ChristianityChristianity

By:

Shannon Ivancic

Jamie Clapsaddle

Becky Godec

Mark Prejsnar

Humans

Humans were created “in the image of God”

Because of this idea, we have a responsibility to God

We are accountable for how we live our lives

Traditions

There are two traditions that influence the view of humans in the Christian Religion

Tradition #1

The first tradition states that since the time of Adam and Eve, sin has been a huge influence on humans

Only God can overcome sin Sin is present in every newborn, and

deliverence can only be achieved through baptism

Tradition #2 This tradition states that humans have a

capacity for good and evil However through family nurture, and

individual devotion to God, humans can live with God’s approval

Problems for Humans

Sin of Adam Mysteries of Doctrines of Trinity, the

Incarnation, Resurection of the Dead, and the Atonement

Human Suffering Evil

Solutions for Humans

God’s effective action in human lives Understanding of mysteries through truth

and for the purpose of salvation Humans must do what they can to avoid

harm to others Respecting nature for it is a gift from God

People of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth

– New Testament of Bible based on his life and teachings

– We know little of his youth other than his birth stories

– Chose disciples who learned his teachings and helped in his work

– He forgave sins, worked miracles, even raised people from the dead

– Taught people to live according to the will of God

– Emphasized the personal side of Religion

Jesus of Nazareth Accepted the outcasts (tax collectors,

prostitutes, children) Main rule: “Whatever you wish that men

would do to you, do so to them.” Taught by telling parables Debate over whether he was the Messiah or

not; Disciples, and future Christians, believe he is.

St. Thomas Aquinas Brilliant, intelligent student and person Worked on Scholasticism Taught Scholasticism by combing religious

beliefs with Aristotle’s thinking Wrote Summa Theologica; God’s existence

could be proved by reason apart from revelation

 Shifted Christianity theology from Platonism to Aristotelianism

Martin Luther Posted Ninety-Five Theses for academic

debate Was against indulgences Ninety-Five Theses spread thanks to

printing press Was excommunicated by Pope for

challenging the authority of the Pope and Church leaders

Never punished by church, couldn’t be caught thanks to German Princes

Some changes made, others not recognized by Church during Council of Trent

John Calvin Well trained in law Wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion Become leader of the French Protestants Cannot save themselves by good deals,

must rely on grace of God, whom he has predetermined to be among the elect

Based on letters of St. Paul to the Romans

Rituals and Symbols Baptism:

– Usually Baptized as a baby

– Signifies a person joining the church

– Washes away Original Sin

Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist:– Rememberance of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is

recalled in the breaking of bread and drinking of wine.

– Participation in the last supper of Christ and his Apostles

Confirmation: – Marks the time when a child becomes an adult

– The new adult freely chooses to become a member of the church.

Sacraments Seven Holy Sacraments exist in the

Catholic Church. Some of these are shared with other

Christian churches.– Baptism– Holy Eucharist– Confirmation– Penance: being forgiven for your sins– Extreme Unction: Last Rights before death

Marriage Holy Orders: becoming a priest or a nun

Popular SymbolsAnkh Candle CrossDove

Fish Flame Star

Holidays Palm Sunday:

– Commemorates the occasion when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph.

Maundy Thursday:– Jesus shared his last supper with his Apostles

Good Friday:– The day of Jesus’ crucifixion

Holidays (continued) Easter:

– The most important celebration in the Christian year

– God raised Jesus from the dead

Christmas:– Birth of Jesus

Pentecost:– The Holy Spirit descended of the Apostles

The Absolute

Christians believe in one God God has no partners or rivals The most complete revelation of God has

been through God the son– Who was incarnate of Jesus of Nazarateth– He is co-eternal with God the Father and was

born in human form through the Virgin Mary

The Absolute

Jesus is both God and man God also reveals himself as the Holy Spirit

Although God appears in three persons, Christians insist that there is only one God– Christians have an understanding of God that is

rejected by Jews and Muslims

The World

Christians draw on the Genesis account and the Psalms for their view of the world in its original form

Influences from Platonist and Manichaeon (persian dualism) thought– Reinforced Christian ideas that the human body

is not good and that the soul should deny the desires of the body

The World

Christians believe with its life in the human body, is an environment of suffering to be escaped or overcome with spiritual discipline

Heaven is their home They are only pilgrims passing through the

desolation of earthly existence Majority believe that humans and nature have

become alienated form god and require assistance in effecting reconciliation

The World

Theologians emphasize truths learned through revelation

Philosophers emphasize truths learned through reason

Scientists emphasize truths through observations of phenomena

The World Christians accepted insights of Copernicus who

wrote:– “the earth travels around the sun”

Of Galileo, who found contrary to Aristotle - “the moon only reflects the light of the sun”

Of Newton, who found, “bodies are attracted to each other by universal

gravitational force” Many Christians are still divide over Darwin’s

theory of evolution

The World

The reformations, counterreformation, and conquest of north and south America, launched Christianity on expeditions to conquer the world, natural and human

In the twenty-first century, more churches may increase short resolutions on the environment to formal theology– Bringing together Christian insights and

scientific descriptions