IWRBS-Module-5.pptx introduction to world religion
- 1. Christianit y Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
- 2. OBJECTIVE You are expected to: Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues of Christianity.
- 4. Religion - the belief in a God or in a group of Gods. - an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules to worship a god or a group of gods.
- 5. Christianity - the religion that is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ. - the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic and Protestant Bodies.
- 6. Doctrine - a principle or position or the body of principles in a branch of knowledge or system of belief. - a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true.
- 7. Sacred - holy, dedicated to God, worthy of religious veneration, not to be violated.
- 8. Trinity - the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead according to Christian dogma.
- 9. Bible - the sacred scriptures of Christians comprising the Old Testament and the NewTestament. - the book of sacred writings accepted by Christians as coming from God.
- 10. Old Testament - the first part of the Christian Bible containing the books of the Jewish canon of Scripture.
- 11. New Testament - the second part of the Christian Bible comprising the canonical Gospels and Epistles and the book of Acts and book of Revelation.
- 12. Creeds - a brief authoritative formula of religious belief. - an idea or set of beliefs that guides the actions of a person or group.
- 13. Gospel - the teachings of the Christian religion.
- 14. Resurrection - the rising of Christ from the dead. - the rising again to life of all the human dead before the final judgment.
- 15. Sect - a religious group that is a smaller part of a larger group and whose members all share similar beliefs.
- 16. Roman Catholic - of, relating to, or being a Christian church having a hierarchy of priests and bishops under the pope, a liturgy centered in the Mass, veneration of the Virgin Mary and saints, clerical celibacy, and a body of dogma including transubstantiation and papal infallibility.
- 17. Eastern Orthodox of the Eastern Catholic churches that accord primacy to the patriarch of Constantinople and adhere to the Byzantine rite.
- 18. Protestantism- - a member of one of the Christian churches deriving from the Reformation.
- 19. Ecumenism - ecumenical principles and practices especially as shown among religious groups (such as Christian denominations).
- 20. Gospel - the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation.
- 21. Scripture - the books of the Bible. - a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative.
- 22. Advent - the coming of Christ at the Incarnation.
- 23. Monotheistic - the belief that there is only one God.
- 24. One of the world’s biggest religions with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide, Christianity is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in Israel some 2,000 years ago. Do you want to know more about Christianity? Well let’s find out.
- 25. Please read the poem from the letter of Paul to the Philippians that gives an idea about Christianity. After reading the poem, answer the questions following it. Write your answers in your journal.
- 26. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, Did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
- 27. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name, that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God, the Father.
- 28. ANSWER ME 1. What is the poem about? 2. What does it tell about Christianity?
- 29. I hope you enjoy the activity, but before we end the session for today, please share your insights by completing this statement. Write your answers in your journal. 1. My significant learnings for today’s activity are _____________________. 2. These learnings will help me ____________________________________.
- 30. Can you recall the previous activity? Well, this day will be another exciting journey toward understanding Christianity. Today, you will learn about the origin, core teachings and basic practices or beliefs and some issues on Christianity. Please read the passages and do the task.
- 32. Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Its adherents, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Christ, who’s coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Hebrew Bible, called the Old Testament in Christianity, and chronicled in the New Testament.
- 33. It is a religion that was meant to be universal. Jesus Christ’s evangelical command, “Go and teach all nations” to His disciples shows that He intended His teachings not just for the Jews, but for all the world (Brown 1991,8-10). Christianity is a religion that developed from Judaism; some of its first followers were originally Jews.
- 34. What distinguishes Christians from Jews is that the former accepts Jesus Christ as the Messiah, or the Savior, while the latter considers Jesus as just another prophet of God, and the real Messiah is yet to come.
- 35. The essential Christian beliefs are recorded in creeds, and there are different versions of such creeds. The common element, however, is the acknowledgement of the Holy Trinity – belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It was the Father who created the world, and Jesus often speaks about Him in the Gospels.
- 36. Jesus is the only Son of God, sent to save the world from sin. The Holy Spirit appeared in the Baptism of Jesus and was also sent down to the disciples to guide them in spreading Christianity. The Spirit is believed to guide all believers. While the God of Christianity is agreed to as having one entity, there are greater majority of Christians who believe that this God is a Trinitarian one: Father, Son and Spirit (Molloy 2005, 361,363).
- 37. The whole of Christian conviction could be summarized in Jesus’ two great commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Matthew 22: 37- 40). The life of the Christian is centered on these two things: praise and thanksgiving for God, and acts of love to humankind (Brown 1991,15).
- 38. Christians also believe in the life after death. After death, the soul of a person will be judged according to his/her deeds in his/her life in the world and will either go to Heaven, to dwell with God, or to Hell and be separated permanently from Him. There is also a belief in Purgatory, where there is temporary punishment for those who do not yet deserve to go to either Heaven or Hell.
