Christianity
for Beginners
The Christian Religion
Mike Mazzalongo
Comparing Religions Helps
1. Historical Context
Comparing Religions Helps
1. Historical Context
2. Understanding
Comparing Religions Helps
1. Historical Context
2. Understanding
3. Appreciation
Major Religions of the World
Religion
“..men’s expression of his
acknowledgement of the Divine..”
•
RELIGION
New Age Movement
• Communism
• Naturalism
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1. History of Origins
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1. History of Origins
2. Concept of Deity
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1. History of Origins
2. Concept of Deity
3. Concept of Mankind
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1. History of Origins
2. Concept of Deity
3. Concept of Mankind
4. Concept of Salvation
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1.
2.
3.
4.
History of Origins
Concept of Deity
Concept of Mankind
Concept of Salvation
5. Concept of Worship
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
History of Origins
Concept of Deity
Concept of Mankind
Concept of Salvation
Concept of Worship
6. Recording of Scriptures
Organized Religions Have Certain Features
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
History of Origins
Concept of Deity
Concept of Mankind
Concept of Salvation
Concept of Worship
Recording of Scriptures
7. Basic Geography
Primitive Religions
Features
1. Strong belief in magic.
Primitive Religions
Features
1. Strong belief in magic.
2. No individual god or power.
Primitive Religions
Features
1. Strong belief in magic.
2. No individual god or power.
3. Various forms practiced.
• Animism
• Dynamism
• Fetishism
• Totemism
Primitive Religions
History
•
•
•
•
•
Tribal Groups – 4000 BC
Egyptian Nature & Mystery Cults – 3250 BC
Babylonians – 3000 BC
Greeks – 1000 BC
Romans – 500 BC
Jupiter
Primitive Religions
• Voo-doo – Haiti
• Falungong – China
Major World Religions
TAOISM
• China
• Lao Tze
• (604-517 BC)
• Ying / Yang
• Reject Human Institutions
Major World Religions
TAOISM
CONFUCIANISM
• China
• China
• Lao Tze
• (604-517 BC)
• Kung-Fu-Tze
• Ying / Yang
• (551-487 BC)
• Reject Human
Institutions
• Balanced social
relationships
• Practice developing
social virtues
Major World Religions
TAOISM
CONFUCIANISM
SHINTO
• China
• China
• Japan
• Lao Tze
• Kung-Fu-Tze
• No Founder
• (604-517 BC)
• Ying / Yang
• Reject Human
Institutions
• (551-487 BC)
• Balanced social
relationships
• Practice developing
social virtues
• Veneration of land and
people of Japan as “deities”
• Japanese Supremacy
Major World Religions
TAOISM
CONFUCIANISM
SHINTO
• China
• China
• Japan
• Lao Tze
• Kung-Fu-Tze
• No Founder
• (604-517 BC)
• Ying / Yang
• Reject Human
Institutions
• (551-487 BC)
• Balanced social
relationships
• Practice developing
social virtues
• Veneration of land
and people of
Japan as “deities”
• Japanese
Supremacy
BUDDHISM
• India/China/World
• Siddhartha Gautama
(Buddha) 563-480 BC
• No supreme being but
all are part of whole.
• Nirvana is the cessation
of self.
• Meditation, Yoga, selfdenial, study leads to
Nirvana.
Major World Religions
HINDUISM
• India
• No founder – evolved from nature
religious to social “caste” system.
• Goal of life – “Moksha” (similar to
Nirvana)
• Good deeds, avoiding bad “karma”,
self-denial leads to Moksha.
• May require several lifetimes to reach
desired state (re-incarnation).
Major World Religions
HINDUISM
JAINISM
• India
• India
• No founder
• Nataputta Vardhamana
• “Moksha”
• Bad “karma”
• Re-incarnation.
(599-527 BC)
• Similar to Hinduism &
Buddhism except:
• only way to
Nirvana/Moksha is selfdenial.
• ultimate state maintains
self-identity.
