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Christianity

Christianity. Fundamental Questions. 1. What is the human condition?

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Christianity

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  1. Christianity

  2. Fundamental Questions 1. What is the human condition? God created humankind in God’s own image. God gave humans free will but, through disobedience, humans are separated from God by original sin. This is expressed in the Bible through the story of Adam and Eve and the Fall. God provided a means of salvation through Jesus Christ. 2. Where are we going? To heaven: eternal union with God To purgatory: a staging post between this world and heaven To hell: separation from God 3. How do we get there? We achieve salvation by: believing in the presence of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit believing in Jesus Christ as Saviour living by the teachings of Jesus participating in the sacraments, as appropriate to the denomination.

  3. Rituals • The Sacraments (7) • Baptism • Holy Eucharist • Reconciliation/ Confession • Confirmation • Marriage • Holy Orders • Last Rites/ Extreme Unction • Sundays • Holidays • Christmas (Advent, Epiphany) • Easter (Lent, Holy Week) • Pentecost

  4. Sacred Texts • The Holy Bible • 66 Books (39 Old / 27 New) • Over 40 authors between 1450 CE and 100 AD • Moses (Pentateuch), Apostle Paul (14 NT) • Moses received message from God at Mt. Sinai and Tabernacle • Apostle Paul was divinely inspired by Jesus Christ • Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek • Translated into over 2000 languages • Catholicism • Seven Deuterocanonical Books (Canon of Trent) • Tobias, Judith, Ecclesiasticus/Sirach, Wisdom of Solomon Baruch, Maccabees I & II • Eastern Orthodox • Anagignoskomena (with Deuterocanon) • Maccabees III, Psalm 151, The Prayer of Manasseh, 3 Esdras

  5. Sacred Texts • Mormonism • The Bible • The Book of Mormon by Joseph Smith • Pearl of Great Price • Doctrine and Covenants • The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

  6. Doctrines and Beliefs • Christianity is a faith based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is believed to be the son of God- both fully divine and fully man. • Jesus Christ is the center of the religion • Jesus resurrected from the dead • Jesus redeems human race • All people have only one life, and eternal destiny in heaven or hell determined by decisions in life

  7. Central Themes within Jesus Christ’s teachings include • love • pacifism • the coming of the end of the age • redemption • human values Christ had 12 followers (apostles) who carried on his message after his death. •Peter designated by Jesus as “rock” assumed by early Christians to be the leader and cornerstone of church. •Tradition claims Peter traveled to Rome and led Christian community there.

  8. Protestant Reformation Causes: •Rise of European nationalism •Emergence of new intellectual systems and learning in the Renaissance •Decline of the papacy’s prestige and authority Consequences: •Destroyed Christianity’s unified hold on European culture and politics •Sparked long period of intra-Christian civil war •Indirectly inspired the creation of modern notions of separation of church-state and the freedom of the individual who conscientiously dissents from the majority Catholic Counter Reformation

  9. Religious Experience • Group • Church • Missionary • Bible Discussion groups/ Sunday Schools • Individual • Emphasises prayer • Completion of Sacraments • Prayer • Personal Relationship with God • Meditation • Conversion • Actively seeks converts • Converts must believe in Jesus Christ and complete the sacraments • Gender • Female involvement in monastic life and the ordained ministry is controversial. • The issue of gender varies between sects.

  10. Ethics and Moral Conduct The Pledge of Allegiance stated “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” In 1954, perhaps to separate ourselves from communist countries, Congress added “under God.” The Pledge of Allegiance has been under some scrutiny in the past decade. Some feel that the phrase “under God” violates students’ rights. Many feel that mentioning God is a reference back to our country’s founding. America was founded by religious refugees and should be recognized and remembered in our Pledge of Allegiance. Other people think that the phrase discriminates by creed. “Under God” alienates atheists and suggests that they aren’t patriotic. A family in Boston challenged the Pledge of Allegiance in court. The case reached the Massachusetts Supreme Court in September of 2013. The Court has not yet reached a decision.

  11. The Bible explains that those who represent God when He is unpopular will be saved. Romans 1:16 states: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believeth” For this reason most Christians stand by keeping God in the Pledge. However, the Bible also states that everyone should not fight. 2 Timothy 2:24 reads, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all” If the Pledge were to be changed by the government, according to Romans 13:2, Christians are not supposed to fight back “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed.”

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