Christianity, founded by Jesus in the 1st century C.E. as an offshoot of Judaism, is the world's largest religion with core beliefs centered around the life, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the savior. It emphasizes the Holy Trinity, the importance of sacred scriptures like the Bible, and various sacraments for spiritual growth, while also displaying significant historical divisions, particularly between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Issues such as ecumenism, sexuality, and the sanctity of life are contemporary challenges that continue to influence Christian teachings and practices.

1. CHRISTIANITY
:
PREPARED BY
NEA MAE T. REMONOQUE
FAITO NACINUPA

2. Chistianity
Christianity is considered the most popular religion
in the world with the most number of adherents
among all religions. Starting around the 1st century
C.E., it developed out of Judaism during the reign
of the Roman Empire in West Asia. It centers on
the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, who is considered the Messiah or Savior of
humanity.

3. The most common symbol for Christianity is the
cross, for Christians believe that Jesus died on the
cross to save humanity from their sins and to
restore people’s relationship with God the Father.
Christians also believe in the Holy Trinity, which
means God has three aspects—Father, Son, and
the Holy Spirit. It is believed that God the Father
sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem
humanity from their sins for them to avoid the
eternal flames of hell.

4. Although there has been a prophesy in
Judaism that God the Father will send His
only Son to redeem humanity from their
sins and to restore relationship with God,
the Jews do not accept that Jesus was the
fulfillment of that promise. Instead, the
Jews are still waiting for the Messiah to
be sent by God the Father.

5. promise. Nonetheless, Christianity is considered
one of the first monotheistic religions in the
world and shares many similarities with
Judaism in terms of belief in prophets, angels,
judgement day, among others.

6. Christianity is a religion that is very familiar to
Filipinos because the Philippines has become
predominantly Catholic since the Spaniards
occupied the country from the 16th to the 19th
centuries, with the spread of Catholicism as one
of their enduring legacies to the Filipino people.
It is considered the world’s largest religion, a
religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ
who is considered the Son of God and the
Messiah or Savior.

7. The cross serves as a symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over
sins when He died on the cross for humanity’s
redemption and salvation. In Roman Catholic churches,
the crucifix is a regular feature, with the image of Christ
nailed on the cross. This aims to emphasize Christ’s
sufferings for humanity. Meanwhile, Protestant churches
often feature only the cross without the image of the
body of Christ, to emphasize Christ’s resurrection and
not His suffering.
Symbols

8. fish symbol was used by persecuted Christians as a
secret sign when meeting other Christians. Because
Christians were threatened by the Romans
They would draw one arc of the fish outline,
and if the stranger drew the other half it
means they are both Christians and therefore
safe in each other’s company. The word “fish”
comes from the Greek word for fish, which is
ichtys: Iseous Christos Theou Yios Soter,
meaning Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

9. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Christianity developed in Palestine around 100 C.E.
It was founded by Jesus, considered to be the Son
of God and Messiah or Savior. Regarded as an
offshoot of Judaism, Christianity has survived and
even surpassed Judaism and other religions in
terms of number of adherents. Now is divided into
three major sects—Roman Catholicism, Greek
Orthodox Church, and Protestantism. These major
Christian sects are further subdivided by Christian
denominations.

10. Historical Context
Judea, the mountainous southern part of Palestine,
was the home of Christianity. During that time,
Judaism was the dominant religion in Palestine and
it was considered by the Jews as land promised to
them by God. However, historical developments in
the region we now call West Asia have shown that
successive powers have dominated Mesopotamia
and nearby territories, including Palestine which is
considered to have a desirable location.

11. Thus, it was conquered by the Assyrian
Empire, then by the Babylonian Empire which
enslaved the Jews, then the Achaemenid or
Persian Empire under Cyrus, who permitted
the Jews to return to their land. Soon the
Greeks under the leadership of Alexander the
Great conquered West Asia including
Palestine around 400 B.C. Then the Romans
conquered Jerusalem in 63 B.C. When Jesus
was born, Palestine was still under Roman
rule.

