Judaism/Christianity
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Chapter 8 Judaism A history of the Jewish people Torah Sacred practices Holy days Contemporary Judaism Key terms anti-semitism Apocalypse Ashkenazim ghetto haggadah halakhah Hasidim Kabbalah kosher Messiah Midrash minyan mitzvah (plural: mitzvot) Orthodox Judaism Pentateuch Rabbi Reform or Liberal Judaism Sabbath Sephardim Shekhinah synagogue Talmud Tanakh Torah Zionism “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead; inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the entire Torah; the rest is commentary; go and learn it. Hillel the Elder Timeline c. 1900-1700 BCE c. 1300-1200 c. 1010-970 961-931 722 586 c. 535 168 BCE 70 CE c. 90 c. 200 c. 500 1095 c. 1720-1780 1933-1945 1948 CE Abraham, the 1st patriarch Moses frees Israelites from Egypt David, king of Judah and Israel King Solomon builds 1st Temple Northern kingdom of Israel falls Southern kingdom of Judah falls Jews return to Jerusalem Maccabean Revolt Romans destroy 2nd Temple Canon of Tanakh set Mishnah compiled Babylonian Talmud completed Crusaders massacre Jews Enlightenment in Europe Holocaust, World War II State of Israel declared The world of the Hebrew Bible Judaism Judaism, which has no single founder and no central leader or group making theological decisions, is the diverse tradition associated with the Jewish people, who may be defined either as a religious group or as an ethnic group. A History of the Jewish People The Jewish sense of history begins with the stories recounted in the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh Jews hold the “five books of Moses” as the most sacred part of the scriptures The theme of exile reappears continually in the Hebrew Bible, and in later Jewish history the people are rendered homeless again and again Biblical History Begins with the creation of the world by a supreme deity, or God Progresses through: the patriarchs and matriarchs Moses who spoke with God and led the people according to God’s commandments the prophets who heard God’s warnings to those who strayed from the commandments Biblical History After the Tanakh: After the holy center of Judaism, the Temple of Jerusalem, was captured and destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, Jewish history is that of a dispersed people, finding unity in their evolving teachings and traditional practices, which were eventually codified in the great compendium of Jewish law and lore, the Talmud. Biblical Stories From creation to the God of Abraham Hebrew scriptures begin with an account of the creation of heaven and earth by God in six days Covenant A unique belief introduced into Jewish theology was the idea of a special covenantal relationship between the Jewish people and God Early Monotheism Scholars disagree on whether pure monotheism was practiced by the early patriarchs Biblical Stories Israel’s Birth in Struggle The story in which a human being struggles and finally is reborn at a higher level of spirituality has been taken as a metaphor for the spiritual evolution of the people of Israel Egypt: Bondage and Exodus According to the scriptural Book of Exodus, Moses was chosen by God to defy the pharaoh and lead the people out of bondage, out of Egypt Biblical Stories From the Wilderness to Canaan Acceptance of the laws given to Moses at Mount Sinai brought a new dimension to the covenant between God and Israel Carrying the ark representing this covenant, the Israelites had to wander for forty years through the desert before they could re-enter the promised land, fertile Canaan, which at that time belonged to other peoples Moses parts the Red Sea in a 10th-century Byzantine manuscript illumination. Biblical Stories The First Temple of Jerusalem David, the second king of Israel, is remembered as Israel’s greatest king Under the reign of King Solomon (son of David), a great temple was built in Jerusalem The temple became the central place for sacrifice in Judaism In 586 BCE the great walls of Jerusalem were battered down and its buildings put to the torch by the Babylonians Return to Jerusalem • After fifty years of exile in Babylon, a small group of devoted Jews returned to their holy city and land, now called Judaea. • King Cyrus authorized the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem, which was completed in 515 BCE. • The second temple became the central symbol to a scattered Jewish nation. Three Sects Under the Hasmonean kings, three sects of Jews formed in Judaea: Sadducees: priests and wealthy businesspeople, conservatives intent on preserving the letter of the law Pharisees: more liberal citizens from all classes who sought to study the applications of the Torah to everyday life A third general movement was uncompromising in its piety and its disgust with what it considered a corrupted priesthood Revolts Spurred by anti-Roman militias called Zealots, some Jews rose up in armed rebellion against Rome in 66 CE The rebellion was suppressed, and the Jewish defenders were slaughtered in the holy walled city of Jerusalem In 70 CE A second ultimately disastrous revolt followed in 132 CE Judaea was renamed Palestine after the ancient Philistines. Judaism no longer had a physical heart or a geographic center Rabbinic Judaism Rabbis and the messianic movement survived the destruction of Judaea Rabbis: inheritors of the Pharisee tradition founders of rabbinic Judaism, which has defined the major forms of Jewish practice over the last 2,000 years teachers, religious decision-makers, and creators of liturgical prayer The messianic movement : formed around Jesus of Nazareth, later known as Christianity Rabbis’ Work The rabbis: • thoroughly interpret Hebrew scriptures • apply the biblical teachings to their contemporary lives, in very different cultural circumstances from those of the ancients • interpret scripture in ways acceptable to contemporary values Judaism in the Middle Ages In the early centuries of the Common Era, the Jewish population of the land of Israel declined Life under Islamic rule was intellectually exciting for the Jewish community From time to time Jews were threatened by intolerant Muslim rulers and were forced to flee to other territories Jews who lived in Christian countries became expendable, and throughout the later Middle Ages there was a steady pattern of expulsions of Jews from countries in which they had long lived Beginning in 1095, Jews became victims of mobs of Christian crusaders There was deterioration of Jewish life in western Europe in the twelfth