Children in the Christian Tradition COPY Flashcards
How were was the child image potrayed in Christianity? Why was this the case?
It was thought that the closer you were to the sentiment of a child, the closer u were to god. Children were thought to be freed from emotions that held down the adult world such as lust, desire, passion, and greed . T
he older the child is, it was thought the further they stray from innocence and god, thus young children were thought to be pure and innocent. Babies were thought to be closest to god so, many christians preached to act like children
How does Christianity’s definition of innocence differ from the ancient Rome and Greece definition of innocence
In Christianity, innocence was a being that was freed from malintent and negative emotions and only pursued happiness and spreaded kindness. Thus, the innocence of a child was sought after and wanted to be replicated by adults. However in ancient Rome and Greece, children also associated to innocence but innocence was identified as incapability and ignorance. Thus, these were undesirable traits for adults and if a Roman or greek adult was called child sentiment-oriented words, it was deemed as an insult. Therefore, adults did not strive to be like children as they were seen as inferior to adults.
How did Christian households educate children?
Christian parents taught children Christian values as it was deemed as very important. Thus, it was added to childrens education. Children were moulded by being taught these religious undertones. Children also experienced corporal punishment to learn about christanity and god.
Parents were often the teachers for children as christians schools did not exist during the ancient world, so the role of the pedag was becoming less relevant.
Did all chrisitians think children were the closest to god?
No, while many adult Christians did think this sentiment, other Christians viewed children as beings being capable of negative emotions and doing actions with malintent.
What was the original sin?
For christians that thought children were the closest to god, they thought infants should not be baptilzied as they are already the closest to god, thus the concept of the original sin was not believed in. However for chrisitans on the other spectrum, the OG sin was believed that the sins and mistakes of the parents passed onto the child, thus they needed to be baptized.
How was the family structure like within Christian families?
Christian families had mostly the modern day concept of the nuclear family: the mother, father and children rather than an extended family. Slaves were highly discouraged but upper class families most likely had them
What was the reason for the nuclear family model in Christian families?
Reason for the promotion of the nuclear family was chasity
Sex was only allowed to marriages in christian faith as sex was a sin.
Thus, sex with slaves and other people was highly condemned.
There was a greater emphasis on individual contact and personal responsibility to children for the parents.
What is the contradiction within christianity in regards to having children? How did these extreme views affect parents and their view with children?
Children is thought to be the closest to god and some christians should aspire to be like children. However in pursuit of being closer to god and a good Christian, it was preached that not having any children at all nor sex is how it is done.
Ultimately, extreme Christians who only wanted to focus their energy on god would abandoned their families and die for god. Furthermore, some Christians would refuse to get married or have children despite children being worshipped to being closest to god by some chrisitians.
Why was homosexuality discouraged in Christianity?
Homosexuality was discouraged as it was viewed as giving into sexual desires for just the pleasure of sex rather than for childbearing. This is also why pederasty is looked down by Christians. They deemed this practice as sexual abuse as the adult was exploiting the child for sexual means when children are supposed to be pure and innocent
