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Christianity Western Civilizations David Wood OVERVIEW AND IMPORTANCE Overview • As covered in previous classes: Christianity springs from Judaism! • As also covered in previous classes: Christianity rises to being the world’s largest and most powerful religion fairly quickly. • Today, there are over 2.1 billion Christians, comprising some 30% of the world’s population. • It remains deeply embedded in modern Western institutions, including and especially those found in the United States of America. Overview • Christianity is found all across the world, but in “Western Civilization” countries, Christianity is the strongest and most powerful religious influence. • There are zero atheists in American federal government: now or at any point in the past. • Religion is important to America, and for most Americans, “religion” means Christianity. • So clearly, if you want to understand Western Civilization, it’s important to understand Christianity. The Basics: • • • • Place of Origin - Israel Founder - Jesus of Nazareth Sacred Text - The Bible - Old and New Testaments Sacred Building - Church, Chapel, Cathedral BELIEFS • Christian belief centers on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish teacher and healer who lived in first century Palestine. • The story and teachings of Jesus are described in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). These books make up what is known as the New Testament in the Bible. • The sacred text of Christianity is the Bible, which includes the Old Testament of the Jews, along with the New Testament and the book of Revelation, which describes the end of the world. Holy Book • The Bible is the Christian holy book. It is divided into the Old and New Testaments. Parts of the writing contained in the Old Testament are also sacred to Jewish and Muslim people. Jesus Christ • Who is the founder of Christianity? Jesus Christ, who was crucified around A.D. 30 in Jerusalem, is the founder of Christianity. • Who is Jesus Christ? Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came to earth to teach about love and fellowship. He represents the person that all Christians must strive to be. Jesus was a Jew who was born about 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. Jesus lived for 33 years before being crucified by the Romans. Jesus Christ BELIEFS • Jesus was persecuted for his beliefs and was crucified. • According to Christian beliefs, he rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion and ascended to heaven to sit next to God. • This resurrection symbolizes the chance for forgiveness of sin and the hope for eternal life. BELIEFS • Christians believe in one God who consists of three persons: • The Father • The Son (Christ) • The Holy Ghost or Spirit BELIEFS • Roman Catholics whose beliefs include Transubstantiation (the change of the substance of bread and wine into that of the body and blood of Christ ), Purgatory and the importance of saints and Mary. • Eastern Orthodoxy whose beliefs include the use of icons in worship and its refusal of allegiance to the Pope. • Protestantism who beliefs include a refusal of allegiance to the Pope, an emphasis on reading the Bible and the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Worship Practices • Where do Christians worship? • The Christian place of worship is called a Church. They are often built in the shape of a cross with the altar facing east towards the rising sun. • The Christian spiritual leaders are called priests or ministers or pastors. • What is Christian worship like? • Christian worship involves praising God in music, speech, readings from scripture, prayers of various sorts, a sermon and various holy ceremonies. BELIEFS • All Christians worship on Sunday, read the Scriptures and participate in baptism and communion. • Easter – celebration of the resurrection. • Lent – a time of fasting before Easter. • Christmas – celebration of the birth of Jesus • Plus…numerous Saint’s Days like Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and All Saint’s Day. Basic Beliefs • Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and God in human form and that: • God sent his Son to earth to save humanity from the consequences of its sins • Jesus was fully human, and experienced this world in the same way as other human beings of his time • Jesus was tortured and gave his life on the Cross (At the Crucifixion) • Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion (the Resurrection) • Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament • Christians believe that there is only one God, but that this one God consists of 3 "persons:" • God the Father • God the Son • The Holy Spirit • Christians believe that God made the world. Festivals • What are the two main Christian festivals? The two main Christian festivals are Easter and Christmas. They are major milestones in the Western secular calendar. • Christmas is the time that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Easter is the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Symbols • The cross is the main symbol. It reminds Christians that Jesus died on the cross to save them. • The dove is the symbol of the holy spirit and peace. • How is Christianity similar to other religions? • Christianity shares a number of beliefs and practices with other religions, particularly Judaism and Islam. With Judaism and Islam, Christians believe in one God, who created the universe and all that is in it. All believe that this God is active in history, guiding and teaching his people. • Christianity and Judaism share the same roots. The Old Testament and the Torah (Jewish Holy Book) have the same content. The Jews are awaiting the coming of a Messiah or Savior, while Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Savior and are now waiting for his second coming. OVERVIEW OF JESUS Christianity: Seizing the Moment • Christ is born in 5 or 6 BC • Why not 0? • What the heck does AD mean? The Appeal of Jesus • His Ministry • His Death • His Claim Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth The Appeal of Jesus HIS MINISTRY • Healing • Preaching • “The Kingdom of God” • Harsh judgment or Loving Father? Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth The Appeal of Jesus HIS DEATH • Pontius Pilate • Scandal Y’Shua min Nazaret …Jesus of Nazareth Key People & Actions foster the Spread of Christianity PETER • Traveling Preacher • Later revered as “First Pope” or the “Bishop of Rome” • Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD Key People & Actions foster the Spread of Christianity PAUL (Saul of Tarsus) • Jewish • Started Gentile Churches • Wrote letters which make up 1/3 of the New Testament • Martyred in Rome in mid-60’s AD The Spread of Christianity How did Christianity Spread? • • • • • • The spread of Christianity is not linear Rather, it is very gradual, and happens over a long period of time. It starts from Jewish Synagogues and private homes The initial enclaves expand with time As it expands, it becomes more hierarchical By the 4th century we have bishops, namely church officials overseeing entire regions Rome in the New Testament • Gospel of Matthew: the miracle involving the son of the centurion • The Role of Pontius Pilate and the Romans in the Crucifixion of Jesus • Letter to the Romans • Rome is portrayed as the violent occupying force. The Roman Empire • Brought unprecedented political unity to the Mediterranean basin • Tolerant of local laws and customs, yet greatly encouraged as much uniformity as possible • The Romans were admirers of (and thought of themselves as successors to) Alexander the Great • Roman legal system and Hellenistic culture (synthesis) • Unprecedented freedom/safety of travel (road system and safe sea passage) • Paul’s missionary journeys enjoyed all of the benefits of Roman society: common language, legal system, culture and safe travel How the Roman world contributed to the Spread of Christianity • Pax Romana • The unification of the three sides of the Mediterranean, relative safety in the sea routes, and the Roman road network facilitated movement. Paul alone is believed to have covered 10,000 miles in terms of travel. • The widespread use of common languages (Greek in the East and Latin in the West) facilitated communication and the spread of the message • The religious and cultural syncretism of the Roman empire and the presence of so many religions allowed for the followers of Christianity to preach their message all around the Mediterranean. • While Islam had to conquer its way through the Near East, Christianity found a world unified, ready and receptive Rome’s Religious Policy • In order to achieve greater unity, imperial policy sought religious uniformity by following two routes: • Religious syncretism • Emperor worship • Rome had a vested interest in having her subjects from different lands believe that, although their gods had different names, they were the same as the gods of the Romans. • Roman Pantheon – Temple of “All Gods” • Combined with Emperor Worship, religious syncretism amounted to the “state religion” (or state-control of religion) • Jews and Christians regarded as unbending fanatics who insisted on the worship of their one God Emperor Worship • The “glue” that kept religious unity in society • The intermingling of religions meant that one could possibly be an adherent of many; creates confusion for historians • Emperor worship (worship of the state in the person of the ruling imperator) was the measure of unity and test of loyalty • To refuse to burn incense before the emperor’s image was a sign of treason and/or disloyalty. • Christian refusal to burn incense before the emperor’s image was a witness to their faith; hence, a cause of their persecution Why did Christians refuse to worship state gods and emperors? • Christians believed there was only ONE God • To them, worship of state gods and emperors meant worshipping false gods which would endanger their own salvation Distinction between Judaism and Christianity became clearer… • As more and more converts were gained from the Gentile population • As Jewish nationalism increased, Christians sought to put as much distance as they could between themselves and that movement RESULT: Roman authorities began to take cognizance of Christianity as a religion quite different from Judaism, and thus not given the same tolerance as Judaism • Basis for later persecutions Nero • Became emperor in AD 54 (deposed AD 68) • At first ruled well, or reasonably enough • Became increasingly infatuated with his own grandeur and desire for pleasure; increasingly unpopular • Great fire of Rome – AD 64 • Blamed the Christians – first imperial persecution of the Church Base accusations against Christians • • • • • • • Atheism Orgiastic celebrations Incestuous relationships Gluttons and Drunkards Child sacrifice Cannibalism Mockery – Christians worshiped an “ass” (donkey) Symbols • The Romans persecuted the Christians and it became dangerous for them to meet, so the Christians devised a secret code. They drew half a fish in the sand. If a person completed the fish, they knew he or she was a believer too. Under the fish sign the Christians wrote the Greek word for fish. Other