● Outline the historical and cultural context in which Christianity began

- The historical and cultural context in which Christianity began involved the region of
Palestine under Roman authority. The Jewish community, led by priests of the
Sanhedrin, held power and wealth through their control of the temple and its worship.
The temple gathered wealth through offerings and taxes, including those from rich Jews.
The Sadducees, as the priestly class, were part of the aristocracy and held significant
power. The Pharisees emphasized strict adherence to Mosaic Law, while the Zealots
sought liberation from Roman rule. Jewish history was transmitted through sacred
stories and songs, eventually recorded in the Torah. The Jewish people lived according
to their covenant with God, but faced control by various empires. They eagerly
anticipated a Messiah who would free them from oppression and establish the kingdom
of God, symbolizing liberation and the fulfillment of divine promises.

● Examine the principal events of Jesus’ life

- Birth: Jesus was born in Bethlehem to the Virgin Mary and Joseph. According to the
Bible, he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. His birth is celebrated
by Christians around the world on December 25th.
- Baptism: Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, which is
considered to be the start of his public ministry.
- Teachings: Jesus spent three years traveling throughout the region, preaching and
teaching about God's love, the kingdom of heaven, and how people could be saved
from sin. He often used parables, or stories, to illustrate his teachings.
- Miracles: Jesus performed many miracles, including healing the sick, feeding the hungry,
and even raising the dead. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power
and authority.
- Last Supper: Jesus gathered with his disciples for a final meal, known as the Last
Supper. During the meal, he instituted the sacrament of Communion, where Christians
partake in bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood.
- Crucifixion: Jesus was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by crucifixion by the
Roman authorities. He was crucified on a cross outside of Jerusalem and died after
several hours.
- Resurrection: According to the Bible, three days after his death, Jesus rose from the
dead, appearing to his disciples and many others before ascending to heaven. His
resurrection is seen as the ultimate proof of his divinity and is celebrated by Christians
on Easter.
● Explain why Jesus is the model for Christian life

● Describe the early development of Christian communities after the death of Jesus
- The number of christians in the remainder of the first century grew rapidly
- Paul was a jew who persecuted christians, then converted to the faith after
experiencing the vision of the risen jesus
- 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, christians struggle with persecution from outside the
church
- Roman Emperor Constantine converted to christianity
- He hoped christianity would unite force of his empire
- Two parts of christendom had different views on topics such as the Pope, the
use of icons, the nature of the holy spirit, the date on which easter should be
celebrated
- The great schism is the break between Catholic and Orthodox
- Factors came to head in 1054 AD
- 1400s western christians spoke against the abuse of authority and corruption in
christian leadership
• outline the unique features of:
Catholicism:
- Under the authority of the pope, teachers are drawn from scriptures and religious
traditions.
- Catholicism is divided into 8 catholic rites: Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian,
Chaldean, maronite, Roman, West Syrian
- Eucharist is the focus of worship that transubstantiation occurs to make Jesus physically
present in the bread and wine
- Faith and good deeds are in need for salvation
- Increased focused on mary and the saints
Protestantism:
- Major two contributors: Martin Luther (1483-1546) John Calvin (1509-1564)
- Developed unique christian traditions out of the theology of their founders
- Believe in the transcendence of God
- Less liturgical and sacramental than catholism
Anglicanism
- Does not have a pope as a central authority
- Anglicans are divided into Low and High Anglicans
- Allow a greater role for women in the priesthood
Orthodoxy
- Celebration of the Eucharist
- Heavy use of icons
- Greek is the language
- Profound view of sacramentalism
Pentecostalism
- Originated in USA in the Methodist movement of the 19th century
- Primary focus on the holy spirit
- Seek to restore the Holy spirit to the church
- Emphasis is on a group response in worship
- Value healing and prophecy
- Baptism of the spirit occurs when a baptized person received the gift of tongues
● outline the principal beliefs regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ
- The principal beliefs regarding the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ center around
the concept of the Incarnation. Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully
divine, and also fully human. They affirm that Jesus is the second person of the Holy
Trinity, co-eternal with God the Father. The belief in Jesus' divinity is rooted in his
miracles, teachings, and resurrection, which demonstrate his divine power and authority.
At the same time, Jesus' humanity is emphasized, as he was born of a human mother,
experienced human emotions and physical limitations, and ultimately suffered and died
on the cross. This belief in the dual nature of Jesus, as both fully divine and fully human,
is a foundational tenet of Christian theology.

