Exploring the Religions of Our WorldChapter 3 Christianity

Chapter 3 ChristianityBackgroundmanydenominationsmanydoctrinesChristianitysame core beliefsmanychurches

Chapter 3 ChristianityHistoryJesus of Nazareth: birth was a fulfillment of Jewish prophecywas the long awaited Jewish Messiahtaught: the kingdom of God was at handwas publicly crucified for being an insurrectionistrose from the dead, changing the lives of his followers

Chapter 3 ChristianityPeriods of Christian History Page 83

Chapter 3 ChristianityHistory two major and lasting divisions 1. The Great Schism (1054)Contributing factors:Constantine moved the capital to ByzantiumIncreased power of the bishop of RomeThe spread of Islam in the EastDifferences in customs The filioque controversy

Chapter 3 ChristianityHistory two major and lasting divisions (continued) 2. The Protestant Reformation (1517)Contributing factors:interference by kings in Church affairscooperation between church and stategrowth of temporal power in the Western Churchthe Avignon PapacyMartin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses

Chapter 3 ChristianityMovements within ProtestantismFundamentalism holds that what is written in the Bible is to be understood in its most literal sense

Evangelicalism emphasizes a personal faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible as the sole religious authority

Pentecostalism emphasizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit

Chapter 3 ChristianitySacred Stories and Sacred ScripturesThe Christian Bible includes:TheChristianBible

TheHebrewScripturesTheNewTestament

Chapter 3 ChristianitySacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures (continued)To compose the sacred books, Godchose certain men who, all the whilehe employed them in this task, madefull use of their own faculties andpowers so that, though he acted inthem and by them, it was as trueauthors that they consigned to writingwhatever he wanted written, and no more.Dei Verbum no. 11

Chapter 3 ChristianitySacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures (continued)TheNewTestamentGospelsstories of thelife of JesusEpistlesletters of the earlyChristian communities Acts of the Apostleshistory of the earlyChristian communities Book of Revelationan apocalyptic work

Chapter 3 ChristianityChristians Agree OnThe authoritative books in the New TestamentThe thirty-nine books in the Old TestamentThe Bible is the inspired word of GodChristians Disagree OnThe authoritative books in the Hebrew Bible: 39 vs. 46The interpretation of the Bible: Magisterium vs. private/personalThe Book of the Church vs. the Church of the BookScripture vs. Sacred Tradition Biblical inerrancy

Chapter 3 ChristianityBeliefs and PracticesCreed articulates Christian beliefsThe Apostles Creed (c. AD 150)I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended intohell; The third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from then 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.

Chapter 3 ChristianityWe believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light true God from True God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For oursake he was he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken throughthe prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledgeone baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.Beliefs and Practices (continued)The Nicean Creed (AD 325)

Chapter 3 ChristianityBeliefs and Practices (continued)The Trinityone God in threedivine persons Jesussecond person of the Trinity;God in the fleshSinclosed the gatesof heavenRedemptionGod chose to savehumanity through JesusThe Bibleoffers instructions on Christian livingThe Churchthe new Israel

Chapter 3 ChristianitySacred TimesThe Liturgical Calendar

Jesus:life, death,resurrection

Advent

Christmas

Lent

Easter

OrdinaryTime

Chapter 3 ChristianitySacred Times (continued)

Sundaya little EasterSacramentsgiven by ChristPrayerformal and informal

Chapter 3 ChristianitySacred Places and Sacred SpacesChurches - where the community comes together for worship and fellowship

Chapter 3 ChristianityOther Christian Denominations through a Catholic Lens catholic means universal

The Catholic Church holds: the fullness of Christs body the fullness of the means to salvation the fullness of faith the sacraments the ordained ministry from the Apostles universality

Chapter 3 Christianitysectdenominationsdoctrines Messiahblasphemy ApostlesGentileCouncilEpistlesMartyrPatriarchates PopeCrusadesMagisteriumTransubstantiationrationalistsempiricistsApocalypticCanonHeresyApocryphal ApologeticsIncarnationOriginal sinChurchAdventEpiphanyLentPentecostSacramentsIconsChurch FathersInerrancyVocabulary