12. Jesus as the Founder of Christianity
It was in this backdrop that Jesus, founder of
Christianity, lived and preached teachings that
served as criticisms of Judaism, although he himself
was a Jew. His ministry began when he was in his
early thirties. Preaching and healing in the villages,
he started to preach teachings which were
considered revolutionary at that time. For example,
He criticized the uprightness and insincerity of
religious officials and emphasized that God values
service and love.

13. Religious Leaders
The Catholic Church follows a certain hierarchy
based on the Canon Law of the Catholic Church.
The Pope serves as the head of the Catholic Church,
the inheritor of Peter. He has his headquarters in the
Vatican, an independent state in Rome. He is
responsible for the general supervision of the church.
He also has the authority to appoint administrative
and religious officials in the Vatican.

14. Next to the Pope are the cardinals, who are also
appointed by the Pope. The cardinals represent the
Pope and the Roman Catholic Church in different
parts of the world. They serve as advisers to the
Pope and elect a new pope as the need arises, thus
they have the power to choose the successor of the
outgoing pope.
The bishops also form part of the hierarchy. Bishops are
teachers of the doctrine, priests of sacred worship, and
ministers of church government.

15. Next to the hierarchy are the priests, who are
ordained ministers responsible for the administering
of the sacraments, such as the Eucharist, Marriage,
Baptism, and Confirmation.
At the bottom of the hierarchy are the deacons, who
are classified into two types: the transitional deacon
is a seminarian who is studying for the priesthood
and the other one is a permanent deacon, who can
get married and serve as a priest’s assistant in
administering some of the sacraments.

16. Deity/God
Christians believe in one God, therefore
Christianity is a monotheistic religion.
God is seen as the creator and maintainer
of the universe, and is believed to be
omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-
knowing), omnipresent (all-present), and
omnibenevolent (all-good). God is also
sacred, moral, unchangeable,
compassionate, graceful, and timeless

17. Holy Trinity
Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means that
God is composed of three persons: God the Father, the
Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine of
the Holy Trinity was affirmed at the Council of Nicea in
25 C.E. where it was agreed upon that the Son has the
same substance with the Father, therefore they are
both eternal. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity was
Christianity’s way to end the controversy generated by
Arianism, a teaching by Arius which claimed that Jesus
Christ was not actually a God.

18. SACRED SCRIPTURES
The Bible is considered the sacred scripture
of Christianity. It is a collection of songs,
stories, poetry, letters, history, as well as
literature. It is composed of two books, the
Old Testament and the New Testament. The
Old Testament is considered the original
Hebrew Bible, written between 1200 and 165
B.C.E. The New Testament was written by
Christians around 100 C.E.

19. The Old Testament
The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is
composed of 39 books which are arranged in three
parts: The first five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy)
are considered “The Law” or Torah which may refer
to guidance or instruction. They are called as such
because they serve as guidelines on how people
should live their everyday lives, as well as other legal
necessities. Later these books were called the
Pentateauch, which were attributed to Moses.

20. Meanwhile, the second part of the Old Testament
is called “The Prophets” which is divided into two
parts, the earlier prophets and the latter prophets.
The book of former prophets is considered
historical while the book of latter prophets contain
sayings and stories of the prophets. The third part
is called “The Writings,” which include Psalms
(songs, prayers, and worship liturgies), Proverbs
(wise sayings), Job (a drama that explores the
nature of suffering), and the five scrolls (Megiloth)
which were grouped together for their associations
with a particular religious festival.

21. The New Testament, composed of 27 books
written between 50 and 100 C.E., tells the story
of Jesus through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John) and offers guidance to early
Christians through letters (Epistles) from various
leaders. The Acts of Apostles and Luke detail
the growth of Christianity from a small Jewish
group to a global religion. Revelation,
traditionally attributed to John, serves as both a
letter and an apocalyptic vision.

22. Central to Christian beliefs are doctrines that
serve as moral guidelines for followers.
Adhering to these teachings is seen as crucial
for achieving eternal life. The Ten
Commandments, given to Moses by God on
Mount Sinai, provide instructions on conduct
within families, society, and in relation to
God.

