Key Concepts and History of Christianity and Islam

St. Peter's Basilica

Located in Vatican City, which is the smallest nation in the world, named for Peter, and the foundation of the Catholic Church is based on Matthew 16:18-19.

Estimated number of Christians

2.2 billion

Christianity's three groups

1 - Roman Catholic (the largest); 2 - Eastern Orthodox Churches; and 3 - Protestant.

Concern of Christianity

More concerned with teaching and doctrine than Judaism and Islam.

Different church groups in Christianity

An estimated 9,000 different church groups.

Origin of the name Christ

The name Christ originated in the ancient Greek word Christos, literally 'anointed one.'

Greek/Hebrew equivalent of Christ

The Greek/Hebrew equivalent is the word messiah.

Jesus Christ

The term Christ was attached to the personal, human name Jesus when the church moved into the Greek-speaking world.

Primary sources for knowledge about Jesus

The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Definition of gospel

Gospel- good news.

Location of the four Gospels

The four gospels are found in the New Testament.

Date of Jesus' birth

4 B.C.E.

Definition of parables

Parables- Jesus's story about some aspect of life in the rule of God.

Disciple vs Apostle

Disciples- students; Apostles- those 'sent out' by Christ to be missionary leaders in the church.

What happened after Jesus' death

Three days later, he was raised from the dead by God to live eternally.

Where is Jesus now?

In heaven.

Future belief of Christians

The imminent coming of God's Kingdom and His return.

Term Jesus used for himself

Son of Man.

Jesus' call to outcasts

Jesus rejected violent revolution but called for favor to be shown to social and religious outcasts.

Jewish feast of Pentecost

An outpouring of the Spirit of God to empower the earliest church for its continued ministry.

Saul's conversion

A Jewish Pharisee who persecuted Christians, became an influential missionary as 'the Apostle to the Gentiles', known as Paul after conversion.

Justification by faith

Salvation as being made right with God by faith, for Paul, a gift of God.

Peter's death

Upside-down crucifixion.

Ancient Period

100 - 500 CE.

house churches

Private homes where early Christians met.

New Testament canon

A common collection of Christian scriptures finalized in the mid-300s.

martyrdom

The suffering and death of Christians for their beliefs, often accused of various crimes.

monasticism

A religious way of life where monks and nuns take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

papacy

The office and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic Church.

crusades

Military campaigns from 1095 to 1350 aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land from Muslim control.

Magisterial Reformation

The period of the Reformation led by figures like Martin Luther, emphasizing church reform.

salvation by grace alone

The doctrine that salvation is a gift from God, not earned by works.

Radical Reformation

A movement advocating for a return to pure 'New Testament Christianity', leading to the Anabaptists.

Calvinism

A branch of Protestantism founded by John Calvin, emphasizing predestination and God's sovereignty.

Church of England

A Christian denomination founded by King Henry VIII as a middle ground between Catholics and Protestants.

indulgences

Payments made to the Church for the reduction of punishment for sins, criticized by Martin Luther.

icons

Religious images venerated in Orthodox worship, representing God's presence.

Emperor Constantine

The Roman Emperor who legalized Christianity in 313 CE.

Christian persecution of Jews

The historical mistreatment of Jews by Christians, particularly after the separation of the two religions.

Christianity's growth in China and North Korea

The increase of Christian believers in nations where religion is suppressed or persecuted.

Lutheran Church

The Christian denomination founded by Martin Luther, emphasizing reforms in worship and doctrine.

Zwingli

A leader in the Protestant Reformation who advocated for reforms in the church.

Anglican Church

The church established by King Henry VIII, combining elements of Catholicism and Protestantism.

icons in Orthodox churches

Screens or walls of icons believed to represent the reality of God's presence.

separation between Judaism and Christianity

The complete distinction between the two religions by around 400 CE.

Christianity's challenge to Roman ideology

The belief that Jesus, not Caesar, was the true Lord, leading to conflict with the Roman Empire.

Reform movement

The movement that came to America via English Protestants called Puritans, aiming to purify the Church of England from Catholic elements.

Catholic Reform

Initiated by the pope to seek reform within the Catholic church after initial measures against Protestants were ineffective.

Pietism

A movement that arose during the Early Modern Period to counter the influence of the Enlightenment and secularization.

Charles Darwin

His work called into question the special creation of humanity in the image of God.

fundamentalism

A movement that arose to oppose the liberalization of church doctrine, stressing a strict interpretation of the Bible.

Ecumenism

A movement that arose to promote greater understanding and cooperation among Christian denominations.

Second Vatican Council

A council that drastically reformed Roman Catholicism.

