ChristianityChristianity

OriginsOrigins Christianity has Christianity has

a close a close relationship with relationship with JudaismJudaism

Started in Started in present-day present-day IsraelIsrael

Founder was Founder was Jesus of Jesus of Nazareth (4BCE-Nazareth (4BCE-29CE)29CE)

A diverse, 2000 year old religion A diverse, 2000 year old religion followed by almost one third of the followed by almost one third of the world’s population!world’s population!

Based on the life, teachings, death Based on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of a first century Jew and resurrection of a first century Jew known as Jesus, believed to be the known as Jesus, believed to be the Christ (messiah, savior) by his Christ (messiah, savior) by his followers (thus called “Christians”)followers (thus called “Christians”)

What is Christianity?What is Christianity?

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs Jesus is the Messiah- or Jesus is the Messiah- or

SaviorSavior Was crucified for going Was crucified for going

against societyagainst society Jesus rose from the dead Jesus rose from the dead

to save followers from sinto save followers from sin Awaiting the Second Awaiting the Second

Coming of the MessiahComing of the Messiah Compassion, charity, Compassion, charity,

forgivenessforgiveness Bible is holy bookBible is holy book Believe in afterlifeBelieve in afterlife

Born, bred, lived, and died a Jew in first Born, bred, lived, and died a Jew in first century Roman occupied Palestinecentury Roman occupied Palestine

Around age 30, took on a mission of Around age 30, took on a mission of preaching, teaching, and healing as an preaching, teaching, and healing as an itinerant teacheritinerant teacher

Had a following of 12 primary disciples Had a following of 12 primary disciples and countless multitudes attracted by his and countless multitudes attracted by his miracles and words of wisdommiracles and words of wisdom

A political threat to Roman and Jewish A political threat to Roman and Jewish authorities, is put to death through authorities, is put to death through torturous crucifixion (a Roman torturous crucifixion (a Roman punishment)punishment)

Who was Jesus?Who was Jesus?

Old Testament Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible)(the Hebrew Bible)

New Testament New Testament (written after Jesus’ death, (written after Jesus’ death, by his followers, during the first century; not by his followers, during the first century; not canonized until the 4canonized until the 4thth century) century)

Four Four gospelsgospels (“good words”) about the birth, (“good words”) about the birth, life, teaching, acts, death, and resurrection of life, teaching, acts, death, and resurrection of JesusJesus

The The Book of Acts of the apostles Book of Acts of the apostles – earliest – earliest history of the developing churchhistory of the developing church

EpistlesEpistles (“letters”) of Paul and other (“letters”) of Paul and other evangelists addressed to the churches they evangelists addressed to the churches they founded and led throughout the Mediterraneanfounded and led throughout the Mediterranean

The Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation – a vision of the – a vision of the future, the ultimate destiny of mankind, the future, the ultimate destiny of mankind, the culmination of God’s plan for humanityculmination of God’s plan for humanity

Scriptural sources – Scriptural sources – Christian BibleChristian Bible

The “Christ” - born of a virgin in fulfillment of The “Christ” - born of a virgin in fulfillment of Jewish messianic expectation to be “king of the Jewish messianic expectation to be “king of the Jews”Jews”

The “Son of God” – fully divine The “Son of God” – fully divine andand fully human fully human

The savior of humanity – saving us from sin The savior of humanity – saving us from sin through his sacrifice on the crossthrough his sacrifice on the cross

Risen from the dead (resurrection) “on the third Risen from the dead (resurrection) “on the third day” – overcoming death so that we too may day” – overcoming death so that we too may have “eternal life”have “eternal life”

Ascended into heaven, residing with God “the Ascended into heaven, residing with God “the father” to intervene on our behalffather” to intervene on our behalf

Will come again at the “end of days” to judge the Will come again at the “end of days” to judge the living and the deadliving and the dead

What do Christians What do Christians believe? believe?