23. The Catholic Church recognizes seven sacraments
as signs of God's grace for a meaningful human
life: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion,
Confession, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the
Anointing of the Sick. These sacraments are
considered essential for initiation, reconciliation,
and spiritual growth within the Church.

24. Core Beliefs and Teachings:
- The Eight Beatitudes: These eight sayings
of Jesus, found in the Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew 5-7), offer blessings to
those who are poor in spirit, mourn, are
meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness,
are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers,
and persecuted for righteousness' sake.

25. The Apostles' Creed: This creed, believed to have
developed around 100-200 C.E., summarizes basic
Christian beliefs and is considered a summary of
the apostles' teachings.
- The Story of Creation: The Genesis account of
creation, found in the Old Testament, describes
God's six-day creation of the universe, culminating
in the creation of humanity. This narrative is often
seen as a Christian perspective on the origin of the
universe.

26. - The Big Bang Theory: The text acknowledges
the scientific explanation of the universe's origin
through the Big Bang Theory, which posits that
the universe began as a dense, hot point and
expanded over billions of years.
Worship and Observances:
- Advent: This four-week season leading up to
Christmas focuses on the anticipation of Jesus'
birth and his Second Coming.

27. The Christian Church, while unified in its core beliefs,
has experienced significant divisions throughout
history, leading to the formation of various
denominations.
Early Divisions:
- Constantine's Influence: Emperor Constantine's
adoption of Christianity in 312 C.E. led to its
legalization and eventual establishment as the official
religion of the Roman Empire.

28. - Lent: A period of 40 days before Easter, Lent is a
time of reflection, repentance, and preparation for
the celebration of Christ's resurrection.
- Pentecost: This holiday commemorates the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early
Christians, marking the birth of the Church.

29. However, tensions between the Eastern and
Western portions of the empire eventually led to a
split.
-The Great Schism: The split between the Roman
Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church in
1054, known as the "Great Schism," resulted from
a combination of theological differences, political
conflicts, and cultural clashes.

30. The Protestant Reformation:
- Martin Luther's Challenge: Martin Luther's 95 Theses,
posted in 1517, challenged the Catholic Church's
practices, particularly the selling of indulgences. The
invention of the printing press facilitated the spread of
Luther's ideas, leading to the formation of
Protestantism.
- Rise of New Denominations: Luther's movement led
to the creation of numerous Protestant denominations,
including Lutheranism and the Church of England. The
Catholic Church responded with its own reforms.

31. Contemporary Issues:
- Ecumenism: The Roman Catholic Church has
embraced ecumenism, a movement promoting
understanding and unity among all Christian
denominations. The Second Vatican Council (1962-
1965) emphasized the importance of ecumenism,
recognizing the need for unity among Christians.
- Key Conflicts: While ecumenism aims for unity,
contemporary debates over issues like sexuality
(contraception, abortion, homosexuality), divorce,
capital punishment, and euthanasia continue to pose
challenges to achieving full Christian unity.

32. The Essence of Ecumenism:
- One Church: Ecumenism is rooted in the
belief that Christ established one Church, and
that divisions contradict his will.
- Overcoming Divisions: It aims to bridge
historical divisions and encourage dialogue
and collaboration between Christian
communities.

33. Contraception and Natural Family Planning:
The Catholic Church's opposition to artificial
contraception stems from its belief that the primary
purpose of sexual union is procreation. The Church
teaches that any act that intentionally prevents
conception, regardless of the method used, is inherently
immoral. This view is rooted in the belief that sex is a
sacred gift from God, meant to be a reflection of the
divine union between Christ and the Church.

34. The Church advocates for natural family planning
methods, such as the rhythm method, which rely on
tracking a woman's fertility cycle to abstain from
sexual activity during fertile periods. The Church
argues that these methods respect the natural order of
sexuality and promote a deeper understanding of the
couple's relationship.

