Comparative Religion: Christianity

Christianity  The world’s largest organized religion  Roughly 2.1 billion followers  Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who lived 2,000 years ago in modern Israel  One of the three main Abrahamic faiths  The world’s largest organized religion  Roughly 2.1 billion followers  Based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who lived 2,000 years ago in modern Israel  One of the three main Abrahamic faiths

The Earth

The Middle East

Judea (Palestine/Israel)

Beliefs  Jesus Christ is the Messiah, as foretold in the Old Testament  He was the son of God, and was sent to save humanity from its sins  He gave his life on the cross to save man  Jesus Christ is the Messiah, as foretold in the Old Testament  He was the son of God, and was sent to save humanity from its sins  He gave his life on the cross to save man

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus  Very little is known about the first 30 years  Spent the last 3 years of his life teaching, healing, and working miracles  Had 12 disciples, who followed him in his ministry throughout Judea  Very little is known about the first 30 years  Spent the last 3 years of his life teaching, healing, and working miracles  Had 12 disciples, who followed him in his ministry throughout Judea

Arrest and Crucifixion  Jesus claimed to speak with the authority of God  Angered the Jewish Priests of Judea, who considered him a revolutionary  He was turned over to the Roman gov’t  Tried as a heretic, and convicted  Sentenced to death  Jesus claimed to speak with the authority of God  Angered the Jewish Priests of Judea, who considered him a revolutionary  He was turned over to the Roman gov’t  Tried as a heretic, and convicted  Sentenced to death

The Crucifixion

The Resurrection  The Sunday following his death, Jesus appears to his female followers  Mary Magdalene and “Another Mary”  Appears to several disciples over several days  Ascends into heaven to serve with God  The Sunday following his death, Jesus appears to his female followers  Mary Magdalene and “Another Mary”  Appears to several disciples over several days  Ascends into heaven to serve with God

The Ascension

Justification of Faith  Through belief in Jesus as the son of God, they can have a relationship with God  God’s forgiveness was granted through the crucifixion and resurrection  The trinity: God, Jesus, and the holy spirit  Through belief in Jesus as the son of God, they can have a relationship with God  God’s forgiveness was granted through the crucifixion and resurrection  The trinity: God, Jesus, and the holy spirit

Christian Denominations  The Catholic (universal) church consolidated power in the early 4th century  Other Christian beliefs were eliminated  A single Bible was agreed upon  Many Christians split with the church in the 1500’s  Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation  There are many sects within Christianity  Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican  The Catholic (universal) church consolidated power in the early 4th century  Other Christian beliefs were eliminated  A single Bible was agreed upon  Many Christians split with the church in the 1500’s  Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation  There are many sects within Christianity  Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Anglican