3. Definition:
Everyone who is baptized in Christ is a Christian. However,
each baptized person also belongs to a particular family of
Christians (i.e. Anglican, Catholic, Baptist etc.).
Catholics are Christians who belong to the Latin or the Eastern
Catholic Churches.
All Christians however are catholic (with a small c) because
Christ is present in all Christian Churches.
The word catholic means “universal” or “to the whole world.”
4. Jews and the Roman Empire
Most Jews lived in Judea which became a Roman
province in 6 C.E. Many Jews hoped they would win
back their independence and they yearned for a king
like David.
5. Cultural background
Christianity began in Judea (modern day Israel)
This area was controlled by the Romans.
There religion at the time was Pagan, a polytheistic
religion.
The Jewish people felt strong dislike towards the Romans that
they lived under.
6. Origins / Jesus Christ
To understand Christianity, one must understand Jesus Christ.
(“Christ” is a Greek word meaning savior).
Jesus was born around into a Jewish family,
but began to teach a new type of Judaism that emphasized
God’s love for mankind.
He preformed miracles and his teachings contained ideas from
Judaism.
7. Jesus of Nazareth
Most of what we know about Jesus of Nazareth comes from the
Gospels. Born under the star of Bethlehem around 6-4 B.C.E.
and raised in village of Nazareth. Began his public ministry at 30.
He emphasized God’s personal relationship to each human and
the importance of peoples’ love for God and others.
As he traveled, he gathered a small groups of disciples and from
these people he chose 12 to help him preach.
9. Main Text is in Bible.
Bible consists of new Testament and old
Testament.(Torah/Hebrew)
New Testament has 27 books and
Jesus’ life/miracles.
10. The Gospels
The primary sources of
information on the life and
teachings of Jesus
– Written by his followers
who believed that He was the
Messiah
11. Messiah?
Some Jews believed that Jesus
was the messiah (a person
described in the Torah who
would be the savior of the Jewish
people). Because of this, people
called him “King” and his
following grew.
The Roman governor, Pontius
Pilate, saw Jesus as a threat to
authority, and sentenced him to
crucifixion (which was a common
punishment at the time).
12. Jesus' Crucifixion
Crucifixion was a
Roman method of
execution in which
people were nailed to a
wooden cross and left
to die.
The crucifixion of Jesus occurred in 1st century Judea, most
likely between the years 30 and 33 AD. According to the
gospels, Jesus, the Christ, was arrested and tried by the
Sanhedrin, and then sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be punished,
and finally crucified by the Romans.
13. Resurrection
The bible says that three
days after Jesus Christ’s
death, he was resurrected
from the dead.
His disciples would go on
to tell about Jesus’ story,
and those who followed
him would become to
known as Christians.
14. Rituals
Churches is the place where Christians
worship and Churches are different for
different branches of Christianity.
Baptism is a Christian ritual, and it marks
the birth.
A Communion is a ritual that marks when
people join the community of a Church
Bread and wine, what you eat at a
communion.
Matrimony is when two Christian people get
married.
15. Worship
Sunday mass is seen as a ritual
that creates community or
Church and as a result
participation in mass is
essential.
Sunday was selected by early
Christians as a day of worship
because it is the day of Christ’s
resurrection.
17. JESUS’ MESSAGE (Code)
Work to establish the Kingdom of God (on EARTH)
Golden Rule –“Do Unto Others as you would have them do unto you”
Gratitude and Humility
Love and Respect for ALL life
Forgiveness/Mercy and Peaceful cohabitation
Empathy
Justice (giving others what is due to them/whatever is needed to live
with dignity) and Charity
Honesty
Patience
Courage in the face of hostility
Individual worship (no need for rituals and temple)
Common sense interpretation of law
Preparation for end times (SOON TO COME)
22. CHRISTIANITY TODAY
2.4 billion followers.
3 main branches are Catholic, Protestant and
Orthodox.
The main city for Catholic Christians is Vatican City,
located in Italy.