through seventeenth centuries Mystical Yearning Kabbalah Hasidism Judaism and Modernity “Enlightenment Jews” Orthodox Judaism Reform Judaism Today, the United States, with approximately six million Jews, has the largest Jewish population in the world. After World War I In the aftermath of Germany’s defeat in World War I and the desperate economic conditions that followed, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party bolstered its popular support by blaming the Jews for all of Germany’s problems With Hitler’s rise to power, acts of violence against Jews in Germany were instigated Laws were passed that separated Jews from the rest of the population and deprived them of their legal and economic rights By 1942, large-scale death camps had been set up by the Nazis to facilitate the “final solution” The Holocaust For many Jews the defining event of the twentieth century was the Holocaust, the murder of almost six million European Jews by the Nazi leadership of Germany during World War II These Jews constituted over a third of the Jewish people in the world and half of all Jews in Europe. Holocaust monument, Miami, Florida Zionism and Contemporary Israel Zionism is the Jewish movement dedicated to the establishment of a politically viable, internationally recognized Jewish state in the biblical land of Israel In 1947 the United Nations decided to partition Palestine into two areas, one to be governed by Jews and the other by Arabs with Jerusalem an international zone The Arabs did not accept the partition In 1948 Israel was declared an independent Jewish state with full rights for minorities As soon as British troops moved out, Israel was attacked by its Arab neighbors—Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt From time to time, a negotiated peace has seemed almost possible, but it has not yet happened Torah Jewish teachings are known as the Torah The one God Love for God The sacredness of human life Law Suffering and Faith Sacred Practices scriptural study remembering God in all aspects of life ritual circumcision what one eats is of cosmic significance giving thanks continually the Sabbath Bar Mitzvah California family prays over challah before the Sabbath meal. Holy Days Judaism follows an ancient lunar calendar of annual holidays and memorials linked to special events in history: Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur Sukkot Hanukkah Purim Passover Holocaust Remembrance Day Shavuot Worshippers blow shofaroth on Rosh Hashanah in Jerusalem. Contemporary Judaism Historic ethnic lines: Ashkenazim Sephardim Distinctions among Jews who are religiously observant: Orthodox Reform Conservative Jewish Feminism Some feminists are coming back to religious observance Since the mid-twentieth century, women have taken an active role in claiming their rights to full religious participation They are redefining Judaism from a feminist perspective Jewish Renewal Both men and women from varied backgrounds are being attracted to newly revitalized expressions of Jewish spirituality, and conversions to Judaism seem to be increasing. Ancient Israel 2000 BCE – Abraham is called from Ur in Mesopotamia to Canaan by Yahweh 1600 BCE – Hebrews leave Canaan for Egypt 1250 BCE – Moses and Hebrews leave Egypt (Exodus) and return to Canaan 1000 stBCE – Israelites establish a monarchy under Saul – the 1 Hebrew King 1000 – 961 BCE – David is King 961 – 922 BCE – Solomon is King 922 BCE – Kingdom splits into 2 – Israel and Judah 722 BCE – Israel falls to the Assyrians 600 -550 BCE – Hebrew Torah and other Holy writings are compiled into their final form 587 BCE – Judah falls to Chaldaeans under Nebuchadnezzar II and the Hebrews are enslaved and taken to Babylon (Babylonian Captivity) 539 BCE – Persians conquer Chaldaeans and return Hebrews to homeland 500 BCE – Hebrews rebuild Temple to Yahweh (2nd temple period) 70-72 CE – 1st Jewish Rebellion against Roman rule – Romans take Jerusalem and destroy the 2nd Temple under Titus 115-117 CE – 2nd Jewish rebellion against Rome – Romans destroy Jerusalem, ban Jews from entering the city, and then remove them from Judah and place them all over the Roman Empire (Diaspora). 117 CE – Jerusalem is renamed Aelius Capitolinus and a new Temple of Venus is built where the Temple was JUDAISM Judaism is the religious culture of the Jewish People and is one of the world's oldest religions. Judaism makes up the cultural system of Jewish law, custom, and practice of the whole individual and community. It is a system in which everyone is under God's rule. Judaism originated in the Middle East and has spread throughout all parts of the world because of both voluntary migrations and forced exile or expulsions. The total world Jewish population is about 15 million, most of whom live in the United States, Israel, and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republic. CENTRAL BELIEFS With the many historical forms of Judaism, they all share similar characteristics. The most essential characteristic is the belief in one God who created the universe and continues to rule it. The God who created the world revealed himself to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. The content of that revelation makes up the Torah, God's will for humankind stated in his commandments. A second major concept in Judaism is that of the covenant, or agreement, between God and the Jewish people. The Jews would acknowledge God, agreeing to obey his laws. God, in turn, would acknowledge Israel as his chosen people. The Bible is the word of God CENTRAL BELIEFS Jewish People believe that goodness and obedience will be rewarded and sin punished by God’s judgment after death. Then at the end of times, God will send his Messiah to redeem the Jews and deliver them to their Promised Land. Although all forms of Judaism come from the Hebrew bible, Judaism is mainly derived from the rabbinic movement during the first centuries of the Christian era. At the turn of the 3rd century, the rabbis, or Jewish sages, produced the Mishnah, the earliest document of rabbinic literature. TYPES OF JUDAISM In North America today, the four main branches of Judaism are Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. Within these denominations themselves, however, there is a great degree of variation in practice and observance. TYPES OF JUDAISM Orthodox - is the modern classification for the traditional section of Jewry that upholds the halakhic way of life as illustrated in a divinely ordained Torah. Halakha refers to the legal aspect of Judaism, and