Christianity

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Christianity a. 4-6 BCE birth of Jesus Christ,
land of Palestine (ruled by Rome) b. History
some Jews under Hellenism started believing in a
messiah growth of mystery religions (if
believers followed practices then afterlife would
be groovy) Jesus, as an adult, traveled around
Judea, accompanied by 12 disciples, preaching
forgiveness of sins called the Christ
anointed Jesus teachings perceived as a
threat to authority in the region trial
execution of Jesus belief in resurrection of
Jesus followers traveled the Roman Empire
spreading Jesus message spearheaded by Paul in
Med. Sea (4 journeys b/t 45-58 CE) reached out
to the lower classes women Christians
persecuted under Domitian (81 96 CE)
Septimius Severus (193 211 CE)--Edict in 202
forbade Christian or Jewish conversion Decius
ordered the renewed practice of sacrifices,
giving certificates to those who did so,
punishment for those who did not and Diocletian
Chr. would flourish in the 3rd Century
Crisis --313 Edict of Toleration issued by
Constantine (288-337 CE) 25 of the empire was
Christian at the time--ending the period of
Great Persecution Theodosius in 380 CE
official religion
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--rise of the Catholic Church (pope, cardinal,
priests, nuns) formed geog. units or dioceses
Christian bishops made these their HQ or sees
within the urban centers the center of the
bishops authority was his cathedral or chair
when Const. moved the Roman capitol to
Constantinople, the Roman bishop filled the
authoritarian void tradition had Peter being
killed in Rome pope Latin papa (Father)
missionary activity targeted kings first to
assume title of pope were the Patriarchs of
Alexandria starting in 232 CE, while in Rome in
wasnt for at least another 100 years Catholic
tradition has Peter as the first and Linus as the
second Pope Victor was the first to conduct mass
in Latin and not Greek (189 CE) Church takes on
an Empire structure w/ dioceses, bishops in major
urban areas   140s Marcion puts together one of
the first lists of possible New Testament books
gradual rejection of the Gnostic
writings/gospels (discovered in 1945 in upper
Egypt contains 52 texts written by the
Gnostics, those who claimed secret divine
knowledge were an early challenge to the
established church claiming a good god an evil
god) 189 Pope Victor was the first to
conduct mass in Latin not Greek 288-337
Constantine reunited Empire Edict of Milan in
313 CE proclaimed toleration of Christianity
(25 of the empire Christian at the time)
moved capitol to Byzantium (Constantinople) 318
first monastery was established 321
Sunday established as official state day
of rest 335 Council of Jerusalem rejects the
mandate to be circumcised 330-397 St.
AmbroseChurch auth over pol authority males
should run Church priests celibate 347-420 St.
Jerometranslated the Greek Bible into Latin
(called Vulgate meaning popular version)
controversy which books totaling 39 or 46???
Set of books called Apocrypha 354430 St.
Augustine The Confessions wrote about good vs.