accusations Christian doctrines were irrational and self-contradictory Christians were uneducated; pedestrian Foolish people who merely feigned wisdom Not cultured Christianity appeals to the “wrong sorts” of people Christianity derived from the religion of barbarians (Jews) Christianity destroys the fiber of good society Christians continue to “fear the gods” by refusing to take part in most social activities (contradiction to their claim that all other gods are false) • Jesus was a criminal condemned by Roman authority • • • • • • • • Different groups of Jews’ response to Roman rule • Sadducees: priests, favored cooperation with Rome • Pharisees: scholars, believed close observance of religious law would protect them from Roman influences • Essenes: lived apart from society, sharing goods in common, waiting for God to save Israel from oppression • Zealots: called for violent overthrow of Roman rule • 66 A.D.: Began Jewish revolt that Romans crushed 4 years later Jesus • Jewish teacher who travelled and preached throughout Judaea and neighboring Galilee • These teachings began new movement within Judaism that gained strength and eventually developed into new faith of Christianity The teachings of Jesus… • Believed his mission was to complete salvation God had promised to Israel • Adhered to entire Law, but focused on elements that transformed the inner person • Emphasized humility, charity, and love towards others • Preaching stirred controversy • Some saw him as potential revolutionary who could lead revolt against Rome • Opponents turned him over to Roman authorities • Procurator Pontius Pilate ordered his crucifixion • After death, followers proclaimed he had risen from death and appeared to them • Believed he was the Messiah (anointed one) who would save Israel from its foes and bring an age of peace, prosperity, and monotheism (belief in the existence of only one god) • As opposed to polytheism (belief in many gods) How Christianity spread throughout empire • Apostles (leaders) travelled around spreading message that Jesus was Savior and that accepting him as Christ, people could be saved from sin • Teachings of Christianity passed on orally and through written tradition • Apostles’ epistles (letters) and accounts of Jesus’s sayings made up the core of the New Testament, second part of Christian Bible • By 100 A.D. Christian churches established in most major cities Why did Romans persecute Christians? • Basic values of Christianity differed from those of GrecoRoman world • Romans only tolerated religions of other peoples if those religions did not threaten public order or public morals • Many Romans viewed Christians as harmful to Roman state because Christians refused to worship state gods and emperors • They saw this as act of treason, punishable by death • Roman govt. began persecuting Christians during reign of Nero (A.D. 54-68) How did the church become more organized in 2nd and 3rd centuries? • Missionaries established more churches and converted more Christians • Christian church created new structure where different people had different functions • Clergy: church leaders • Laity: regular church members Why was Christianity attractive to ALL classes of people? •Eternal life was promised to all regardless of social class or gender The End of Christian Persecution in Rome • First Christian emperor: Constantine • Edict of Milan: proclaimed official tolerance of Christianity • Theodosius the Great: Romans adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire Three reasons Christianity attracted followers 1.Gave Romans meaning and purpose to life 2.Was familiar, yet easy to adopt and relate-able 3.Provided people with a sense of belonging The reasons why Christianity Spread so Effectively • Its message was egalitarian in many ways (including women, slaves, and all socioeconomic classes) • It gave hope by promising a better life after death • It appealed to the masses of poor and destitute inhabitants of large cities, but also to members of the upper classes who felt spiritually empty • It promised equality and social justice, and offered a positive alternative to an uncertain and dangerous world • It appealed to tendencies of oriental mysticism Other Points on Christianity Being Compelling • Fear cannot be discounted as a factor in the spread of Christianity. • This is a reputation that follows Christianity well into modern times. • Christian faith believes in a “Hell” – where unbelievers and sinners are cast after death, forever to suffer LATER PERIODS IN HISTORY The Reality • Church relied on secular lords for land, financial support, and security. • Secular lords relied on church for political support. • In Germany, emperor appointed church officials. • “Most knights scrupulously observed the rites of religion. They were, however, little troubled by Christian ethics.” Medieval World • Throughout the fall of the Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages, Christianity remains the top belief system throughout Western Civilization. • We can think of Western Civilization as being the core of the Roman world and what it left behind. • Romans were mass converting to Christianity as it fell. • Naturally, Rome left a Christian legacy, and consequently, this means that Western Civilization increasingly means Christian Civilization. Later Periods in History • It wasn’t until the age of Enlightenment that Christianity in the Western World became seriously questioned. • We’ll cover this in future lectures. • But by that time, it didn’t matter, as Christianity was so thoroughly embedded in European culture. Christianity in Modern Contexts