Class Groups for Unit on Christian Traditions

120 - appleby Class Groups for Unit on Christian Traditions

Christian origins Rels 120 18 February 2014

120 - appleby 4 main types of religious traditions • Myths of nature: Indigenous traditions; shamanism; some New Age traditions • Myths of harmony: Daoism; Confucianism • Myths of liberation: Hindu traditions; Buddhism • Myths of history: Judaism; Christianity; Islam

120 - appleby Central metaphor = story • Linear story of God’s interactions with humanity within human experience and history • Christian story understands the Abrahamic tradition, with God’s encounters and covenants with humanity and the people of Israel, as the origins of the Christian tradition • Christianity began as a Jewish sect – the Nazarenes – who were followers of Jesus of Nazareth

120 - appleby Gospels [the Good News] according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John • Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John recount the stories of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection from the dead • Oral accounts passed on within different communities → eventual written accounts; probably around the time of the Roman invasion and fall of the temple in Jerusalem • Mark – the oldest written stories

120 - appleby Stories of the birth of Jesus • Mary, a young Jewish woman, received a visit from an angel who told her that she would become pregnant through the power of God • she would give birth to a baby who was the child of God "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

120 - appleby Mary, mother of Jesus And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. “Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. “He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”

120 - appleby “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

120 - appleby The Sermon on the Mount • When John the Baptist was arrested and killed by Herod, Jesus takes over John’s prophetic role, calling for repentance and a return to God. • Jesus attracts a group of followers who accompany him as he teaches and travels from place to place. • Central to the teaching of Jesus is the story of the Sermon on the Mount. • Listen to Matthew Chapters 5, 6 & 7 • http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/flash_play.php?aid=26&book=47&chapter=5&end_chapter=6 • http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/Matt.5

120 - appleby • Sermon on the Mount • Matthew Chapters 5, 6 & 7 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” http://www.biography.com/people/jesus-christ-9354382/videos/jesus-christ-sermon-on-the-mount-2087063870

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 120 - appleby • “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. • “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

120 - appleby “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished… “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

120 - appleby “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

120 - appleby “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I tell you, love your enemiesand pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

120 - appleby • For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. • But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” “Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.] Amen.

Jesus walks on the water to meet the disciples in their boat in a storm 120 - appleby Healings and Miracles

120 - appleby Jesus heals the 10 lepers

120 - appleby Jesus cures the sick

120 - appleby Jesus nailed on the cross

120 - appleby http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/watch/

120 - appleby A depiction of the empty tomb

120 - appleby After the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the followers of Jesus concluded that God had rejected Israel as the chosen people. • They believed that the early Christians replaced the Jews as God’s chosen people • Called the myth of supersession • Christians would be the “new Israel” – the “true Israel” • Source of hatred and persecution of the Jews over centuries The myth of supersession

120 - appleby Who was Jesus? This was to be determined over the next 400 years • 325 Council of Nicaea: Jesus was the Word of God through whom all things were created; he was divine, like God • 381 Council of Constantinople: God is one divine essence present in 3 persons; three persons in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit • 451 Council of Chalcedon: Jesus was a fully mortal human person united with the eternal, divine Word of God in one body

120 - appleby Various beliefs about Jesus • Jesus had a mortal human body and a divine mind • Jesus had a mortal human body and mind with a divine will • Jesus was a divine being and was not mortal • Chalcedon – Jesus was fully human; he was without sin; in Jesus, God was wholly present; Jesus was fully human and fully divine – two natures in one person The God of the Christians was the same God as the God of Abraham and Moses

Class Groups for Unit on Christian Traditions