Download Origins, Foundational Beliefs, and Spread of Christianity text

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Read the following text. Beside each paragraph, write the main points or
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Origins, Foundational Beliefs, and Spread of Christianity
Like most cultures throughout the ancient world, the Greeks and Romans were
polytheistic, believing in many gods and goddesses that ruled and lived in the
heavens, the earth, and the underworld. Although the gods were very powerful,
they looked and acted humans. They had human emotions such as love, hate,
jealousy, compassion, and vengeance; and even played games; had families; and
fought wars. These beliefs held true for both Greeks and Romans. Much of
Roman religious beliefs were adopted from the Greeks, including many of their
deities. However, instead of maintaining Greek names for the gods, Romans
gave the Greek gods Roman names. Both cultures sought to appease the gods,
built temples, offered sacrifices, and prayed for assistance in their lives. While
both Greeks and Romans believed in an afterlife, more attention was given to
living in this world than preparing for the next.
As the Roman Empire grew, the people they conquered were allowed to
maintain their own religious beliefs as long as those beliefs did not threaten
Roman rule. One religion seen as a threat to Rome was Christianity.
Christianity grew from and is an extension of Judaism. Unlike other religions of
the ancient Mediterranean and eastern worlds, Judaism and Christianity are
monotheistic, believing in a single divine being that both referred to as Yahweh
(God). During the time of the Roman Empire, followers of Judaism believed that
God would send a Messiah or Savior to restore the nation of Israel. Christianity
grew from the belief that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. A carpenter by trade,
Jesus left Nazareth to become an itinerant minister. He was accompanied in his
journeys by twelve disciples. During his ministry, he was recognized as a healer
and a prophet by some and hailed as the Son of God, the Messiah, by others.
Jesus’ message of love and devotion to God and all mankind is central to all his
teachings, which form the foundation of Christianity.
Christianity teaches that Jesus is the incarnation of God (God in bodily form),
died on the cross, was resurrected from the dead in order that mankind could be
forgiven of their sins, and still remains among mankind as the Holy Spirit.
Mankind was separated from a relationship with God because of their sins. God,
however, loves man and wants a relationship with him, so Jesus died on the
cross as a sacrifice to provide a way of forgiveness. He was resurrected to
provide a way for mankind to enter a relationship with God. Salvation is a gift
through grace and mankind can do nothing to earn it. A life of good works is a
reflection of a relationship with God, not a way of earning merit. The Bible
contains the sacred writings of Christianity.
Christianity was first spread beyond Jerusalem and Judea as Christians moved to
other areas due to persecution for their beliefs. The religion continued and
flourished throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean world due to the
preaching/teaching of followers of Jesus such as Peter, John the Apostle, and
Paul. Despite early persecution by Roman authorities, Christianity was
eventually adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire and became
entrenched in western civilization.
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