The document discusses the rise and spread of Christianity from a small sect within Judaism in the first century CE to a dominant world religion. It covers key figures in Christianity such as Paul, who established churches in major cities from the 1st-3rd centuries CE and Tertullian who viewed the church as a counter-kingdom to the Roman Empire. The document also discusses divisions within Christianity between Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions and how figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin shaped Protestantism.
The document discusses the history of Christianity from its founding by Jesus Christ in the 1st century CE through its spread and development, major events like the Protestant Reformation and Councils of the Church, and current topics such as ecumenism and relations with other world religions. It provides definitions of key Christian terms, outlines the major periods in Christianity's history, and examines differences between the Eastern and Western Churches as well as differences between Christian denominations. The document serves as an overview of the origins and evolution of Christianity over the past two millennia.
Major religions of the world: Christianity, Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Bo...JanuaryFernando
Christianity is one of the major religions in the world. It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament. There are three main branches of Christianity - Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy split in the 11th century, and Protestantism emerged during the 16th century Reformation, splitting from the Catholic Church. Baptists are a major Protestant denomination that believes in believer's baptism by immersion and rejection of infant baptism. They also emphasize biblical authority and the autonomy of local churches.
This document compares and contrasts traditional theology with liberation theology. Traditional theology focuses on sin as an individual act and salvation of the soul, while liberation theology sees sin as participating in unjust social structures and aims to save both souls and bodies by liberating the poor from oppression. It discusses key figures, locations, methods, and interpretations of salvation and the cross that differ between the two theological approaches.
I have made this pp form my class of history of the religion and the presentation was good so i decided to upload it it speaks about Catholicism Protestantism Anglicanism Orthodoxy Pentecostalism
The Second Great Awakening occurred between the 1790s-1840s and was characterized by emotional preaching that appealed to feelings rather than just the mind. It featured large camp meetings with preachers from different denominations and an emphasis on the imminent Second Coming of Christ and social transformation. As a result of this revival, Baptist and Methodist membership grew as they overtook other denominations, and new denominations such as AME and Mormons emerged.
The document discusses Christian witness in a postmodern world. It summarizes several resources that address this topic, including works by George Carey, Roger Lundin, Lieven Boeve, and David Smith. Some of the key themes discussed are finding new frontiers for witnessing, emphasizing service over power, and how to approach truth and interpretation in a postmodern context. The resources explore how Christianity can adapt to postmodernity while maintaining its core teachings, and how the church can engage in mission through dialogue, contextualization, and working for justice.
This document discusses the origins and beliefs of early Anabaptist groups from the 16th century Protestant Reformation. It describes the various factions that emerged, including Spiritualists, Revolutionary Anabaptists, and later peaceable Anabaptists. The key beliefs discussed include baptism of adult believers only, separation of church and state, pacifism, emphasis on discipleship and church discipline. Important early leaders mentioned are Thomas Muntzer, Caspar Schwenkfeld, Michael Sattler, Andreas Karlstadt, Menno Simons, Jakob Hutter, and Baltahasar Hubmaier.
The document provides an overview of major Christian doctrines, including:
- The inspiration of Scripture comes from God superintending human authors to compose the Bible without error.
- Key doctrines like the Trinity, deity of Christ, salvation, and last things are based on what is clearly stated in the Bible.
- Heresies and errors arose when people rejected what was written in Scripture and accepted their own revelations instead of what the apostles and prophets taught.
- Church councils helped formally define doctrines to protect the clear meaning of Scripture in response to heresies.
The document discusses the history of Christianity from its founding by Jesus Christ in the 1st century CE through its spread and development, major events like the Protestant Reformation and Councils of the Church, and current topics such as ecumenism and relations with other world religions. It provides definitions of key Christian terms, outlines the major periods in Christianity's history, and examines differences between the Eastern and Western Churches as well as differences between Christian denominations. The document serves as an overview of the origins and evolution of Christianity over the past two millennia.
Major religions of the world: Christianity, Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Bo...JanuaryFernando
Christianity is one of the major religions in the world. It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament. There are three main branches of Christianity - Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy split in the 11th century, and Protestantism emerged during the 16th century Reformation, splitting from the Catholic Church. Baptists are a major Protestant denomination that believes in believer's baptism by immersion and rejection of infant baptism. They also emphasize biblical authority and the autonomy of local churches.
