THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
Background
ROOTS OF CHRISTIANITY
Why is it called Christianity?• Jesus of Nazareth
Who was he?• Rabbi in Israel• Teaching radical sets of beliefs
• Love ALL people• Give away your wealth to the poor because they are the most
beloved• “Blessed are the meek” i.e. Be a good person
• Challenges Judaism and Romans
DEVELOPMENT OF CHRISTIANITY
Why did he gain so many followers?• Your social status doesn’t matter• Roman gods – behaving like humans (not inspirational)
• Show devotion through sacrifice ($)
• Judaism – 1st monotheistic religion at this time, Strict hierarchy
Execution• Crucifixion, buried, 3 days later rises
When does he become Christ?• After he rises, walks around and tells people to spread faith, ascends to
heaven
Bible• New testament – Christian story• Old testament – Judaic tradition
THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY
Peter and Paul (canonized)• Peter – goes to Rome
• 1st bishop of Rome• Petrine Doctrine Pope, did not become accepted for ~2 centuries
• Paul – has a vision of Jesus• Travels around Mediterranean to have a cohesive belief system. Letters
to communities
First 200 years• Jews who believed Jesus was the messiah• Paul’s letters explained what it meant to be a Christian
Who was Jesus? Divine? Son of God?• Christians= Christ = son of God• Jews and Muslims = Jesus is a prophet
THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY: ROME
Romans persecute them: thought Christians would destabilize society
because followers tended to be poor• Despite this, it still becomes popular. “Can’t beat them, join em”
312 Emperor Constantine: allows Christianity to become a legal religion
Council of Nicea 325• Church leaders gather to work out differences agree on the
trinity
380 Theodosius: Christianity is the official religion of the empire • Canon Law – Church law. Sanction to persecute non-orthodox.
Church courts. Church becomes formal
PROTESTANT BELIEF CHART
Look over the belief chart
Identify key similarities and differences between
the different branches.