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Christianity2 for Beginners

Mike Mazzalongo

The Christian Religion

1. Historical Context

Comparing Religions Helps

1. Historical Context

2. Understanding


1. Historical Context2. Understanding

3. Appreciation


Religion “..men’s expression of his acknowledgement of the Divine..”

Major Religions of the World

RELIGION• New Age Movement• Communism• Naturalism

1. History of Origins

Organized Religions Have Certain Features

1. History of Origins

2. Concept of Deity


1. History of Origins2. Concept of Deity

3. Concept of Mankind


1. History of Origins2. Concept of Deity3. Concept of Mankind

4. Concept of Salvation


1. History of Origins2. Concept of Deity3. Concept of Mankind4. Concept of Salvation

5. Concept of Worship


1. History of Origins2. Concept of Deity3. Concept of Mankind4. Concept of Salvation5. Concept of Worship

6. Recording of Scriptures


1. History of Origins2. Concept of Deity3. Concept of Mankind4. Concept of Salvation5. Concept of Worship6. Recording of Scriptures

7. Basic Geography


Primitive Religions

1.Strong belief in magic.Features

Primitive Religions

1. Strong belief in magic.

2.No individual god or power.

Features

1. Strong belief in magic.2. No individual god or power.

3.Various forms practiced.

Features

Primitive Religions

• Animism• Dynamism

• Fetishism• Totemism

• Tribal Groups – 4000 BC• Egyptian Nature & Mystery Cults – 3250 BC• Babylonians – 3000 BC• Greeks – 1000 BC• Romans – 500 BC

Jupiter

Primitive Religions

History

• Voo-doo – Haiti• Falungong – China

Primitive Religions

Major World Religions

TAOISM• China• Lao Tze• (604-517 BC)• Ying / Yang• Reject Human Institutions


TAOISM• China• Lao Tze• (604-517 BC)• Ying / Yang• Reject Human

Institutions

CONFUCIANISM• China

• Kung-Fu-Tze

• (551-487 BC)

• Balanced social relationships

• Practice developing social virtues



Institutions


• Kung-Fu-Tze

• (551-487 BC)



SHINTO• Japan• No Founder

• Veneration of land and people of Japan as “deities”

• Japanese Supremacy



Institutions


• Kung-Fu-Tze

• (551-487 BC)



SHINTO• Japan• No Founder

• Veneration of land and people of Japan as “deities”

• Japanese Supremacy

BUDDHISM• India/China/World• Siddhartha Gautama

(Buddha) 563-480 BC• No supreme being but

all are part of whole.• Nirvana is the cessation

of self.• Meditation, Yoga, self-

denial, study leads to Nirvana.


HINDUISM• India• No founder – evolved from nature

religious to social “caste” system.• Goal of life – “Moksha” (similar to

Nirvana)• Good deeds, avoiding bad “karma”,

self-denial leads to Moksha.• May require several lifetimes to reach

desired state (re-incarnation).


HINDUISM• India• No founder • “Moksha” • Bad “karma”• Re-incarnation.

JAINISM• India• Nataputta Vardhamana

(599-527 BC)• Similar to Hinduism &

Buddhism except: • only way to

Nirvana/Moksha is self-denial.

• ultimate state maintains self-identity.


HINDUISM• India• No founder • “Moksha” • Bad “karma”• Re-incarnation.

JAINISM• India• Nataputta Vardhamana

(599-527 BC)• Self-denial.• Self-identity.

SIKHISM• Pakistan• Nanak (1469-1558 AD)• Combination of Hindu/Muslim ideas• Rejected “caste” system of Hindus.• Ruled by Gurus and Required 5 K’s:

1.Kesh 2.Kangha 3.Kachh

4. Kara 5. Kirpan


ZOROASTRIANISM• Iran• Zoroaster • Based on visions of Zoroaster.• Monotheist• Used “fire” in worship.• Had special envoy “Sadshyant”

every 1000 years.• “Wise Men” may have been

Zoroastrians.


ZOROASTRIANISM• Iran• Zoroaster • Based on visions

of Zoroaster.• Monotheist• “fire” in worship.• “Sadshyant” every

1000 years.• “Wise Men” may

have been Zoroastrians.

ISLAM• Saudi Arabia/World• Mohammed (570-632 AD)• Based on the visions of Mohammed written in Koran.• Man goes to Paradise based on complete submission to God.• Practice submission through 5 Pillars:

1. Confession2. Alms 3. Prayer

• Different groups: Sunnis, Shiites, Soffiis, Bahai, Black Muslims, Nation of Islam.

4. Fasting5. Pilgrimage






ISLAM• Saudi Arabia• Mohammed• Based on the

visions written in Koran.

• Complete submission to God.

• 5 Pillars:• Different groups

JUDAISM• Israel/World• Abraham (2000 BC)• Earliest Monotheistic religion• The “Chosen People”• Keeping God’s Laws keeps you as God’s

chosen.• Three main groups:

• 1. Reform 2. Conservative 3. Orthodox• No agreement between groups on existence

of afterlife.






ISLAM• Saudi Arabia• Mohammed• Based on the

visions written in Koran.

• Complete submission to God.

• 5 Pillars:• Different

groups

JUDAISM• Israel/World• Abraham• Early Monotheistic

religion• “Chosen People”• Keeping Laws

keeps you as God’s chosen.

• Three main groups:

• No agreement on afterlife.

CHRISTIANITY• Israel/World• Jesus Christ (4-29+ AD)• Jesus is Jewish Messiah• Miracles, teachings,

resurrection support claims of personal divinity.

• Jesus’ sacrifice eliminates mankind’s moral debt to God.

• Christian’s believe in a conscious, personal, eternal afterlife.

1.Superior Revelation

Supremacy of the Christian Religion

1. Superior Revelation

2.Superior Leader


1. Superior Revelation2. Superior Leader

3.Superior Solutions


1. Superior Revelation2. Superior Leader3. Superior Solutions

A. Identifies Problem



A. Identifies ProblemB. Provides a Solution



A. Identifies ProblemB. Provides a SolutionC. Offers a Better Hope


C. Offers a Better Hope


- Freedom from guilt. - Peace of mind. - Loving relationships.

- Greater insight. - Spiritual renewal.

NOW

C. Offers a Better Hope


- Conscious afterlife. - Freedom from sin/death. - Personal relationship with God.

AFTER

“The Bible”

Next Lesson

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