Christianity 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 Symbols AnkhCandleCross Dove FishFlame 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