Christianity

Question 1

What is Christianity?

Answer 1

A monotheistic religion founded on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (as presented in the New Testament), who is believed by Christians to be the son of God and the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, or Hebrew Bible

Question 2

What does “Christ” mean?

Answer 2

“Christ” comes from “christos,” the ancient Greek word for “messiah” or “anointed one.” It is a title, not a name.

Question 3

When and where was Christianity founded?

Answer 3

Around 33 A.D. in Palestine, not long after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth

Question 4

How many Christians are there in the world today?

Answer 4

Approximately 2 billion, making Christianity the world’s most popular religion

Question 5

What are the two main parts of the Christian Bible?

Answer 5

The Old Testament and the New Testament

Question 6

What is the Old Testament?

Answer 6

The first section of the Bible

• Nearly identical to the Hebrew Bible
• Narrates history beginning with the creation of the world
• Also contains poetry and the writings of the Jewish prophets
• Christian interpretation of the Old Testament often involves finding signs that predict the coming of Christ

Question 7

What is the New Testament?

Answer 7

The second section of the Bible, consisting of 27 books

• Begins with the four gospels, which narrate the life of Jesus Christ
• Acts of the Apostles describes the actions of Jesus’ followers shortly after his death
• The Pauline Epistles are a collection of letters written by the Apostle Paul to specific churches
• The Catholic or General Epistles are a collection of letters addressed to a general audience
• Ends with the Revelation of John, a vision of the apocalypse

Question 8

What are the Apocrypha?

Answer 8

Selection of religious writings that have been accepted as canonical by some Christian denominations but not by others

When included, they are placed between the Old and New Testaments.

Question 9

Briefly outline the life of Jesus.

Answer 9

• Born around 4 B.C.
• Grew up in the city of Nazareth in Palestine
• At age 30, baptized by John the Baptist
• Began a ministry that flourished for three years
• Stressed God’s compassion and criticized social hierarchy
• Often taught others by telling stories, or “parables”
• Arrested and crucified by Roman authorities at age 33

Question 10

What is the Annunciation?

Answer 10

Announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she was to give birth to the Messiah

Question 11

Who was Saint John the Baptist?

Answer 11

Jewish prophet who led a baptismal sect during Jesus’ lifetime

• By some accounts (like the Gospel of Luke), a relative of Jesus
• Recognized Jesus as the messiah and baptized him, beginning Jesus’ ministry
• Herod Antipas, king of Galilee, promised his stepdaughter Salome anything she wished; she requested the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter, and Herod obliged

Question 12

What is the Sermon on the Mount?

Answer 12

Longest section of Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament, found in the Gospel of Matthew; frequently quoted, and the source of many common sayings, including:

• The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father, who art in Heaven…”
• “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
• “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”
• “Cast not your pearls before swine”
• “Consider the lilies of the field”

Question 13

What is the parable of the Good Samaritan?

Answer 13

In reference to the commandment “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” a man asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”

The parable of the Good Samaritan was Jesus’ reply:

• A Jew was robbed and left to die at the side of the road
• A priest and a Levite saw the wounded man but passed him by
• Finally, a Samaritan (from Samaria, a nation hostile to the Hebrews) stopped and helped the man
• “Good Samaritan” now refers to anyone who performs an act of kindness for a stranger

Question 14

What is the parable of the Prodigal Son?

Answer 14

One of the parables of Jesus:

• A wealthy man had two sons: the younger one ran off with the father’s money and squandered it on a debauched life
• Years later he returned penniless to beg his father for work
• The father welcomed him back, dressed him in fine robes, and ordered a celebratory feast
• The older son complained that he had always been loyal and disciplined, but had never received such a celebration
• The father replied that the celebration was appropriate, for his lost son had returned
• The message is that God’s love and forgiveness are boundless
• “Prodigal son” is now commonly used to refer to a rebellious child

Question 15

Who was Judas Iscariot?

Answer 15

Disciple who betrayed Jesus to the hands of the Roman and Jewish authorities for 30 pieces of silver

• He identified Jesus to the soldiers by kissing him
• Wracked with guilt, Judas hanged himself the next day
• A “Judas kiss” is a false act of friendship that masks a betrayal

Question 16

Briefly describe Christian beliefs regarding the resurrection of Jesus.

Answer 16

• The resurrection of Jesus is a central tenet of Christian theology
• Jesus was bodily resurrected three days after his crucifixion
• His tomb was discovered empty by a group of his female disciples, including Mary Magdalene
• For 40 days, he made several appearances to his disciples
• On the fortieth day after his resurrection, he ascended into Heaven

Question 17

What is Pentecost?

Answer 17

Christian feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit

• A few months after the death of Jesus, his followers were gathered in an “upper room” in Jerusalem
• Suddenly tongues of fire appeared over each follower
• They began to speak in tongues and were filled with the Holy Spirit
• This event added the Holy Spirit to the Father and Son, completing the Trinity
• Now an important feast celebrated 50 days after Easter

Question 18

Who was Paul the Apostle?

Answer 18

Early Christian missionary whose writings make up a large portion of the New Testament

• Originally a Jew named Saul (Latinized to “Paul”) who was a persecutor of Christians
• Experienced a vision of Christ as the risen messiah and subsequently devoted his life to spreading Christianity
• His writings (or writings falsely attributed to him) make up a large part of the New Testament

Question 19

What symbol did early Christians famously use to direct worshippers to their underground meetings, and why?

