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Post #13 - Summary of Christianity

1). Provide a detailed summary of the material presented in Smith's Chapter #8

Answer:

The most widespread of all the major world religions is Christianity. Christianity itself is separated into three main divisions; Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism. The core of Christianity centers around the life of Jesus of Nazareth who was born in Bethlehem (part of Palestine) some time around 4 B.C. In his early thirties, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, which signified the start of his public ministry. His ministry only lasted about three years; however, during that time he affected many by his teaching, healing and ability to cast out demons. His ministry ended when the hostility of his religious counterparts forced his crucifixion. Jesus claimed to have the Spirit of the Lord upon him. Jesus was more interested in healing humanity that in just healing individuals.

During Jesus’ time, the Jewish nation was under the servitude of Rome. They had lost most freedoms and were heavily taxed. The people of this time saw four different approaches to their predicament. First was by the ones who were well off, the Sadducees. There approach was to just make the best of it. The second approach, the Essences, felt that the world had become to corrupt for it change and instead chose to retreat to themselves in smaller group homes devoting themselves to being as holy as they could. The third approach came from the Pharisees (Jewish priests) who sought to revitalize Judaism via a strict observance of Mosaic Law. They felt that the reason for their current enslavement was due to the slackness in which the nation had observed Moses’ laws and thus concentrated their efforts in a manner to that would return to the rules and hopefully reverse their situation. And the last group was more of a militant group who sought to alleviate their situation through armed revolts.

Jesus however, had a slightly different idea for change. Instead He sought peace and urged everyone to love one another (to love even one’s enemies.) Jesus sought to stress God’s compassion towards people and as such he was often at odds with the views of the Pharisees. The Pharisees in their zeal for holiness, sought to separate the Jewish people from the rest of the world, there by minimizing the importance of anyone else. Jesus saw this barrier as being contrary to the compassion that God displays towards people. His view labeled him as a social prophet who challenged the Pharisees vision.

Jesus was best characterized by his followers as one who was humble and always doing good. Even though he performed many miracles, he himself did not try to call attention to these acts. His disciples began to see the divine goodness of God manifested in his actions. Jesus’ words and teaching made a lasting impact (his teachings are often quoted) often cutting to the chase quickly and succinctly. He spoke often in parables and promoted values that we often at extreme odds with those in practice then and today. He spoke of the character of God who loved people completely without stopping to think whether we were worth it or not. Why should one love and serve others? Jesus would advocate that we would in response to a God who has tolerated and provided for us even in our current states.

One of the most impressive things about Jesus is the way he lived his life, not just talking about these things but actually demonstrating them for us. He was ultimately concerned about people’s perception of God and how God loved us completely, promoting that we do the same to others. Jesus was extremely critical of injustices and hypocrisy, as he saw it as preventing genuineness in relationships he felt were necessary. During his lifetime, his disciples came to the conclusion that he resembled God in Human form.

Jesus was crucified bringing what seemed to be an end to his ministry. But that didn’t end the movement he taught about. Jesus was reported as appearing to his disciples and others after his death (Rising from the Dead.) Some say in bodily form, whereas others say more visionary (passing through closed doors.) It was this faith in his resurrection from the dead that produced the Church and its religion as Jesus was triumphant over everything. Soon after this his followers were soon preaching the good word about their Risen Lord. The impact of this event coupled with what He had taught really changed his disciples’ lives, such as they now had the ability to be more eloquent in their speech and bold in their convictions. Those who listened to his disciples were impressed by both what they saw and heard. As the message and the character of Christians spread many lives were changed. Outsiders easily observed how the Christians loved one another, how they treated women as equals to men and how joy permeated their lives. The joy they experienced, even under persecution was from their genuine experience with God. This experience with God gave them a revitalizing power that continuously flowed through them, like nutrients flow from the vine into the branches. A latter disciple, Paul, had added a metaphor for the Church as being the Mystical Body of Christ with Jesus as the head and his followers as parts of the body. The health of the body was directly related to how the members worked with each other to accomplish their mission.