is also used to indicate a definitive ruling in any particular area of Jewish law. It includes extreme orthodoxy which is called Chasidim/Chasidic Torah is literal word of God. TYPES OF JUDAISM Reform Judaism (also known as Liberal or Progressive Judaism) - subjects religious law and customs to human judgment, attempting to differentiate between the facets of the Torah that are divine mandate and those that are specific to the time in which they were written. TYPES OF JUDAISM Conservative Judaism - developed mainly in the twentieth century as a reaction to Reform Judaism's liberalism. It sought to conserve tradition by applying new, historical methods of study within the boundaries of Jewish law to the mainstream of American society. It is the largest denomination of the four. TYPES OF JUDAISM Reconstructionism - is the most recent denomination within Judaism, and, rejecting the assertion that the Torah was given to Moses at Mount Sinai, views Judaism as a continual process of evolution, incorporating the inherited Jewish beliefs and traditions with the needs of the modern world. TYPES OF JUDAISM In addition to the four main branches, there are several other noteworthy Jewish movements. Jewish Renewal is a transdenominational movement grounded in Judaism's prophetic and mystical traditions. It seeks to restore the spiritual vitality of the 19th century Hasidic movement, yet like the Reconstructionist movement, believes that Judaism is an evolving religious civilization. Therefore, Jewish Renewal regards men and women as fully equal and welcomes homosexuals and converts. TYPES OF JUDAISM Secular Humanistic Judaism is a movement begun in the 1960s which embraces "a human-centered philosophy that combines rational thinking with a celebration of Jewish culture and identity." In the Humanistic Jewish view, the focus is not on a relationship with God or religious ritual but in a belief that the "secular roots of Jewish life are as important as the religious ones." The emphasis is therefore placed on celebrating the Jewish human experience, and Jewish tradition, culture, ethics, values, and relationships. MESSIAH In Judaism, the Messiah or the Anointed One is the Hebrew name for the promised deliverer of humanity. A human ruler that will free Israel and bring redemption. Christians accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah. However, the Jewish religion contends that the Messiah is yet to come and Jesus Christ was a false prophet, a blasphemer. Worship and Practices From tradition, Jewish people pray in a congregation three times a day. The study of Torah, the revealed will of God, also is considered an act of worship. The Torah is read religiously each Sabbath. The Sabbath is spent in prayer, study, rest, and family feasting. Over the course of a year, the entire Torah will be read on Sabbath and festival days. The Jewish year includes five major festivals— Passover, Shabuoth, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur— and two minor ones— Hanukkah and Purim. JEWISH HOLY DAYS Yom Kippur is a holiday that falls on the tenth day of the month of Tishri in the Jewish calendar. (September or October on the American calendar.) It is the most important day of the Ten Penitential Days, which begins the New Year. Yom Kippur is the most sacred of all Jewish holidays. Yom Kippur is a day for confession, repentance, and prayers for forgiveness of wrongdoings committed during the year against God and His covenant. It is also the day in which a Jewish person’s fate is set for the upcoming year. Jewish people spend the day fasting and almost never ending prayer. JEWISH HOLY DAYS Chanukkah is an annual Jewish festival celebrated throughout eight consecutive days. It is celebrated on the 25th day in the Jewish month of Kislev, which usually falls in December. It includes minor gift giving, playing traditional games and prayer. Hanukkah honors the rededication of the Jewish faith to God after years of being oppressed by the Greek king of Syria and Palestine. JEWISH HOLY DAYS The Festival of Sukkot begins on Tishri 15, the fifth day after Yom Kippur. It is quite a drastic transition, from one of the most solemn holidays in our year to one of the most joyous. This festival is sometimes referred to as Zeman Simkhateinu, the Season of our Rejoicing. Sukkot lasts for seven days. The two days following the festival are separate holidays, but are commonly thought of as part of Sukkot. The word "Sukkot" means "booths," and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this holiday. It refers to the 40 years of wandering in the desert living in temporary shelters. These are made in the home now where all meals are taking during the festival. The name of the holiday is frequently translated "The Feast of Tabernacles," which, like many translations of technical Jewish terms, isn't terribly useful unless you already know what the term is referring to. It is an originally agricultural festival, celebrating the harvest. JEWISH HOLY DAYS Shabuoth (Shavuot), the Festival of Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). It is also called Pentecost (as it is 50 days after Passover) Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torajh at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah). JEWISH HOLY DAYS Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance . Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Passover observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15. It is the most well known as well, since it is supposedly at Passover that Jesus had the Last Supper meal (seder). JEWISH HOLY DAYS Rosh Hoshana is Jewish New Year, the first two days of the month of Tishrei (usually September). It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve Begins with the sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) Some Jews believe God decides each who will live , who will die and even the continued existence of the universe is decided on these days JEWISH HOLY DAYS Purim is the Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of Jews in Persia by Esther from Haman’s plot to destroy them as described in the biblical book of Esther. Held in late winter (between Hanukkah and Passover), on the 14th of Adar (usually March). The day before one is supposed to fast as Esther did before she met with the Persian king (her husband) to stop Haman’s massacre On the 14th one is to drink and be merry, to dress up in costumes, to hold beauty contests, etc. all to blot out the memory of Haman – sort of a Jewish Mardi Gras/Halloween