- 39. But there are also some Christian groups who believe in the establishment of the Kingdom of God with the creation of the new heaven and the new earth where they would dwell. At the end of time, there is agreement that all souls will be reunited with their bodies, just as Jesus resurrected from the dead, and there will be final judgement (Molloy 2005, 364).
- 40. Apart from centering their lives on Jesus, Christians, especially Catholics are also devoted to Mary, the Mother of God. Catholics, Orthodox and some Protestants feel close to Mary, and consider her their mother. Mary has also been viewed as the helper of those who suffer. Even Martin Luther retained veneration for Mary in the salvation story of his reformed Protestantism (O’ Collins and Farrugia 2003, 370- 371).
- 42. Christianity originated with the ministry of Jesus in the 1st century Roman province of Judea. According to the Gospels, Jesus was a Jewish teacher and healer who proclaimed the imminent kingdom of God and was crucified c. AD 30–33.
- 43. While the main tenets of Christianity originated with Jesus Christ, it was His 12 disciples, and eventually apostles who institutionalized and established the bureaucratic structures of the religion. We see in the Book of Acts, the book after the Gospels, the accounts of His disciples after His ascension to heaven.
- 44. Fifty days after His resurrection, the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of God, came down upon the followers of Jesus, in the form of fire and wind, to inspire them to spread their leader’s teachings (Molloy 2005, 350-351). This is celebrated as the feast of the Pentecost, and it is considered to be the birth of the Christian Church (Brown 1991,34).
- 45. The early Christian Church in Jerusalem was composed of many Jews. Both Judaism and Christianity were strong religions for about 40 years after Jesus’ death, but with the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., they disappeared. The non-Jewish early Christians were spread through the Roman Empire through the missionary, Paul (Molloy 2005, 352).
- 47. Much of what we know about Jesus Christ could be found in the Gospels. Even though he knew the Hebrew Scripture well, he was not a scholar, nor a writer (Molloy 2005, 349).
- 48. According to the accounts in the Gospels, he was born of a virgin named Mary, who was supposed to wed Joseph of Nazareth, a carpenter. Joseph was a descendant of King David, and due to the Roman emperor’s decree of census, he and Mary had to go to Bethlehem, David’s homeland. In that land, Jesus was born in a manger, because there was no lodging available to them. Jesus’ birth is celebrated annually on December 25 as Christmas.
- 49. We know little of His childhood, except perhaps when He was found by His parents speaking with the teachers in the Temple of Jerusalem. He was 12 years old then. The next account of Jesus in the Gospel was during His baptism and His temptation in the desert for 40 days, which happened when he was “about 30”. From there, He began His public ministry, teaching the people of Israel.
- 50. Since He was raised as a Jew, Jesus obeyed the Laws and learned the Hebrew scriptures. Nonetheless, He still thought independently, questioning the people on strict adherence to the teaching at the cost of injustice and lack of love.
- 51. Perhaps His greatest emphasis was on universal, unconditional love. He taught that we must forgive people endlessly (Matthew 18:22). He even asked for forgiveness for those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). He asks us to love everyone, even our enemies (Luke 6:27) (Molloy 2005 348).
- 52. Jesus was condemned to death due to His unorthodox teachings, through the initiative of the chief priests and Pharisees He was criticizing. His passion and death is commemorated during the Holy Week, which culminates at Easter, where he supposedly rose from the dead.
- 53. Basic Teachings
- 54. Jesus used parables – short stories with hidden messages in his teachings.
- 55. Some of the main themes that Jesus taught, which Christians later embraced, include: • Love God. • Love your neighbor as yourself. • Forgive others who have wronged you. • Love your enemies. • Ask God for forgiveness of your sins.
- 56. • Jesus is the Messiah and was given the authority to forgive others. • Repentance of sins is essential. • Don’t be hypocritical. • Don’t judge others. • The Kingdom of God is near. It’s not the rich and powerful – but the weak and poor–who will inherit this kingdom.
- 57. In one of Jesus’s most famous speeches, which became known as the Sermon on the Mount, he summarized many of his moral instructions for his followers.
- 59. Christianity began in the 1st century AD after Jesus died, as a small group of Jewish people in Judea, but quickly spread throughout the Roman empire. Despite early persecution of Christians, it later became the state religion. In the Middle Ages it spread into Northern Europe and Russia.
- 60. Timeline of Significant Events in the History of Christianity
- 62. Practices
- 63. Although there have been different forms of Christianity, much of their rituals are shared. The most important among them are believed to be signs of God’s grace, called sacraments.
- 64. People who want to be converted to Christianity will have to undergo baptism. The person is cleansed with water, to signify repentance and cleansing. Catholics and Orthodox baptize babies, while some Protestants baptize only those who are willing (Molloy 2005, 403-4).