evil City of Godsaid that the Church could
not sin the Church was the City of God a
Christian view of history 431 Council of Ephesus
condemned Nestorianism affirmed Mary to be the
Mother of God 451 Council of Chalcedon affirmed
Jesus had two natures (aka Hypostatic Union)
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461-468 Pope Hilarius 496
Clovis I, King of the Franks converts to Chr
wanted to gain power over other possible leaders
started Merovingian Dynasty (aka long-haired
kings) came to fill the power vacuum left by
the fall of Rome defeated the Visigoth Kingdom
525 Dionysius creates the Christian
calendar 530 Benedict founds the
Benedictine monasteries promoted
literacy/education preserved manuscripts hubs
for travelers, models of agri growth,
symbols of the Church for peasants  Conflicts
incl. Apollinarius4th century bishop who
declared Jesus divinity supreme denied the
humanity condemned at the 1st Council of
Constantinople (381 CE) Monophysitesbelieve that
Jesus had one nature Mithraism grew as a mystery
religion w/ 7 initiations Manichaeanism combined
many beliefs seeing the world as a struggle b/t
the forces of good and evil came out
of Sassanid Persia (influenced by Zor.) very
widespread original 6 holy books have been lost
persecuted burned alive by Diocletian denied
an omnipotent being Orphism the idea that the
soul is a prisoner of the body Arianism denied
that Christ was divine Constantine issued the
Nicene Creed of 325 CE banishing Arius Growing
split in Christianity Eastern Orthodox Church vs
the Roman Catholic Churchboth considered to be
the true church first area to legalize
Christianity was Armenia in 301 CE --5
seesRome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch,
Jerusalem --eastern churches saw the church at
Antioch as the original   Beliefs monoTrinity
belief in eternal judgment, Messiah, original
sin Diffusion --contagious spread along
existing trade/synagogue network in Med as
missionaries used Roman roads --318 first
monastery established 321 Sunday established as
official state day of rest --432 St. Patrick to
Ireland --496 Clovis I, King of the Franks
converts to Christianity --hierarchical once it
became official people were forced
Syncretinization Valentines Day built around
2 Christian martyrs of the 3rd c. named
Valentine--Roman Lupercalia fertility festival
in Feb later in the Middle Ages it became a
lovers holiday Impact Christianity continues to
have an enormous influence on Western Culture
Christianity had wide appeal among the poor
among women because its stress on the concept of
equality in faith served as a glue among
Europeans after the fall of the Roman Empire
earliest organized Christianity in the form of
Catholicism, which had a significant influence on
Medieval Early Modern European rulers Status
of women in Christianity--early more equal
status both men/women can reach heaven women
into convents still held down
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Zoroastrianism a. Persia (modern day Iran) ca 600
BCE, possibly earlier Zarathrustra
(Zoroastera vegetarian btw) who received a
vision at age 30 believe that a man from the
line of Zoroaster will be born of a virgin who
will raise the dead complete a final judgment
b. Beliefs Dualistic Monotheism Ahura Mazda
(good) Angra Mainyu (evil) Basic principle
"good thoughts, good words, good deeds" (Humata,
Hukhta, Hvarshta) Strong belief in free will
At death the soul contemplates its life for
three days, then the deeds are weighed is given
a one way ticket to heaven or hell Belief in
the end of the universe when all souls reunited
w/ Ahura Mazda Sacred book Avesta rejects
monasticism fire important in rituals c.
History/diffusion once dominant religion in
Persia (Iran), then pushed out fewer than
200,000 in the world todaymost in NW India
generally do not seek converts Favored by the
Persia Empire later the Sassanid starting in
228CE d. Diffusion primarily along Silk Road
into China e. Impact traditional only men were
priests beliefs influenced Judaism
Christianity
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Judaism a. Abt. 2000 BCE migration of Abraham
from Meso to Canaan followers called Hebrews b.
Monotheistic first to have a monotheistic
religion have a covenant relationship in which
Yahweh (El) is their god Jews are his
followers emphasized the abstractness power
of God history recorded in Torah ( first 5
books of the Hebrew scriptures, the
Tanakhremaining books Christians call the Old
Test) c. History migration out of Canaan to
Egypt (famine?) enslaved by Egyptians exodus
freedom from slavery led by Moses (Moshe) Ten
Commandments as law along w/ Torah organized
into 12 tribes return to Canaan (Palestine)
establishment of theocracy est Kingdom of
Israel under Saul Jerusalem becomes capital of
Israel under David kingdom weakens under
Solomon (taxes) Rehaboam divides Israel into
two kingdoms, Israel (North) Judah (South) N
kingdom fell to Assyrians, 722 BCE, leading to
first Jewish diaspora S kingdom fell to
Babylonians in 586 BCE (Babylonian captivity)
Persians (Cyrus 539 BCE) allowed Jews to return
rebuild Greeks defeat Persia (Hellenization
of Jews) Romans in 63 BCE took over Diaspora
Rome destroys 2nd temple in 70 CE then in 140
CE forces Jews out following Bar Kokba Revolt in
132 CE forced/push relocation was the vehicle
for diffusion form the synagogue led to second
Diaspora d. Beliefs Messiah not yet here
after-life ??? reward/punishment for deeds
importance of action over belief e. Diffusion
not a universalizing religion spread both
contagiously/hierarchically through Med trade
routes f. Impact foundation for future mono
religions of Christianity Islam pattern of
anti- Semitism at first more equalitarian then
patrboth men women have roles
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Hinduism ????? ???? (the eternal dharma)-- a.
