Christianity Flashcards
How did early Christians view themselves?
Saw themselves as Jews, a denomination of Judaism
How did first century Jews see Christians and the Christian movement?
Negative, kind of made fun of them
In what point in history did Christianity officially become a separate religion from Judaism?
AD 70, when the Romans sack Jerusalem
Difference between high church and low church Protestantism?
High church: pronounced hierarchy, sacrament
Low church: no layers of hierarchy, very casual
Who believed that God the father had to be unique and above all things and all other beings?
Arius
What 4th century figure believed that a being that was anything less than fully God could not save us?
Alexander
Who believed that Jesus was not actually the “son of God” but was adopted?
Arius
Who believed that Jesus and God had to be co-equal and co-eternal?
Alexander
Who called the Council at Nicaea?
Constantine
Who believed that Jesus was merely an archangel, but not a God or a member of the Godhead?
Arius
Which 4th century figure did St. Nicolas slap?
Arius
What are some denominations of Christianity which we mentioned reject the Trinity?
Southern Baptists, Unitarian universalists, adventists
How is Tritheism different from the Trinity?
Trinity- one god in three persons
Tritheism- three distinct Gods
What is a religion that could be appropriately called “Tritheistic”?
Hinduism
What is Monolatry?
Worships one god
What is Modalism?
Singular god with multiple “outfits”
What is Social Trinitarianism and how is it different from Psychological Trinitarianism?
Social- relationship between three separate persons, constitutes one singular power
Psychological- false doctrine, notion that one god with three personalities in his head
Why is the mysterious nature of the Trinity considered a good thing by many Christian denominations?
Not understanding God proves that he is all powerful, refers to his incomprehensibility
Which division is typically dogmatic about the Holy spirit proceeding from both the Father and the Son?
Protestant
Which division believes that both the Son and Holy Spirit are subordinate to the Father?
Eastern Orthodox
Which division believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and/or the son?
Roman Catholic/protestant
Which division believes that the father and son are co-equal and co-eternal?
Roman Catholic, Protestant
According to our classroom discussion, the two major figures at the center of the controversy that led to the Council at Nicaea each had at least one flaw in their thinking. What did we say (in class) were the major issues with their two arguments about the Trinity/Godhead?
Arius- makes the son as an angel
Alexander- divine inventure of authority
What are the names of the “Cappadocian Fathers”?
Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory of Nazianzus
According to the “Cappadocian Fathers” the word “substance” refers to what?
Nature
According to the “Cappadocian Fathers” the word “personhood” refers to what?
Individual roles in the Godhead
What, according to the “Cappadocian Fathers” were the respective roles of the Father, Son, and Holy spirit?
Spirit is the presence of God, Son is the only begotten, Father is unoriginated
Eight traditional interpretations of Christ’s atonement:
- Christus Victor
- Ransom
- Satisfaction
- Penal Substitution
- Government
- Moral influence
- Scapegoat
- Divine experience
What was Vatican II?
First conference- 325
Last council- 1962-1965
How do Roman Catholics access Christ’s atonement?
Everyone
What two doctrines explain how a non-catholic accesses Christ’s atonement?
Baptism of Desire- if people knew it they would do it
Anonymous Christianity- person who lives true to their conscience and is not a Christian
For whom do Eastern Orthodox Christians believe Jesus died?
No official position
How do Easter Orthodox Christians access the atonement of Jesus Christ?
Sacraments, through having a “very deep conviction”
Who do most low church protestants believe can access Christ’s atonement?
Those who accept him, limited to who he died for, they were predetermined to be saved
Catholics come to Christ through the Church, while Protestants come to the Church through Christ
What is the low-church Protestant view of the apocrypha?
Reject the Apocrypha
Do most Christians accept the apocrypha as scripture?
Most churches reject it, mos Christians accept it
At what point did the current 27 books of the New Testament become the official and final list of accepted books?
In 393
What second century movement forced the Church’s hand, causing it to declare that the scriptural canon is closed?
Montanist movement- time of apostasy
What is the “sola scriptura”?
“solely scripture”, Low church protestants
What, in addition to the bible, do Catholics and Orthodox Christians use to determine doctrine?
Balance between tradition and scripture
What is “sola prophetica”?
