Summary |
Christianity is a monotheistic religion,
referred to as an Abrahamic religion (a group of monotheistic
religions making up about half of the world’s religious
people, which includes Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).
It is based on the birth, life, teachings, death by
crucifixion, and resurrection of a Jew named Jesus
of Nazareth ( Nazareth was a city in what is now northern
Israel ) as described in the New Testament (a portion
of the Bible written about the life of Jesus and the
early Church).
Although Christians are monotheistic, the one God
is thought, by most Christians, to exist in three divine
persons, called the Trinity. Most Christians believe
that Jesus is the son of God and the Messiah (savior)
of the Jews as prophesied in the Old Testament (a portion
of the Bible written about the life of the Hebrews
/ Israelites before Jesus).
Over the past two thousand years, Christianity has
been grouped into three main branches: Roman Catholicism,
Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. It is the world's
largest single religion, with over 2.2 billion followers.
The term "Christ" is derived from the Greek
noun Χριστός Khristós
which means "anointed one", and is a translation
of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח ,
also written "Messiah"). Christian means "belonging
to Christ" or "of Christ". |
Monotheistic Religion referred to as
an Abrahamic religion |
 |
Trinity |
One God in three persons
St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain this concept
to the Celts in Ireland
God the Father
- creator of Heaven and Earth, created humans
in his image
God the Son
- Jesus – took human form so that he could
die as a sacrifice for peoples’ sins
God the Holy Spirit
- the spiritual presence of God; God’s active
force
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The Bible |
Old Testament
- known as “the scriptures”
- stories about early Hebrews (Isrealites) such
as Abraham, Noah, Moses, etc.
New Testament
- written by the followers of Jesus
- about the life of Jesus, his teachings, about
living the Christian life, and about the early Church
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Jesus |
Birth
- God takes human form (around 4 BC)
- city of Bethlehem in modern Israel (celebrated
as Christmas Day)
- earthly parents were Mary and Joseph, but Jesus
is considered to be the son of God (Mary was a virgin)
Youth
- grew up in the city of Nazareth
- Joseph was a carpenter, so Jesus grew up learning
to be a carpenter
- knew his Jewish scriptures (the Torah, the Old
Testament)
Adulthood
- began to teach the scriptures and to preach about
God’s love for man
- performed miracles (healing, multiplied food,
calmed storms, etc.)
- gained disciples (followers)
- was hated by jealous priests and teachers
Death
- accused of blasphemy (speaking against the teachings
of Judaism)
- convicted of blasphemy by a Roman governor named
Pontius Pilate
- sentenced to death by crucifixion (hung on a cross)
in Jerusalem (around AD 30)
Resurrection
- rose from the dead after three days (celebrated
as Easter Sunday)
- appeared to his disciples after he rose from the
dead
- Church was founded and led by Peter “the
rock” (the first Pope)
- ascended (went up) into Heaven; rules Heaven and
Earth with the Father and Holy Spirit
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Judgement |
Some day in the future, Jesus will return
to Earth to judge the souls (inner spirits) of people
to determine whether they are worthy of living forever
in Heaven |
Goals of Christianity |
Salvation – being
forgiven of sin (bad things) so that one can please God
Everlasting Life – by achieving
salvation, one can be judged worthy to live forever
in Heaven
Heaven – a peaceful place
where God and his faithful followers spend eternity
Hell – a fiery place to avoid
where Satan (an evil demon) and sinners (people who
do bad things) spend eternity |
Saints
(not all Christians have the same view of Saints) |
People who have died and are in Heaven
(also, according to some Christian groups, people on
Earth who will be in Heaven when they die are also considered
to be Saints) |
Angels |
Spiritual beings who serve God in Heaven
- Satan was formerly an Angel known as Lucifer who
thought he was better than God. God banished Lucifer
to Hell.
- several angels followed Lucifer into Hell and
are now considered to be demons who try to corrupt
the souls of people on Earth
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Teachings |
Ten Commandments (from
Judaism – Old Testament)
- have only one God
- keep the Sabbath day as a day of worship and rest
(Christians celebrate on Sunday)
- don’t use God’s name as a way of cursing
- obey your parents
- don’t lie, steal, sleep with someone without
being married to him/her, etc.
Beatitudes (from Jesus’ Sermon
on the Mount)
- Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are they who sorrow: for they shall be
comforted.
- Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth.
- Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after
holiness: for they shall be filled.
- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain
mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall
see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called sons of God.
- Blessed are they that have been persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
- Blessed are you when [men] shall reproach you,
and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake.
- Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your
reward in heaven.
Great Commandment
- Love God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind.
- Love your neighbor as yourself. (referred to as
the “golden rule”)
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Statement of Faith (belief)
The Apostle’s Creed |
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy *catholic
church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
* The word "catholic" with
a small letter “c” refers to the entire
universal Christian Church. |
Early Church Leadership Hierarchy
(still part of the Roman Catholic Church) |
Pope
- human leader of the entire Church. Originally,
Peter (one of the disciples) was Pope.
Cardinal
- elects the Pope and governs a large territory
Bishop
- leader of several different churches (northwest
Ohio for example)
Priest
- pastor or minister to one or more churches
Deacon
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Types of Christianity |
Roman Catholic
- Christian church organized with a structural hierarchy
of priests and bishops under the pope, a liturgy
centered in the Mass, veneration of the Virgin Mary
and saints, clerical celibacy, and beliefs including
transubstantiation (the changing of bread and wine
into the body and blood of Christ)
Eastern Orthodox
- Christian churches in eastern Europe and Asia
that form a loose federation giving supremacy of
honor to the patriarch (Eastern Pope) of Constantinople
and adhering to the decisions of the first seven
ecumenical councils and to the Byzantine rite
Protestant
- a member of any of several church denominations
denying the universal authority of the Pope and affirming
the Reformation principles of justification by faith
alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the supremacy
of the Bible as the only source of revealed truth; broadly: a
Christian not of a Catholic or Eastern church
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