Year 11 Studies of Religion Religious Tradition CHRISTIANITY

Year 11 Studies of Religion Religious Tradition: CHRISTIANITY

COURSE CONTENT • Origins • Principal Beliefs • Sacred Texts and Writings • Core Ethical Teachings • Personal Devotion

The origins of Christianity • The historical and cultural context in which Christianity began

Historical background to Christianity: under domination of the Roman Empire Judaism and the Jewish Scriptures: the Jewish context, the Messiah The influence of the Greek and Roman world of the first century CE

The origins of Christianity • Jesus Christ

The principal events in the life of Jesus as the model for Christian life His birth, teaching and ministry, death, resurrection and ascension

The teaching of Jesus had several distinct features. Jesus : • Had a sense of intimacy with and total dependence on God whom he called Father; • proclaimed that the Reign (or Kingdom) of God was at hand; • Identified closely with the poor and dispossessed; • Challenged the religious authorities

The origins of Christianity • The development of early Christian communities The early church as found in the New Testament after the death of Jesus Acts of the Apostles; Pentecost; St Paul.

The Jesus Movement. Paul’s Missions and Letters. Wrestling with their Jewish heritage. Diversity of Paul’s Congregations. Early Christianity. The roles for women.

The origins of Christianity • The expressions of Christianity in Australia: Anglicanism, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Pentecostalism, Protestantism. In the 1996 census 70. 9% of the population identified themselves as Christian. In the 2001 census 68% of the population identified themselves as Christian – 20. 7 Anglicans; 26. 6 Catholics: 20. 7 Other

The development Distinguishing of the features denomination The basic beliefs Governance The roles of men and women Significant rituals

Catholic Beliefs and Practices

Anglican Beliefs and Practices

Uniting Church Beliefs and Practices

Coptic Beliefs and Practices

Lutheran Beliefs and Practices

The Principal Christian beliefs about: • The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christianity affirms the full divinity and complete humanity of Jesus Christ. The Christian doctrine of the Incarnation is that Jesus was fully God yet became fully man. While remaining fully divine and for the salvation of the world, the second person of the Holy Trinity, God the Son, took upon himself a complete human nature in Jesus Christ.

The question of Jesus’ nature as a human figure and an incarnation of God was a question of some conjecture in the early Church. Various religious thinkers proposed answers to this question that raised allegations of heresy, leading eventually to the Councils of Nicea in 325, Ephesus in 431 and Chalcedon in 451. These Church Councils refused all efforts to compromise or deny the fullness of both humanity and divinity in the person of Jesus.

The determination of these Councils was that Jesus was at once fully human and fully divine, equal in nature and without sin. In addition, the Council of Ephesus bestowed upon Mary the title ‘theotokos’, mother of God, emphasising the complete humanity that brought the suffering of Christ’s crucifixion to reality and the divinity that brought about the glory of his resurrection. Christians believe that the human person of Jesus Christ reveals the divine person of God the Son.

The Principal Christian beliefs about: • The death and resurrection of Jesus Christians are sometimes described as an Easter people, an acknowledgement that the Christian faith is seated firmly in the events of the death and resurrection of Christ and his subsequent ascension into heaven.

Christians believe that Christ, in his fully human nature, suffered the pain and humiliation of his trial and crucifixion as redemption for the sins of all people. In this loving act he brings all people back to the potential of a full and loving relationship with God. Christians also believe that after his death Christ, fully divine, rose from death and ascended into heaven to overcome the finality of sin and fulfil the promise of eternal life with God.

The Principal Christian beliefs about: • The nature of God and the Trinity • There is one God, Christianity is devotedly monotheistic. • God is a Holy Trinity, one being of three co-equal natures- Father Creator, Son Redeemer and the Holy Spirit the Sanctifier

The belief that God can be One and at the same time co-exist as three Divine persons is a ‘mystery of faith’. However it is not treated in the same way by all streams of Christianity. The western Church emphasises the full equality of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, whereas the Eastern Church emphasises the Monarchy of the Father. The origin of the spirit and God’s role in creation was one of the points of difference that led to the separation of the Roman and Eastern churches in 1054 (The Great Schism or the East-West Schism). Christians believe that the Trinity is ultimately a mystery of faith beyond the limits of human reason.

The principal Christian beliefs about: • Revelation (Latin, taking away the veil) refers to the disclosure by God of what was previously unknown. Christianity, as well as Judaism and Islam claim to be revealed religions. In unique historical events God has revealed God’s will and law to humanity. The revelations were primarily given in the written forms of the Christian Bible (O. T. & N. T. ), the Hebrew scriptures (O. T. ) and the Islamic Qur’an (Koran).