This document compares and contrasts traditional theology with liberation theology. Traditional theology focuses on sin as an individual act and salvation of the soul, while liberation theology sees sin as participating in unjust social structures and aims to save both souls and bodies by liberating the poor from oppression. It discusses key figures, locations, methods, and interpretations of salvation and the cross that differ between the two theological approaches.
I have made this pp form my class of history of the religion and the presentation was good so i decided to upload it it speaks about Catholicism Protestantism Anglicanism Orthodoxy Pentecostalism
The Second Great Awakening occurred between the 1790s-1840s and was characterized by emotional preaching that appealed to feelings rather than just the mind. It featured large camp meetings with preachers from different denominations and an emphasis on the imminent Second Coming of Christ and social transformation. As a result of this revival, Baptist and Methodist membership grew as they overtook other denominations, and new denominations such as AME and Mormons emerged.
The document discusses Christian witness in a postmodern world. It summarizes several resources that address this topic, including works by George Carey, Roger Lundin, Lieven Boeve, and David Smith. Some of the key themes discussed are finding new frontiers for witnessing, emphasizing service over power, and how to approach truth and interpretation in a postmodern context. The resources explore how Christianity can adapt to postmodernity while maintaining its core teachings, and how the church can engage in mission through dialogue, contextualization, and working for justice.
This document discusses the origins and beliefs of early Anabaptist groups from the 16th century Protestant Reformation. It describes the various factions that emerged, including Spiritualists, Revolutionary Anabaptists, and later peaceable Anabaptists. The key beliefs discussed include baptism of adult believers only, separation of church and state, pacifism, emphasis on discipleship and church discipline. Important early leaders mentioned are Thomas Muntzer, Caspar Schwenkfeld, Michael Sattler, Andreas Karlstadt, Menno Simons, Jakob Hutter, and Baltahasar Hubmaier.
The document provides an overview of major Christian doctrines, including:
- The inspiration of Scripture comes from God superintending human authors to compose the Bible without error.
- Key doctrines like the Trinity, deity of Christ, salvation, and last things are based on what is clearly stated in the Bible.
- Heresies and errors arose when people rejected what was written in Scripture and accepted their own revelations instead of what the apostles and prophets taught.
- Church councils helped formally define doctrines to protect the clear meaning of Scripture in response to heresies.
The document provides information about different Christian denominations including Catholicism, Mormonism, Baptism, and Protestantism. It discusses their histories, key beliefs, structures, and how they exist in modern society. Catholicism is noted as the oldest form dating back 2000 years. Mormonism was founded in 19th century America. Baptists split into two groups in the 1600s with differing views on who Christ died for. Protestantism began with Martin Luther challenging Catholic Church doctrine in the 1500s.
5 challenges for mission and ministry from postmodern assumptionsjoshva raja john
This document discusses challenges and opportunities for Christian mission and ministry from a postmodern perspective. It outlines how postmodern assumptions have led to the end of the modern era and Christendom. New models of mission are emerging that focus on personal spirituality, community, social justice, and using various media. The document also notes potential weaknesses like lack of biblical reflection and holding personal views over doctrinal truths.
This document discusses new religious movements, sects, and cults. It provides definitions for each term. A new religious movement is a recent religious development that involves myths, rituals, beliefs and aims to offer salvation. It grows out of current trends within other organizations or society. Examples given are Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. A sect demands strict conformity and distances itself from larger society, while a cult is founded by a charismatic leader who remains the central focus, claims a new revelation, and demands high conformity, viewed with suspicion by others. Several new religious movements are described briefly, including their origins and beliefs.
Turning Points, chapter 13, Rise & Spread of Pentecostalismsandiferb
The document discusses the rise and spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century, beginning with Charles Parham's teachings on spiritual gifts in the 1890s and the Azusa Street Revival in 1906, which sparked the global Pentecostal movement, resulting in over 500 million Pentecostal and Charismatic believers by 2000 as the movement continued its rapid worldwide growth.
This document discusses different terms used to describe new religious movements, including cults, sects, denominations, and new religions. It provides context for the terms and explains how scholars use them. The document then summarizes the origins and beliefs of several American new religious movements from the 18th-19th centuries, including the Shakers, Oneida Community, Mormonism, and Millerites. It concludes by discussing some of the broader significance of new religious movements in American history in the context of religious freedom, revivalism, and challenges to mainstream faiths.