35. Abortion and the Sanctity of Life:
The Catholic Church unequivocally condemns
abortion, holding that human life begins at
the moment of conception. The Church
teaches that a fertilized egg, or zygote,
possesses the full dignity of a human person
and is therefore entitled to the same
protection as any other human being. The
Church views abortion as a grave moral evil
that violates the fundamental right to life.

36. Homosexuality and Same-Sex Relationships:
The Catholic Church distinguishes between
homosexual orientation and homosexual activity.
While the Church recognizes that some individuals
experience same-sex attraction, it teaches that
homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and
cannot be condoned.

37. This teaching is based on the understanding
that sexual activity is meant to be a union
between a man and a woman within the
context of marriage, open to the possibility of
procreation. The Church emphasizes that
homosexual individuals should be treated with
respect, compassion, and sensitivity, but it
maintains that homosexual relationships are
incompatible with God's plan for human
sexuality.

38. Divorce and the Indissolubility of Marriage:
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a sacred
bond between a man and a woman, intended to be
indissoluble. This teaching is rooted in the words of
Jesus in Matthew 19:6, where he states that "What
therefore God hath joined together, let no man put
asunder." The Church believes that divorce violates
the sanctity of marriage and undermines the
permanence of the marital union.

39. Instead of divorce, the Church offers the
possibility of annulment, which declares that a
marriage was never valid in the first place due
to certain impediments, such as psychological
incapacity or fraud.
Challenges and Debates:
The Catholic Church's teachings on sexuality
have faced significant challenges in recent
decades.

40. The Church's opposition to contraception
and same-sex marriage has been met with
criticism from many, particularly in Western
societies where these issues are often
viewed through a more liberal lens. The
Church's stance on abortion has also been a
subject of intense debate, with many
arguing that women should have the right to
choose what happens to their own bodies.

41. Capital Punishment and Euthanasia: A Christian
Perspective
This essay explores the Christian perspective on
capital punishment and euthanasia, two controversial
practices that raise fundamental questions about the
sanctity of life, human agency, and God's role in
death. Both practices are viewed as morally
problematic within Christianity, largely due to the
central belief that life is a sacred gift from God and
should not be taken away by humans.

42. Capital Punishment: A Complex Issue
The Bible contains passages that refer to capital
punishment, particularly in the Old Testament,
where it was prescribed for various offenses.
However, the New Testament, particularly the
teachings of Jesus, emphasize forgiveness,
reconciliation, and the sanctity of all human life.
This has led to ongoing debate among Christians
about the morality of capital punishment in modern
society.

43. Some Christians argue that capital
punishment is justified in certain cases as a
deterrent to crime and a just consequence
for heinous acts. They point to passages like
Genesis 9:6, which states, "Whoever sheds
the blood of man, by man shall his blood be
shed; for God created man in his own
image." [4] They also cite Romans 13:1-2,
which emphasizes obedience to governing
authorities.

44. However, many Christians oppose capital
punishment, arguing that it violates the
sanctity of life and contradicts Jesus' teachings
on forgiveness and mercy. They point to Jesus's
encounter with the woman caught in adultery,
where he refused to condemn her despite the
law requiring her death. [4] They also argue
that the death penalty is irreversible, making it
impossible for the offender to seek forgiveness
and change their ways.

45. Euthanasia: A Moral Dilemma
Euthanasia, or mercy killing, presents a different moral
dilemma for Christians. While the sanctity of life is a
core principle, the issue of suffering and the right to
self-determination complicates the matter.The
Christian view on euthanasia is generally opposed,
based on the belief that life is a gift from God and that
humans should not interfere with the natural process
of death. Even in cases of extreme suffering, Christians
believe that life retains its inherent value and that God
can provide comfort and strength during difficult times.

46. Furthermore, Christians often emphasize
the spiritual significance of the period
before death, viewing it as a time for
reflection, reconciliation, and preparation
for the afterlife.They believe that
interrupting this natural process can
deprive individuals of this crucial time for
spiritual growth and potentially hinder
their relationship with God.

47. Thank
you !!