Early and Medieval Early and Medieval ChristianityChristianity

““Inventing Christianity”Inventing Christianity”

QuestionsQuestions

How did Christianity develop from a Jewish How did Christianity develop from a Jewish sect to a diverse, culturally dominant sect to a diverse, culturally dominant religion?religion?

Who is Jesus of Nazareth? What is his Who is Jesus of Nazareth? What is his significance? Can we answer this question significance? Can we answer this question in different ways?in different ways?

How have women and men contributed to How have women and men contributed to the development of Christianity? How have the development of Christianity? How have they related to each other?they related to each other?

How can ancient writings help you to think How can ancient writings help you to think about your own religious questions?about your own religious questions?

Images of JesusImages of Jesus

ExerciseExercise

Pick an image of Jesus (visual or other) Pick an image of Jesus (visual or other) that you have seen in contemporary that you have seen in contemporary culture.culture. Describe the image.Describe the image. What “message” does it communicate to What “message” does it communicate to

you? you? What is your reaction to the image? What is your reaction to the image? What questions does the image raise for What questions does the image raise for

you?you?

For WednesdayFor Wednesday

Read Chidester ch. 1-2Read Chidester ch. 1-2 Understand the Roman and Jewish Understand the Roman and Jewish

contexts of 1contexts of 1stst century Palestine century Palestine What are the earliest images of Jesus What are the earliest images of Jesus

like?like? What did he teach?What did he teach? What did he do? What did he do?