This document provides an overview of Christianity, covering its history, core beliefs and practices, structures, and regulations. It discusses Christianity's historical foundations in Jesus Christ and the development of its major branches. The core beliefs include the Trinity, creation, salvation, and eschatology. Key practices involve worship, sacraments, prayer, and festivals. Christianity is organized into churches, denominations, and hierarchical leadership structures, with internal regulations around membership and external relations with other faiths and societies.
The document discusses several new religious movements, including the Unification Church, Church of Scientology, Branch Davidians, and People's Temple. It notes that new religious movements typically rely on a unique revelation to an individual leader, develop in reaction to perceived issues with mainstream religions, and incorporate elements from established religions to gain legitimacy. The document provides brief overviews of the origins and beliefs of each mentioned movement.
This document discusses cults from several perspectives. It defines cults as religious groups that claim to be Christian but deny essential doctrines like the Trinity or deity of Jesus. Cults are growing due to fulfillment of Jesus' warnings, family breakdown, and church failure. They are characterized by false teachings on God and salvation, extra-biblical revelation, and mind-controlling methodologies that pose spiritual, psychological, and domestic dangers. Christians must know the Bible well to confront false teachings and protect others from deception.
Christianity began in Judea, which was controlled by the Roman Empire. Jesus Christ was born in Judea and taught a new form of Judaism emphasizing God's love. He had twelve apostles as disciples. Some Jews believed Jesus was the messiah, but Roman authorities had him crucified. Christians believe Jesus resurrected three days later and forgave sins, allowing people to reach heaven. The apostles spread Christianity despite persecution, and it grew until becoming the Roman Empire's official religion under Constantine. Christianity then diversified into branches like Catholicism and Protestantism.
This presentation gives an insight into various religious cults that exist in the world & concludes showing how Christians(born-again children of God) can resist them.
The document summarizes the development of early Christianity from the life of Jesus to the East-West Schism in 1054 CE. It discusses Jesus' disciples spreading the word and establishing an early Christian community. It then covers topics like the persecution of early Christians, leadership of the church under figures like Peter and Paul, the division from Judaism, Constantine's conversion, and the split between the Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Turning Point 5: The Coronation of Charlemagne (800)sandiferb
The coronation of Charlemagne markes on the decisive turning points in Church History as a symbol of the beginning of Christendom, a complex society that prevailed in medieval Europe for almost 800 years.
This document discusses Pietism, a 17th century Protestant Christian movement that emphasized living a life of personal devotion to God over formal religious observances. It arose in response to the dry formalism of Lutheran orthodoxy. Key figures like Philip Spener and August Francke promoted small group Bible study, social ministry, and a focus on conversion and sanctification. Pietism influenced later leaders like John Wesley and the Methodist movement. The Moravians under Nicholas von Zinzendorf also emphasized heartfelt faith and fellowship. Both Pietism and the Moravians promoted a hands-on, experiential form of Christianity.
This document summarizes Catholic reforms and orders in 16th century Spain and France. It discusses Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros and Queen Isabella's reforms in Spain, including monastic reforms and support for education. It also describes the founding of new Catholic orders like the Discalced Carmelites by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and the Society of Jesus by Ignatius Loyola. Finally, it outlines the decisions of the Council of Trent to strengthen the Catholic church, and policies like the Inquisition and Index to promote orthodoxy.
Unitarianism is not a cult. [1] A cult claims to possess complete truth and makes hostile remarks about other religions, whereas Unitarianism is inclusive of all beliefs. [2] A cult pays unhealthy homage to founders and leaders, but Unitarianism does not elevate any individuals. [3] A cult replaces members' own beliefs or excludes those who don't conform, while Unitarianism is non-doctrinal and leaves no one out. [4] Though some Christian churches view Unitarianism as a cult, it meets none of the criteria for being a cult itself.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, Christianity developed and spread in the following ways:
The Council of Nicea in 325 AD established the basic tenets of Christianity. Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople and missionaries spread Christianity throughout Europe. Emperor Justinian constructed churches throughout the Byzantine Empire, showing the close connection between church and state. The Church grew powerful in Medieval Europe and became a central, unifying force as Charlemagne was crowned emperor by the Pope. However, a Great Schism in 1054 AD divided Christianity into Western Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
This document provides an overview and analysis of the 2008 documentary film "Religulous" directed by Bill Maher. The film interviews various religious adherents and uses humor and rhetoric to argue that religious beliefs often seem nonsensical and may arise from neuroticism. It highlights perceived contradictions in religious texts and a lack of evidence for some core tenets. The document examines many challenges the film raises regarding religious doctrines, organizations, and the relationship between faith and society.