Christians believe in a God who has revealed God’s self to humanity and offers Gods’ self in loving relationship to all. Christians believe God has been revealed in creation, through the teachings and writings of the prophets, through the Holy Spirit and most fully in the person, life and teaching of Jesus Christians see in Christ’ incarnation, life, death, resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit, the climax of the process of divine self-disclosure. Christ was simultaneously the agent, the process and the content of revelation. God’s revealing of Gods’ self and Gods’ offer of an unconditional loving relationship are a continuing process through which faithful people are called to live according to Gods’ will and in unconditional love with all humankind.

The Principal Christian beliefs about: • Salvation (Latin, ‘making safe’, ‘rescuing’) is a comprehensive term for being delivered from personal or collective suffering and evil. In the biblical creation story Adam and Eve fall from the Grace of God by choosing not to obey God. Spiritually, this depicts humanity’s loss of original innocence and symbolises the transition from an original unconsciousness state of pure and innocent living in consciousness of failings (such as shame, pride, guilt and greed) that separate man from God.

It is to provide salvation and so restore this oneness of the soul with God that Jesus came as the Messiah. Christians believe that all people are created in the image and likeness of God with infinite potential for good. Christians also believe that people are created with ‘free will’ to choose good or to turn away in self interest. This potential to choose self over God, turns people towards sin. Christians believe that God freely offers salvation in the person of Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection overcomes the sinfulness of all who accept him as Saviour. During the 16 th century the Catholic and Protestant churches alike affirmed that this saving grace of God is not merited but proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God.

Sacred Texts and Writings • The importance of the Bible in Christianity • Extracts from the Bible which demonstrate the principal beliefs

The revealed word of God Allows access to God’s revelations Central to Christianity Source of information contemplation & spirituality Premier source of advice on how to live a Christian life

Core Ethical Teachings The primary source of ethical authority for all Christians is the Bible • The Ten Commandments The Hebrew Scriptures present God’s Law, especially the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) in the context of the covenant between God and God’s people. Christians use the Ten Commandments as organisers for Christian ethical teaching.

Core Ethical Teachings The New Testament outlines the way of life expected of followers of Jesus. • The Beatitudes The Sermon on the Mount is the central ethical discourse in Matthew’s Gospel Ch. 5. It commences with the Beatitudes and goes on to give details of Christian moral living. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit, the merciful, the peacemakers etc.

Core Ethical Teachings Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christian ethical teaching. • Jesus commandment of love The moral life of Christians is based around his central teachings, especially his commandment of love of God and love of neighbour. Love & Do what you will! Maxim – Do Good, Avoid Evil!

Core Ethical Teachings For Christians, following Jesus can never be solitary and inward looking. Throughout the New Testament, especially in the writings of Paul, there is teachings on attitudes, qualities and actions that befit the followers of Christian ethics calls on believers to follow these teachings both in their personal lives and in their social outreach and action.

Core Ethical Teachings All variants of Christianity turn first to the Bible for moral guidance. Sometimes moral questions arise for which there is no direct biblical teaching. Biblical values can address most situations, but Christians also rely on the traditions of moral reasoning; authoritative teaching, denominational authorities such as synods and prayerful reflection.

Personal Devotion • Prayer: Different types of personal prayer , such as – Bible Study (Plenary Indulgence), Lectio Divina (Meditation), Personal Retreat, Meditation, The Rosary, Praying with icons

For Review… 1. Why is the study of Jewish life essential to an understanding of Christianity? 2. Outline the historical and cultural context in which Christianity began. 3. Identify one significant event in the life of Jesus. How does this event enrich our understanding of Jesus' message for our own time? 4. How can Jesus’ teachings lead to a deeper understanding of the Kingdom of God? What are the implications of this understanding for living as a Christian? 5. Name some of the leaders of the early Christian communities. 6. Detail the results of the Council of Nicea. 7. Describe the development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus. 8. Outline some of the unique features of the Orthodox Christian denomination. 9. Summarise the beliefs about the nature of God and of the Trinity. 10. Define the principal beliefs of revelation and salvation. 11. Explain the central belief that salvation is realised in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 12. Discuss the importance of the Bible for Christians. 13. Discuss the difference in interpretation that is evident between denominations. 14. Outline the principal ethical teachings of the Ten Commandments. 15. Explain the importance of personal prayer for Christians. 16. ‘Be still and know that I am God. ’ use specific examples to describe how personal prayer assists the Christian adherent to achieve this instruction.