Mitzvots Mitzvots – are the commandments in the Bible There are not 10 – there are 613 Most are found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy but some are in Exodus and a few in Genesis To see them all: http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm Some for fun Not to indulge in familiarities with relatives, such as kissing, embracing, winking, skipping, which may lead to incest (Lev. 18:6) Not to commit sodomy with one's father (Lev. 18:7) Not to have intercourse with a woman, in her menstrual period (Lev. 18:19) Not to castrate the male of any species; neither a man, nor a domestic or wild beast, nor a fowl (Lev. 22:24) Some more for fun Not to eat flesh with milk (Ex. 34:26) Not to eat the flesh of an ox that was condemned to be stoned (Ex. 21:28) Not to compel the Hebrew servant to do the work of a slave (Lev. 25:39) To keep the Canaanite slave forever (Lev. 25:46) That the violator (of an unbetrothed virgin) shall marry her (Deut. 22:28-29) Not to wear garments made of wool and linen mixed together (Deut. 22:11) That a man, having a running issue, defiles (Lev. 15:1-15) To exterminate the seven Canaanite nations from the land of Israel (Deut. 20:17) Chapter 9 Christianity Historical evidence Sacred practices Evidence of the Bible Contemporary trends The life and teachings of Jesus The early Church Church administration Intellectual revival and monasticism Medieval mysticism The Protestant Reformation The Roman Catholic Reformation Liberal trends The Second Vatican Council The Orthodox world today Central beliefs in contemporary Christianity Key terms apocalypse Ascension baptism Common Era confirmation creed crucifixion denomination dogma ecumenism Eucharist fundamentalism Gentile Gnosticism Gospel Holy Trinity incarnation Inquisition Messiah original sin parable Pentecost pope Resurrection sacrament synod Synoptic “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?” Matthew 6:25-27 “There is but one person in the poor--Jesus. To be able to love him with undivided love we take a vow of poverty which frees us from all material possessions. We bind ourselves to be one of [the poor], to depend solely on divine providence, to have nothing, yet possess all things in possessing Christ.” Mother Teresa Timeline c. 4 BCE-33 CE c. 50-60 CE c. 150 306-337 325 354-430 c.480-542 1054 1095-1291 1232 1453 1517 1545-1563 c. 1720-1780 1962-1965 Life of Jesus St. Paul organizes early Christians Last New Testament writings Constantine sponsors Christianity Council of Nicaea affirms Jesus’ divinity St. Augustine formulates Western doctrine St. Benedict defines Western monasticism Orthodox and Catholics split The Crusades The Inquisitions begin Gutenberg prints the Bible Martin Luther publishes 95 Theses Council of Trent The Enlightenment in Europe The 2nd Vatican Council Approximate distribution of Christians in the world today Christianity Christianity is a faith based on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Andrei Rublev’s The Holy Trinity is the most developed form of the Russian genre of God’s appearance to Abraham at Mamre. Historical Evidence There is very little historical proof of the life of Jesus, but extensive scholarly research has turned up some shreds of evidence While historical evidence of the life of Jesus is very skimpy, more is known about the milieu into which he was born Evidence of the Bible Many Christians feel that the true story of Jesus can be found in the Bible Given the textual complexity of the Bible, some Christians have attempted to clarify what Jesus taught and how he lived, so that people might truly follow him Biblical Texts Christian beliefs about the life and teachings of Jesus are especially founded on biblical texts first four books of the New Testament: Matthew John, Mark and Luke written about forty to sixty years after Jesus’ death based on the oral transmission of the stories and discourses, which may have been influenced by the growing split between Christians and Jews The Life and Teaching of Jesus The stories of the New Testament are important to Christians as the foundation of their faith The Life and Teaching of Jesus Birth Jesus is the divine Son of God who “became flesh” by being conceived and born as a human being Preparation According to all four gospels, at the age of about thirty Jesus appeared before John to be baptized After being baptized, Jesus reportedly undertook a forty-day retreat in the desert wilderness, fasting The Life and Teaching of Jesus Ministry Jesus warned his disciples that they would have to leave all their possessions and human attachments to follow Jesus is said to have performed many miracles It was his mission to gather everyone together who could be saved Jesus: preached and lived by radical ethics extended the application of Jewish laws taught love preached that God is forgiving to those who repent The Life and Teaching of Jesus Challenges to the Authorities Herod Antipas may have been concerned that Jesus might be a troublemaker According to the gospels, Jesus was also regarded with suspicion by prominent Jewish groups Jesus seems not to have challenged Mosaic law but, rather, its interpretations in the evolving rabbinic traditions and the hypocrisy of some of those who claimed to be living by the law Jesus is said to have also confronted the commercial interests in the Temple of Jerusalem The Life and Teaching of Jesus Crucifixion The anti-institutional tenor of Jesus’ teachings did not endear him to those in power At the Last Supper, he is said to have given instructions for a ceremony with bread and wine to be performed thenceforth to maintain an ongoing communion with him Jesus was accused of having attributed divinity to himself and thus showing a lack of reverence for God, a crime punishable by death according to Jewish law Pilate turns him over to his military guard for execution by crucifixion, a form of death by torture widely used within the Roman Empire Rembrandt, The Three Crosses The Life and Teaching of Jesus Resurrection and Ascension It was the Resurrection that turned defeat into victory for Jesus, and discouragement into hope for his followers The Resurrection became the basis for the Christian hope of salvation through belief in Jesus Some Christians believe that Jesus miraculously ascended bodily into the highest heaven, an invisible realm in the sky where God is sitting with Jesus beside him, as an advocate for his faithful followers Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension give rise to the Christian belief