformation (resurrection)
• Less emphasis on atoning death for sin (pay the
  debt)

12
Protestant Christianity

• 1517 Martin Luthers 95 theses
• John Calvin
• Henry VIII of England
• Justification by faith (sola fide)
• Centrality of Bible (sola scriptura)
• The Protestant Principle

13
The Christian Year - The Liturgical Cycle

• Advent
• Christmas
• Lent
• Easter
• Pentecost
• Ordinary Time

14
Christian Sacraments

• Baptism
• Lords Supper Eucharist Communion
• Some churches include other sacraments
• Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Orders,
  Anointing
• (or treat them with great significance)
• Sacramentals pious objects/actions