Jesus and the Jesus and the beginnings of beginnings of ChristianityChristianity

I.I. Jesus of NazarethJesus of NazarethA.A. Preached for only about 3 yearsPreached for only about 3 years

B.B. Spoke about a relationship with God Spoke about a relationship with God rather than religious lawsrather than religious laws

C.C. Main message was love God and treat Main message was love God and treat your neighbor as you would treat your neighbor as you would treat yourself – some call this the yourself – some call this the golden rulegolden rule

D.D. CrucifiedCrucified by the Roman Government by the Roman Government around 33 A.D. in Jerusalem – common around 33 A.D. in Jerusalem – common method of execution of the timemethod of execution of the time

II.II. Christian BeliefsChristian BeliefsA.A. Jesus is the Son of GodJesus is the Son of God

B.B. By accepting Jesus and his By accepting Jesus and his message, their soul can achieve message, their soul can achieve salvationsalvation = entrance into heaven = entrance into heaven

C.C. One God exists in three persons One God exists in three persons – – The Father, Son and the Holy The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Spirit. This is called the This is called the Holy Holy TrinityTrinity in Christianity. in Christianity.

III.III. The Spread of The Spread of ChristianityChristianityA.A. Early Early apostlesapostles like Paul travel and like Paul travel and

preach the message of Jesuspreach the message of Jesus

B.B. Message gave meaning to people’s Message gave meaning to people’s lives and offered hope for life after lives and offered hope for life after death as well as a chance to be part death as well as a chance to be part of a caring, loving communityof a caring, loving community

C.C. Appealed to the poor, women and Appealed to the poor, women and other powerless people – appealed other powerless people – appealed to emotions by offering a better lifeto emotions by offering a better life

IV.IV. Christianity and the Roman EmpireChristianity and the Roman EmpireA.A. R.E. had freedom of religion but you R.E. had freedom of religion but you

must worship the emperor as a God. must worship the emperor as a God. Christians (and Jews) refused this.Christians (and Jews) refused this.

B.B. Romans punished the Christians and Romans punished the Christians and began to began to persecutepersecute them. them.

C.C. Things begin to change when Emperor Things begin to change when Emperor Constantine allows Christianity in the Constantine allows Christianity in the R.E. in 312 A.D. = no longer persecuted!R.E. in 312 A.D. = no longer persecuted!

D.D. By 392, Christianity becomes the By 392, Christianity becomes the official official religion of the Roman Empire = now it religion of the Roman Empire = now it really begins to become widespread!really begins to become widespread!

Christian CatacombsChristian Catacombs

Constantine and TheodosiusConstantine and Theodosius

“Leave the Christians alone!” “You must become a Christian!”

““In this sign, you will conquer”In this sign, you will conquer”

““Branches” or “Denominations” of Branches” or “Denominations” of ChristianityChristianity

V.V. Christian Christian HierarchyHierarchy and Documents and Documents

A.A. As the religion grew, the church began to As the religion grew, the church began to organize and agreed on specific writings to organize and agreed on specific writings to include in their Bibleinclude in their Bible

B. The four gospels tell the story of Jesus’ life. They are combined with other writings to create the New Testament of the Bible

C.C. The NT (Jesus) is an addition to the OT The NT (Jesus) is an addition to the OT which creates the which creates the ChristianChristian Bible Bible

D.D. The major Christian leader today is the The major Christian leader today is the Pope – current Pope Benedict XVIPope – current Pope Benedict XVI

VI.VI. Christianity splits!Christianity splits!A.A. A A schismschism or separation occurs between or separation occurs between

the Western and Eastern churches when the Western and Eastern churches when leaders of the church leaders of the church excommunicateexcommunicate each other in 1054 A.D.each other in 1054 A.D.