no single founder developed from the
literature/oral traditions of the Aryans in
present-day India b. Beliefs no dominant
belief many sects Pantheon (mono or
polytheistic?) many gods, principle gods Brahma
(creator) Vishnu (provider) Shiva
(destroyer)Brahman divine essence/supreme
being reincarnation (samsara) needed to
eliminate bad karma which leads to moksha (soul
residing w/ Brahma dharma moral code to guide
life actions most are vegetarians temples/
mandirsusually dedicated to a certain deity
are sites of pilgrimage worship involves an icon
or murti c. Impact religious beliefs reinforced
caste system, strengthened patriarchy by
stressing obligations to community family
Role of women dominated by men contractual
marriages w/ economic goals family an important
part of society isolated, purdah, sati
(primarily after 400 CE) strong heirarchy d.
Writings Vedas ???meaning divine knowledge
consists of writings compiled by the Aryans (Rig
Veda the oldest) Mahabharta ??????? (contains
the Bhavagad-Gita (????? ???? )) emphasizes the
need to do one duties The Upanishads (???????)
(750 500 BCE) part of the Vedas that deals w/
meditation the name holds information on the
basic beliefs of Hinduism on the doctrine of
Brahman e. Diffusion pilgrimages (aka tirtha)
often involve acts of purification pilgrim sites
are often directed toward one of the pantheon
members diff both hierarchical contagious
into SE Asia (Cambodia, Angkor Wat temple
complex) via Indian Ocean trade today 1.1
billion mainly in India (US 770,000)
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Buddhism a. developed by Siddartha Gautama his
followers in NE India in the mid 500s BCE b.
Beliefs Buddha the enlightened one, but NOT
a deity sim to Hinduism relief from worldly
suffering through the union of soul w/ divine
spirit (nirvana) belief in reincarnation
Departure from Hindu beliefs stressed equal
treatment of all people (therefore opposed to
caste system) 4 Noble Truths life is
suffering (dukha ????? ) cause of suffering is
desire (tanha) suffering or desire can be
ended(nirvana) way to end suffering is through
the 8 Fold Path (right viewpoint, intention,
speech, action, livelihood, effort,
mindfulness, concentration) Middle Way was
path to nirvana no original sin or messiah
sal. based on reincarnation original Buddhism
does not focus on deities c. Books
Dhammpadawritten in Pali contains proper
conduct for monks/nuns discourses from the
Buddha Tipitaka (major collection of writings
for Theravada) Sutras (for Mahayana)
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d. Diffusion equality appealed especially to
those of the lower classes out of India by
Ashoka 200s BCE accepted by King Kanishka of
the Kushans Ashokas son made a mission trip
to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to covert the people
Buddhist monasteries via contagious diffusion
established along SR trade routes monks nuns
hosted travelers spread beliefs 2 well- known
monks (Faxian, Xuanzang) will evolve into
Mahayana (many buddhas/bodavissita)
Theravada (monastic) various forms in Japan
(ie. Zen) in Tibet the Tibetan form 8
pilgrimage sites northern India, S Nepal--4
are places of important events in his life (most
important is Lumbini, birthplace of Buddha,
followed by Bodh Gaya where he gained
enlightenment) 4 others are places where he
performed miracles e. Significance Buddhism
achieved widespread popularity, especially in
East SE Asia, although it lost popularity in
India itself offered an alternative to
Hinduism for those in the lower castes, providing
these people w/ hope for a better life in the
future  
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Confucianism a. Emerged during the Era of
Warring States (b/t Zhou Qin dynasties) Kung
Fu-tse (Confucius) Chinese scholar
philosopher who studied the literature of the
Zhou period developed a theory of how to
establish stability in China b. Beliefs ethical
system Confucius taught that good, stable govt
depended on educated civil servants adherence
to virtue specifically stressed a series of
patriarchal relationships such as obedience
loyalty to the emperor, filial piety (xiao)
veneration of ancestors Jen (kindness), Ren
(right feelings) Li (correct action) centered
on Five Relationships (ruler/ruled father/son
husband/wife older/younger brother
older/younger friend)innate hierarchy in the
order of the universe w/ each person having a
role importance of right action by rulers
stressed benevolence, non- violence c.