Answer 19

A fish, with its head pointing toward the location of the secret meeting

This symbol was chosen because the ancient Greek word for “fish” (ichthys) contains the initials of the phrase, “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.”

Question 20

What role did Emperor Constantine play in Christian history?

Answer 20

• He converted from the official pagan religion to Christianity after seeing a vision of the cross in the sky with the words, “In Hoc Signo Vinces” (In this sign, you will conquer)
• In 313 A.D., issued the Edict of Milan, establishing religious tolerance throughout the empire
• Persecution of Christians ended almost overnight, and Christianity spread rapidly
• In 380 A.D., Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire

Question 21

What is the doctrine of the Incarnation?

Answer 21

A doctrine common among all major Christian sects

• Jesus was God in human form; he was not half-man and half-God, but fully both
• As God incarnate, Jesus provides the perfect example of a life properly lived in subservience to God’s will
• What was wildly new about this idea: a God concerned enough about human affairs that He was willing to take human form and suffer human agony

Question 22

What is the doctrine of the Trinity?

Answer 22

A doctrine common among all major Christian sects that stipulates that God is one, but has three forms: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost

Because of this doctrine, people sometimes question whether Christianity is truly monotheistic.

Question 23

What is original sin?

Answer 23

The doctrine stipulating that Adam and Eve’s fall from grace has stained humanity with sin

• Therefore, all humans are born with an inherently sinful nature
• Christian sects interpret and respond to original sin in different ways
• It is most prominent in Protestantism

Question 24

What are the three major divisions in Christianity?

Answer 24

1. Roman Catholicism
2. Eastern Orthodoxy
3. Protestantism

Question 25

When did Christianity split into Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy?

Answer 25

1054 A.D.

Question 26

List some of the distinguishing characteristics of Roman Catholicism.

Answer 26

• Dominant Christian sect in the Western world: over 1 billion adherents, about half of all Christians
• Head of the Church is the Pope in Rome
• Seven sacraments
• The saints and the Virgin Mary are honored
• Belief in purgatory
• Doctrine of transubstantiation
• Use of rosary beads in prayer

Question 27

List some of the distinguishing characteristics of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Answer 27

• Dominant sect of Eastern Europe (Greece, Romania, Slavic countries)
• Head of the Church is Patriarch of Constantinople
• Places authority in the Seven Ecumenical Councils, all convened before 787 A.D. to interpret scripture
• Encourages followers to find personal truth, rather than subscribe to Church-mandated doctrines
• Elements of mysticism

Question 28

List some of the distinguishing characteristics of Protestantism.

Answer 28

• A reaction to medieval/Renaissance practices of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences
• The Bible is the final source of authority, not church officials
• Salvation through faith alone, not through good works
• Sacraments are unnecessary

Question 29

What is the doctrine of papal infallibility?

Answer 29

God prevents the Pope from making any mistakes when speaking officially on matters of faith and morals

• Central doctrine of Roman Catholicism
• This is often misconstrued to mean that the Pope never makes mistakes in any way
• In fact, his infallibility applies only to faith and morals, and only when he has consulted thoroughly and is making an official statement

Question 30

What is the Immaculate Conception?

Answer 30

The conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain of original sin

• Roman Catholic doctrine
• NOT the conception of Jesus
• Uncorrupted by sin, Mary was able to give birth to a savior who was also uncorrupted

Question 31

What are the seven sacraments?

Answer 31

Rituals that mark important life milestones in the Catholic Church:

1. Baptism
2. Holy Communion
3. Confirmation
4. Holy Matrimony
5. Holy Orders (dedication of life to God)
6. Sacrament of the Sick (preparation for death)
7. Reconciliation (confession of sins)

Question 32

When did the Protestant Reformation begin?

Answer 32

In 1517 A.D., with the publication of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses

Question 33

What is apostolic succession?

Answer 33

Doctrine that all ordained bishops have inherited the spiritual authority of those who came before them, stretching all the way back to the Twelve Apostles who received their authority from Jesus Christ himself

• Upheld by the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, as well as the Anglican Communion and some Lutheran Churches
• Opposed to apostolic succession is the belief, held by most Protestant churches, that the authority of the apostles belongs to them alone, and cannot be passed on to others

Question 34

What is Gnosticism?

Answer 34

A persecuted sect of Christianity that emerged in the first and second centuries A.D.

• Believed that the God from the Bible was actually an ignorant, imperfect being (the demiurge), unaware of the true God
• Gnostic myths turned the story of creation on its head
• Emphasis on gnosis, personal knowledge of God, rather than faith
• Information about Gnosticism had been almost completely lost until discovery of the Nag Hammadi Library in 1945

Question 35

What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?

Answer 35

A collection of writings found between 1947 and 1956 in caves near the shore of the Dead Sea

• Most scholars believe the scrolls were written by the Essenes, a Jewish sect that chose to withdraw from life under Roman rule
• Oldest known manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible
• Also include some known apocryphal texts and some previously unknown texts
• Contributed to an understanding of how accurately the Bible has been translated over time