in life after death for those who believe in God The Early Church Testing their faith, persecution became the lot of Jesus’ followers By 380 CE, despite strong opposition, Christianity became the official religion of the vast Roman Empire The earliest years of what became the mainstream of Christianity are described in the New Testament books that follow the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus Evolving Organization and Theology By the end of the first century CE, Christianity had a bureaucracy that carried on the rites of the Church and attempted to define mainstream Christianity, denigrating trends that it judged heretical Early Monasticism Alongside the development of doctrine and the consolidation of Church structure, another trend was developing Some Christians were turning away from the world to live in solitary communion with God, as ascetics Church Administration Late first and early second centuries CE Some men and women had followed a charismatic Christian life, leaving home to preach, baptize, prophesy, and perhaps die as martyrs; others had moved toward an institutionalized patriarchal Church Beginning of the second century CE A consolidation of spiritual power had begun with the designation of specific people to serve as clergy and bishops (superintendents) to administer the Church affairs of each city or region East-West Division The eastern part of Christendom did not accept the absolute claims of the papacy By the early Middle Ages, there were also doctrinal disagreements Social Chaos and the Papacy In the Western Church, centralization of power under the pope became a major unifying element in the Europe of the Middle Ages Intellectual Revival and Monasticism Twelfth and thirteenth centuries: Great universities developed in Europe, often from cathedral schools. Theology was considered the greatest of the sciences. Soaring Gothic cathedrals were built to uplift the soul to heavenly heights. The yearning for spiritual purity was particularly pronounced in monasticism. It was largely through monks and nuns that Christian spirituality survived and spread. Priests chant in the 12th-century St. George Church in Ethiopia. Medieval Mysticism Mysticism also flowered during the Middle Ages, renewing the spiritual heart of the Church The Protestant Reformation Despite the genuine piety of individuals within the Catholic Church, some who clashed with its authority claimed that those in power seemed often to have lost touch with their own spiritual tradition Reformists Martin Luther Ulrich Zwingli John Calvin Differences Between Protestants and Roman Catholics Despite the great diversity among Protestant denominations, most share several characteristics that distinguish them somewhat from Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism The Roman Catholic Reformation The Protestant phenomena provoked the Roman Catholic Church to clarify its own position through councils of bishops It attempted to: legislate moral reform among the clergy tighten the Church administration recognize officially the absolute authority of the pope as the earthly vicar of God and Jesus Christ Liberal Trends Major potential threats to Christianity arose during the eighteenthcentury Enlightenment in Europe Intellectual circles exalted human reason and on this basis rejected faith in biblical miracles and revelations The Second Vatican Council Convened by Pope John XXIII in 1962 Purposes: updating and energizing the Church making the Church serve the people better as a living force in the modern world rather than being an old, embattled citadel The Orthodox World Today Fifteen self-governing Orthodox Churches worldwide, each having its own leader, known as patriarch, metropolitan, or archbishop The majority of Orthodox Christians now live in Russia, the Balkan states, and eastern Europe Largest of the Eastern Orthodox Churches is the Russian Orthodox Church There is a strong conservative tradition, attempting to preserve the pattern of early Christianity Central Beliefs in Contemporary Christianity Jesus was the only incarnation of God Jesus is the Savior of the world, the one whom God sent to redeem people from their sins and reconcile them with God Jesus is seen as a human being showing fellow human beings the way to God God became human in order to lead people back to God The human virtue most often associated with Jesus is love Jesus provides a model of sinlessness The Virgin of Guadalupe, who reportedly appeared soon after the Spanish conquest speaking the Aztec language to an indigenous convert, has been embraced as the patron saint of the Americas. The banner says “Queen of Mexico.” Sacred Practices worship services and sacraments the liturgical contemplative prayer devotion to Mary veneration of saints and angels Contemporary Trends Evangelicalism Spirit-oriented movements The Great Reversal Liberation theology Feminist theology Creation-centered Christianity Ecumenical movement CHRISTIANITY 6-4 BC – BIRTH OF JESUS (COULD BE AS EARLY AS 10 BC) 15-26 AD – VALERIUS GRATUS IS PREFECT OF JUDEA, UNDER TIBERIUS 18-37 AD – CAIAPHAS IS APPOINTED HIGH PRIEST OF THE SANHEDRIN BY VALERIUS GRATUS 24-26 AD – PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS 26-36 AD – PONTIUS PILATE IS PREFECT OF JUDEA, UNDER TIBERIAS 27-29 AD – CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS FOR SEDITION 27-29 AD – PENTECOST OCCURS AND THE CHURCH BEGINS 34 AD – PHILIP CONVERTS FIRST PERSON, AN ETHIOPIAN JEW IN GAZA 35 AD - SAUL OF TARSUS CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY, BECOMES PAUL 39 AD – PETER PREACHES TO THE GENTILES FOR FIRST TIME CHRISTIANITY 42 – Mark goes to Egypt 44 – James, the brother of Jesus, is stoned to death by the Jews for blasphemy 49 - Jerusalem Council held on admitting Gentiles into the Church 51-52 – First written accounts of Christianity – Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians 52 - Apostle Thomas arrives in India and founds church that subsequently becomes Indian Orthodox Church (and its various descendants). 