The document provides background information on the origins of different branches of Christianity. It discusses that prior to the Reformation in the 1500s, all Christians were Roman Catholic. It then summarizes key events and figures in the Protestant Reformation, including Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses criticizing the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences in 1517. This sparked the Reformation as Luther's ideas spread widely through the new printing press and gained support, leading to his excommunication from the Catholic Church and the emergence of new Protestant denominations like Lutheranism.
2 the catholic church background and overviewfasteddie
The document discusses the history and structure of Christianity and the Catholic Church. It describes how Christianity split into the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox branches. It outlines the Catholic Church's hierarchical structure headed by the Pope, and key events like the Great Schism of 1054 which divided Western and Eastern Christianity.
The Forum Online Event: The Incoherent Notion of “Tolerant” Indifference Appl...Third Column Ministries
Guest Bruce Boeckel with Evidence for Christ
The demand for “tolerance” in today’s society is an item in an ideological programme rather than an actual commitment to accept or at least consider new and different ideas. In addition, the demand for “tolerance” makes little sense when that demand is made of a monotheistic religion committed to the truth of an exclusive divine revelation. In other words, for historic and orthodox Christians, the demand that we be “tolerant” reveals that those making the demand either understand nothing about Christianity or that they do understand and demand that we stop being Bible-believing Christians. This is the incoherence of contemporary “tolerance”: I demand that you stop believing what you believe, that you stop acting according to your beliefs, then I congratulate myself on how “tolerant” I am of those whose beliefs differ from mine. We will look at this incoherent demand for “tolerance” both in present-day academia (including religious studies) and in the European Enlightenment of the 18th century, the period in which demands for “tolerance” first emerged in Western society and when “ideology” first appeared as a word and as a socio-political programme. As a result of this presentation, you will know more about the history and dynamics of “tolerance” than do 95% of those who throw the word around — most of whom know nothing of this history and haven’t spent a single minute thinking critically about a concept that they pretend to understand.
The document discusses several major world religions including:
- Monotheistic religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism which believe in one God.
- Polytheistic religions like Hinduism which believe in multiple gods and goddesses.
- Other religious/philosophical beliefs and movements mentioned include Buddhism, animism, deism, panentheism, and Babism.
The document provides information about different Christian denominations including Catholicism, Mormonism, Baptism, and Protestantism. It discusses their histories, key beliefs, structures, and how they exist in modern society. Catholicism is noted as the oldest form dating back 2000 years. Mormonism was founded in 19th century America. Baptists split into two groups in the 1600s with differing views on who Christ died for. Protestantism began with Martin Luther challenging Catholic Church doctrine in the 1500s.
5 challenges for mission and ministry from postmodern assumptionsjoshva raja john
This document discusses challenges and opportunities for Christian mission and ministry from a postmodern perspective. It outlines how postmodern assumptions have led to the end of the modern era and Christendom. New models of mission are emerging that focus on personal spirituality, community, social justice, and using various media. The document also notes potential weaknesses like lack of biblical reflection and holding personal views over doctrinal truths.
This document discusses new religious movements, sects, and cults. It provides definitions for each term. A new religious movement is a recent religious development that involves myths, rituals, beliefs and aims to offer salvation. It grows out of current trends within other organizations or society. Examples given are Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses. A sect demands strict conformity and distances itself from larger society, while a cult is founded by a charismatic leader who remains the central focus, claims a new revelation, and demands high conformity, viewed with suspicion by others. Several new religious movements are described briefly, including their origins and beliefs.
Turning Points, chapter 13, Rise & Spread of Pentecostalismsandiferb
The document discusses the rise and spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century, beginning with Charles Parham's teachings on spiritual gifts in the 1890s and the Azusa Street Revival in 1906, which sparked the global Pentecostal movement, resulting in over 500 million Pentecostal and Charismatic believers by 2000 as the movement continued its rapid worldwide growth.
