Introduction to Christianity

Founding

• 33 AD• Palestine• Jesus of Nazareth– Jewish carpenter

• The Bible – Old Testament – New Testament

Followers

• Christianity is the largest world religion– Why?

• Total: 2 billion people• U.S.: 159 million (2001)– 42% of Americans attend church

Vocabulary

• Places of worship: church, chapel, cathedral, basilica• Spiritual leaders: pastor, minister, reverend, priest,

bishop

• “Twelve Apostles”: twelve original followers of Jesus

• “Gospel of Matthew (Mark, Luke, and John)”: first four “books” of the New Testament

Symbols

Major Beliefs

• One God– The Holy Trinity

• Father• Son• Holy Spirit

• Humans were created good but now born sinful

• Afterlife: resurrection of body and soul, purgatory (Catholic & Orthodox), and eternal heaven or hell

Roman Catholic

• Only accepted church until the late Middle Ages – considers itself the “true” church

• Largest denomination in world (not in U.S.) • Most formal, ritualized• Distinct beliefs:– Pope– Saints– Transubstantiation – body and blood of Christ

Eastern Orthodox

• Began as the eastern half of Christendom, the former Byzantine Empire (“Great Schism”)

• 225 million followers (mostly in Greece, Turkey, and Russia)

• Distinct beliefs:– More abstract and mystical – personal experience– Icons– Seven Ecumenical Councils – leaders

Protestant

• 53% of Americans• Branch of Christianity with multiple

denominations and a wide theological spectrum– Denominations differ in the degree by which they

reject Catholic beliefs (Anglicans and Lutherans are very close; Presbyterian and Baptist retain little of Catholic ceremonies)

• 16th century Protestant Reformation

Major Holidays

• Lent (40-day period prior to Easter)

• Good Friday (last Friday before Easter)

• Easter (Sunday – date varies) – April 8, 2012

• Christmas (December 25)

Leading up to Easter

• Fat Tuesday– Mardi Gras or

Carnival• Lent– 40 days of

fasting or sacrificing a sinful habit

• Good Friday

Easter

• Spring festival that celebrates the central event of the Christian faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death by crucifixion

• The entire liturgical calendar is centered around Easter

Religious Observances

• Special church service (often at sunrise)

• “Christ is risen”

Other Observances

• Easter Bunny– Rabbits and eggs were widely

used pagan symbols

Easter Egg Hunts- Eggs viewed by Christians as symbols of joy and celebration (they were forbidden during the fast of Lent)

Christmas

• Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ• Began to be observed in the late 3rd century

AD as an alternative to pagan winter holidays• Jesus’s Birthday?

Religious Observances• Special worship services (often at night on

Christmas Eve)• Nativity Scene

Christmas Trees

• Christmas Trees– Modern tradition– “Christianization” of

a pagan tradition involving evergreen boughs

Santa Claus

• Santa Claus– A.K.A. Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Kris

Kringle, Old Saint Nick, etc.– Popular image created in late 1800s

Why are we learning this?

• Religion is one of the most important aspects of culture

• Some of the greatest works of art, music and literature have been based on Christianity and the Bible

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