Followers recorded Confucius teachings in the
Analects, which became the basis of the program
of study for those wishing to enter Chinas
bureaucracy (after the Han est civil service
exams) d. Significance Confucius teachings
became the cornerstone of Chinese tradition
culture foundation of meritocracy or civil
service exams provided a greater level of
competency among government employees
Confucianism supported autocratic government in
China preserved patriarchal social
structures/gender roles furthered by Mencius
(372 289 BCE) (common people foundation for
pol. power) who taught human nature is good
that needs to be cultivated govt. should exist
for the people people have the right to rebel
against the govt. strong priesthood overtime
, Conf deified e. Spread although Confucianism
remains primarily a Chinese belief system,
elements of Confucianism have been adopted in
areas that fell under Chinese control (such as
Korea Vietnam) or in areas that imported
heavily from Chinese culture (such as Japan)  
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Daoism a. Emerged during Warring States (b/t Zhou
Qin dynasties) founded by Lao Tze b. Beliefs
The Way of Life (Tao Te Ching)wanted to stop
warfare balance in nature (yin yang) is
preferable human understanding of nature
harmonious balance achieved by following the
Way (the life force found in nature) unlike
Conf. Daoism teaches that political activism
education are not necessary to harmony in nature
because the natural flow of events would resolve
problems believed nature contained divine
impulse directing all life true understand came
from contemplating the life source feng shui
receive the positive qi (life-force) by the
proper orientation 3 Jewels of the Dao
compassion, moderation, humility Wu wei means
without action moving w/ the universe strong
priesthood c. Impact Chinese adapted some Daoist
principles to fit w/ Confucianism to reinforce
ideas about responsibility for the community
the importance of meditation ideas have
influence on modern pop-culture (the Force, in
Star Wars) even w/ emphasizes on no politics
Daoism helped bring down the Han Dynasty w/ the
Yellow Turban revolt d. Diffusion limited
contagious Daoism, like Conf, remains primarily
a Chinese belief system, however, elements of
Daoism have been adopted in areas that fell under
Chinese control (such as Korea Vietnam) or in
areas that imported heavily from Chinese culture
(such as Japan)
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Jainism a. No single founder but Mahavira (the
24th last teacher of Jainism) introduces
Jainism in 520 BCE in India b. Beliefs-- every
human is responsible for their own actions all
have a soul or jiva compassion for all life is
one of the central tenets of Jainism all monks
nuns vegetarian many do not eat root veggies
Follow non-violence (ahimsa) every action
brings karma but only through withdrawal can
moksha be attained 9 reincarnations then
release all things have a soul levels of life
9 Tattvas show how to attain salvation (moksha)
monks nuns practice strict asceticism take an
oath of five vows--non-violence, truth (satya),
non-stealing (asteya),chastity (brahmacharya)
non-possession (aparigrah) Some monks will not
wear clothes because they are seen as
possessions which leads to sorrow 18 activities
that should be avoided (violence, greed, hate,
gossip, etc) places of worship are temples
main book is the Book of Reality or Tattvartha
Sutra, written by Umasvati no one god but
spirits festivals c. Diffusion divided into
four groups monks, nuns, lay men, lay women
primarily only in India 2 main sects the
Digambara (meaning "sky clad") sect and the
Svetambara (meaning "white clad") sect (one sect
is Patriarchical, the other equalitarian) d.
Impactteaching influence the development of
Hinduism no priestsonly monks/nuns