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