Christian Traditions

1. Christian Traditions Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. REL 117Introduction to World Religions Berea College Spring 2005

2. WHO IS A CHRISTIAN? • Christian = from Greek Christos, “Anointed One” – translation of Hebrew Messiah and traditional title of Jesus, 1st century CE Jewish teacher • For almost all of their tradition’s history, Christians have been preoccupied with answering the question, “Who is a Christian?” • In spite of their unrivaled diversity, most Christians today would agree that what unites them is their belief in Jesus as God’s unique incarnation in history in order to restore humanity’s relationship with God

3. ANCIENT ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITY • Jesus (Hebrew Yeshua): • Born to poor Jewish family of craftsmen based in obscure town of Nazareth, c. 4 BCE • Became a wandering rabbi who healed and taught Torah in public • Claimed to understand God and God’s plan for humanity in radically new way • Taught necessity of moral perfection, casual attitude toward ritual purity, “blessedness” of society’s outcasts, and nonviolence as best means of resolving social conflicts • Ran afoul of Roman authorities and was executed, c. 29 CE • Experienced as a resurrected being by his followers, who called him Messiah

4. For some early Christians, Jesus is God’s “suffering servant” who bears the sins of Israel (Isaiah 55:6) For others, Jesus is God himself, incarnated “in the form of a slave” (Philippians 2:6-7) Many of those who regard Jesus as God incarnate believe that he has been “raised from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20) and that he “ascended” to God (John 20:17) These various images of Jesus gradually harmonize into a unified “orthodox” (right-believing) view shared by many, but not all, early Christians For other early Christians, Jesus is the teacher of secret knowledge (Greek gnosis) that only the initiated can understand (Gospel of Thomas 70) For still others, Jesus is the new god who has come to sweep away Jewish tradition (including the Hebrew Bible) and the old, inferior Jewish God who made this corrupt material world (Gospel of Marcion 6:17-42) Various “heterodox” (differently-believing) views rivaled orthodox Christianity for several hundred years after the lifetime of Jesus WHO IS JESUS?

5. THE GROWTH OF CHRISTIAN INSTITUTIONS • As more non-Jews (Gentiles) became Christians, the initial tolerance extended by the Roman state (on the grounds that Christianity was a Jewish sect) faded and persecution ensued • Constantine (274?-337 CE), heir to the Roman throne, sees Christian symbols in a vision prior to a successful battle, and declares orthodox Christianity to be a tolerable religion afterwards • One of his successors, Theodosius I (346-395 CE), extended this toleration by establishing orthodox Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire • Sudden change in status facilitates development of consensus regarding doctrine, institutions, and scriptures

6. 325: Orthodox bishops (Greek episkopoi) agree on concept of God as Trinity, which they saw as implied in early Christian writings: God as “Father” (creator – God of Hebrew Bible and early Christian texts) God as “Son” (redeemer – Jesus as Christos) God as “Spirit” (sustainer – comforting presence available to Christians after Jesus’ ascension) 340: Early collection of authoritative Christian texts (Greek kanon) developed – does not include Revelation, James, Jude, 2 Peter, or 2 or 3 John 397: Modern New Testament canon of 27 books ratified by Synod of Carthage 476: Western Roman Empire collapses; monasticism becomes popular as protest against worldliness and escape from social disorder 1054: “Great Schism” -- after years of tension, leaders of Eastern and Roman Christian churches excommunicate each other 1095-1291: Roman Christians “crusade” against Jews, Muslims, and Eastern Christians in Middle East POST-CONSTANTINIAN DEVELOPMENTS

7. REFORM MOVEMENTS • By late 1400s, serious questions about doctrinal and institutional matters in Roman Church emerge • Various priests and bishops seek to reform, not split, the Church: • Martin Luther (1483-1546) – rejects Church-mediated aids to salvation, insists on sola fides (“faith alone”) and sola scriptura (“scripture alone”) • Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) – rejects authority of Pope over English Christians, insists on worship in English instead of Latin and use of English Bible • Jean Calvin (1509-1564) – rejects idea that humans play an active role in their salvation, insists on absolute power of God to save or damn

8. CHRISTIANITY SINCE THE REFORMATION • Between 1500s and 1800s, Catholics and Protestants compete in effort to convert non-Christians in Africa, Americas, and Asia – sometimes by force (against converts and each other) • In the meantime, new forms of Protestantism have been appearing ever since the Reformation • 1960-1965: Second Vatican Council leads to easing of Catholic-Protestant tensions, use of local language in Catholic worship, and greater roles for laypersons • Most significant change in Christianity since Reformation: shift in global majority of Christians from Western Europe to Southern Hemisphere

9. Christians affirm that: Life is linear and finite One omnipotent and loving God created all life, giving humans free will Human choices that prioritize self over God (sin) lead to alienation and suffering God’s selflessness (in Jesus) overcomes human selfishness (in sin), enabling humans to enjoy God forever after death Two greatest commandments: To love God completely To love others as oneself Christians rely on: Scripture (the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament) – for basic message about who God is and what God wills for humanity Tradition (defined by history and denominational custom) – for ways of worship, structures of authority, etc. Experience (often combined with Reason) – for resolving individual and collective questions about how to live a Christian life TRADITIONAL CHRISTIANGOALS FOR LIVING