Revelation and prophets trump scripture
What sacraments do low-church Protestants typically accept?
The bible, but they downplay the old testament- used as moral lessons
Seven eastern orthodox sacraments:
- Baptism
- Chrismation
- Holy Communion
- Confession
- Holy unction
- Priesthood
- Matrimony
First five are required
Seven Roman Catholic sacraments?
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance and reconciliation
- Holy unction
- Holy orders
- Matrimony
First four are necessary
For most low-church Protestants, how important are sacraments?
- Baptism
- The Lord’s supper
Nothing is really salvific
Roman Catholicism teaches that an unbaptized baby goes where?
Augustine believed that unbaptized babies would go to hell, current belief is that they go to heaven
What was the purpose of “Limbo” in Catholic soteriology?
Unbaptized babies go there
What is the “original sin” according to Augustine?
We have a fallen nature, children were evil, babies are narcissists, we’re born with a spirit of disobedience
What is “The Immaculate Conception”?
Mary was born by her parents without them having sex
How do Catholics baptize babies?
Affusion- sprinkling
How do Easter Orthodox Christians baptize babies?
Immersion- completely underwater 3 times
What are “emergency baptisms” in Eastern Orthodoxy?
If a baby is dying or if it is necessary, any Christian can perform one
How is the role of godparents different between Catholic and Orthodox traditions?
Catholic- make vows and covenants for you until you make them yourself
Orthodox- there if your parents die
What is the center of Sunday worship in Roman Catholicism?
Eucharist
What is the center of Sunday worship in Eastern Orthodoxy?
Holy communion
What is the center of Sunday worship in low-church Protestantism?
Sermon
What is metousiosis?
Transubstantiation for Orthodox, change of the elements
What is Transubstantiation?
Catholics believe in this, when the bread and wine are blessed they literally become the body and blood of Christ
What is consubstantiation?
High-church protestant believe, idea that once consecrated, the bread and wine have presence of the elements of Christ
Why do Orthodox Christians believe that the use of icons is not simply nice but necessary?
Icon is matter with a divine image that points your attention to God.
Jesus is an icon of God, he is made of earthly matter
What’s the difference between a cross and a crucifix?
Cross is empty, crucifix has jesus on it
Protestan use crosses
Catholics and Orthodox use crucifix and cross
When did Christians start using the cross as a symbol? When did they start using the crucifix?
Crucifix in the seventh century, cross in the sixth century
The deceased Jesus (attached to a cross in Catholicism) is a symbol of what?
Jesus is a victim, crucifix
The deceased Jesus (attached to a cross in Eastern Orthodox) is a symbol of what?
Death, resurrection, and exaltation
An empty cross typically symbolizes what?
Christ has overcome death
Which denomination sometimes uses a cross with Jesus nailed to it?
Eastern Orthodox
When did Mormons develop their aversion to using crosses?
Mid 20th century, President Mckay
What is genuflexion?
Catholic, enter a church you should use holy water and kneel and make the sign of the cross
What is “apostolic succession”? Which Christian denominations emphasize?
Catholics- trace leaders from peter down, unbroken line of popes from Peter to the end of Vatican II
Which denomination believes one should not use statues in worship?
Protestant
What does Roman Catholicism today say is the equivalent of apostles?
Bishops
Roman Catholics have traditionally traced their line of authority through Peter’s line. Through what New Testament figure do Eastern Orthodox Christians traditionally trace their line of authority?
Andrew as Ecumenical Patriarch
What is the “Priesthood of all believers”?
Anyone who accepts Christ, bible believer, you have the priesthood, low-church protestants
Why do parish priests need to be married?
Can’t council about family if you don’t have a family
Which denomination most emphasizes saints as “intercessors”?
Catholics
In the view of many Christians, the “chief sin” of Adam and Eve was their desire to become what?
A god
Which denomination believes that salvation is ultimately received through grace?
Protestant
According to our classroom discussion, some Christians believe in a spiritual resurrection, and some believe in a physical resurrection. Which denomination did we say believes in both a physical resurrection and also a spiritual resurrection?
Jehovah’s witness
Is spiritual resurrection or physical resurrection more common?
Physical resurrection
