Christianity

Important Elements• One God but exists in the Trinity:• God the Father• God the Son (God taking human form)• The Holy Spirit (the actions of believers)

• Christians worship in churches.• Spiritual leaders are called priests or ministers.• The Bible combining the Old Testament (mostly made up of

the Jewish Torah) and the New Testament following the teachings of Jesus

• Important days:• Easter – the celebration of Jesus dying on the cross and rebirth• Christmas – the celebration of Jesus’ birth

Important Elements• Justification by faith (belief in Jesus as the Son of God, his

death, and his resurrection will give a right relationship with God)

• Forgiveness• Trinity• Life after death – Heaven• Saints (Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions primarily)• Prayer – speaking to God

Jesus• Believed by Christians to be • the Messiah promised in the Old

Testament (Judaism’s Torah)• the Son of God• sent to earth by God to save

humanity from their sins• Gave his life on the Cross (the

Crucifixion) and rose from the dead on the third day (Resurrection)

• Teachings summarized as the love of God and the love of one’s neighbour

Mary• Seen as the mother of God by

some Christian groups

The Church• God’s body on earth –

where the Holy Spirit manifests

• Nurtures faith on earth• Where Christians are

brought together into one body through the Eucharist

Holy Places• Jerusalem• Nazareth• Bethlehem

Baptism• A commitment to the

teachings of Jesus• Often done at birth;

sometimes done to adults

Eucharist• Greek word for thanksgiving• AKA Communion• Celebration of Jesus’ final meal with his disciples before his

death (the Last Supper)• Bread and wine• Bread represents Jesus’ body• Wine represents Jesus’ blood

The Trinity• God• Only one ~ Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit• Everywhere• Created the universe• Intervenes in the universe• Loves all unconditionally• Gets to know humans through human prayer, worship, love, and

mystical experiences

The Trinity• God the Son• Lived on earth as Jesus• Both wholly God and wholly human• Born to a human woman, Mary, but conceived of the Holy Spirit• Subject to pain, suffering, and sorrow like other humans• Executed by Crucifixion• Rose from the dead at the Resurrection• Jesus provides a perfect example of how God wants humans to

live• Died on the Cross so that people who believe in him will be

forgiven for their sins

The Trinity• The Holy Spirit• After Resurrection, Jesus remained on earth only for a few days

before going to Heaven• Fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that he would stay with his followers

to guide them• Continues to guide, comfort, and encourage Christians

Crucifixion

Resurrection

The Crusades• A series of wars that took place in the Middle Ages between

Christians and Muslims over the Holy Lands• Christians believed that the Holy Lands were rightfully theirs

despite hundreds of years or more of Muslims peacefully living on these same lands

Relics• An object, particularly a piece of a body (bone, blood, etc) or

item used by someone of religious importance• Many Christian groups believe that relics hold significant

powers and can heal people of certain ailments

The Skull of St Yves

Martin Luther• Important early figure in Christian

reform: the Protestant Reformation• Disputed idea that freedom from

God’s punishment for sin could be purchased with money

• Ninety-Five Theses (1517)• Excommunication (1521)• Salvation and eternity in heaven

comes not from good deeds but received as a gift of God’s grace and faith in Jesus as the redeemer of sin

John Calvin• Institutes of the Christian

Religion (1536)• Focused on the idea of

predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and damnation

Henry VIII• King of England (1509-1547)• One of the leaders of a reform

movement against the Church in Rome: The English Reformation

• Henry’s role in the English Reformation was more political than theological:• Henry desired annulment of his

marriage• Henry was tired of paying taxes to

Rome• Henry was tired of the Pope having final

say over the appointment of bishops• Believer of the core Catholic teachings

Catholic

• Scripture and tradition• Pope speaks for God• Salvation through 7

sacraments• Believe in purgatory

Protestant

• Just scripture• No human can speak for

God• Faith alone will provide

salvation• No purgatory• Split off in 1500s