● explain the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians

● outline the beliefs about the nature of God and of the Trinity
- God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent
- God is one but embodied in three persons
- God's promise of salvation has been fulfilled through the life,death and
resurrection of Jesus
- God the father is revealed in the Hebrew scriptures
- God the son in christian scriptures
- God the spirit is revealed through the church

● examine the Christian understanding of revelation

 - The Christian understanding of revelation is that God has made Himself known to
humanity through general revelation (nature and conscience) and special
revelation (supernatural communication and the person of Jesus Christ).
Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and a central source
of special revelation. Through these means, God invites humanity into a
relationship with Him, offering salvation and guidance for righteous living.

● describe the Christian understanding of salvation

- The Christian understanding of salvation is that it is a gift from God offered to
humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians
believe that all people are inherently sinful and separated from God, but through
faith in Jesus, they can be forgiven of their sins and reconciled with God.
Salvation is seen as a free and undeserved act of God's grace, which is received
through faith. It involves repentance, belief in Jesus as the Savior, and a personal
relationship with Him. Salvation offers eternal life and the assurance of being in
God's presence both in this life and the afterlife.

● identify the importance of the Bible in Christianity

- New Testament is made up of four sections:
- Gospels-life of jesus
- Acts -history
- Letters
- An account of the Apocalypse

- Written in Greek and took its final form in 400 CE

- Apocrypha is additional fourteen books that not accepted as part of bible by
Protestant churches
- Themes of Bible:
- Oral Tradition, ho\istory, Narrative, Poetry, Wisdom, humor/irony, Parables,
Apocalyptic, Myth
- How does one use the bible: for personal devotions, public worship, ethical
instruction and Doctrine and beliefs
- A bible reference: Book, Chapter and Verse
 ● examine extracts from the Bible which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Christianity

Reference Problem Reason for my choice

John 20:24-31 Doubting “Because you have seen me,

you have believed; blessed
are those who have not seen
and yet have believed.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 Salvation "For it is by grace you have

been saved, through
faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of
God—not by works, so that
no one can boast."

● outline the principal ethical teachings in:

1st Ethical code: 10 commandments
- Looks at what did god want for adherents at that time
Beatitudes
- O Path to an eternal life
- O Nature of the Kingdom of God
- O Conditions of eternal life

JC
- It emphasizes the importance of love as a central principle in Christian ethics.
- Christians are called to love both God and their fellow human beings.
- This commandment encompasses treating others with kindness, compassion,
and respect.
- It encourages believers to prioritize the well-being and welfare of others.
- Loving one's neighbor involves acts of service, forgiveness, and selflessness.
- It extends beyond personal relationships to include strangers, enemies, and
marginalized individuals.
- The commandment emphasizes the transformative power of love in fostering
unity and harmony among people.
- Following this commandment reflects a commitment to imitating the
self-sacrificial love demonstrated by Jesus.
- It serves as a guiding principle for Christians in their interactions and
relationships with others.

● describe the importance of ethical teachings in the life of adherents

They lay a foundation for choices and behaviors:
- You shall have no other gods before me
- Blessed are the merciful
- You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord:
And Therefore lay a foundation for a stable society
- Blessed are the poor in spirit
- Love the Lord your God
They provide a counter to our basic human desires:
- You shall not kill
- You shall not steal
- Shall not covet
And provide a source of ‘constant’ in changing times
- Love your neighbor as yourself
As such ethics provide a ‘plum line’ - a standard- for behavior (at both at the individual and
social levels)
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
- Love one another

● describe the different types of personal prayer

What type of prayer is the rosary: Looking through the life of jesus through Mary

The Rosary is not a prayer where an individual requests their wants, it has a scripture and
structure, meaning it involves steps and a specific saying.

How important is the rosary important to the life of adherents? Catholics give importance to
Mary. Avenue to foster a relationship with god through connecting with Mary

How does the rosary express a sense of personal devotion from the adherent to god?
The rosary expresses personal devotion through the repetition of prayers. Adherents engage in
the rhythmic recitation of the Hail Mary and Our Father, focusing their minds and hearts on God.
This repetition creates a meditative atmosphere, allowing individuals to deepen their connection
with God and express their love and reverence for Him.