Post on 19-Dec-2015
transcript
Introduction to Christianity
Founding
• 33 AD• Palestine• Jesus of Nazareth– Jewish carpenter
• The Bible – Old Testament – New Testament
Followers
• Christianity is the largest world religion– Why?
• Total: 2 billion people• U.S.: 159 million (2001)– 42% of Americans attend church
Vocabulary
• Places of worship: church, chapel, cathedral, basilica• Spiritual leaders: pastor, minister, reverend, priest,
bishop
• “Twelve Apostles”: twelve original followers of Jesus
• “Gospel of Matthew (Mark, Luke, and John)”: first four “books” of the New Testament
Symbols
Major Beliefs
• One God– The Holy Trinity
• Father• Son• Holy Spirit
• Humans were created good but now born sinful
• Afterlife: resurrection of body and soul, purgatory (Catholic & Orthodox), and eternal heaven or hell
Roman Catholic
• Only accepted church until the late Middle Ages – considers itself the “true” church
• Largest denomination in world (not in U.S.) • Most formal, ritualized• Distinct beliefs:– Pope– Saints– Transubstantiation – body and blood of Christ
Eastern Orthodox
• Began as the eastern half of Christendom, the former Byzantine Empire (“Great Schism”)
• 225 million followers (mostly in Greece, Turkey, and Russia)
• Distinct beliefs:– More abstract and mystical – personal experience– Icons– Seven Ecumenical Councils – leaders
Protestant
• 53% of Americans• Branch of Christianity with multiple
denominations and a wide theological spectrum– Denominations differ in the degree by which they
reject Catholic beliefs (Anglicans and Lutherans are very close; Presbyterian and Baptist retain little of Catholic ceremonies)
• 16th century Protestant Reformation
Major Holidays
• Lent (40-day period prior to Easter)
• Good Friday (last Friday before Easter)
• Easter (Sunday – date varies) – April 8, 2012
• Christmas (December 25)
Leading up to Easter
• Fat Tuesday– Mardi Gras or
Carnival• Lent– 40 days of
fasting or sacrificing a sinful habit
• Good Friday
Easter
• Spring festival that celebrates the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion
• The entire liturgical calendar is centered around Easter
Religious Observances
• Special church service (often at sunrise)
• “Christ is risen”
Other Observances
• Easter Bunny– Rabbits and eggs were widely
used pagan symbols
Easter Egg Hunts- Eggs viewed by Christians as symbols of joy and celebration (they were forbidden during the fast of Lent)
Christmas
• Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ• Began to be observed in the late 3rd century
AD as an alternative to pagan winter holidays• Jesus’s Birthday?
Religious Observances• Special worship services (often at night on
Christmas Eve)• Nativity Scene
Christmas Trees
• Christmas Trees– Modern tradition– “Christianization” of
a pagan tradition involving evergreen boughs
Santa Claus
• Santa Claus– A.K.A. Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Kris
Kringle, Old Saint Nick, etc.– Popular image created in late 1800s
Why are we learning this?
• Religion is one of the most important aspects of culture
• Some of the greatest works of art, music and literature have been based on Christianity and the Bible