Christianity

1
Christianity

• World Cultures

2
Origins and History

• Founded by Jesus Christ
• 30 CE, Israel
• The history of Christianity begins in
  first-century Galilee. At that time, the Jews of
  the Holy Land were living under Roman occupation.
  
• Christians believe that the man known as Jesus
  was born in a village near Jerusalem called
  Bethlehem.

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Life of Jesus

• One of the most important concepts in
  Christianity is that of Jesus giving his life on
  the Cross (the Crucifixion) and rising from the
  dead after the third day (the Resurrection)
• Christians believe that God sent his Son, Jesus,
  to earth to save humanity from the consequences
  of its sins.
• Gospels
• Literature of early Christianity that is used to
  study the teachings of Jesus

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Basic Beliefs

• God
• Monotheism
• Jesus- the messiah promised by the Old Testament
• Christians recognize Jesus as the Son of God who
  was sent to save mankind from death and sin.
• Trinity- Father, Son, Holy Spirit
• Life after death
• Eternal heaven or hell

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Practices/ Rites of Passage

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Marriage
• Gift of God, different for denominations
• Eucharist
• Sometimes known as communion
• Sacrament of body and blood of Jesus
• Church on Sundays
• Bible Study
• Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments)

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Holidays

• Christmas
• Celebrates the birth of Jesus
• Easter
• Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus
• Epiphany
• Ancient Christian feast day
• Celebrates the baptism of Jesus

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Spread of Christianity

• The first community of Christians were Jews
• Some Jews saw a new vision of God and converted
• As converts increased, the religion spread
• Missionaries- someone who does religion work in
  foreign lands
• Paul- The Apostle to the Gentiles
• Preached that the laws of Moses should be
  replaced by faith in Christ
• Tensions arose between Jews and Christians
• Jews wanted to preserve Jewish ways within
  Christianity, but Paul succeeded in separating
  the religions

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Spread of Christianity, cont

• Christianity declared illegal by Romans
• Persecution for 300 years
• In the early 4th century, around 300 CE,
  Christianity was legalized by Constantine the
  Great- accepted religion of Rome
• Spread throughout Roman Empire- Roman Catholic
  Church
• Eastern and Western Christian views split the
  church- Denominations

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Denominations

• Catholicism
• Eastern Orthodox
• Protestantism
• Protestant Reformation by Martin Luther
• Calvinism- Presbyterian
• Church of England
• All believe in the authority of the Bible