HOLY LAND BOOK - Draft

CHRISTIANITY101
Christianity
Christianity is one of the most significant monotheistic religions in the
world. Its beliefs are closely linked to Judaism, from which it originated.
The central focus of the Christian faith is based upon the belief of salvation
made possible through the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus of
Nazareth, the son of God. “Christ” corresponds to the Jewish sovereign of
“Messiah” or in Hebrew, “The Anointed One”.
COOLFACTS
• Jesus is the Greek form
of the Aramaic name Joshua.
• The life and actions
of Jesus rooted within the Jewish
tradition.
• The Gospels describe
the life and teachings of Jesus,
which act as the constituents of
faith.
The Roots of Christianity
The inspiration for Christianity is Jesus of Nazareth, whose birth marks the
start of the Western era. Central beliefs and the teaching of Jesus, deemed
the son of God, and interpretations of his death and resurrection.
Located in the New Testament of the Bible, the Gospels, of
which the Gospel of Mark is the oldest, describe the ministry of Jesus of
Nazareth.
Christian beliefs were promoted after Jesus` death by retelling his
parables and lessons within the emerging Christian communities. Initially
retold orally, Jesus` ministry was later collected and organized within a
literary format. The beliefs of early Christian authors are reflected in the
stories of Jesus` birth and life as a young man.
The main message of Jesus was the renewal of Judaism in accordance
with the kingdom of God. As the preachings of Jesus were often portrayed
through allegories of rural life, stories of Him healing the sick and helping
the fringe groups of ancient Jewish society conveyed the Christianity
message to His mainly agrarian audience. The Sermon on the Mount
(found in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew) compiled these teachings.
Their primary theme was love, both for God and for one another. This
message responds to intensely restrictive commandments in the Jewish
Torah, which places limits on behavior and promised exacting punishment
for wrongdoing. Jesus instead encouraged inclusive love and charity as a
guide to behavior and social organization.
By addressing God as “Father,” Jesus relayed a remarkably close relationship.
Arriving in Jerusalem, the religious and political center of Judaism,
this provocative claim was bound to trigger conflict between Jesus and
the temple aristocracy, working under the law of the Romans. Arrested on
charges of blasphemy, Jesus was executed.
The descriptions of his death in the Gospels emphasize the fulfillment of
prophecies of a Messiah, sent by God to redeem humankind, found in the
Old Testament.
The Christian Bible contains
both, an Old and a
New Testament.
The Old Testament
corresponds to the collections
of Jewish Holy
Scriptures.
Christians read in the
Old Testament prophecies
and predictions
that foretell of the coming
of Jesus Christ, as
expressed in the New
Testament.
The canon of the 27
New Testament scriptures
evolved from the
third century. It consists
of the Gospels, stories
of the apostles, letters
(primarily by Paul) and
the revelation of John.
In 1546, the canon of
the Catholic Church
– the official list of
contents of the Holy
Bible- was decreed at
the Council of Trent.
Above: Guttenberg
Bible, printed ca 1455
• Early versions of the
Bible record an ox and donkey at
the Nativity scene.
• The apostles Peter
and Paul emerged as the primary
preachers within early Christianity.
With his letters, Paul provided
the basis of Christian theology for
new communities.
• During the period of
Christian persecution by the Roman
Empire, the Christians buried
their dead underground in catacombs
that were often painted
with Christian motifs.
• Regular communion
services were characteristic of
the collective lifestyle of Early
Christians.
• Since the 11th Century,
a pope has chosen his own
papal name.
• The title of the pope
is “holy father,” his self-designated
name is “servant of God`s
servants.”
• The pope is selected
by the cardinals.
• During the Crusades,
the concept of a pilgrimage was
associated with the idea of a
“just war” against pagans.
• In the 21rst century,
Christianity is increasingly disassociating
itself from its Europecentered
character.
• Martin Luther initiated
the greatest change in the
history of the Western Church
with his shocking assault on
traditional Christianity. In 1517,
Martin Luther sparked the
Reformation in Wittenberg with
his 95 theses against the sale of
indulgences by the papacy.