Key to the Christian beliefs was the doctrine of Incarnation in which God assumed a human body, affirming that Christ was fully God and Man. To Christians, Jesus had really been born, really suffered, really died, really buried and really rose from the Dead. They saw this as bridging the Gap between God and Man. It was easily to see Jesus’ life as one that provides an example for us as to how to life and give of ones self. To the Christians, they now saw the love God had for them in his willingness to limit himself to human life and to suffer on behalf of it. This along with the Christian view on equality didn’t sit well with the religious leaders of the time, and as such, they sought to silence it. Thus persecution emerged.

Another key belief was the doctrine of Atonement, which came from Christ’s life and subsequent death which provided the reconciliation needed from humanity’s missing the mark, going their own way and disobeying God (as first seen from eating forbidden fruit.) Christ’s death paid the penalty. A third key doctrine was that of the Trinity. While God is fully one, he is also three, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit.

In the year 313 A.D. Christianity finally became legal in Rome (up to that time Christians were persecuted.) It didn’t take long for it to become the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 A.D. Later in its history, in the year 1054 A.D., the church divided into Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox churches. During the Sixteenth century the Protestant Reformation cased a further split on the Roman Catholicism side.

Traditionally Roman Catholicism is associated with Teaching and administering Sacraments. According the Catholic beliefs, God came to earth as Jesus Christ to teach how to live and inherit eternal life. Since the Catholic Church saw some vagueness within the Gospels, they felt that there needed to be someone who could provide a ruling between interpretations on important matter within and outside of the scriptures. An earthly head would be needed (the doctrine of papal infallibility.) This person (the Pope) would become the successor to the Apostle Peter. So it is believed that when the Pope speaks on matters of faith and morality, that he is protected from error (infallibility) by God and in the counsel of others in these areas. In the area of Sacraments, the church administers them to it’s members to aid in their ability to live a life of sacrifice and to battle against internal selfish motives. There are seven sacraments that parallel needs of human existence. Baptism allows the soul to enter the supernatural order. Confirmation is provided to build up someone who just comes of age and responsibility. Sacrament of marriage is given when a couple comes together in life long union. The Sacrament of the sick is given to those who are not well. In addition there are two sacraments that are given regularly. One is that of reconciliation (or confession) which is provided subsequent to ones wrongdoing or disobedience and the other is the Mass or Holy Eucharist (Communion.) The later provides a transfer of energy from God to a human’s soul. In mass the elements are made holy becoming Christ’s body and blood, thus giving grace to the beholder.

In the Eastern Orthodoxy traditions, they too honor the same sacraments as mentioned above and share in the same teaching authority but with two variations. This church does not see the need for a separate person to provide rulings between interpretations outside of the Bible. While the Roman church encourages later declarations, vis-à-vis as advancements of doctrine, the Eastern counterpart sees them simply as additions, which need not be put into effect. In the Eastern doctrine, God’s truth is revealed via the sense of right and wrong by it’s members. Furthermore the Eastern view sees each person working, not to save his or her own soul but to attain their salvation a part of the rest of the Church. In the Eastern version clergy are selected by the parishioners of the specific church. The clergy need not be unmarried or celibate.

Factors that lead to the Protestant split are somewhat complicated. The basic reason was from the new perception that had emerged. The new perception included that justification came from faith, and not just a belief but in an entire life change (heart, mind and will.) This movement felt that what one admits really needs to reach one’s heart/mind and truly adjust the way one experiences things. Without this, it doesn’t amount to anything more than lip service. When it comes to doing good works, the Protestant movement changed the emphasis for doing them. Instead of doing good works to earn salvation, they were done as an outward expression of the joy of already being saved. The second difference in perception came from what was referred to as the Protestant Principle which cautions about idolatry (or the giving of ones worship of something finite.) Slips can happen in the Protestant group as well. A leading Protestant idol can be it’s own extreme adherence to the literal interpretation of the bible. Protestants view the Bible as the clearest representation of God’s charity and how human can join in with it. They feel that the most sure way to gain God’s grace is to read God’s word with total honesty and purpose.