Christianity. Overview World's largest religion –over 2.2 billion followers –View a Flash...
-
Upload
lawrence-halsted -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
1
Transcript of Christianity. Overview World's largest religion –over 2.2 billion followers –View a Flash...
ChristianityChristianity
OverviewOverview
• World's largest religion– over 2.2 billion
followers
– View a Flash animation about the spread of religions
• http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/Religion.swf
OverviewOverview
• Centered around Jesus of Nazareth• Monotheistic religion• Related to Judaism and Islam through
Abraham and his sons Isaac and Ishmael• Came out of Judaism
– Jesus was Jewish
• Now is divided into– Roman Catholic– Eastern Orthodox– Protestant
The TrinityThe Trinity
• God the Father– creator of Heaven and Earth,
created humans in his image
• God the Son– Jesus – took human form so that he
could die as a sacrifice for peoples’ sins
• God the Holy Spirit– the spiritual presence of God; God’s
active force
The TrinityThe Trinity
• St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain this concept to the Celts in Ireland
The BibleThe Bible
• Old Testament– known as
“the scriptures”– stories about early
Hebrews (Isrealites) such as Abraham, Noah, Moses, etc.
• New Testament– written by the followers of Jesus– about the life of Jesus, his teachings, about
living the Christian life, and about the early Church
Jesus of NazarethJesus of Nazareth
Christ / MessiahChrist / Messiah
• “Christ” from the Greek noun Χριστός (Khristós) which means “anointed one”
• “Messiah” from the Hebrew noun משיח (Moshiach) which means “savior” or “anointed one”
• Christian means “belonging to Christ” or “of Christ”
Christ / MessiahChrist / Messiah• Believed to be the Son of God and the
Messiah (savior) of the Jews• God in human form• Atonement
– Jewish belief in a sacrifice meant to take the place of sins
– Jesus is known as the “Lamb of God” who took the place of animal sacrifice to become the “ultimate sacrifice”
– Christians do not sacrifice animals, they repent and ask for forgiveness
BirthBirth• Angels visited Mary & Joseph• city of Bethlehem in modern Israel
– Augustus’ tax– no room at the inn
• around 4 BC • celebrated as Christmas
– “Christ’s Mass”
BirthBirth• earthly parents were
Mary and Joseph, but Jesus is considered to be the son of God
• Mary – without sin
• Imaculate Conception– a virgin– venerated by Christians, but
not worshipped
• Joseph – a carpenter– descended from King David– little is known
YouthYouth
• not much is known• grew up in Nazareth• Joseph a carpenter
Jesus a carpenter ??• knew the Jewish
scriptures (the Torah)• Jesus was found
in a synagogueteaching the rabbis
AdulthoodAdulthood
• rabbi taught God’s love for man• miracles healing, multiplied food,
calmed storms, water into wine, walk on water
• disciples followers (“discipline”)– 12 Apostles most important disciples
DeathDeath• Jewish high priests
became jealous• accused of blasphemy
(speaking against the teachings of Judaism)
• Pontius Pilate Roman Governor of Judaea
• crucifixion (hung on a cross) in Jerusalem (around AD 30)
• sacrifice “Lamb of God”
INRIIESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORV
M
(Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum)
ResurrectionResurrection
• The Resurrection – Jesus rose from the dead after three days (celebrated as Easter Sunday)
• appeared to disciples (doubting Thomas)
• ascended into Heaven
JudgmentJudgment
• “The Second Coming”• “The Rapture”• Jesus will return to
Earth to judge people’s souls (inner spirits) – good Heaven– bad Hell
Goals of ChristianityGoals of Christianity
• Salvation– forgiveness of sins; being “saved”
• Everlasting Life– salvation allows followers to live forever in
Heaven
• Heaven– a peaceful place where God and his faithful
followers spend eternity
• Hell– a fiery place to avoid where Satan and sinners
spend eternity (obviously not a goal!!!)
SaintsSaints
• Not all Christians have the same view of the Saints
• people who have died and are in Heaven • (people on Earth who will be in Heaven
when they die ???)– Mary– Joseph– Peter– Paul– Mother Theresa ??
AngelsAngels
• Spiritual beings who serve God in Heaven
• Guardian Angels• Angel of Death• Angels fighting evil
– Michael
• Angels as messengers– Gabrielle – Raphael
DemonsDemons
• Lucifer (“bright and shining one”) Angel who thought he was better than God
• God banished Lucifer to Hell Satan
• bad angels followed Lucifer demons who try to corrupt the souls of people on Earth
TeachingsTeachings
• Ten Commandments – (from Judaism – Old Testament)– have only one God– keep the Sabbath day as a day of worship and
rest (Christians celebrate on Sunday)– don’t use God’s name as a way of cursing– obey your parents– don’t lie, steal, sleep with someone without
being married to him/her, etc.
