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Transcript
The Historical Background of Christianity The Jewish Heritage Israel – AKA “the Hebrews” – First recorded national history – Founders of “Western religious tradition” – Origins: the patriarchs (ca. 2000-1500 BC) Abraham and Isaac The Jewish Heritage The Exodus and Sinai (ca. 1300 BC) – Israelites oppressed in Egypt slave labor – Moses led Israelites out of Egypt Promised Land – Ten Commandments, the Torah given Moses and the Ten Commandments The Jewish Heritage 1956 1998 The Jewish Heritage 2014 The Jewish Heritage Hebrew Religion – Monotheistic – YHWH – Cult Tabernacle, sacred furniture Altars Male priesthood Holy days The Jewish Heritage 1981 The Jewish Heritage United Monarchy in Israel (ca. 1020-928 BC) – Hebrew Kingship King not divine YHWH’s servant, vassal Bound by Law – David (r. 1004-965 BC) Shepherd, mercenary Expansion, conquest – Jerusalem Musician – Solomon (r. 965-928 BC) Temple Israel at its zenith The Jewish Heritage Solomon’s Temple, Jerusalem (ca. 965 – 928 BC) The Jewish Heritage Divided Kingdom (928-722 BC) – Had been ruled by kings in Judah – Kingdom of Israel Idol worship Conquered by Assyria (722 BC) – Kingdom of Judah Monotheism, but “relapsed” into polytheism Conquered by NeoBabylon (598-586 BC) The Jewish Heritage King Cyrus the Great (r. 559-530 BC) Return from Exile – Process began 539 BC – Jews permitted to return to homeland, rebuild Temple – Temple under construction (536-515 BC) “Second-temple Judaism” The Jewish Heritage The Jews Encounter Hellenism – Under Hellenistic Rule (198-167 BC) Antiochus Epiphanes attacked Jerusalem, built fortress Ordered Jews to abandon religious practices “Abomination of Desolation” – The Maccabean Revolt (167-142 BC) Jews revolted under Judas Maccabeus (167-142 BC) Guerrilla warfare Jewish victory, independence Rededication of Temple (164 BC) The Jewish Heritage Hanukkah! The Jewish Heritage King Herod the Great Roman Occupation of Palestine – Jews had been ruled by priest-kings – Romans invaded 63 BC end of independence – “Client-kings” installed Herod the Great (r. 37 BC - 4 AD) The Jewish Heritage The Second Temple (“Herod’s Temple”) The Jewish Heritage Questions? Greco-Roman Religion The Roman Empire – Augustus Caesar (r. 29 BC- 14 AD) Victory (31 BC) master of the Roman world Ruled as constitutional monarch with Senate – Brought stability, reform, and peace (Pax romana) – Succeeded by JulioClaudian emperors Augustus Caesar Greco-Roman Religion Traditional Religion – Polytheistic – Roman pantheon religion of State – Numerous priesthoods, famous shrines The Vestal Virgins Greco-Roman Religion The Pantheon (118-125 AD), Rome Greco-Roman Religion Greco-Roman Religion Neo-Platonism – “Intellectual mysticism” – Derived from Plato (427-348 BC) Theory of Forms Dualism, immortality of soul – Teachings All reality emanates from “the One” The One is immaterial, impersonal, eternal Lowest level is matter Through contemplation ecstatic union with the One Greco-Roman Religion The Mystery Religions – Musterion = “secret” – Devotees “initiated” into mysteries, not “born into” them – Attractive! Communion, connection with particular deity Ethical guidance Peace in this life Spiritual equality among initiates Eternal afterlife in union with the cult deity Greco-Roman Religion The Cult of Isis – Egyptian goddess refashioned for GrecoRoman world – Symbolic of all female deities – Cult of afterlife and “suffering mother” – Popular among women Greco-Roman Religion Mithras Slaying the Bull, British Museum Mithraism – Mithras: Persian god of light and truth – Blood of sacred slain bull is “source of life” – Sacramental meal: bread and water – Popular among Roman soldiers Greco-Roman Religion S. Clemente, Rome Mithraeum, beneath S. Clemente Greco-Roman Religion 2011 Greco-Roman Religion Other Themes – Magic Goal: manipulate “the divine” “Occult” – Astrology Greco-Roman Religion Emperor Worship – Some emperors deified after death – Imperial cult Offer incense before an image of the emperor – Test of loyalty to the State Foundations during reign of Augustus Cult statue of Augustus (early 1st cent.) Greco-Roman Religion Questions? Historical Background of Christianity How can we compare/contrast Judaism and Greco-Roman religion?