Christianity

World History 1World History 1

Trimester 1Trimester 1

Ms. IslerMs. Isler

When did Christianity Start?

• Christianity began in the year “0” according to our modern calendar, with the birth of Jesus.

• Our calendar year is 2009, so Christianity started 2,009 years ago.

Why did it Begin?

• People were becoming restless with their current religion– The Belief in Roman Gods (polytheist)– Judaism (monotheist)

• Jesus was born, and as he grew Jesus was born, and as he grew older, working as a carpenter, he older, working as a carpenter, he too started to question the Jewish too started to question the Jewish Faith.Faith.

Jesus’ Profile

• Where: Bethlehem, from his mother Mary and father Joseph

• When: 0• How: Immaculate Conception• What: lived in Nazareth in Palestine• What: Practiced Judaism

John the Baptist

• Jesus met John the Baptist, a religious leader who told his followers to repent their sins in preparation for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

• Known as Baptist because he immersed his followers in the Jordan River as a symbol of their cleansing- Baptism

• Jesus was baptized by John, and then Jesus was baptized by John, and then started his own preaching.started his own preaching.

Jesus

• Jesus soon started talking about Jesus soon started talking about how religion should be, and how how religion should be, and how people should actpeople should act

• He created a following, and everyone who followed him were called Christians.

• Jesus touched people with “his gentleness and challenged them with his message.”

12 Apostles

• Jesus chose 12 Apostles, or special messengers, from his followers who helped spread his teachings.

• Emphasized God’s love like one of a Father’s, a special relationship for each person.

• Stressed importance of people’s love for God, neighbors, enemies, and themselves.

Sermons• Jesus won many followers

from the poor and dispossessed classes.

• On the Right is the On the Right is the Sermon on the Mount, Sermon on the Mount, one of Jesus’ most one of Jesus’ most famous sermons.famous sermons.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of they will be called children of God.God.

Blessed are they who are Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. kingdom of heaven.

Messiah

• Jesus soon called the Messiah, the savior chosen by God.

• People thought that as the Messiah, Jesus could end Roman rule

• Jesus’ rising power infuriated the Romans, and they saw him as a threat to their land.

• (Christ comes from Christos, Greek for Messiah)

Crucified

• Chief priests denied Jesus as the Messiah, saying his preaching's

were blasphemy• Pontius Pilate, governor of Rome,

sentenced Jesus to be crucified • In roman time, crucifixion, or death In roman time, crucifixion, or death

by hanging on a cross, was often by hanging on a cross, was often used to execute criminals.used to execute criminals.

Resurrection

• Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ follower, visited Mary Magdalene, Jesus’ follower, visited Jesus’ tomb 2 days after he was buried, Jesus’ tomb 2 days after he was buried, and found no body.and found no body.

• The Gospels say that Jesus appeared to his followers several times in the next 40 days, encouraging them to spread his teachings

• Then one day, he “stood among them, Then one day, he “stood among them, he blessed them and then parted from he blessed them and then parted from them, rising up to heaven.” (162)them, rising up to heaven.” (162)

After Jesus

• Jesus’ teaching were spread by Peter, an apostle, and other followers.an apostle, and other followers.

• Christians were persecuted in the Roman Empire

• Eventually Christianity spread quickly, Eventually Christianity spread quickly, as more powerful people took up the as more powerful people took up the religion.religion.

• Now one of the 5 major religions in the Now one of the 5 major religions in the World, andWorld, and with the most followers with more than 2.1 billion people

Scripture

• The Bible– The Bible is comprised of the Torah

(The Old Testament), and the Gospels (The New Testament).

Holidays

• Christmas- to celebrate Jesus’ birth, 25 December

• Easter-symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ

• Ash Wednesday- 40 days before Easter

• Lent- to symbolize Jesus’ 40 days of fasting

• Sunday- Day of rest and worship in Christianity.

Christians

Christian Sects Christian Sects present today:present today:

• CatholicsCatholics• ProtestantsProtestants• MormonsMormons• BaptistsBaptists

• LutheransLutherans• AnglicanAnglican• Christian ScienceChristian Science• AmishAmish• Jehovah’s Jehovah’s

Witnesses Witnesses QuakersQuakers

• Seventh-Day Seventh-Day AdventistsAdventists

• ““Jews for Jesus”Jews for Jesus”

Jesus Christ Superstar

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrHsLv3SJ8s– Heaven on their minds

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7t3IIFjHVE&feature=related– Superstar