TeachingsTeachings• Beatitudes
– (from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount)– Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom
of Heaven.– Blessed are they who sorrow: for they shall be
comforted.– Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after holiness:
for they shall be filled.– Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.– Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
sons of God.– Blessed are they that have been persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
TeachingsTeachings
• Great Commandment– Love God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind.– Love your neighbor as yourself. (referred to
as the “golden rule”)
• Gospels– stories about life and teachings of Jesus
• Matthew• Mark• Luke• John
TeachingsTeachings
• Parables– Jesus used parables to teach– stories that teach a lesson
Parables activity
Statement of Faith (Belief)Statement of Faith (Belief)The Apostle’s CreedThe Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
The third day He arose again from the dead.He ascended into Heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Amen.
• *The word "catholic" with a small letter “c” refers to the entire universal Christian Church.
The TrinityVirgin BirthCrucifixionResurrection
AscensionReign /
Judgment
SaintsSalvationEternal Lifein Heaven“I Believe”
““The Church”The Church”
• Church was founded and led by Peter “the rock”
• Jesus gave him “Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven”
• Peter became Bishop of Rome and is considered the first Pope
• Crucified upside-down
Church LeadershipChurch LeadershipUsed by all Christians until 1517. Catholic Church still
uses this hierarchy, but many Protestant denominations use different systems
• Pope– human leader of the worldwide Christian
Church. Bishop of Rome. Peter was the first Pope.
• Cardinal– elects the Pope and governs a large territory
(multiple states)• Bishop
– leader of several different churches in a smaller territory (northwest Ohio)
• Priest– pastor or minister to one or more churches
• Deacon– assists the priest
PersecutionPersecution
• Persecution– being treated badly because of your beliefs– outcast, execution Nero, Diocletian, etc.
• Martyr– someone who dies because of their beliefs– Jesus, Perpetua and Felicity, Peter, Paul
• Diaspora– AD 70– spreading out of the Jews– Romans conquered and destroyed Jerusalem,
burning the Temple
Conversion of the EmpireConversion of the Empire
• Constantine– AD 312 – converts to Christianity after battle– makes Christianity legal– solidifies many doctrines– helps build the Bible
• Theodosius– AD 391– Christianity becomes the official
religion of the Empire– Christianity becomes required
Division of the EmpireDivision of the Empire
• Western Empire / Eastern Empire– Roman Empire is too big Emperor Diocletian
• West (Rome) / East (Byzantium Constantinople)
– Rome (West) falls in AD 476, but Eastern Empire continues in Byzantium
– Byzantium renamed Constantinople by Emperor Constantine
– Christianity in the West (centered in Rome) and East (centered in Constantinople) began using different practices
Christianity in the EastChristianity in the East
• Justinian– Eastern Emperor AD 527-565– Code of Justinian
• simplified / organized Roman laws• guaranteed fair treatment for all
– Built the Hagia Sophia• most famous Orthodox Church• now a Muslim mosque
SchismsSchisms• Great Schism (1054)
– schism = split
– Roman Catholic• Western Church; headquartered in Rome
– Eastern Orthodox• Eastern Church; Byzantium (Constantinople)
• Reformation (1517)– Martin Luther – priest; protested corruption– Protestants – followers of Martin Luther– Denominations – divisions of Church
Divisions of ChristianityDivisions of Christianity• Worldwide – 2.2 billion Christians (33% of
world’s population)
– 1) Roman Catholic• 1115 million• 17% of all humans• 54% of Christians
– 2) Protestant• 663 million• 10% of all humans• 32% of Christians
– 3) Eastern Orthodox• 297 million• 5% of all humans• 14% of Christians
These numbers are 2005 estimates
Divisions of ChristianityDivisions of Christianity
• In the US – 237 million Christians (79% of Americans)
– 1) Protestant • 54% of Americans• 68% of US Christians
– 2) Roman Catholic • 24% of Americans• 30% of US Christians
– 3) Eastern Orthodox • 1% of Americans• 1% of US Christians
These numbers are 2005 estimates
Protestants WorldwideProtestants Worldwide• Common Protestant denominations – 663 million worldwide
– Baptist - 110 million– Calvinist - 75 million – Methodist - 75 million – Anglican - 73 million– Lutheran - 70 million– Assemblies of God - 51 million – Mormon (Seventh-day Adventists / Latter-day Saints) – 26.5 million – Church of God in Christ - 7 million – The Pentecostal Mission - 6.7 million – Anabaptist (Mennonite, Amish, Brethren) - 6.35 million – Apostolic Church - 6 million – Zion Christian Church - 2.5 million – Quaker - 0.35 million – Non-Trinitarian - 20 million
• Jehovah's Witness• Unitarian
These numbers are 2005 estimates