Christianity

Question 1

The historical and cultural context in which Christianity began

Answer 1

Background
Christianity grew out of Judaism in the first century CE
Initially, it was a sect of “Jewish Christians”
Jesus lived in Palestine between 6 BCE and 30CE

Historical and Cultural Context of Palestine:
Roman occupation
Practising religion → Judaism
The Jew claimed they were in “The Promised Land” due to their Covenant with God
Jews suffered hardship under Roman rule(taxes).
Oppression by Assyrians, Babylonians and greeks
No central Jewish authority
Range of religious politics from conservatism to militant Messianism(wanted a Messiah who had political power)
Temple → central place of worship for the Jews
Palestine was very multicultural
Jews lived side by side with Greek, Aramaeans, Canaanites, Phoenicians and Samaritans
The predominant occupation was farming and fishing. Most occupations were craft-based.(hence Jesus was a carpenter)

Question 2

Jesus Christ

Answer 2

Principal events of Jesus’ life:

• beatitudes(sermon on the mount)
• Washing of disciples
• Parables
• Resurrection
• Palm Sunday

Jesus is a role model for the Christian life:

• Teachings
• Actions
• Values
• Miracles

Question 3

The development of early Christian communities

Answer 3

• Jesus’ death and resurrection announced at Pentecost
• Church realises they should expand and the gospel message becomes known by people outside of Jerusalem
• The Church realises you don’t have to be a Jew to be a disciple of Jesus
• The Church expands as Paul goes on missionary journeys
• Early expressions for a Church was ekklesia -> assembly, congregation, council
• Early groups of Christians were referred to as the Church because Christ was said to save the Church, meaning humanity.
• Jesus preached the gospel knowing some people wouldn’t accept the ideas
• Baptism became a sign of belonging to Christian communities
• After Jesus’ death and resurrection followers called themselves: Believers, Disciples, Brethren and those of the Way
• The naming of Christians dates to around 40CE

Question 4

Christianity

Answer 4

Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal

Question 5

Principal Beliefs of Christianity

Answer 5

• The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ
• The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
• The nature of God and the Trinity
• Revelation
• Salvation

Question 6

Sacred Texts and Writings of Christianity

Answer 6

The Bible transmits God’s ideas to human beings. Christians believe that, after death, God judges all people who ever lived and assigns them to different sorts of afterlives based on what they did while human.

Question 7

Core Ethical Teaching of Christianity

Answer 7

• The Ten Commandments(Exodus 20)
• The Beatitudes
• Jesus’ Commandment of Love

Question 8

Personal Devotion

Answer 8

• The word prayer means to entreat or request
• Prayer develops a closer personal relationship with God
• To communicate with God, Jesus, Mary, saints and angles
• Adherents acknowledge the existence of a relationship between God and humanity

Private Prayers
Public Prayers
Our Father