Christianity Notes - Introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | RELI 1001, Study notes of World Religions

Download Christianity Notes - Introduction to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | RELI 1001 and more Study notes World Religions in PDF only on Docsity! DAY 1 *Christianity- “He is risen:” *Origins: the Life of Jesus- “The Christos” -Very little on early life: born of Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and grew up in Nazareth (near Galilee) ~1ce -Public years begin with baptism by his older cousin @ age 30 -Temptation by Satan in the desert while fasting 40 days -Recruiting 12 disciples and female followers -Next 1-3 years: Jesus traveled, worked miracles, healed the sick, raised the dead, and taught how to apply Jewish law to everyday life, and taught morality and love of God. Some teachings pointed to salvation and some kind of apocalypse (what was his first miracle?) -Turns water into wine at a wedding -A few days after entering Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus was arrested for corrupting the people and claiming “kingship” -He was condemned, tortured, nailed to the cross (crucified), and died -Two days later, his followers claimed that he had been resurrected after finding an empty tomb and then seeing Him alive *Read John II and Luke 22 for Thursday, no writing* *Major Beliefs about Jesus -Born of a Virgin (Mary, wife of Joseph) -Family of David through Joseph -A Rabbi who completely followed the Jewish Law -Spoke with and loved people of every social class, ethnicity, and ideology -Often taught in the form of parables -Jewish reactions to Roman rule: Essenes, Pharisees, Zealots, Sadducees… Jesus took a different path -Seen as the Messiah awaited in Judaism. Not just a human messiah but God himself… *Christology- For Christians, Jesus is… -One of the three of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (for some Jews and Muslims… this borders on polytheism) -A perfect and willing sacrifice and humanity (and an example of self-sacrifice) -The Son of God and God Himself (incarnation of God) -Completely God and completely human -The “logos” of God and the Love of God -The means of salvation: union with God despite humanity’s faults. Christian groups often disagree on how this works, but they all agree that Jesus is central to a connection with God. Forgiveness… a constant theme in Christianity -After the resurrection, Jesus appears to many people before ascending to Heaven. However, not leaving his people alone, he sends the Holy Spirit (3rd part of Trinity) after Him to guide his followers (Christian Pentecost in Book of Acts) *Christian Anthropology and Eschatology -Humans are all made “in the image of God” and they all suffer from Original Sin. -In practice, what does this say about us? -Spiritual: every person has an eternal spirit -Bodily: humans are also physical -The body will die, but the spirit persists in some state: Heaven. Hell (maybe Purgatory). Future and present -Some form of bodily resurrection affirmed. Particulars of this are debated or simply not discussed -Our intended nature is perfection without Original Sin -Christians in particular: members of the “Body of Christ” *3 Major Doctrines of Christianity- Developed and Understood in the first 500 years of Christianity through councils, scripture, and holy inspiration -1.) Incarnation: Jesus IS God -Anti-Incarnation heresy: the Ebionites (said Jesus was a Jewish prophet, not God) 2.) Trinity: God has a Triune nature: Father (creator), Son (redeemer), and Holy Spirit (Sanctifier). These are three aspects of the same God 3.) Atonement: The sacrifice of Jesus, a God/man without sin, allows all people to connect with God through Jesus -For Christians, Jesus restores us to our intended nature. State of “Original Sin” -Does this happen in a moment? At death? While alive? Is it a process? Can you lose it once you have it? Can you be blames for not knowing Jesus? Differing views on all this… but universally Christianity sees Jesus as central -Early Heresy: Gnosticism (most dangerous) (saw world as evil and “secret knowledge” as means of salvation) -Basically saw world as being evil and world was run by evil demon -World was seen as an illusion -Know Marcion and what Marcionism is. -God of Old Testament is evil and Jesus brought a completely new religion -Deny Old Testament and have nothing to do with Judaism and Old Testament *Major time Periods ~3BCE-30CE: Lifetime of Jesus ~30CE-120: New Testament or Apostolic Age -120-451: The Early Church -451-1517: Middle Ages -1517-1600: The Reformation ~17th Cent- Present: Modern Period -We may be in another “age” as of the last few decades. -Tentatively, we will call it the period of the “Emerging Church” -Was Christ one person, with both a divine and a human nature (as believed by the Greek and Roman churches)? -Nestorian and Monophysite churches broke away around 5th century and they represent a minority of Christians to this day (~1%) *The Mystical Body of Christ -Christians see themselves as members of the “Body of Christ.” That is, Christ is still in the world through his people. Each person contributes in his/her own way -Gradually, Christians began to see the Church in two ways at once: -The Perfect Church -This is the Church as Christ and the Holy Spirit that dwells in them and pour upon them grace and love -The fallible Church -The Church I the physical world. Since it consists of imperfect humans, it is not perfect and can be criticized. This in itself is a lesson in forgiveness *Early Councils -Apostolic Council in Jerusalem- in book of Acts w/ Paul and other apostles -Decisions about gentile converts and Old Testament Law -7 Ecumenical Councils -Three major importance -325- Council of Nicaea- Creed, Trinitarian doctrine, official scripture being decided on around this time -381- Council of Constantinople- anti-Arian Heresy. Confirmed Jesus Christ as eternal -451- Council of Chalcedon- Christology: Jesus is completely God and human in one person. Went against Nestorian and Monophysite doctrine *Mystery of the Trinity: Debates -The Council of Chalcedon in 451 steered a middle course between the Nestorians and the Monophysites by asserting that the incarnate Christ was one person with both a divine and human nature -Became part of the Trinity doctrine -After this, three Eastern regional groups separated themselves from Constantinople: The Coptic Christians of Egypt and Ethiopia, the Jacobites of Syria, and the Armenians -How does Christianity’s views of God in physical from impact its view of the world? *Canonization of the New Testament- Contains 4 Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Letters/ Epistles (many attributed to Paul), and the Book of Revelation -Christians accepted views of Judaism “if Jews have it in scripture we will” -Earliest writings in the Bible: some of Paul -Gospel of Mark (~60CE) -Matthew, Luke, Acts (~75-100) -Gospel of John (~90-110) -Revelation (~90-110 or ~60. Maybe material from both) -Theorized “Q” source for Matthew and Luke -The Bible officially became “The Bible” around the 4th century (Revelation was especially controversial). However, Christians mostly agreed on the 4 Gospels and many epistles as early as the late 2nd cent. CE -Some books were deemed false and rejected: Gospel of Thomas, Apocalypse of Peter, etc., and some were true but not included: Didache ~late 1st cent. Speaks of early Christians teachings, rituals, and worship -Koine Greek -New testament was written in Koine Greek -Only example of this type of Greek -Greek of the commoners -Christians ultimately accepted the same Old Testament scriptures as the Jews (just being canonized then in Judaism) -The early church used the Septuagint Greek copies of the Old Testament and not the original Hebrew manuscripts -St. Jerome and the Apocrypha (late 4th/ early 5th cent.) -St. Jerome, at the Pope’s request, went back to the Hebrew and translated the Old Testament into Latin. However, he found that many books of the Greek Old Testament were not in the Hebrew Old Testament (written by Hellenized Jews) -These Greek Old Testament books, and additions to Hebrew Old Testament books, were designated Apocrypha and are still a part of the Roman Catholic Bible (no longer included in most Protestant Bible or the Jewish TaNaKh) -Macabees, Sirach, Tobias, ect. *Roots of Roman Catholicism -The Latin Tradition -The Church centered in Rome began to be known as “catholic,” that is, “universal” -The bishop of Rome had primary ecclesiastical authority in the Latin- speaking West -Authority drawn from the first Bishop of Rome, the Apostle Peter, who figures prominently in the Gospels: “you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.” -Papal Infallibility: does not mean anything the Vatican says is true. Must be Ex Cathedra -St. Augustine (345-430). Clarified Original Sin and applied the Greek philosopher Plato to Christianity -Today, about ½ of the Christian world (~1 billion) are Roman Catholic -John Baptist II forged signatures *7 Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church -1.) Baptism- universal. Can be performed by ANYONE -2.) Confirmation -3.) Eucharist- the actual body and blood of Christ. Center of the Mass -4.) Reconciliation (penance/confession)- a sure means of forgiveness, but not the only means (Difference between mortal (murder, really separate us from god) and venial (minor sin) sins) -5.) Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites) -6.) Holy Orders- Bishops, Priests, Deacons (no women) -7.) Marriage- giving your life to God, and getting married were both seen as good *7 Sacraments will be on Test* -Sacrament vs. sacrament- anything can be “sacramental” -Salvation: comes from God alone. Faith necessary. However, salvation nor damnation are completely guaranteed for any living individual in Roman Catholicism. No predestination or “moment” when one is saved despite whatever one does/believes later. Salvation as a process, but Catholics still do not believe they “earn: it with works (a common misconception). -Emphasis on Free Will -Emphasis on Scripture and Tradition -Belief in Purgatory along with Heaven/Hell, but little description of Purgatory *Roots of Eastern/ Greek Orthodox -The Greek Orthodox Tradition -After the Council of Chalcedon, Greek and Latin Christianity grew further apart -1054: The final break between Rome and the center for Christianity in the East in Constantinople. Some doctrinal differences but mostly cultural/political differences led to this DAY 3 -Language played an important part in their success. Used local vernaculars rather than Greek. National Identity. -The Orthodox Church also venerated icons and permitted its clergy to marry -Sacraments: similar between Orthodox and Roman Catholic -Major differences between Orthodox and Roman Catholicism -No Papal authority in Orthodox. Run by councils -A heavier emphasis on mysticism in Orthodox. In Roman Catholicism: overall mysticism is neither emphasized nor discouraged -Today, about 150 million Christians are Orthodox *Prayer of the Heart -An important tradition in Eastern/ Greek Orthodox Christianity (with influences in Roman Catholicism and some Protestantism). -“Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” -Hesychasm- Prayer of the heart cultivated within the Orthodox Church -Follows the idea of “pray without ceasing” -Justification by Faith alone -More weight to scripture and less on tradition -Emphasis on personal experience -Today, over ½ billion Christians are members of some Protestant denomination -There are thousands of denominations but most Protestants are members of a few major groups: Lutherans, Methodists, Calvinist Churches (includes Presbyterian), and Baptists DAY 4 *St. Francis Reading/Reflection Due Tomorrow* *Extra Credit: Lost Scriptures (Due Test Day)* *Extra Credit: Film- The Mission, Of Gods and Men, and Luther* *The Reformation -The Reformation was marked by division and diversity -Three main “establishments” emerged from the 16th century: Lutheran, Anglican, and Calvinist -Lutheranism allowed ample scope for rational and intellectual argument in the exposition of scripture, but it also encouraged a deep sense of personal piety -Lutheranism retained a Eucharist-like sacrament, but they celebrated it in the vernacular and held that Christ’s body was present along with the bread and wine, but it did not become them -Massive amounts of violence often broke out between Catholics and Protestants during the Reformation *Reformation in England -In Germany the Reformation was a popular movement, but in England it was royal policy -In 1534, the English parliament and King Henry the VIII passed an Act of Supremacy, which proclaimed the king as supreme head of the Church of England -Anglican Church begins. Called Episcopalian Church in USA. Same as Anglicanism, but not connection with royalty -Very similar to Roman Catholicism in worship and doctrine but places no authority in Rome *Calvin and the Reformation -John Calvin (1509-64): began rigorous norms of doctrine and conduct in the city of Geneva -For Calvin, God was absolutely sovereign, initiating all actions -Humans are so sinful that they are utterly dependent on divine grace for salvation. Therefore, the sovereign God has predestined every person to either salvation or damnation -Little room for free-will -In the Netherlands and Hungary, the Calvinist churches has been known as “Reformed” churches. In England and Scotland they have been called Presbyterian -Calvin, though supporting Predestination, knew that we could not completely know who is or isn’t predestined *Meanwhile: In Catholicism… -Roman Catholicism after 1500 -The Roman Church recognized the need to correct many of the abuses of ecclesiastical power that