Christianity

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Christianity
Part two of the World Religions
series
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Historical Events

• Christianity arose from Judaism
• Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus
  of Nazareth
• Early Christians were persecuted for their
  beliefs, which led many to worship/gather in
  secret until Constantine I legalized the religion
  in 313.
• Using the formation of the Jewish Diaspora
  (dispersion), Christians were able to reach
  Gentile (non-Jewish) communities, thus spreading
  Jesus philosophy
• Became the dominant religion over the Roman
  Empire by the late 4th century

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Sermon on the Mount
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Subdivisions (Three largest branches of
Christianity)

• Catholicism Distinctive differences include
  special authority of the Pope, ability of saints
  to intercede on behalf of believers, the concept
  of Purgatory (purification of the elect before
  entering heaven), and that bread used in the
  Eucharist (Mass) becomes the true body of Christ
  when blessed by a priest.
• Protestantism (Anglicans are within this
  branch) Emphasizes that Christians can
  communicate directly with God, instead of through
  saints and or priests. Praying directly from the
  heart instead of reciting fixed prayers are
  encouraged. Their theology demonstrates that
  there is justification by grace through faith.
• Orthodoxy Scripture is interpreted by the 7
  ecumenical councils of the church emphasis is
  placed on the practical and personal experience
  of truth the Holy Spirit is central to worship
  (liturgy begins with prayer to the spirit and
  invocations are addressed to the spirit).

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Pietà (pity)
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Beliefs

• The Eucharist (Holy Communion or The Lords
  Supper) is the central symbol of the death of
  Jesus on the cross and established the new
  covenant (formal alliance/agreement).
• Jesus resurrection is central to Christian
  belief.
• Jesus is the son of God and represents the
  person that all Christians strive to be like.
• God, is the all-powerful creator and everything
  he created is an expression of his power and
  love.
• The Holy Trinity means that God is the Father,
  the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• Christians follow ten commandments.

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The Ten Commandments (summarized from the Bible)

• You shall have no other Gods before me.
• You shall not make for yourself any carved image.
• You shall not take the name of the Lord your God
  in vain.
• Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Honor your father and your mother.
• You shall not murder.
• You shall not commit adultery.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your
  neighbor.
• You shall not covet your neighbors house, wife,
  etc.

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Resurrection
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Customs and Rituals

• Prayer is a large part of a Christians life and
  can be personal (as a private act) and communal
  (in Church). Prayers are used to thank God for
  his gifts, for forgiveness, and for blessings and
  favors.
• Baptism is an important ritual because it marks
  the beginning of a persons life as a Christian
  and symbolizes the washing away of all past sins.

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Baptism of Jesus
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Facts

• The term Christ originated from the Greek word
  Xristos, meaning the anointed one and is a
  title applied to Jesus to indicate status.
• The term catholic means universal.
• Born again refers to the belief that God
  forgives the sins of all who repent and wish to
  lead a new life.
• The title Pope originated from papa in Latin and
  pappas in Greek, which means father.

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Sacred Texts

• The Holy Bible is the text that Christians use.
  It is divided into two books the Old and New
  Testaments. The Old Testament consists of
  Abrahams relationship with God and the people of
  Israel. The New Testament refers to early
  Christians and their new covenant with God
  through Christ.
• Church services often include a reading (lesson)
  from the Bible.
• Catholic and Orthodox Bibles sometimes include
  the Apocrypha (hidden books), which were written
  between the Old and New Testaments.

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Symbolism

• The fish symbol is a well known icon among
  Christians and non-Christians alike. Some
  scholars believe that it was a symbol used to
  recognize other believers when early Christians
  were persecuted for their faith. When meeting a
  stranger they identified themselves by drawing an
  arc in the sand. If the other person was a
  Christian, they would draw a second arc,
  completing the fish. If the person was not a
  Christian, then the one arc would not reveal who
  they were.
• Alpha and Omega are other symbols used by
  Christians. They are the first and last letters
  of the Greek alphabet, which together signifies
  that God is the beginning and the end.

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Current Events

• Church Works with U.S. to Spare Detention
• Is this Christianity's FIRST church?
• Links available in ppt version

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• Even the least among you can do all that I have
  done, and greater things. Jesus
  of Nazareth

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Resources Available in Holly Library

• The unauthorized version truth and fiction in
  the Bible by Robin Lane Fox
• The Oxford illustrated history of Christianity,
  edited by John McManners
• Science and creationism, edited by Ashley Montagu
• The Western tradition, video, WGBH, Boston in
  association with the Metropolitan Museum of Art
  executive producer, Fred Barzyk
• World Christian encyclopedia a comparative
  study of churches and religions in the modern
  world, AD 1900-2000, edited by David B. Barrett
• The HarperCollins encyclopedia of Catholicism ,
  general editor, Richard P. McBrien
• The Gospel of Judas, DVD, produced by National
  Geographic Television Film produced
  directed by James Barrat written by John
  Bredar, James Barrat

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Bibliography

• Couliano, I Eliade, C. Wiesner, H. (1991).
• The Harpercollins Concise Guide to World
  Religion. Harpercollins Publications
• Pollock, Robert (2002). The Everything Worlds
  Religions Book Discover the Beliefs,
  Traditions, and Cultures of Ancient and Modern
  Religions. F W Publications, Inc.
• Parrinder, Geoffery, Editor, (1971). World
  Religions From Ancient History to the Present.
  The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, Newnes
  Books, 1983.
• Religionfacts website (www.religionfacts.com)

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Image Resources

• Slide 3 http//powerspectaclememory.files.wordpre
  ss.com/2008/10/sermon-on-the-mount.jpg
• Slide 5 http//crazymindseye.files.wordpress.com/
  2008/05/pieta4.jpg
• Slide 7 http//freechristimages.org/images_Exodus
  /Moses_with_Ten_Commandments_Champaigne_1648.jpg
• Slide 9 http//www.whiteheadcarvings.com/images/g
  allery/Resurrection_of_Jesus.jpg
• Slide 11 http//www.christusrex.org/www1/stanzas/
  L51b-Baptism.jpg
• Slide 13 http//samuelatgilgal.files.wordpress.co
  m/2009/09/holy-bible.jpg
• Slide 15 http//z.about.com/d/christianity/1/0/f/
  2/Christian_Fish.png , http//alpha-y-omega.com/u
  sg__iLY6Za5eED87vOzcYzD59iZO2jEh400w400sz1
  2hlenstart7um1tbnidUWdjkEIYLJRdeMtbnh12
  4tbnw124prev/images3Fq3Dalpha2Band2Bomega
  26hl3Den26rls3Dcom.microsoften-us26sa3DN26u
  m3D1
• Slide 17 http//jahdai.files.wordpress.com/2009/0
  4/church.jpg , http//www.saintpetercatholic.com/i
  mages/main-church.jpg , http//www.nytimes.com/ima
  gepages/2009/12/13/nyregion/13indonesians_CA0.html
  , "First Church" article

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• Next in the
• World Religions series
• Hinduism