This document discusses different terms used to describe new religious movements, including cults, sects, denominations, and new religions. It provides context for the terms and explains how scholars use them. The document then summarizes the origins and beliefs of several American new religious movements from the 18th-19th centuries, including the Shakers, Oneida Community, Mormonism, and Millerites. It concludes by discussing some of the broader significance of new religious movements in American history in the context of religious freedom, revivalism, and challenges to mainstream faiths.
This document provides an overview of Christianity, covering its history, core beliefs and practices, structures, and regulations. It discusses Christianity's historical foundations in Jesus Christ and the development of its major branches. The core beliefs include the Trinity, creation, salvation, and eschatology. Key practices involve worship, sacraments, prayer, and festivals. Christianity is organized into churches, denominations, and hierarchical leadership structures, with internal regulations around membership and external relations with other faiths and societies.
The document discusses several new religious movements, including the Unification Church, Church of Scientology, Branch Davidians, and People's Temple. It notes that new religious movements typically rely on a unique revelation to an individual leader, develop in reaction to perceived issues with mainstream religions, and incorporate elements from established religions to gain legitimacy. The document provides brief overviews of the origins and beliefs of each mentioned movement.
This document discusses cults from several perspectives. It defines cults as religious groups that claim to be Christian but deny essential doctrines like the Trinity or deity of Jesus. Cults are growing due to fulfillment of Jesus' warnings, family breakdown, and church failure. They are characterized by false teachings on God and salvation, extra-biblical revelation, and mind-controlling methodologies that pose spiritual, psychological, and domestic dangers. Christians must know the Bible well to confront false teachings and protect others from deception.
Christianity began in Judea, which was controlled by the Roman Empire. Jesus Christ was born in Judea and taught a new form of Judaism emphasizing God's love. He had twelve apostles as disciples. Some Jews believed Jesus was the messiah, but Roman authorities had him crucified. Christians believe Jesus resurrected three days later and forgave sins, allowing people to reach heaven. The apostles spread Christianity despite persecution, and it grew until becoming the Roman Empire's official religion under Constantine. Christianity then diversified into branches like Catholicism and Protestantism.
This presentation gives an insight into various religious cults that exist in the world & concludes showing how Christians(born-again children of God) can resist them.
The document summarizes the development of early Christianity from the life of Jesus to the East-West Schism in 1054 CE. It discusses Jesus' disciples spreading the word and establishing an early Christian community. It then covers topics like the persecution of early Christians, leadership of the church under figures like Peter and Paul, the division from Judaism, Constantine's conversion, and the split between the Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Turning Point 5: The Coronation of Charlemagne (800)sandiferb
The coronation of Charlemagne markes on the decisive turning points in Church History as a symbol of the beginning of Christendom, a complex society that prevailed in medieval Europe for almost 800 years.
This document discusses Pietism, a 17th century Protestant Christian movement that emphasized living a life of personal devotion to God over formal religious observances. It arose in response to the dry formalism of Lutheran orthodoxy. Key figures like Philip Spener and August Francke promoted small group Bible study, social ministry, and a focus on conversion and sanctification. Pietism influenced later leaders like John Wesley and the Methodist movement. The Moravians under Nicholas von Zinzendorf also emphasized heartfelt faith and fellowship. Both Pietism and the Moravians promoted a hands-on, experiential form of Christianity.
This document summarizes Catholic reforms and orders in 16th century Spain and France. It discusses Francisco Jimenez de Cisneros and Queen Isabella's reforms in Spain, including monastic reforms and support for education. It also describes the founding of new Catholic orders like the Discalced Carmelites by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, and the Society of Jesus by Ignatius Loyola. Finally, it outlines the decisions of the Council of Trent to strengthen the Catholic church, and policies like the Inquisition and Index to promote orthodoxy.
Unitarianism is not a cult. [1] A cult claims to possess complete truth and makes hostile remarks about other religions, whereas Unitarianism is inclusive of all beliefs. [2] A cult pays unhealthy homage to founders and leaders, but Unitarianism does not elevate any individuals. [3] A cult replaces members' own beliefs or excludes those who don't conform, while Unitarianism is non-doctrinal and leaves no one out. [4] Though some Christian churches view Unitarianism as a cult, it meets none of the criteria for being a cult itself.