Luther had condemned -The Council of Trent acted to enforce discipline and end the abuses while reaffirming key traditions -Founded shortly before Council of Trent, in 1540, the Society of Jesus, or Jesuit order, exemplified three of the principle areas of renewal in the catholic Church: spiritual discipline, education, and missionary expansion -Jesuits and other missionaries encountered the native religions of the New World. Often, there was violence as Conquistadors and other European encountered native peoples. However, not all encounters were violent nor disrespectful to local customs. -Our Lady of Guadalupe -The Jesuits were expelled by from Brazil by state authorities for advocating the rights of Native Americans *Other 16th cent. Protestant Movements -The Anabaptists of Germany emphasized adult rather than infant baptism as well as the separation of political institutions and religion. Roots of the Baptist Church -Unitarianism rejected the doctrine of the Trinity. Later merged with another group, the Universalist Church, in the 20th cent. -Puritanism was not denomination in itself, but a movement in English and colonial American Protestant Churches. Emphasized the purging of Catholic ritual/ ornamentation -The puritans held firmly Calvinist theology committing themselves to a rigorous view of human sinfulness and divine predestination *Roots of Modern Denominations -17th- Century Denominations -Like the Anabaptists in continental Europe, the English Baptists practiced the baptism of mature believers, but they were much more connected with the Puritan movement than with the Anabaptists. Gained many followers in the first Great Awakening in the USA (1740s). Roots of Baptist Church in America. Also grew greatly among African Americans -Quakers: emphasized movement of the spirit. No formal services. Heavy emphasis on social justice -Congregationalists: church community is authority. Founded Yale, Harvard and other colleges *18th Century Denominations -Pietism, a movement rather than a denomination, was about seeking spontaneous renewal of faith accompanied by a feeling of the certainty of divine forgiveness and acceptance -Revivalist Movements in the USA: emphasized spiritual reawakening, often with an intense emotional response -“Holiness Churches”: independent churches emphasizing revivalist mindset -In the late 1720s, a number of Anglican students at Oxford University formed a group to study the Bible: they were called the Methodists -Brought a more charismatic attitude to Anglicanism, but they retained much of the doctrine -John Wesley *Practice -Christian prayer is a reverent and contemplative conversation with the divine -In Catholicism, orthodox, this goes along with the 7 Sacraments -Eucharist-like practice is common to all branches of Christianity, although it is referred to by different names, such as Communion -It re-enacts the Passover and Christ’s Passion -Baptism is the Christian ritual in which a person is admitted into participation in the community of the church the most universal Christian ritual -Protestant Worship -Different protestant forms of worship express carrying degree of differentiation from the Roman Model -Most protestant churches emphasize the reading of the scripture and the interpretation of it in the ministers sermon along with worship through music and prayer *Liturgical Year -The Christian Year -The liturgical year begins with Advent, the series of four Sundays that precede Christmas -Christmas (traditionally Dec. 25) -The celebration of his birth is set around the midwinter solstice as the Christian idea of a birth that would bring new blessings was easily associated with the annual renewal of the sun’s radiance -Liturgy: a constant reenactment of the Gospel message *Lent and Liturgical Year -Easter -Celebration of Jesus’ resurrection at the conclusion of Lent, a period of 6 ½ weeks of solemnity, reflection, and discipline -The Friday before Easter is known as Good Friday. The day Jesus died on the cross -The 50th day after Easter is Pentecost, marking the emergence of the church as a missionary movement with a message for all people *Cultural Expressions -Church Architecture -Large-scale sanctuaries begin in the 4th century -In northern Europe, a new style of arch came into fashion around the 12th century, Gothic -“Stations of the Cross” in Catholic churches: the sequence of events from Jesus’ trial to the placing of this body in the tomb -Protestant churches rearranged the furniture of the church to suit their theology -Instead of an altar that the priest faced with his back to the worshippers, Protestants