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Christianity. Important Elements. One God but exists in the Trinity : God the Father God the Son (God taking human form) The Holy Spirit (the actions of believers) Christians worship in churches . S piritual leaders are called priests or ministers.
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Important Elements • One God but exists in the Trinity: • God the Father • God the Son (God taking human form) • The Holy Spirit (the actions of believers) • Christians worship in churches. • Spiritual leaders are called priests or ministers. • The Bible combining the Old Testament (mostly made up of the Jewish Torah) and the New Testament following the teachings of Jesus • Important days: • Easter – the celebration of Jesus dying on the cross and rebirth • Christmas – the celebration of Jesus’ birth
Important Elements • Justification by faith (belief in Jesus as the Son of God, his death, and his resurrection will give a right relationship with God) • Forgiveness • Trinity • Life after death – Heaven • Saints (Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions primarily) • Prayer – speaking to God
Jesus • Believed by Christians to be • the Messiah promised in the Old Testament (Judaism’s Torah) • the Son of God • sent to earth by God to save humanity from their sins • Gave his life on the Cross (the Crucifixion) and rose from the dead on the third day (Resurrection) • Teachings summarized as the love of God and the love of one’s neighbour
Mary • Seen as the mother of God by some Christian groups
The Church • God’s body on earth – where the Holy Spirit manifests • Nurtures faith on earth • Where Christians are brought together into one body through the Eucharist
Baptism • A commitment to the teachings of Jesus • Often done at birth; sometimes done to adults
Eucharist • Greek word for thanksgiving • AKA Communion • Celebration of Jesus’ final meal with his disciples before his death (the Last Supper) • Bread and wine • Bread represents Jesus’ body • Wine represents Jesus’ blood
The Trinity • God • Only one ~ Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit • Everywhere • Created the universe • Intervenes in the universe • Loves all unconditionally • Gets to know humans through human prayer, worship, love, and mystical experiences
The Trinity • God the Son • Lived on earth as Jesus • Both wholly God and wholly human • Born to a human woman, Mary, but conceived of the Holy Spirit • Subject to pain, suffering, and sorrow like other humans • Executed by Crucifixion • Rose from the dead at the Resurrection • Jesus provides a perfect example of how God wants humans to live • Died on the Cross so that people who believe in him will be forgiven for their sins
The Trinity • The Holy Spirit • After Resurrection, Jesus remained on earth only for a few days before going to Heaven • Fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that he would stay with his followers to guide them • Continues to guide, comfort, and encourage Christians
The Crusades • A series of wars that took place in the Middle Ages between Christians and Muslims over the Holy Lands • Christians believed that the Holy Lands were rightfully theirs despite hundreds of years or more of Muslims peacefully living on these same lands
Relics • An object, particularly a piece of a body (bone, blood, etc) or item used by someone of religious importance • Many Christian groups believe that relics hold significant powers and can heal people of certain ailments The Skull of St Yves
Martin Luther • Important early figure in Christian reform: the Protestant Reformation • Disputed idea that freedom from God’s punishment for sin could be purchased with money • Ninety-Five Theses (1517) • Excommunication (1521) • Salvation and eternity in heaven comes not from good deeds but received as a gift of God’s grace and faith in Jesus as the redeemer of sin
John Calvin • Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536) • Focused on the idea of predestination and the absolute sovereignty of God in salvation of the human soul from death and damnation
Henry VIII • King of England (1509-1547) • One of the leaders of a reform movement against the Church in Rome: The English Reformation • Henry’s role in the English Reformation was more political than theological: • Henry desired annulment of his marriage • Henry was tired of paying taxes to Rome • Henry was tired of the Pope having final say over the appointment of bishops • Believer of the core Catholic teachings