Christianity Flashcards
According to our in-class discussion, the first Christians didn’t see themselves as a “new religion” but, instead, as what?
Denomination of Judaism
Christians weren’t called “Christians” until when and where?
AD 45
At what point did Christianity make its total break from Judaism, finally considering itself a separate religion from the Jewish tradition?
AD 70
What are the three broad umbrella denominations of Christianity?
- Catholicism
- Eastern Orthodoxy
- Protestantism
What is the difference between “High Church Protestantism” and “Low Church Protestantism”?
- High: Looks more Catholic, more organized
- Low: Lack of sacraments, hierarchy, sometimes Priesthood
According to our in-class discussion, what significant difference is there between what lay Catholics and Catholic scholars believe about the origins of the Catholic Church?
- The lay Catholics believe that the Catholic church was founded by Christ through Peter down through an unbroken line of Popes
- Catholic Scholars say there is no connection
What evidence did we give in class that the Bishop of Rome did not hold universal jurisdiction over the entire Church in the fourth century?
Constantine wasn’t run by a Pope, It was called by the Emperor
What was the “Great Schism” and in what year did it take place?
- 1054: The Pope sent the Cardinal to Constantinople, excommunicated half of the church in Eastern Orthodoxy.
- 1204: The sacking of Constantinople
In the 11th century, the Western side of the Church excommunicated the Eastern side of the Church over what?
- 1054: Something about using leavened bread instead of unleavened bread
- Something about authority
According to our in-class discussion, the initial goal of the Protestant Reformation was to what?
Internal Reform of the Catholic church
Based on our in-class discussion, what was one of the primary concerns of Wycliffe that led to his attempts at reformation?
The Bible is only in the leaders of the church
Based on our in-class discussion, what was one of the primary concerns of Knox that led to his attempts at reformation?
Multiple layers on the leadership of the church, but the clergy are making decisions without higher up
Based on our in-class discussion, what was one of the primary concerns of Luther that led to his attempts at reformation?
Sale of indulgences
Based on our in-class discussion, what was one of the primary concerns of the Anabaptists that led to his attempts at reformation?
Baptizing infants, infants can’t accept baptism, much less accept Christ as their Savior
Based on our in-class discussion, what was one of the primary concerns of Wesley that led to his attempts at reformation?
- No gifts of the Spirit as said in the Bible
- Methodist
What are some Christian denominations that we mentioned in class that reject the Trinity?
- Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Unitarian Universalist
- Christian Science
Based on our in-class discussion, the Trinity—properly understood—consists of “One _______, manifest in _______, simultaneously united in ______, but distinct in ______
One God, manifest in 3 Persons, simultaneously united in substance, but distinct in personhood
According to our in-class discussion, how is Tritheism different from the Trinity?
- Trinity: Paradoxical unity of three persons in one Godhead
- Tritheism: Three distinct gods existing independently
According to our in-class discussion, how are Tritheism and Monolatry different?
- Tritheism is a heretical Christian view that contradicts the Trinity by emphasizing three separate gods
- Monolatry is a separate concept where people worship one supreme deity while acknowledging the existence of other deities
According to our in-class discussion, what is Modalism, and how is it different from the actual doctrine of the Trinity?
- There’s different “Hats” of god, He can be Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit
- Condemned by Christianity
According to our in-class discussion, what is the difference between “Social Trinitarianism” and “Psychological Trinitarianism”—and which of them is an accurate understanding of the Trinity?
- Social Trinitarianism - 3 actual beings, but kinda God too
- Psychological Trinitarianism - Pretty much just Modalism
According to our in-class discussion, what is the problem with the Water/Ice/Steam analogy (when trying to explain the Trinity)”?
Problem is that they are 3 different forms of the same things. Formally modalistic. An egg is a better example.
Why, according to our in-class discussion, do many Christians feel that the “incomprehensibility” of the Trinity a good thing?
Because if our finite minds can comprehend God, then that brings him down to our level
During our in-class conversation, we showed a chart comparing the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant views of the Trinity. (The chart dealt with things like the co-equality and co-eternal nature of the three members of the Trinity, and also their views on the source of the Holy Spirit.) Which of the three models we discussed is most like the LDS view and why?
- Eastern Orthodox
- They have the Son subordinate to the Father
Out of Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism, one faith holds that [1] the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father only; one holds that [2] It proceeds from the Father “and/or” the Son; and one holds that [3] It proceed forth from both the Father and the Son. Which of the three aforementioned traditions takes the former (or first) of these three positions?
- Eastern Orthodox
- Roman Catholic
- Protestant
What, according to our in-class discussion, is the “Double Procession” of the Holy Spirit?
- Catholic - Holy Spirit comes from both Father and Son
- Orthodox - Holy Spirit comes from Father alone
What 4th century event led to the Council and Nicaea and, from that, the Nicene Creed, and the formal formulation of the Trinity?
- The Arian controversy
- Arius, a priest in Alexandria, argued that Jesus was not divine but a created being subordinate to God the Father
According to our in-class discussion, what was Arius of Alexander’s position on Jesus?
- Jesus and the Father are distinct beings
- He believed Jesus is subordinate to the Father, and came from the Father
Arius of Alexander had two major reasons for rejecting the “co-equal” and “co-eternal” nature of the Father and Son. What, according to our in-class discussion, were his two reasons for rejecting those beliefs?
They are 2 different beings
* Maintaining Monotheism
* Subordination of the Sun
According to our in-class discussion, what was Alexander of Alexandria’s position on Jesus?
If Jesus is only an archangel, he doesn’t have the power to save us. He must be equal with God
What, according to our in-class discussion, was wrong in Arius’ argument about Jesus?
Jesus wasn’t God, thus he couldn’t save us
What, according to our in-class discussion, was wrong in Alexander’s argument about Jesus?
He didn’t understand that God can invest in a being the authority to act as him in his name
Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa, and Gregory of Nazianzus are known by what title?
Cappadocian Fathers