B.B. West = Roman Catholic Church with West = Roman Catholic Church with Pope as the leaderPope as the leader

C.C. East (Byzantine) = Eastern Orthodox East (Byzantine) = Eastern Orthodox Church with emperor as the leaderChurch with emperor as the leader

D.D. Later the R.C.C. further splits with the Later the R.C.C. further splits with the Protest Reformation in the 1500’sProtest Reformation in the 1500’s

VII.VII. Christianity TodayChristianity TodayA.A. There are many different denominations under There are many different denominations under

the “umbrella” of Christianitythe “umbrella” of ChristianityB.B. If you believe in Jesus, you are a ChristianIf you believe in Jesus, you are a ChristianC.C. However, people practice this faith in different However, people practice this faith in different

ways = different denominations of Christianity.ways = different denominations of Christianity.D.D. Catholics are still the largest denominationCatholics are still the largest denominationE.E. Those that “protested” against the Catholic Those that “protested” against the Catholic

Church are called Protestant denominations. Church are called Protestant denominations. They include Lutherans, Presbyterians, They include Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Anglicans, Episcopalians…Methodists, Anglicans, Episcopalians…

F.F. There are also Eastern Orthodox Christians, There are also Eastern Orthodox Christians, today many of whom live in what was the lands today many of whom live in what was the lands Eastern Roman EmpireEastern Roman Empire

Muhammad and IslamMuhammad and Islam

570 A.D. – 632 A.D.570 A.D. – 632 A.D.

I.I. Muhammad and IslamMuhammad and IslamA.A. Successful merchant who began to preach Successful merchant who began to preach

about Islam which means “surrendering to about Islam which means “surrendering to the will of Allah” (God)the will of Allah” (God)

B.B. Preached that all people should worship Preached that all people should worship Allah, the one true god and treat one Allah, the one true god and treat one another equally. People should live good another equally. People should live good lives and resist evil lives and resist evil

C.C. Created an Created an Islamic stateIslamic state - a government - a government that uses its power to uphold Islamthat uses its power to uphold Islam

D.D. Created an army to increase the size of his Created an army to increase the size of his Islamic state = spread of IslamIslamic state = spread of Islam

II.II. Islamic Practices and Islamic Practices and BeliefsBeliefs

A.A. Monotheistic = Worship of AllahMonotheistic = Worship of Allah

B.B. Refer to themselves as Refer to themselves as MuslimsMuslims

C.C. Muhammad is not considered to be Muhammad is not considered to be a god but only a a god but only a prophetprophet

D.D. Quran is their holy book and is the Quran is their holy book and is the true word of God. It the rules to true word of God. It the rules to apply to the living of their lives – apply to the living of their lives – Five Pillars of Faith!Five Pillars of Faith!

III.III. Five Pillars of FaithFive Pillars of FaithA.A. BeliefBelief – No God but Allah – No God but Allah

B.B. PrayerPrayer – Pray 5 times per day facing – Pray 5 times per day facing toward Makkah (Mecca)toward Makkah (Mecca)

C.C. CharityCharity – Give to the poor – Give to the poor

D.D. FastingFasting – Not eating at certain hours – Not eating at certain hours during holidays such as Ramadanduring holidays such as Ramadan

E.E. PilgrimagePilgrimage – Visit Makkah (Mecca) – Visit Makkah (Mecca) at least once in their lifeat least once in their life

IV.IV. Spread of IslamSpread of IslamA.A. CaliphsCaliphs led Muslims to conquer new led Muslims to conquer new

lands and spread their faithlands and spread their faith

B.B. Muslims called Sufis traveled preaching Muslims called Sufis traveled preaching and teaching the message of Islamand teaching the message of Islam

C.C. Merchants who converted to this Merchants who converted to this religion continued to spread Islam’s religion continued to spread Islam’s message as they traveled.message as they traveled.

D.D. Today, it is the 2Today, it is the 2ndnd largest religion in the largest religion in the world and also the fastest growing world and also the fastest growing

V.V. Split and Struggles of IslamSplit and Struggles of IslamA.A. Islam splits into two different groups – the Islam splits into two different groups – the

Shiites and the SunnisShiites and the Sunnis

B.B. Shiites believed that all caliphs should be Shiites believed that all caliphs should be descendents of Muhammad descendents of Muhammad

C.C. Sunnis accepted new caliphs like the Sunnis accepted new caliphs like the Umayyads and AbbasidsUmayyads and Abbasids

D.D. This split causes these two groups to This split causes these two groups to develop different ideas and customsdevelop different ideas and customs

E.E. Today, many problems among Muslims Today, many problems among Muslims can be traced back to this split in beliefs. can be traced back to this split in beliefs.

Islam TodayIslam Today

Where do Muslims live today?Where do Muslims live today?

IslamicIslamic SectsSects - Sunni and Shiite (Shia) - Sunni and Shiite (Shia)

Arab SpringArab Spring