Beliefs and Practices: Christianity Flashcards
True or False: According to the New Testament, the earliest Christians did not build church buildings.
True
What was the worship of the Christians in the Pre-Constantine Era?
- As a small movement, they gathered in private dwellings, organized around a shared meal, without permanent places.
- They usually met in houses due to persecution,a nd home meetings were the most viable option
- The more organized worship usually took place in the larger homes of the community’s wealthiest members.
What is Insula?
In the urban setting of the ancient Rome, early Christians are known to have met and worshipped in warehouses or the upper levels of the multi-family dwelling spaces known as insula (similar to modern day’s apartment building).
True or False: Early Christians did not own building specifically dedicated as church.
True
Did early Christians share worship space with Jews?
no
When did the “domestic” model of Christian worship spaces continue until?
well in to the Constantine era
What change from the 2nd century onward with Christian worship spaces?
From the 2nd century onward, some houses used for Christian worship were re-modelled to accommodate as many as 75 people.
Describe the house church
- Rooms were added to accommodate rituals such as full-immersion baptism
- the house had one small room serving as a bapistery
What is the earliest archeologically identified Christian church?
A house church, at Dura Europos on the Euphrates River in eastern Roman Syria, founded between 233 and 256. In 256, it was destroyed by the Sassanian Persians.
When did the trend of worshipping in homes continue until?
Constantine legalized Christianity as official religion of the Roman Empire.
When were Christians granted the right to build larger house of worship?
in the 4th century, once th rulers recognized Christianity
What are the basilicas?
Constantine and his mother Helena contributed to the construction of much larger and grander worship spaces known as basilicas
What was ‘basilica’ first used to describe?
An ancient Roman public building, where rulers conducted the business of government.
True or False: Basilica, at first, had nothing to do with Christianity.
True
What two rituals were critical for the formation of Christian communities that were performed in the Basilicas?
1) Baptism (the rite of initiation into the Christian community)
2) Eucharist or the shared symbolic meal, with became part of the weekly worship life of the community
What is the ritual that early Christians inherited from Judaism?
Baptism
How did early Christians develop their baptism?
in keeping with the story of Jesus’ baptism
What is the story of Jesus’ baptism?
Jesus, according to the Synoptic gospels, was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist. This understood to signal the beginning of his public ministry
What did baptism, later, reflect in Christianity?
Later, baptism ritual in Christianity also reflected the influence of two Greco-Roman customs: the newly baptized were anointed with oil and given milk and honey
What is Eucharist modelled on?
Jewish gathering for prayer and worship
How did early Christians usually gather?
Around a shared meal, during which scripture was read, prayers were offered, and finally, the consecrated bread and wine were distributed.
Describe the practice of the Eucharist in the Synoptic gospels?
In the night before his arrest, Jesus is known to have shared meal with his companions. He then said: “This i say body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” and “this cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22: 19-20).
What became central to Christian life and worship?
the ritual act of remembering Jesus’ life and death
Describe the worship in the early medieval period?
The life of the church was increasingly restricted to the clergy, limiting the opportunity for ordinary people to participate
When did portions of the liturgy that had been spoken in vernacular increasing performed in Latin?
during the medieval period
What changed regarding the Eucharist and confession in the medieval church?
The rules of governing th eucharist were rightened to require a complex process of confession before receiving the sacrament.
How did Church architecture contribute to distancing lay people from the life of the church in the medieval period?
The priest used to face the people, but after pushing the alter against the wall, the priest now turned hi back on the masses.
What are the benefits to house church organizations (the reasons why there are Christians who supported the idea that the Christians should return to the old practice to meet in houses)?
- Meeting in houses was the practice intended by Jesus Christ
- House church organizations is preferable to public meetings in dedicated buildings because it is a more effective way of building community and personal relationships
- It helps the community to engage in outreach more naturally
What is monasticism?
Monasticism is the devotional practice of individuals who live ascetic and dedicated lives to worship
What is the word monasticism related to?
“monk” which originated from the Greek word “monos” meaning “alone.”
Where did monks live at first?
not in monasteries; rather they lived alone in the wilderness
What led to monks furthering their ability to observe an ascetic life?
the more and more people who joined them, leading the group to form into communities in order to further their ability
What are those living the monastic life known by the generic terms of nowadays?
- monks (male)
- nuns (female)
What did monastic movement emerge as a response to in Christianity?
Many factors, mong others, the growing influence of bishops in politics, heavy tax imposed upon individuals, and individual tendencies to live the life in solitude.
When did Christians begin to ask: should the church occupy a position of influence in place of social power? Could the church fill that role without losing some of its moral agency and independence
with the monastic movement
True or False: the ascetic tradition in monastery is unique to Christianity
false
What are 3 examples of ascetic tradition that is NOT in Christianity?
- There were ascetic Jews who refused to fight during the Maccabean revolt
- The Essence was an example of a high organized ascetic community during the first century of common era
- Even the ‘pagans’ had their own ascetic displace: there were philosophers who embrace solitude
What is an anchorite?
someone who withdrew from secular society
What does the term “anchoritic” refer to?
hermits; people who devoted their lives to silence, prayer, and mortification of the flesh
What type of life was understood to be the way of detachment or letting go in anchoritic monasticism?
desert life
What is the earliest example of anchoritic monasticism?
St. Anthony of Egypt. He was a wealthy person, but gave up all his belongings and retired to the desert in search of communion with God.
Describe the anchoritic monasticism and their goal.
Through silence, continuous recitation of prayers, and a simple lifestyle, the anchorite sought to move more deeply into ascetic life.
What does ‘cenobitic’ mean?
communal
Why did cenobitic monasticism arise?
Since solitary living did not suit everyone, the monastic individuals began to live in a community with others committed to same religious vision
Who is the ‘father of Cenobitic monasticism’?
St. Pachomius
Who is St. Pachomius? Describe.
- a former pagan, he gan his Christian life as a hermit; later in his life, he built a monastery to allow others to join him
- the monastic further developed by later generations; among others, St. Benedict
What was eventually developed with monasticism, and example being Regula Benedicti?
A rule (code of discipline) to govern communal life.