Major World Religions
HINDUISM
JAINISM
SIKHISM
• India
• India
• Pakistan
• No founder
• Nataputta Vardhamana
• Nanak (1469-1558 AD)
• “Moksha”
(599-527 BC)
• Bad “karma”
• Self-denial.
• Re-incarnation.
• Self-identity.
• Combination of Hindu/Muslim ideas
• Rejected “caste” system of Hindus.
• Ruled by Gurus and Required 5 K’s:
1.Kesh
4. Kara
2.Kangha
5. Kirpan
3.Kachh
Major World Religions
ZOROASTRIANISM
• Iran
• Zoroaster
• Based on visions of Zoroaster.
• Monotheist
• Used “fire” in worship.
• Had special envoy “Sadshyant”
every 1000 years.
• “Wise Men” may have been
Zoroastrians.
Major World Religions
ZOROASTRIANISM
ISLAM
• Iran
• Saudi Arabia/World
• Zoroaster
• Mohammed (570-632 AD)
• Based on visions
of Zoroaster.
• Based on the visions of Mohammed written in Koran.
• Monotheist
• Man goes to Paradise based on complete submission to God.
• “fire” in worship.
• Practice submission through 5 Pillars:
• “Sadshyant” every
1000 years.
• “Wise Men” may
have been
Zoroastrians.
1. Confession
4. Fasting
2. Alms
5. Pilgrimage
3. Prayer
• Different groups: Sunnis, Shiites, Soffiis, Bahai,
Black Muslims, Nation of Islam.
Major World Religions
ZOROASTRIANISM
ISLAM
JUDAISM
• Iran
• Saudi Arabia
• Zoroaster
• Israel/World
• Mohammed
• Based on visions
• Based on the
• Abraham (2000 BC)
of Zoroaster.
• Monotheist
• “fire” in worship.
• “Sadshyant” every
1000 years.
• “Wise Men” may
have been
Zoroastrians.
visions written in
Koran.
• Complete
submission to
God.
• 5 Pillars:
• Different groups
• Earliest Monotheistic religion
• The “Chosen People”
• Keeping God’s Laws keeps you as God’s
chosen.
• Three main groups:
• 1. Reform 2. Conservative 3. Orthodox
• No agreement between groups on existence
of afterlife.
Major World Religions
ZOROASTRIANISM
ISLAM
JUDAISM
CHRISTIANITY
• Iran
• Saudi Arabia
• Israel/World
• Zoroaster
• Mohammed
• Abraham
• Based on visions
• Based on the
• Early Monotheistic
•
•
•
•
of Zoroaster.
• Monotheist
• “fire” in worship.
• “Sadshyant” every
1000 years.
• “Wise Men” may
have been
Zoroastrians.
visions written
in Koran.
• Complete
religion
• “Chosen People”
• Keeping Laws
submission to
keeps you as
God.
God’s chosen.
• 5 Pillars:
• Different
groups
• Three main
groups:
• No agreement on
afterlife.
Israel/World
Jesus Christ (4-29+ AD)
Jesus is Jewish Messiah
Miracles, teachings,
resurrection support claims of
personal divinity.
• Jesus’ sacrifice eliminates
mankind’s moral debt to God.
• Christian’s believe in a
conscious, personal, eternal
afterlife.
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
1. Superior Revelation
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
1. Superior Revelation
2.Superior Leader
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
1. Superior Revelation
2. Superior Leader
3.Superior Solutions
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
1. Superior Revelation
2. Superior Leader
3. Superior Solutions
A. Identifies Problem
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
1. Superior Revelation
2. Superior Leader
3. Superior Solutions
A. Identifies Problem
B. Provides a Solution
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
1. Superior Revelation
2. Superior Leader
3. Superior Solutions
A. Identifies Problem
B. Provides a Solution
C. Offers a Better Hope
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
C. Offers a Better Hope
NOW
- Freedom from guilt. - Greater insight.
- Peace of mind.
- Spiritual renewal.
- Loving relationships.
Supremacy of the Christian Religion
C. Offers a Better Hope
AFTER
- Conscious afterlife.
- Freedom from sin/death.
- Personal relationship with God.
Next Lesson
“The Bible”