Download World Religions/Christianity

World Religions
What is religion?
• A religion is a set of beliefs in an ultimate
reality and a set of practices used to
express those beliefs.
• Religion is a key component of culture
Why do we study religion?
• Its an important component of
civilization
• Shapes how people interact with one
another, dress, and eat
Diffusion of Religion Throughout the World
• Has been caused by variety of factors including migration, missionary work, trade
and war
• Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam three major religions that spread their religion through
missionary activities
• Religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Judaism are associated with particular
culture group
• Followers usually born into these religions
• Sometimes close contact and differences in beliefs have resulted in conflict between
religious groups
Terms to know…
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Animism: belief that spirits inhabit natural objects and forces of nature
Atheism: disbelief in the existence of any god
Monotheism: belief in one God
Polytheism: belief in more than one God
Secularism: belief that life’s questions can be answered apart from religious belief
Sect: a subdivision within a religion that has its own distinctive beliefs and/or practices
Tenet: a belief, doctrine, or principle believed to be true and held in common by members
of a group
Christianity
Background and Important Facts
• Claims more members than any of the other world religions (33% of world
population)
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Spread through missionaries
Dates its beginning to the death of Jesus in A.D. 33
Monotheistic: belief in one God and on the life and teachings of Jesus
Believe that Jesus, who was born a Jew, is son of God and is fully divine and human
• They regard him as the Messiah (savior) who died for humanity’s sins
• Believe that people are saved and achieve eternal life by faith in Jesus
Geographic Distribution
• Majority of North America
and Europe
• Some in South America
• Parts of Africa and India
• Portions of Australia
Major Forms of Christianity
• Roman Catholicism
• Eastern Orthodoxy
• Protestantism
Sacred Text
• Bible
• Broken down into Two large “Sections”
• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Each sect has different number of books
• Considered to be the best-selling book of all time
Sacred Symbols
• Cross/Crucifix
• The simplest and most common Christian cross is the Latin cross. It
may not have come into use until the 2nd or 3rd century. The empty
cross, usually favored by Protestants, reminds Christians of the
resurrection, while the crucifix, with the body of Jesus on it, favored
by Catholic and Orthodox churches, is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice.
• Fish (ICTHUS)
• Early symbol of Christians
• the Greek word for fish (ICHTUS), works nicely as an acrostic for
"Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior"
• •the fish would not be an obvious Christian symbol to persecutors
• • Jesus' ministry is associated with fish: he chose several fishermen to
be his disciples and declared he would make them "fishers of men."
• Triquetra
• Symbolizes the Trinity (God as father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
Sacred Sites
• Church of the Nativity, located in
the heart of Bethlehem, houses
the spot where Christians believe
Jesus was born
• Catholics: Vatican City in Rome
• Seat of power where Pope lives
• Church of Holy Sepulchre
• Believed to be on the site of
Golgotha, where Jesus was
crucified
Christian Worship
• Most Christians attend worship services on Sunday
(the Sabbath)
• Includes singing, prayer, a sermon, and regularly
participate in communion (aka The Eucharist)
• At home, many Christians pray regularly and read
the Bible
• All Christians have been baptized (initiated by being
blessed with holy water)
• Recognizes 7 Sacraments (sacred rituals instituted by
Christ himself)
• Baptism, Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation,
Matrimony, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick
• Believe in devotionals like saying the rosary or going
on pilgrimages
• Have religious orders: monks, deacons, and nuns
Christian Celebrations
• Advent: 4 week
season that marks the
beginning of the
Church year and the
approach of
Christmas
• Christmas: celebration
of the birth of Jesus
Christian Celebrations
• Lent: 40-day period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter
• No meat on Fridays
• Pick something to sacrifice for 40 days
• Good Friday: Jesus dies on the cross
• Easter: Jesus rises from the dead
Christian Celebrations
• Palm Sunday: sixth Sunday of Lent
and last Sunday before Easter.
Commemorates triumphal entry of
Jesus into Jerusalem
• Epiphany: recalls the visit of the
Three Magi to the baby Jesus