Yoido Full Gospel Church

The largest Christian congregation in the world, located in Seoul, South Korea.

Trinity

Christian teaching of one God in three equal persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

incarnation

The eternal Son of God becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ.

Nicene Creed

The leading Christian statement of belief.

God's nature

Much of Christian understanding of who God is was drawn from Jewish belief, as he is all-powerful, creator, personal being.

Holy Spirit

The 3rd person of the Trinity, giving life to believers now and eternally, and is powerful, uncontrollable, and unpredictable.

Christian ethics

Based on two main Biblical foundations: the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

Golden Rule

A principle found in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing treating others as one would like to be treated.

Christian Hope

The belief in the Church as the continuing body founded by Jesus, culminating in Jesus' return, resurrection, and judgment.

Church

The continuing body founded by Jesus, as stated in the Nicene Creed.

Baptism

A sacrament in Christianity that signifies purification and admission to the Christian Church.

Sermon on the Mount

A collection of teachings by Jesus that includes the Golden Rule and forms a foundation for Christian ethics.

Christianity

A religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christian congregation

A community of Christians who gather for worship and fellowship.

Catechumens

Individuals going through a period of instruction preparing for baptism (public, personal proclamation of being part of the faith).

Liberation movements

Movements that stress the active Christian mission to deliver the oppressed from evil social structures and situations, influencing the faith.

Seven sacraments

Special means of grace in the Catholic Church: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, ordination (to holy orders), and marriage.

Catholic Catechism

States that sacraments are necessary for salvation because they were instituted by Christ as the means through which God communicates grace.

Transubstantiation

Roman Catholic teaching that the bread and wine of Holy Communion are changed in all but appearance into the substance of Christ's body.

Cult of the saints

Veneration of saints in shrines, churches, and other places.

Protestant emphasis during Reformation

Emphasized THREE things: 1 - Bible has a central place and preaching; 2 - Sacraments were only baptism and communion (also called Lord's Supper or Eucharist); and 3 - services in the people's language.

Charismatic movement

Movement that has had the greatest impact on worship since the Reformation, especially in the 1900s.

Pentecostalism

Another name for the Charismatic movement.

Speaking in tongues

An emotional outpouring of prayer in human sounds but in no human language.

Liturgical year

Pattern of liturgical seasons that determines when holy days are to be observed.

Afterlife beliefs in Christianity

The soul of the deceased Christian passes from this world to the afterlife, heaven, hell, or purgatory.

Purgatory

A place where the significant sins of those eventually bound for heaven are burned away.

Burial time frame

There is no set time for burial although one to three days is most common.

Mourning period

There is no set mourning period.

Shift of Christianity to the Hemisphere

Example includes the election of Pope Francis from Argentina and changes he has advocated for.

Pope Francis' changes

Includes: 1 - appointment of theologically moderate and/or politically liberal cardinals; 2 - emphasized climate change; 3 - acceptance of gays and lesbians but opposition to same-sex marriage; 4 - more acceptance of divorced and remarried; 5 - greater women's rights/responsibilities in society and church but no priests; 6 - married men could be priests where there is a shortage.

US Christian identification (2010)

78 percent of the US identify themselves as Christian; 62 percent belong to a congregation.

Religious demographics in North America

Protestants account for 50%; Roman Catholics, 25%; and Eastern Orthodox, 1%. Roman Catholic Church is growing due to Hispanic immigration.

Evangelicalism

The modern movement that seeks to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

C.S. Lewis

The most influential modern voice in evangelicalism who wrote Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and the Chronicles of Narnia.

Restorationism

The belief that the Christianity of the first century C.E. is the purest form of the faith and that it can and should be restored.

Examples of Restorationism denominations

Disciples of Christ, Churches of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Vatican City

The smallest nation in the world.

Estimated number of Christians in the world

2.2 billion.

Christianity's focus

Strongly concerned with teachings/doctrines more so than Judaism and Islam.

Birth of Jesus

Historians generally place it around 4 BCE.

Predominant symbol of Christianity today

The cross.

Jesus' teachings on the poor

Encouraged the poor and oppressed, rejected violent revolution, and recognized social and religious outcasts of Jewish society as special objects of God's love.

Canon

The official list of the 27 New Testament books, finalized in the middle 300s.

Gnosticism

Teaches that this world is evil because it is material.

Authority of Peter

Claiming the authority of Jesus' disciple Peter, the bishop of Rome and the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Key teachings of Martin Luther

1 - Salvation is by faith alone; 2 - Central role of God's love and grace; 3 - Sole authority of the Bible over the Church; 4 - Role of the Christian's individual conscience.