- 65. During the Last Supper, Jesus broke the bread and shared the wine to represent His Body and Blood, and the Apostles were sharing His sufferings. This is commemorated through the sacrament of the Eucharist, where Christians gather in the church, and share the Body and Blood of Christ. Some churches use literal bread and wine, while others interpret it symbolically (Molloy 2005 404-405).
- 66. These two are the most important sacraments in Christian practice. Others include confirmation which is a blessing of initiation after baptism; reconciliation, where someone confesses his/her sins and gets absolution; matrimony, where two people commit themselves with each other for life with God as the center; ordination, where someone commits himself to priesthood; and anointing of the sick, which is usually taken by a sick person (Molloy 2005, 405-406).
- 67. Complete the table by providing the needed information based on the passages that you have read. Copy and answer this in your journal. 1. What significant concept have you learned from today’s activity? 2. What meaning does it give you as a person?
- 68. Religion vary in several ways: in doctrines or creeds or in practice. Christianity is divided into three major divisions which are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestantism. The reading that follows deals with varieties of Christianity and some issues on this religion. Be able to analyze and tell your opinions regarding the issues along Christianity. Write your answer on your journal.
- 69. Varieties or Types of Christianity
- 70. For about 300 years since the death of Peter and Paul, the Romans persecuted Christians. “Christianity was declared illegal, and many Christians died for their faith.” But when Constantine became the first Christian emperor of the Empire (East and West), Christianity was more and more accepted, until it became the religion of the Roman Empire at 380 CE (Brown 1991,36). Constantine ruled as an emperor of both Western and Eastern until his death in 337 CE. He transferred the capital from Rome to Byzantine, which he renamed Constantinople (Higgins 2007,76).
- 71. Eastern Orthodox With the capital in Constantinople, the Eastern Roman Empire flourished, but at the cost of the political and military power of the Western Empire (Higgins 2007,76). When the Latin-speaking Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century BCE, Western Christianity developed independently. The Greek-speaking Eastern empire developed its own form of Christianity until 1453. This Eastern Church is called Orthodox Church because they settled on traditional beliefs throughout its reign (Molloy 2005, 374).
- 72. Protestant Reformation With the successful spread and development of the Western Roman Church, they earned financial and political support from the people. At one point, during the construction of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, the papacy was asking for contributions, in return for “indulgence,” which shortens the time that a soul would spend in purgatory. Martin Luther, a German priest, “opposed the idea that anything spiritual can be sold” (Molloy 2005, 386-388).
- 73. As such, he posted on the door of the Castle church of Wittenberg his proposed changed and reforms, in the form of 95 theses. Luther was asked to retract his statements, but he refused to do so. He “affirmed the supreme authority of the scripture and rejected both the papal authority and the binding force of decisions rendered by ecumenical councils” (Higgins 2007, 88).
- 74. Luther pushed for “the right of every individual to radically question and reinterpret Christian belief and practice, “which was called the Protestant Principle (Molloy 2005, 388). There are many kinds of Protestants and here are some of them.
- 75. Martin Luther translated the Christian Bible into German, to allow the liturgical practices to be more open to the people who do not understand Latin. “Over the years, Lutheranism has retained Luther’s original enthusiasm for the Bible, a trust in God, and excellent church music” (Molloy 2005, 389)
- 76. The Protestants seek to find what is essential to the Christian experience. It places great emphasis on the individual’s own ability to establish a personal relationship with God summarized terms of return to simple Christianity, the centrality of Jesus, the guidance of the Bible, the importance of faith, direct relationship with God, and the value of individual judgement.
- 77. Roman Catholics As a response to several Protestants, the Roman Catholic Church started what we call the Catholic Reformation or Counter Reformation, which began with the Council of Trent in 1545. They had to reform some of their own rigid doctrines to respond to the reforms of the Protestants. They affirmed Luther’s conviction that the scripture has binding authority, but the interpretations is entrusted to the Church officials, and not to individuals.
- 78. Salvation is decided to require faith, hope, and love, as well as good deeds (Higgins 2007, 93). As a result of the Protestant Reformation, Catholicism defends the following beliefs and practices: the importance of good works, the value of tradition, a guided interpretation of the Bible, hierarchical authority, veneration of Mary and the saints, and the seven Sacrament.
- 79. ANSWER ME 1. How do the three types of Christianity vary? 2. How do these types or varieties find similarities under the major religion of Christianity?
- 80. 1. What is the important concept that you value from the discussion? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________. 2. What have you discovered about yourself in relation to the beliefs in Christianity? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________.
- 81. Interview a couple in your neighbor about their religion. Ask why they prefer to belong to such religion and what beliefs and practices they value. APPLICATION