59-62 - Paul journeys to Rome and is imprisoned 60 – Andrew martyred in Greece by crucifixion under Romans for sedition; possible date for Gospels of Mark, Luke and Matthew 64 – Nero begins persecution of Christians for fire in Rome 68 – Paul and Peter are killed under Nero Christianity 70 – Jerusalem and Judea invaded and destroyed by the Romans under Titus 72 - Traditional date of the Apostle Thomas' martyrdom in India 90-95 – John exiled to the island of Patmos (Gospel of John is written) 95 – The Book of Revelations is written 95-120 – All other new testament books and gospels are written 202 – Christians persecuted under Septimus Severus 211 – Christians tolerated under Caracalla 222 – Christians favored under Alevander Severus 230 – Origen defends Christianity with his books 235 – Christians persecuted again under Maximum the Thracian 238 – Christians tolerated under Gordian III Christianity 244 – Christians favored under Philip the Arab 251 – Cyprian writes On the Unity of the Catholic Church 303 - Diocletian begins the Great Persecution – kills Christians, priests, bishops, popes and even churches and structures are destroyed. 312 – Constantine defeats Maxentius and becomes sole Roman Empereror 313 – Constantine issues the Edict of Milan – ordering the toleration of all religions (including Christianity) 325 – Council of Nicea is called and the dogma of the Christian faith is voted on by various bishops. Constantine is in charge of the proceedings. Christ’s divinity is voted on, as well as which books to call Gospels, etc. Christianity 336 – Constantine converts to Christianity, then dies becoming first Christian emperor. 381 – First Council of Constantinople – called by Emperor Theodosius – it included a restatement of the Nicene Creed and fully established the concept of the Trinity as one. It outlawed Arianism (Jesus did not exist until his birth) as heresy. 395 – Edict of Theodosius – outlaws all religions except Christianity in the entire Roman Empire 400 – The Bible is translated into Latin from Greek by St. Jerome 418 – Council of Africa – led by Augustine- condemned Donatists (who claimed people who converted under persecution could not be priests) and the Pelagians (who claimed that sin could beavoided and we men were not born with original sin). Original sin becomes an official dogma as does repentance and forgiveness. Christianity 451 – Council of Chalcedon – called by Emperor Anatolius - called to condemn Nestorianism (claimed Christ was part human and part divine), Leads to doctrine that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man at the same time 1054 – Great Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity (Catholic is only kind at this time). First break up of Catholic Church. Over a phrase in the Nicene creed and in clergy marriage. 1122 – Concordat of Worms – separates the Church from local governments 1123 – First Lateran Council - banned clerical marriage 1139 – Second Lateran Council – banned nuns and monks from singing together in church 1160-1180 – Purgatory becomes part of the Christian doctrine (a place between heaven and hell where one waits to be judged) 1179 – Third Lateran Council – banned the Waldensian and Cathar heresy (earthly things are evil including the body). Only cardinals can now elect the Pope. Christianity 1215 – Fourth Lateran Council – created dogma of Tran-substantion (the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Christ) 1517 – Martin Luther nails his 99 Theses to the Church in Wittenburg, Germany – officially begin the Protestant Movement of Christianity. The Catholic Church would no longer be the only kind of Christianity 1534 – Henry VIII creates the Anglican Church (to get divorced) 1536 – John Calvin starts new Christian Church in Switzerland 1517-1600 – Protestant Reformation 1563-1648 – Catholic Counter-Reformation – reaction against Protestantism to return the Catholic Church to prestige; boom in church building and patronage of the arts; Jesuits are created to convert people back Christianity 1609 – The Baptist faith begins under John Smyth 1611 – King James version of the Bible is printed in English 1729 – The Methodist faith begins under John Wesley 1730-1755 – First Great Awakening – Christ’s return is awaited, repent. Mainly occurs in British colonies. Focus on guilt for sin, repentance. Congregationalist and Presbyterian Churches develop alongside Dutch Reformed (Amish). 1790-1840 – Second Great Awakening – Christ’s return is imminent, repent. People can be saved through religious revivals only, not through good works. Beginnings of evangelical Christianity. Mormon religion established by Joseph Smith. Only in the U.S. 1850-1900 – Third Great Awakening – After cleaning up the world, then Christ will come. American Protestant Christians start social programs to reform the US, then the world. Proselytizing and evangelizing the US and the world will bring about Christ’s return. Church of Christ Scientists, Salvation Army, Pentecostals and the Jehovah’s Witnesses begin. Christianity 1854 – The dogma of the Immaculate Conception (Mary was born without original sin, hence so was Jesus) is declared by Pope Pius 1868 – Vatican Council – declaration of Papal Infallibility (Pope is direct link to God and cannot be wring if issuing a Papal Bull) 1960-1980 – Fourth Great Awakening – Jesus is coming and boy is he pissed. Only took place in the U.S. Evangelical and fundamentalist movements push aside the more traditional churches and beliefs to enforce religion on society to bring back an angry Christ to seek vengeance on those who did not adhere to their faith 1962- 1965 – Second Vatican Council – declaration that Jews are not accursed people or to be blamed for Christ’s death; claims the Catholic Church is the true church, but there are other Truths to be found outside of it; permission granted to say mass in languages of the country rather than only Latin Major Types of Christianity Roman Catholic Eastern Catholic Byzantine Catholic Greek Orthodox Russian Orthodox Arianism Catharism Gnostic Lutheran Anglican/Episcopalian Calvinism Quakers Dutch Reform Methodist Baptist Anabaptist Unitarian Mormon Jehovah’s Witnesses Evangelical Pentecostal Seventh Day Adventists Presbyterian Congregationalist Southern Baptists Jesus Movement In the US alone, there are over 33,000 different denominations Basic Tenets of Christianity 1) Belief in one God 2) Belief in the trinitarian nature of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) 3) The Bible (Old and New Testaments) is the final revelation of God (except the Mormons who also have the Book of Mormon) 4) The death and resurrection of Jesus are real events 5) The Second Coming (Parousia) of Christ to judge 6) Life after death in either salvation or punishment (heaven or hell) 7) Everyone is born into sin because of Eve and Adam’s Fall 8) Baptism to enter the faith and cleanse of sin Branches of Christianity have 1000s of other tenets but these are the 8 they all share in common Basic Tenets of Catholic Immaculate