Original sin: all humanity is inherently Original sin: all humanity is inherently separated from Godseparated from God

The sacrifice of Jesus – a sinless The sacrifice of Jesus – a sinless representative of humanity as the ultimate representative of humanity as the ultimate atonement for the sins of humanityatonement for the sins of humanity

A Missionary Religion- spread their faithA Missionary Religion- spread their faith A Religion of Salvation: Heaven and Hell: A Religion of Salvation: Heaven and Hell:

Eternal life for those who are “saved by the Eternal life for those who are “saved by the blood of the lamb (Jesus)”blood of the lamb (Jesus)”

Eternal damnation for those who are not so Eternal damnation for those who are not so savedsaved

What else do What else do Christians believe?Christians believe?

SectsSects

There have been several There have been several breaks in Christianitybreaks in Christianity

1054: The Great Schism- 1054: The Great Schism- break into Roman break into Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox (break from Orthodox (break from Pope)Pope)

Another break happened Another break happened in 16in 16thth century with the century with the Protestant ReformationProtestant Reformation

Start of Christianity 1054: Eastern Orthodox

branch

16th Cen: Protestant Reformation

Roman Catholic

The Eastern church: Orthodox Christianity The Eastern church: Orthodox Christianity Greek, Russian, Coptic, and other national Greek, Russian, Coptic, and other national

churches of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and churches of Eastern Europe, North Africa, and AsiaAsia

The Western church: Roman CatholicismThe Western church: Roman Catholicism unified under the Pope (bishop of Rome)unified under the Pope (bishop of Rome) found throughout western Europe and the found throughout western Europe and the

AmericasAmericas Over 900 million (half of all Christians worldwide)Over 900 million (half of all Christians worldwide) Protestants will break off of the Roman Catholic Protestants will break off of the Roman Catholic

Branch in the 16Branch in the 16thth Century Century

These two original church bodies officially These two original church bodies officially broke from each other in 1054 CEbroke from each other in 1054 CE

Who are Christians?Who are Christians?

Broke from Catholic church beginning in 16Broke from Catholic church beginning in 16thth centurycentury

Diverse church bodies, denominations, sects, Diverse church bodies, denominations, sects, and independent churches of European and independent churches of European background:background: LutheranLutheran (early 16 (early 16thth century) century) Church of England Church of England (Anglican, Episcopal) (16(Anglican, Episcopal) (16thth

century)century) ““ReformedReformed” churches: Presbyterian, ” churches: Presbyterian,

Congregational, etc. (16Congregational, etc. (16thth century, based on century, based on teachings of John Calvin)teachings of John Calvin)

AnabaptistAnabaptist and other sectarian churches and other sectarian churches break away from these original (“mainline”) break away from these original (“mainline”) churches:churches: Baptist, Methodist, Brethren (Puritan), Baptist, Methodist, Brethren (Puritan),

Mennonite, Amish, Quaker, etc.Mennonite, Amish, Quaker, etc.

What about the What about the Protestants?Protestants?

1919thth and 20 and 20thth century developments include: century developments include: Mormons (1830’s)Mormons (1830’s) Seventh-Day Adventist (1840’s)Seventh-Day Adventist (1840’s) Christian Science and Unity (1880’s)Christian Science and Unity (1880’s) Jehovah’s Witness (20Jehovah’s Witness (20thth century) century) Evangelicals and Pentecostals (20Evangelicals and Pentecostals (20thth century) century) Unification Church (20Unification Church (20thth century, Korean origin) century, Korean origin)

These and other newer sectarian churches are These and other newer sectarian churches are sometimes considered to be “cults” sometimes considered to be “cults”

Also: independent, non-denominational Also: independent, non-denominational churches (generally modeled after Protestant churches (generally modeled after Protestant belief and practice)belief and practice)

Who Who elseelse are Christians? are Christians? --American born Christian American born Christian groupsgroups

Percentage of Christians