THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

Background

ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITY

Why is it called Christianity?• Jesus of Nazareth

Who was he?• Rabbi in Israel• Teaching radical sets of beliefs

• Love ALL people• Give away your wealth to the poor because they are the most

beloved• “Blessed are the meek” i.e. Be a good person

• Challenges Judaism and Romans

DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIANITY

Why did he gain so many followers?• Your social status doesn’t matter• Roman gods – behaving like humans (not inspirational)

• Show devotion through sacrifice ($)

• Judaism – 1st monotheistic religion at this time, Strict hierarchy

Execution• Crucifixion, buried, 3 days later rises

When does he become Christ?• After he rises, walks around and tells people to spread faith, ascends to

heaven

Bible• New testament – Christian story• Old testament – Judaic tradition

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

Peter and Paul (canonized)• Peter – goes to Rome

• 1st bishop of Rome• Petrine Doctrine Pope, did not become accepted for ~2 centuries

• Paul – has a vision of Jesus• Travels around Mediterranean to have a cohesive belief system. Letters

to communities

First 200 years• Jews who believed Jesus was the messiah• Paul’s letters explained what it meant to be a Christian

Who was Jesus? Divine? Son of God?• Christians= Christ = son of God• Jews and Muslims = Jesus is a prophet

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY: ROME

Romans persecute them: thought Christians would destabilize society

because followers tended to be poor• Despite this, it still becomes popular. “Can’t beat them, join em”

312 Emperor Constantine: allows Christianity to become a legal religion

Council of Nicea 325• Church leaders gather to work out differences agree on the

trinity

380 Theodosius: Christianity is the official religion of the empire • Canon Law – Church law. Sanction to persecute non-orthodox.

Church courts. Church becomes formal

PROTESTANT BELIEF CHART

Look over the belief chart

Identify key similarities and differences between

the different branches.