✝️Intro to Christianity Unit 14 – Christianity and World Religions

Key Concepts and Beliefs

• Monotheistic religion centered around the belief in one God (Yahweh) who created the universe and all living beings
• Belief in the Holy Trinity: God as three persons in one divine being (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
• Jesus Christ as the Son of God and savior of humanity through his crucifixion and resurrection
  • Belief in Jesus' virgin birth, sinless life, and miracles during his ministry
  • Jesus' death on the cross as atonement for the sins of humanity
• Concept of original sin: humans are born with a sinful nature due to Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden
• Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance of sins
• Belief in the afterlife: heaven for the righteous and hell for the unrighteous
• Emphasis on love, forgiveness, compassion, and serving others as central tenets of the faith

Historical Context

• Christianity emerged in the 1st century CE in Judea, a region in the Roman Empire
• Developed from the teachings of Jesus Christ and his apostles, particularly Paul
• Early Christians faced persecution from Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders
  • Persecution led to the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire
  • Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in 312 CE led to its acceptance and eventual establishment as the official religion of the Roman Empire
• Ecumenical councils (Nicaea, Constantinople) helped define Christian doctrine and address theological disputes
• Schism between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in 1054 CE
• Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to the emergence of various Protestant denominations (Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism)
• Missionary efforts and colonialism contributed to the global spread of Christianity

Sacred Texts and Scriptures

• The Bible as the central sacred text of Christianity, consisting of the Old Testament and New Testament
  • Old Testament: collection of books shared with Judaism, including the Torah, historical books, wisdom literature, and prophetic books
  • New Testament: 27 books focused on the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ and the early Christian church
• Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) provide accounts of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection
• Epistles, primarily written by Paul, offer guidance and instruction to early Christian communities
• Book of Revelation contains prophetic visions of the end times and the ultimate triumph of God
• Interpretation of scriptures varies among denominations, with some emphasizing literal interpretation and others favoring allegorical or contextual approaches

Major Figures and Leaders

• Jesus Christ: central figure of Christianity, believed to be the Son of God and savior of humanity
• Virgin Mary: mother of Jesus, revered by many Christians, particularly in Catholic and Orthodox traditions
• Twelve Apostles: chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings (Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot)
  • Apostle Paul: converted to Christianity after Jesus' death and became a key figure in spreading the faith to the Gentiles
• Early church fathers (Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp, Justin Martyr) helped define Christian doctrine and defend the faith against criticism
• Influential theologians and philosophers (Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas) shaped Christian thought and theology
• Reformers (Martin Luther, John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli) challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and sparked the Protestant Reformation

Practices and Rituals

• Baptism: initiation rite symbolizing the cleansing of sins and acceptance into the Christian community
  • Infant baptism practiced by some denominations, while others emphasize believer's baptism
• Eucharist (Holy Communion): ceremony commemorating Jesus' Last Supper, involving the consumption of bread and wine
  • Transubstantiation: Catholic belief that the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ
  • Consubstantiation: Lutheran belief that Christ is present alongside the bread and wine
• Prayer: communication with God, both individual and communal
• Worship services: gatherings for prayer, singing, scripture reading, and preaching
• Observance of religious holidays (Christmas, Easter, Pentecost)
• Pilgrimages to holy sites (Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago de Compostela)
• Monasticism: devotion to spiritual life through asceticism and seclusion

Denominations and Branches

• Catholic Church: largest Christian denomination, led by the Pope and centered in Vatican City
  • Emphasis on tradition, papal authority, and seven sacraments
• Eastern Orthodox Church: second-largest denomination, composed of various autocephalous churches
  • Emphasis on tradition, liturgical worship, and the role of icons
• Protestant denominations: emerged from the Reformation, rejecting papal authority and emphasizing scripture
  • Lutheranism: founded by Martin Luther, emphasizes justification by faith alone
  • Calvinism: founded by John Calvin, emphasizes predestination and the sovereignty of God
  • Anglicanism: emerged from the English Reformation, maintains elements of Catholic tradition while embracing Protestant principles
• Non-Trinitarian denominations (Unitarianism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-day Saints) hold alternative views on the nature of God and Jesus

Comparison with Other World Religions

• Monotheistic like Judaism and Islam, but with the unique concept of the Trinity
• Shares common figures with Judaism (Abraham, Moses) and Islam (Jesus, Mary)
• Emphasis on faith and divine grace distinguishes Christianity from the works-based salvation of Judaism and Islam
• Concept of the incarnation (God becoming human in Jesus) sets Christianity apart from other monotheistic faiths
• Proselytizing and missionary work more prominent in Christianity compared to Judaism
• Divergent views on the nature of Jesus: Messiah in Christianity, prophet in Islam, rejected in Judaism
• Scriptural differences: Christian Bible, Jewish Tanakh, Islamic Quran

Contemporary Issues and Challenges

• Secularization and declining religious affiliation in some Western countries
• Tensions between conservative and progressive factions within denominations regarding social issues (same-sex marriage, abortion, ordination of women)
• Ecumenical efforts to promote unity and dialogue among Christian denominations
• Interfaith dialogue and cooperation with other world religions
• Role of Christianity in addressing social justice issues (poverty, racism, human rights)
• Controversies surrounding sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church and other denominations
• Impact of globalization and migration on the spread and diversity of Christian communities
• Challenges posed by scientific advancements and the relationship between faith and reason