adopted a communion table behind which the minister stood, facing congregation *Controversies and Adaptation -The Enlightenment -The rise of Deism -The 18th: a period of philosophical skepticism about religion -David Hume (Atheist) vs. Immanuel Kant (Christian) -The 19th century: looking at religion in a social context -The 20th century: -Psychology- Freud- religion as social construct. Carl Jung- important “archetypes” in religion: a part of who we are -Kierkegaard and Christian Existentialism: the leap of faith -Questions about the “Historicity” of the Bible. Especially the Old Testament. Documentary Hypothesis. Archaeology. Natural History -“Historically” a serious problem for Fundamentalist Protestants. Not as much for Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestant groups -In terms of the New Testament and the life of Jesus: what kind of evidence could “prove” or “disprove” the Gospels? Is such evidence even possible *Controversies Today -Charles Darwin proposed that organisms were not created ex-nehilo but developed over time through a process called natural selection. His theory had flaws (lacked genetics), but later biologists improved vastly on his original theory -Many Creationists attack “Darwinism” without realizing that it is not the same as the theory of Evolution -Evolution: tells you How things came to be but not why -Stances on Evolution -Catholicism: no official stance. Creationism or Evolution allowed -Protestantism: opinion varies… greatly -Other issues debated in Christianity today: -Religious Pluralism: what happens to people of other religions? How is one Saved? -Biblical Scholarship: is there any difference between scripture and tradition since the Bible came from tradition? -How is one to follow the gospel instruction to evangelize? -What is the place of Christianity in politics? Does it have a place? -Abortion, the death penalty, homosexuality and openly gay priests/ministers *Modern Roman Catholicism -In 1962-65, the Second Vatican Council address issues faced by the church in the modern world -Many adaptations were made: -Mass in vernacular -More power to lay persons -More individual Bible study -Critical Biblical scholarship allowed -More dialogue with Protestants and other religions -Emphasis on Truth within and outside the church -Pope John Paul II, considered a saint by many, and having the 2nd longest Pontificate, embodied many of these ideals -However, some more conservative positions were affirmed such as the prohibition on the use of artificial birth control and a celibate/all-male priesthood *Ecumenism -In 1948, the World Council of Churches was formed with representation from most major Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox groups. Offered a climate of mutual acceptance and common purpose, an emphasis on unity within diversity -A number of denominational mergers also took place in the 20th century, such as the 1925 formation of the United Church of Canada by the Methodists, Congregationalists, and a majority of the Presbyterians -In 1960, Roman Catholic Pope John XXII created the Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity, which was designed to bring about a rapprochement with other Christians -Though many issues/conflicts remain, large-scale violence between Christian groups seems to be a thing of the past -“Emerging Church”- not a denomination but an attitude shared by many Protestants, Catholics, and E Orthodox *Reforming Society: Living the Gospel -Christianity emphasizes true faith “bearing fruit” in the world -In the decade before WWI, Christian critics of the civic and corporate order in North America called for the Christianization of the economy, leading to the “social gospels” movement -South American liberation theology makes use of Christian biblical and theological resources that parallel Marxist thought -MLK Jr. and other leaders used theology and the Gospel to advocate social justice for oppressed groups -The 20th century brought dramatic changes in the cultural expectations of women in society, and this corresponds to changes in theology and the church -Many Christians see “evangelism” and “humanitarianism” as the same thing. When it comes to humanitarian causes, churches are often more efficient, faster to respond, and more generous than any governmental organization -Today, contrary to some assumptions, Christianity is expanding. A higher percentage of Americans are Christian today than at America’s founding, and the church, in many denominations, is growing exponentially, especially in Asia (often where it is oppressed or illegal)