INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS

Chapter 5

Christianity

Welcome to the fifth module of the course “Introduction to World

Religions and Belief Systems.” For this lesson, we are going to study

Christianity.

It is important for you to get acquainted with the founders of this

religion are, its sacred texts, its basic doctrines, its concept of God, its

sects, and issues concerning it.

Profile

What is Christianity?

Christianity is not just the Roman Catholic church or any other sect.

This is an important point to declare because from a theological

perspective the issue of being the “true religion” has been a constant

theme among Christians and it have been very divisive.

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 Chapter 5: Christianity

By being non-partisan and by applying the lens of religious studies is

this course we will remember while studying Christianity that it is a

worldwide religious tradition with diverse representations, beliefs, and

practices. We are including everyone inside this single name of

Christianity to differentiate it from the other world religions.

What unites all however is their common source: the life and teachings

of Jesus.

Who is Jesus?

Christians call him Christ or the Messiah. In this course we are only

going to refer to him as Jesus as that is the neutral way to refer to him.

Jesus was born in Roman occupied Palestine among Jew parents

around two millennia ago. It is important to remember that Jesus did

not “found” any religion. He did not invent Christianity. Christianity

later on grew out of his teachings and although many regard him as the

founder of Christianity he didn’t see it like that.

Instead, Jesus was part of a tradition of prophets or teachers that came

before him and who spoke of similar teachings like the urgent need to

return to God, love, and justice. Jesus taught aroung a region colonized

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by Romans for about three years until he was charged of treason and

killed.

The Spread Of Christianity

Jesus did not write any of his teachings and no one wrote about him

until decades after his death. A small number of his followers that

Christians call his “apostles” reported that Jesus was resurrected from

the dead and that they were inspired to write about his life and create

communities around him.

The word “Christian” was coined by these communities to refer to

themselves. It was first used in Antioch, which is located in modern-

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 Chapter 5: Christianity

day Turkey. From there Christianity continued to spread especially

after Constantine declared it as a state religion of the Roman empire.

Christianity Today

Today, one third of human beings call themselves Christian. Although

there are hundred of churches and denominations there are three major

streams of Christianity – the Catholic Communion, the Orthodox

Christian Churches, and the Protestant movements. Anglicanism and

Pentecostalism are also beginning to grow greater prominence. The

Christian scriptures have been translated into many languages leading

to more conversions into the faith. Christianity grows most rapidly in

Africa and Latin America.

Required Reading

 For a historical and cultural backgrounder, please read:

“Christianity” at World Religions by Martin Palmer (pp. 112-

136)

 For a profile that applies a cultural studies approach, please

read “Christianity” at: http://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/files/hds-

rlp/files/christianity.pdf?m=1427828085

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Required Video

 How Christianity Conquered the Roman Empire at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKOoPcHxPhU

Forum Discussion

1. [On the Film] If Constantine did not proclaim Christianity as

the state religion of Rome, what do you think could’ve

happened? Use concepts and ideas mentioned in the film to

argue your point.

2. [On the Article] Explain how Christianity became divided in

different sects and denominations.

3. Additional: Respond to at least one answer from your

classmate.

Activity

Accomplish the corresponding Activity Sheet for this module.

Quiz

Take the Quiz for this chapter.

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 Chapter 5: Christianity

Issue: Child Sexual Abuse In The Catholic Church

The issue of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church first came into

the public in 1984 with the case of Father Gilbert Gauthe in Lafayette,

Louisiana. This initial event lead to more revelations and disclosures

around the United States and in other countries encouraging victims to

come out and seek for legal help.

In this section we shall spend some time studying and discussing about

the child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church

Required Reading

Please read the readings below in order. Doing so shall give you a

perspective on the issue. The first reading shall provide you with a

scientific glimpse of the immensity of the issue particularly in the

United States where it first came into spotlight. The second reading

shall provide you with the Church’s own perspective of the issue by

putting the issue at a larger social context. The last reading is a brief

history of sexual abuse written by a priest himself which provides

important historical events that may help explain the rise of sexual

abuse inside the catholic church.

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 Terry, K. J. (2008, May). Stained glass: The nature and scope

of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Criminal Justice

and Behavior, 35(5), 549-569. Doi:

10.1177/0093854808314339.

 Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (2004). Sexual

abuse in social context: Catholic clergy and other

professionals. Available online at:

http://www.catholicleague.org/sexual-abuse-in-social-context-

catholic-clergy-and-other-professionals/

 Doyle, T. (n.d.) A very short history of clergy sexual abuse in

the Catholic Church. Available online at:

http://www.crusadeagainstclergyabuse.com/htm/AShortHistory

.htm

Required Video

 “Abuse Documentary: The Shame of the Catholic Church” by

The New York Times at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW-S9Ddws4w

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 Chapter 5: Christianity

Forum Discussion

1. What is your reaction about the sexual abuse in the Catholic

clergy?

2. Because sexual abuse is also a form of violence, use Galtung’s

typologies of violence to explain why certain Catholic priests

engage to sexual misconduct?

3. Please respond to at least one classmate.

Lecture

Watch the accompanying video lecture to summarize this chapter.

Long Test

Take this chapter’s long test.

References

Brown, A. (2004). Christianity. In M. Palmer (Ed.) World religions

(pp. 112-137). London: Times Books.

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (2004). Sexual abuse

in social context: Catholic clergy and other professionals. Available

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online at: http://www.catholicleague.org/sexual-abuse-in-social-

context-catholic-clergy-and-other-professionals/

Doyle, T. (n.d.) A very short history of clergy sexual abuse in the

Catholic Church. Available online at:

http://www.crusadeagainstclergyabuse.com/htm/AShortHistory.htm

Ferguson, M. [Screen name]. (2015). How Cristianity conquered the

Roman empire [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKOoPcHxPhU

New York Times [Screen name]. (2014). Abuse documentary: The

shame of the Catholic Church [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW-S9Ddws4w

Papper Masters. (n.d). Spread of Christianity in Europe. Available

online at: https://www.papermasters.com/spread-christianity-

europe.html

Pluralism Project at Harvard University, Religious Literacy Project at

Harvard Divinity Shool. (2015). Christianity. Available online at:

http://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/files/hds-

rlp/files/christianity.pdf?m=1427828085

Chapter 5: Christianity 9
 Chapter 5: Christianity

Terry, K. J. (2008, May). Stained glass: The nature and scope of child

sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Criminal Justice and Behavior,

35(5), 549-569. Doi: 10.1177/0093854808314339.

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