Christiaan It

8/15/2019 Christiaan It

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What Is Christianity?What Is Christianity?

A Review of the Essentials

Prof. Felix Just, S.J.


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What Is Christianity?

Introduction:Introduction:Christianity is a major world religion , – A Western! reli"ion #w$ Ju%ais& ' Isla&( – )he largest worl% reli"ion to%ay #*a. + illion(

It is ase% on elief that Jesus of Nazareth isthe Christ ! # -essiah!( ' the Son of God .!

i/e &ost other &a0or worl% reli"ions, Christianityhas several core aspects 1 – I( History & Development – II( Core Beliefs & Practices – III( Structures & Regulations


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I-A: HistoryI-A: History

1) Historical Bac ground!A raha& " Israelites, 2e rews, Jews, 3)

#) Historical $oundation 1Jesus of 4a5areth #crucified ca% D '( ( ' his first %is*i6les$a6ostles

') Historical Development!)ra%ition 6reserve%$a%a6te% +777 years#interplay of ot* old & new" ancient & modern (


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I-B: Branches & SubdivisionsI-B: Branches & Subdivisions1) +ajor C*ristian Branc*es 1

#Eastern( 3rtho%ox, #Ro&an( Catholi*,An"li*an, Protestant, Restorationist, et*.

#) ,rt*odo-" nglicans" Protestants!31 y nation ' lan"ua"e1 8ree/, Russian9A1 y nations1 es6. for&er :ritish *olonies

P1 y lea%ers$theolo"ies1 utheran, Refor&e%9') .roups wit*in Cat*olicism!

reli"ious or%ers ' so*ieties #&onasti*,&en%i*ant, a6ostoli*, et*.(, lay "rou6s


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I-C: DemographicsI-C: Demographics

1) /um er of C*ristians 0orld wide!; + illion in +777< ; ==> of worl% 6o6ulation

#) Su divisions! ill. Catholi*s< @77 &ill. Protestant$An"li*an<

+@7 &ill. 3rtho%ox< +@7 &ill. 3ther

') 2 of Populations!B> Afri*a< B@> 4. A&eri*a< => S. A&eri*a<> Asia< D > Euro6e< B@> 3*eania


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II-A: Foundational e!tsII-A: Foundational e!ts

1) 3*e Bi le1offi*ial *olle*tion of oo/s, in two 6arts1

oth 3l% )esta&ent ' 4ew )esta&ent#) 3*e Creeds 1

short 6rofessions of faith, %efine% y first twoE*u&eni*al Coun*ils1 4i*ea ' Constantino6le

') ,t*er 0ritings 1writin"s of Chur*h lea%ers throu"hout history,es6. foun%ers of or%ers ' %eno&inations


7/15What Is Christianity?

II-B: Core heological Belie"sII-B: Core heological Belie"s #Dogmas & Doctrines$ #Dogmas & Doctrines$

1) ,ne .od in 3*ree Persons 43rinity) 1Father $ Al&i"hty $ Creator

Son $ Jesus $ Christ $ Savior $ or%2oly S6irit $ 8iver of ife $ Para*lete#) 0orld & Humans 1

*reate% y 8o%, in 8o% s i&a"e, with free will<ori"inally "oo%, ut *orru6te% y sin$%eath<

') C*urc*" Salvation" 5sc*atology 1 *o&&unity of elievers< o%y of Christ<resurre*tion of the o%y< eternal life



II-C: Core %thical eachingsII-C: Core %thical eachings #Commandments & recepts$#Commandments & recepts$1) $oundational Principles 1

%o "oo% ' avoi% evil< love 8o%, others, self<

%evelo6 an infor&e% *ons*ien*e!#) Se-ual +orality 1

%ual 6ur6ose of sex< *onsistent ethi* of life<hu&an relationshi6s< *entral role of fa&ily

') Social 5t*ics 1%i"nity of ea*h 6erson< *o&&on "oo%< *are ofthe 6oor$nee%y< wor/, 6arti*i6ation, 6ro6erty


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III-A: Church (rgani)ationIII-A: Church (rgani)ation

1) C*urc*es & Denominations!histori*al %ivisions1 alwaysG es6. 7@ , @ D

ut also reunifi*ations ' &er"ers#) Structures wit* eac* C*urc* 1

in%iv. 6arishes$*on"re"ations, lo*al %io*eses,national *onferen*es, international asso*iations

') 8eaders wit*in eac* C*urc* 1 isho6s #in*l. Po6e, *ar%inals(, 6riests, %ea*ons,lay &inisters< 6astors, el%ers, et*.



III-B: Internal 'egulationsIII-B: Internal 'egulations

1) +em ers*ip 1Who *an 0oin? What is the 6ro*ess?

#evan"eli5ation< *ate*hesis< initiation(#) 8eaders*ip!

2ow are lea%ers *hosen? Who is eli"i le?

') Discipline 1What are &e& ers ' lea%ers o li"ations?San*tions an% 6unish&ents? #Canon aw(



III-C: %!ternal 'elationsIII-C: %!ternal 'elations

1) 5cumenical Relations 1%ialo"ues etween Christian %eno&inations<

ilateral ' international "rou6s #WCC(#) 7nter religious Relations 1

%ialo"ues with other &a0or worl% reli"ions<es6. with Ju%ais& ' Isla& #histori*ally *lose(

') C*urc*6State Relations 1*oo6eration or tensions with 6oliti*al, so*ial,e*ono&i*, an% other se*ular institutions?



'%*I%+'%*I%+ 7% History & Development

2istori*al Foun%ations ' Hevelo6&ent:ran*hes, Hivisions, He&o"ra6hi*s

77% Core Beliefs & PracticesFoun%ational )exts1 :i le, Cree%s, et*.Central )ea*hin"s1 )heolo"i*al ' Ethi*alCo&&on Pra*ti*es1 itur"i*al ' S6iritual

777% Structures & Regulations3r"ani5ation, ea%ershi6, -e& ershi6Internal Rules< External Relations



Final %!am:Final %!am: Essay QuestionsEssay Questions( What are the *ore eliefs an% 6ra*ti*es of Christianity? #What

is *o&&on to all 3rtho%ox, Catholi*, an% Protestant ns?(+( What are so&e of the &ost i&6ortant %ifferen*es in theolo"y

an% 6raxis etween 3rtho%ox, Catholi*, an% Protestant ns?

=( What was #an% still is( the i&6a*t of the Se*on% ati*anCoun*il on Christianity # oth the Catholi* Chur*h an% others(?

( Hes*ri e the ty6i*al 6ro*esses of Christian Initiation #:a6tis&KConfir&ationKEu*harist(? Hifferen*es for 3rtho%ox, Catholi*s,Protestants? Hifferen*es for infants vs. a%ults in Catholi*is&?

@( Hes*ri e the wi%e variety of Christian Lvo*ationsL #how 8o%L*allsL ns to live< reli"ious ' lay< histori*al %ifferen*es< et*.(

( What are LS*ri6tureL an% L)ra%itionL? 2ow are they relate% inCatholi* theolo"y? 9in other ran*hes of Christianity?



Final %!am:Final %!am: Practical TipsPractical TipsI en*oura"e you to study toget*er with yourre"ular "rou6 or with other stu%ents.

:rin" several 6ens, one small Blue Boo "your :i le, an% your one 6a"e of notes.

)he Exa& will ta/e &ost stu%ents a out twohours< so&e a little &ore or less.

Stu%y Well ' 8oo% u*/G

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