Christianity and Judaism split within the first generations of Christianity.
Life of Jesus Christ
Jesus was born in Bethlehem about 6 BC.
He was born to a virgin via a miraculous birth.
Virtually nothing about his life is known prior to age 30. At 30 he launched his public ministry. He gathered 12 disciples.
He emphasized servitude to God and men out of love, not obligation.
He claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God. He was a miracle worker and an exorcist.
He was crucified for offending the Jewish establishment and suspected of treason against Rome.
The Scriptures claim that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples over a 40-day period until finally ascending into Heaven.
Subsequent Developments
During the first 70 years after Jesus' death and resurrection his teachings spread throughout the Roman Empire.
Paul the Apostle was instrumental in these early years.
The New Testament books were written in this time too.
The Early Church was persecuted by the Roman Empire until 313 when Emperor Constantine declared Christianity a legal religion.
When the Roman Empire split tension between the Eastern Orthodox Church and Western Catholic Church arose. The Church finally split in 1054.
The bishop of Rome blame the Pope and asserted authority over all the Western Church between 350 - 850 AD.
Another major split occurred in the 16th century with the Protestant Reformation.
Currently, Christianity is characterized by two important features: first a global presence reaching into even the smallest corners of the world; and second, division into many different local churches and denominations, which often differ only on minor matters" (Corduan, 42).
Scriptures
Virtually all Christians recognize the Scriptures as two collections:
1) The Scriptures of Jesus' day (known as the Old Testament)
2) The New Testament
The Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches maintain that the Apocrypha are also inspired works and thus, Scriptures. Protestants do not hold this view because the Apocrypha was not recognized as Scripture in Jesus' day.
Major Beliefs
Christianity emphasizes correct belief.
1. God - one God who created the universe and is not part of the universe.
2. Trinity - God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. God is one nature, but three distinct persons.
3. Sin and Redemption - man is fallen and must redeemed
4. Christ - Jesus Christ is God. He became Incarnate.
5. Atonement - Jesus' death was not a martyrdom. It was the atonement for sinful man.
6. Faith - faith is an attitude of trust in Christ. Salvation is earned by faith alone, not through works.
7. Future - Jesus will come back to judge the earth. Those who believed will go to Heaven, those who did not will go to Hell.
Subgroups
Christianity is divided into numerous subgroups and sub-subgroups. Many have split over very minor doctrinal disagreements
Major Subgroups
1) Roman Catholic Church
- Headed by the Pope
- The Largest subgroup
- Worldwide
- Sacramental
2) Eastern Orthodox Church
- primarily in Greece, Eastern Europe and the Middle East
- Sacramental
- Has preserved many ancient traditions
- Headed by the Patriarch
3) Protestant Churches
- Emphasize individual salvation
Worship Practices
They vary from church to church, but usually have singing, scripture reading, prayer and preaching.
Some churches are liturgical, others are very informal.
Baptism and Communion are areas that have caused rifts in the Church.
Church Division: (among many others)
Baptism is the Christian initiation ceremony.
Communion is a ceremonial meal of a portion of bread and a sip of wine.
Some call these sacraments, others call them ordinances.
Sacraments -> conveying of God's grace.
Ordinances -> reminders of God's actions
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