Christianity

• One of the three main universalizing religions

• Monotheistic• Its parent religion is “Judaism”• Divided into branches, denomination, and

sects– Branches: large and fundamental division– Denomination: division of a branch that unites

a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body

– Sect: a relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination

Christianity

• 2 billion adherents

• Predominant religion in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia

• A Christian majority in Africa and Asia

Branches of Christianity

• Three major branches– Roman Catholic (52%)– Protestant (21%) – Eastern Orthodox (10%)

• 22% do not belong to churches within the three major branches

• 90% of people in Western Hemisphere are Christian– 93% are Roman Catholic in Latin America– 23% are Roman Catholic in North America

• 28% of US population is Protestant– 83 million– Largest denomination Baptist

• Next three largest are: Methodist, Pentecostal, and Lutheran

Smaller Branches of Christianity

• Isolated from other branches early in Christianity’s development– Differences in doctrine– Result of Islamic control in SW Asia and North Africa

• Africa– Coptic Church of Egypt– Ethiopian Church

• Syria– Armenian Church– Important in diffusing Christianity to South and East

Asia– Significant role in regional conflicts

Smaller Branches of Christianity

• Marionites– Small Christian sect– Prominent role in political unrest– Clustered in Lebanon

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints– Mormons– 3% of Americans– Clustered in Utah

Origin of Christianity• Jesus is son of God

– Placed on earth to teach people how to live according to God’s plan

• Founded on teachings of Jesus– Born in Bethlehem between 8 and 4 B.C.– Died crucified in Jerusalem about 30 A.D.– Raised as a Jew– Traveled for three years throughout Judea– Preached the coming of the Kingdom of God– Four gospels of Christian Bible

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John• Documented miracles and Jesus’ extraordinary deeds• Referred to as Christ, Hebrew for “messiah”

Teachings of Jesus

• Spoke in parables

• Performed miracles

• Message of moral reform

• Stressed selflessness and repentance

• Third year of his mission, he was betrayed by Judas

• Shared the Last Supper with his disciples in Jerusalem

• Jesus was arrested and put to death• Third day after his death, his tomb was found

empty• He was seen by his disciples and others for 40

days until his ascension to heaven• Christians believed that Jesus died to atone for

human sins and that he was raised from the dead by God and his resurrection provides people with hope for salvation

• God’s strength can overcome the worst sins

The Bible

• Divided into New Testament and Old Testament

• Contained Hebrew bible in O.T. and gospels of Jesus and his teachings in N.T.

• 27 books chosen as 4 gospels for N.T.

• 21 epistles and Revelation of Saint John in N.T.

Roman Catholics

• Claims most adherents of any denomination

• Centered in Rome

• Teaches the infallibility of the Pope in interpreting Jesus’ teachings

• Power peaked in Middle Ages

Middle Ages

• Church controlled sources of knowledge and worked in conjunction with monarchs

• Black Death (1300’s) caused Europeans to question role of religion

• Division followed in 1400 and 1500’s with Martin Luther, John Huss, John Calvin

• Roman Catholics accept teachings of the Bible– As well as the interpretation by Pope

• God conveys his grace to humanity through the seven sacraments– Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing

the sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Eucharist

• To Roman Catholics, Eucharist literally and miraculously become the body and blood of Jesus (transubtantiation)

Division of the Church

• Roman Empire fell (5th century)

• Constantinople became heart of Byzantine Empire and new center of Christianity– Spread into the Balkan Peninsula

• Divide in East/West Christianity recognized in 1054 B.C. when the church split

Eastern Orthodoxy

• Compromises the faith and practices of a collection of churches that arose in Eastern part of Roman Empire

• Accept seven sacraments but reject added doctrines by Roman Catholic church

• Suffered major defeats when:– Turks defeated Serbs in 1389– Turks took Constantinople in 1453– Suppression of church of Soviet Union– Today experiencing a revival in former Soviet

areas

Protestantism

• Originated with principles of Reformation in 16th century

• Movement started with Martin Luther posting 95 theses on a church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517

• Challenged Roman Catholic theology• Individuals had responsibility for achieving

personal salvation through direct communication with God

• Grace is achieved through faith rather than through sacraments

Diffusion of Christianity

• Combination of relocation, expansion, and hierarchal

• First diffused from hearth in Palestine through relocation– Missionaries carried the teachings of Jesus

along the Roman Empire’s protected routes

• Spread through contagious diffusion through daily contact between believers in the towns and nonbelievers in the surrounding countryside

• Dominance of Christianity throughout Roman Empire during 4th century by hierarchical diffusion– Acceptance of religion by Emperor– Emperor Constantine encouraged the spread

of Christianity in 313 A.D.

• Since 1500 A.D. Migration and Missionary Activity– Extended Christianity throughout world– Through permanent resettlement of

Europeans (ex. Spain settling Latin America)– Achieved by conversion of indigenous

population and by intermarriage

• Cultural landscape of Christianity’s branches reflect the changes in faith over time

• Medieval Europe: the cathedral or monastery were the focus of life– Church center of town– All activities (festivals, etc) took place in the

shadow of the Church

Landscape of Christianity

Landscape of Christianity

• The Reformation and rise of secularism are reflected in the landscape as well– Ornate churches are now museums

Conflict: North Ireland• During 1300’s English invaded island of Ireland• By 1700, Ireland was an English Colony• 1800’s Ireland produced Industrial wealth for

Britain in its shipyards

• During “invasion” Protestant English migrated to Ireland

• 1700’s protestants were given power by the English– Irish Catholics were treated harshly– British Protestants took Irish land and their

right to own property or to participate in government

• 1800’s: Irish Catholics began reinvigorating their heritage and strengthen their resolve against the British

• 1900’s Catholics rebelled against Protestant British

• North Ireland officially became part of Great Britain

• Protestant majority had political and economic advantages

• Catholics angered

• Irish Republican Army responded by attacking Protestants

• British troops brought in 1968

• Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland segregated their lives and homes from one another

• Marked in cultural landscape– Each group lives in clustered neighborhoods– Celebrates important Catholic/Prot dates– Concept of Activity Space

• Each group separated themselves in daily activities

• Example: Catholics would only go to Catholic grocery store even if farther than closest store, read different newspapers, etc.

• Conflict is about more than religion– Economic suppression , Access to opportunity– Terror, Civil rights– Political influence

• Religion is what both sides identify with

Fundamentalist Christians

• Roman Catholic church has resisted innovation– Birth control– Role of women in church bureaucracy– Some sects still hold mass in Latin– Example: Holy Family Church- does not

recognize Pope because they do not follow original theology, holds mass in Latin

Protestant Fundamentalists

• Range from tiny churches to enormous ware-house style churches

• Active in political and social areas– Argue for prayer in school– Teaching of “creationism”– Ban on abortion– Outlawing homosexual activities