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Introduction to Christianity

Introduction to Christianity. Rels 120 14 February 2014. Unit 7 Overview. Lesson 1: Introduction; Emergence from Judaism Spiritual Self-Assessment: Butterfly Transformation Lesson 2: From Jesus to Christ: the first Christians (video with questions) Lesson 3: Early Christianity

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Introduction to Christianity

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  1. Introduction to Christianity Rels 120 14 February 2014

  2. appleby - rels 120 Unit 7 Overview • Lesson 1: Introduction; Emergence from Judaism • Spiritual Self-Assessment: Butterfly Transformation • Lesson 2: From Jesus to Christ: the first Christians (video with questions) • Lesson 3: Early Christianity • Lesson 4: Medieval Christianity • Lesson 5: The Protestant Revolution & the Spirituality of Transformation • Transformation as a Spiritual Practice • Lesson 6: Pilgrimage & Healing • Pilgrimage work sheet

  3. appleby - rels 120 Readings • IWR, Ch. 11, p. 401 to 457 • “Ste. Anne de Beaupré: Roman Catholic Pilgrimage and Healing,” by David J. Hufford; Western Folklore, Vol.44, No.3, p.194-207, 1983 (found at http://www.jstor.org/stable/1499835 ) • FRONTLINE: from Jesus to Christ – the first Christians; http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/watch ; watch Part I, Hour 1: Chapters 1 to 5 and Hour 2: Chapters 6 to 11 – (for chapter summaries, click here) • Viewers’ guide: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/view

  4. appleby - rels 120 Unit 7 Objectives • To investigate the emergence of Christianity from its roots in Judaism; • To detect significant developments within Christian traditions over time; • To understand the causes and consequences of the Protestant Reformation; • To articulate Christian spiritual traditions; • To explore the significance of pilgrimage as a spiritual practice and healing tradition.

  5. appleby - rels 120 Emergence from Judaism

  6. appleby - rels 120 Jesus was born a Jew in about 4 BCE, died in 29 CE • Exodus / Moses, 1250 BCE • Solomon builds 1st Temple, 950 BCE • 1st Temple destroyed, 586 BCE • 2nd Temple built, 515 BCE • 2nd Temple destroyed, 70 CE • Israelites had returned to Canaan and the city of Jerusalem • Repentance and renewed commitment to their covenantal relationship with God • Substantial diversity within Judaism, with several distinct groups

  7. appleby - rels 120 Religious Diversity within Judaism • Sadducees – wealthy, Temple tradition • Pharisees – local synagogues, teachers • Hellenists – synagogue leaders under Greek rule • Samaritans – ethnic group, temple at Mt. Gerizim • Zealots – revolutionaries, only loyal to God • Essenes – ascetic community (Dead Sea scrolls) • Nazarenes – followers of Jesus Jesus and his disciples originally thought of themselves as a renewal movement within Judaism; teaching repentance

  8. appleby - rels 120 70 CE, Romans attacked Jerusalem • Destroyed the Jewish Temple • Drove many Jews out of Jerusalem • Only 2 Jewish groups survived this catastrophe: • The Pharisaic movement →rabbinical Judaism • The Nazarene movement → non-Jewish (Gentile) Christianity • Should non-Jews first convert to Judaism, and then be required to obey Jewish laws and rituals?

  9. appleby - rels 120 Council of Jerusalem, 48 CE • Some said that gentile converts must be circumcised and obey Jewish law • Others, including Paul of Tarsus, said that gentile converts need not be circumcised or obey Jewish ritual laws – but – they should obey the 10 Commandments of the Mosaic covenant with God at Mount Sinai • Hellenistic Jews, from Greek cultural areas (including Paul) prevailed • Gentile converts became more numerous • Jews became fewer • The Nazarene movement became “The Way”; then Christianity, the new religion

  10. appleby - rels 120 Who was Saul/Paul? • He was not one of the 12 disciples • Did not meet Jesus during his earthly life • After Jesus’ death, Saul had a conversion experience on the road to Damascus; hear the story: • Book of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 9 (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio; http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Acts.9) • Saul believes in Jesus; is baptized to convert to Christianity • Becomes the first great Christian missionary • Wrote letters to the churches that were established; many letters were incorporated into the New Testament

  11. appleby - rels 120 Historical Traditions • Judaism, Christianity, Islam • Central metaphor of Christian tradition is “story” • The stories of the God who intervenes in history and has personal encounters with people • The Christian story is centred on the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus • In Jesus, God’s word was made flesh

  12. appleby - rels 120 Central stories of Jesus • The birth of Jesus – Luke 1:26 to 2:20 (audio http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Luke.1) • Baptism of Jesus by John – Luke 3:21-22 (audio http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Luke.3) • Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5:1 to 7:29 (audio http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Matt.5); Luke 6:17-49 • Passover celebration with his disciples – Matthew 26:17-29 (audio http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Matt.26); Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-30 • Crucifixion of Jesus; burial; rising from death; meets with disciples; ascends into heaven – Mark 15:1 to 16:20; Luke 23:1 to 24:53; John 18:1 to 21:25 (audio http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/John.18)

  13. appleby - rels 120 “Transformation ofCaterpillars into Butterflies” • This is your Spiritual Assessment Tool for Unit 7 • Reflect on these ideas and questions for your Unit 7 Portfolio

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