Conception – both Mary and Jesus were born without original sin Prayer to and adoration of Saints for intercession in heaven The host and wine transubstantiate into the literal body and blood of Christ Baptism at birth to cleanse original sin, re-baptism at age of reason (13-15) to accept the Catholic faith Papal infallibility – if the Pope speaks on matters of the faith, he is never wrong Women cannot become priests Clergy cannot marry Science is good (now) – Evolution is not a conflict with God’s creation, dinosaurs are real, the earth is 6 billion years old, etc. Tenets of Evangelical Christianity Humans are naturally unable to make any effort towards salvation. Humans possess free will to accept or reject salvation. Salvation is possible only by God's grace, which cannot be merited (you can’t earn it). No works of human effort can cause or contribute to salvation - known as predestination (God already picked who he would save). God's election is conditional on faith in the sacrifice and Lordship of Jesus Christ (but you have to believe). Christ's atonement was made on behalf of all people (even those who don’t believe). God allows his grace to be resisted by those who freely reject Christ. Believers are able to resist sin but are not beyond the possibility of falling from grace through persistent, unrepentant sin (that way preachers can sin again and again as long as they are eventually sorry). Science is part of the false teachings of Satan (sorry evolution, round earth, speed of light, etc) Christianity vs Science Christianity taught/teaches the earth was flat Christianity taught/teaches the earth is less than 6000 years old Christianity taught/teaches the stars are very close to us/ or the speed of light is false Christianity taught/teaches the sun goes around the earth Christianity taught/teaches that evolution doesn’t happen Christianity taught/teaches that only the earth supports life Christianity banned Aristotle, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler to name a few Christianity banned/bans human dissection Christianity bans stem cell research Some fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mII6-IyaT3o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzf8q9QHfhI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKM_JlCIMak&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSxgnu3Hww8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfZFsXfCy6s&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRLR9jhP_DM&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpV9nHdRiiE&feature=channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmHN3JtyUXg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viw7MpXU4GU&feature=related Similarities with old faiths Osiris (Egypt)– died and resurrected, born December 25 Adonis (Phoenician/Greek) – born in Bethlehem, died and resurrected, forgave sins Tammuz (Sumerian) – died, spent 3 days in hell, and resurrected. Inanna (Ishtar), his wife, went to his tomb to discover it empty, virgin birth Hercules (Greek/Roman) – born of Zeus and human virgin, called “Prince of Peace” Mithras (Persian) – born December 25, virgin birth and Sun god was his father, died and rose 3 days later, crucified on a tree, birth witnessed by shepherds and Magi who brought him gifts, performed many miracles (gave sight, made walk, etc), had a last supper with 12 disciples with bread and wine, sins forgiven Baal (Canaan) – storm god who dies and resurrects with help from his wife Marduk (Assyrian); Attis (Persian); Dionysius (Greek); Melquart (Babylonian); and Eshmun (Philistine) – all were gods who died and resurrected 3 days later Things to consider - slavery However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46) If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve for only six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom. If he was single when he became your slave and then married afterward, only he will go free in the seventh year. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife will be freed with him. If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave, and they had sons or daughters, then the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master. But the slave may plainly declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.' If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever. (Exodus 21:2-6) Things to consider - slavery When a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod so hard that the slave dies under his hand, he shall be punished. If, however, the slave survives for a day or two, he is not to be punished, since the slave is his own property. (Exodus 21:20-21) Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5) Christians who are slaves should give their masters full respect so that the name of God and his teaching will not be shamed. If your master is a Christian, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. You should work all the harder because you are helping another believer by your efforts. Teach these truths, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. (1 Timothy 6:1-2) The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it. "But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given." (Luke 12:47-48) Things to consider – compassion If within the city a man comes upon a maiden who is betrothed, and has relations with her, you shall bring them both out of the gate of the city and there stone them to death: the girl because she did not cry out for help though she was in the city, and the man because he violated his neighbors wife (Deut 22: 23-24). Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12) You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:17) "If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13) A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death. (Leviticus 20:27) Things to consider - compassion Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. (Exodus 21:15) All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:9) If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10) A priest's daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9) Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19) Things to consider - compassion But if this charge is true (that she wasn't a virgin on her wedding night), and evidence of the girls virginity is not found, they shall bring the girl to the entrance of her fathers house and there her townsman shall stone her to death, because she committed a crime against Israel by her unchasteness in her father's house. Thus shall you purge the evil from your midst. (Deuteronomy 22:20-21) Suppose you hear in one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you that some worthless rabble among you have led their fellow citizens astray by encouraging them to worship foreign gods. In such cases, you must examine the facts carefully. If you find it is true and can prove that such a detestable act has occurred among you, you must attack that town and completely destroy all its inhabitants, as well as all the livestock. Then you must pile all the plunder in the middle of the street and burn it. Put the entire town to the torch as a burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town must remain a ruin forever; it may never be rebuilt. Keep none of the plunder that has been set apart for destruction. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger and be merciful to you. He will have compassion on you and make you a great nation, just as he solemnly promised your ancestors. "The LORD your God will be merciful only if you obey him and keep all the commands I am giving you today, doing what is pleasing to him." (Deuteronomy 13:13-19) Things to consider - compassion The LORD then gave these further instructions to Moses: 'Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you to remember that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Yes, keep the Sabbath day, for it is holy. Anyone who desecrates it must die; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. Work six days only, but the seventh day must be a day of total rest. I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.' (Exodus 31:12-15) From there Elisha went up to Bethel. While he was on his way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him. "Go up baldhead," they shouted, "go up baldhead!" The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two shebears came out of the woods and tore forty two of the children to pieces. (2 Kings 2:23-24) Things to consider - compassion Meanwhile, the LORD instructed one of the group of prophets to say to another man, "Strike me!" But the man refused to strike the prophet. Then the prophet told him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me." And sure enough, when he had gone, a lion attacked and killed him. (1 Kings 20:35-36) "Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple." So they began by killing the seventy leaders. "Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded. "Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!" So they went throughout the city and did as they were told." (Ezekiel 9:5-7) Things to consider – role of women 1 Tim. 2:9-14 - In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 1 Cor. 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. Some contradictions God dwells in chosen temples (2 Chron 7:12,16) God dwells not in temples (Acts 7:48) God is seen and heard (Ex 33:23/ Ex 33:11/ Gen 3:9,10/ Gen 32:30/ Is 6:1/Ex 24:9-11) God is invisible and cannot be heard (John 1:18/ John 5:37/ Ex 33:20/ 1 Tim 6:16) Public prayer sanctioned (1 Kings 8:22,54, 9:3 ) Public prayer disapproved (Matt 6:5,6) Man was created after the other animals (Gen 1:25,26,27) Man was created before the other animals (Gen 2:18,19) The father of Joseph, Mary's husband was Jacob (Matt 1:16) The father of Mary's husband was Heli (Luke 3:23) Christ was crucified at the third hour (Mark 15:25) Christ was not crucified until the sixth hour (John 19:14,15) Some contradictions There was but one woman who came to the sepulchre (John 20:1) There were two women who came to the sepulchre (Matt 28:1) There were three women who came to the sepulchre (Mark 16:1) There were more than three women who came to the sepulchre (Luke 24:10) Christ is equal with God John 10:30/ Phil 2:5 Christ is not equal with God John 14:28/ Matt 24:36 The law was superseded by the Christian dispensation Luke 16:16/ Eph 2:15/ Rom 7:6 The law was not superseded by the Christian dispensation Matt 5:17-19 Jesus’ last words My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. It is finished. John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Some thoughts And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22) Think not that I come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Matthew 10:34 ... all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. - Matthew 26:52 For contradictions in the crucifixion tale see: http://atheism.about.com/od/gospelcontradictions/p/Crucifixion.htm Top 10 Fundamentalist 10 - You vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours. 9 - You feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt. 8 - You laugh at polytheists, but you have no problem believing in a Triune God. 7 - Your face turns purple when you hear of the "atrocities" attributed to Allah, but you don't even flinch when hearing about how God/Jehovah slaughtered all the babies of Egypt in "Exodus" and ordered the elimination of entire ethnic groups in "Joshua" including women, children, and trees! 6 - You laugh at Hindu beliefs that deify humans, and Greek claims about gods sleeping with women, but you have no problem believing that the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary, who then gave birth to a man-god who got killed, came back to life and then ascended into the sky. 5 - You are willing to spend your life looking for little loopholes in the scientifically established age of Earth (few billion years), but you find nothing wrong with believing dates recorded by Bronze Age tribesmen sitting in their tents and guessing that Earth is a few generations old. 4 - You believe that the entire population of this planet with the exception of those who share your beliefs -though excluding those in all rival sects - will spend Eternity in an infinite Hell of Suffering. And yet consider your religion the most "tolerant" and "loving." 3 - While modern science, history, geology, biology, and physics have failed to convince you otherwise, some idiot rolling around on the floor speaking in "tongues" may be all the evidence you need to "prove" Christianity. 2 - You define 0.01% as a "high success rate" when it comes to answered prayers. You consider that to be evidence that prayer works. And you think that the remaining 99.99% FAILURE was simply the will of God. 1 - You actually know a lot less than many atheists and agnostics do about the Bible, Christianity, and church history - but still call yourself a Christian. Last thought “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” -Epicurus, Greek philosopher
