Origins of Christianity: Jerusalem at time of Jesus

1. Roman paganism:

• Blend Greek/Roman gods

• public celebration of gods and civic pride.

• “Religious supermarket:” many gods available for health, agriculture, childbirth, and new religions.

2. Roman province of Palestine, Religious tension:

• Jewish temple and priests (“corrupt,” “impure”).

• Not allow statues Roman kings/gods—angered, tolerated.

• Breakaway groups of Jews.

3. Radical idea of Judaism: God has moral role

• triumph good over evil, social justiceled to raising belief that God would send messiah.

Christianity: Life of Jesus

1. Jesus of Nazareth, 6 BCE-33 CE

2. Jewish, like disciples; worshipped at synagogue; celebrate Jewish festivals; pilgrimage Jerusalem

3. Preached new ideas; attracts disciples, esp. poor

4. “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s”

5. Crucified.

Paul (3 BCE—64 or 67 CE)

1. Jewish, originally opposed Jesus (never met) and later converts.

2. Travels around Mediterranean converting Jews and Pagans to Jesus movement. Pax Romana made travel easy.

3. He transforms Jesus’s message:

• From faith in God to: Jesus is Lord and Savior: Christ (Christos in Greek)=Messiah (savior)

• Emphasis on crucifixion: Jesus died and resurrected for your sins; Must confess sins to be saved

Paul’s Aegean Mission

Source: PBS.org <Frontline: “From Jesus to Christ”>

Attraction of Christianity:

1. Promised ‘spiritual gifts:’ afterlife is free of sickness, poverty and isolation.

2. All can achieve salvation: Jesus was poor, new community of equals.

3. Welfare organizations: Hospitals, care of widows, etc.

4. Decline of Hellenism: Driven by faith rather than reason

5. Emperor Constantine:

6. Later: collapse of Empire

How did a persecuted minority group founded by a rebel become a dominant group that persecuted others?

Constantine, reigns 306-337 CE

1. Christian population large by 300 CE; persecution on rise, esp. by Emperor Diocletian.

2. Constantine rules East, battles for control of West. Has vision of Cross and is victorious in battle: Cross=triumph. Supports Christian welfare institutions, builds churches, ends persecution of Christians.

3. Caesar is now a Christian—no division between Empire and Christianity (recall Jesus’ statement: “rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”). Capitol=Constantinople.

4. Edict of Milan (313 CE): Constantine makes Christianity becomes official religion: Christianity evolves from moral message into mass religion and political force.

5. Theodosian code (391 CE): Christianity becomes only religion allowed: Kingdom of God=Kingdom of World—and there is one way to practice Christianity.

Compare to the spread of Buddhism during the late Tang Dynasty: how do governments respond to social movements?

Summary of Philosophies: What is a Just Society?

Philosophy Greco-Roman: Judaism: Christianity:Humanism Ethical Monotheism Universal Monotheism

Origin of Justice:

How achieve justice:

Who is included:

Role of God(s):

ReasonHumans discover WisdomLaw (Cicero)

Wisdom and law revealed by God; Humans use Reason to follow (or not)

Life of Jesus is model; Hellenism declines: Faith over reason and law

Civic Humanism

Citizenship: Political obligation

Mostly male property owners; Romans expand 212 CE

Pantheon (hundreds): separate from humans; each unique part of origins of world and forces of nature; one characteristic of humans; adopt more Gods as expand

Obligated to “repair world” (social justice)follow laws to bring about new world (Messianic)

Universal God; covenant with God’s chosen (Hebrews)

One God: moral guide to triumph over evil; rewards good; punishes evil; judges in afterlife.

Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent; interacts with humans

Faith, Forgiveness, Love one’s enemy overcome “original sin”

Salvation: due to Jesus’ death and resurrection

Universal: all can achieve salvation (“Kingdom of God”) through faith, esp. poor (emphasize equality)

Trinity: God, Jesus (son of God), Holy spirit

Judges all who die

Source: Pearson Education <http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/262/268312/art/figures/KISH_07_149.gif>

Byzantine Empire, 527 CE (after Roman collapse)

Criteria for a Just Society: Comparing Philosophies plot philosophies along each spectrum

1. Hierarchy v. Equality

2. Conformity v. Pluralism

3. General will v. Individual Rights

Community Individual

Hierarchy/Authority Equality

Conformity/Intolerance Pluralism/Free Inquiry