During the Middle Ages in Europe, Christianity developed and spread in the following ways:
The Council of Nicea in 325 AD established the basic tenets of Christianity. Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople and missionaries spread Christianity throughout Europe. Emperor Justinian constructed churches throughout the Byzantine Empire, showing the close connection between church and state. The Church grew powerful in Medieval Europe and became a central, unifying force as Charlemagne was crowned emperor by the Pope. However, a Great Schism in 1054 AD divided Christianity into Western Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.
This document provides an overview and analysis of the 2008 documentary film "Religulous" directed by Bill Maher. The film interviews various religious adherents and uses humor and rhetoric to argue that religious beliefs often seem nonsensical and may arise from neuroticism. It highlights perceived contradictions in religious texts and a lack of evidence for some core tenets. The document examines many challenges the film raises regarding religious doctrines, organizations, and the relationship between faith and society.
The document provides background information on the origins of different branches of Christianity. It discusses that prior to the Reformation in the 1500s, all Christians were Roman Catholic. It then summarizes key events and figures in the Protestant Reformation, including Martin Luther posting his 95 Theses criticizing the Catholic Church's sale of indulgences in 1517. This sparked the Reformation as Luther's ideas spread widely through the new printing press and gained support, leading to his excommunication from the Catholic Church and the emergence of new Protestant denominations like Lutheranism.
2 the catholic church background and overviewfasteddie
The document discusses the history and structure of Christianity and the Catholic Church. It describes how Christianity split into the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox branches. It outlines the Catholic Church's hierarchical structure headed by the Pope, and key events like the Great Schism of 1054 which divided Western and Eastern Christianity.
The Forum Online Event: The Incoherent Notion of “Tolerant” Indifference Appl...Third Column Ministries
Guest Bruce Boeckel with Evidence for Christ
The demand for “tolerance” in today’s society is an item in an ideological programme rather than an actual commitment to accept or at least consider new and different ideas. In addition, the demand for “tolerance” makes little sense when that demand is made of a monotheistic religion committed to the truth of an exclusive divine revelation. In other words, for historic and orthodox Christians, the demand that we be “tolerant” reveals that those making the demand either understand nothing about Christianity or that they do understand and demand that we stop being Bible-believing Christians. This is the incoherence of contemporary “tolerance”: I demand that you stop believing what you believe, that you stop acting according to your beliefs, then I congratulate myself on how “tolerant” I am of those whose beliefs differ from mine. We will look at this incoherent demand for “tolerance” both in present-day academia (including religious studies) and in the European Enlightenment of the 18th century, the period in which demands for “tolerance” first emerged in Western society and when “ideology” first appeared as a word and as a socio-political programme. As a result of this presentation, you will know more about the history and dynamics of “tolerance” than do 95% of those who throw the word around — most of whom know nothing of this history and haven’t spent a single minute thinking critically about a concept that they pretend to understand.
The document discusses several major world religions including:
- Monotheistic religions like Christianity, Islam, and Judaism which believe in one God.
- Polytheistic religions like Hinduism which believe in multiple gods and goddesses.
- Other religious/philosophical beliefs and movements mentioned include Buddhism, animism, deism, panentheism, and Babism.
Rodney Stark’s Rise of Christianity – a summaryJamie Wood
This document provides a summary of chapters from Rodney Stark's book "The Rise of Christianity" which examines the class basis and social networks that contributed to the early success and growth of Christianity. It discusses how Christianity's mission to Jews, response to epidemics through charity networks, and organization in urban areas like Antioch helped conversion despite crisis and chaos.
This document provides an overview of sociology as an academic discipline. It defines sociology as the scientific study of human social behavior and groups. Key aspects discussed include the sociological perspective of seeing humans as social beings shaped by social structures and culture. The document traces the history and development of sociology from early social philosophers like Comte and Spencer to founders like Durkheim who established it as a scientific discipline through empirical study of social facts and statistics.
The document provides information about world religions, including their origins, characteristics, and similarities and differences. It discusses how religion involves belief in supernatural powers, and how all religions celebrate a sense of the sacred. It outlines the basic elements of wisdom/creed, worship/cult, and works/code that characterize religions. The document also summarizes the history, beliefs, and practices of Judaism, including its sacred texts, prayers, and synagogue worship.
Hinduism was established in India in 1500 BCE, featuring texts like the Vedas and a caste system. The Upanishads taught concepts like samsara, karma, and moksha. Siddhartha Gautama was born in 480 BCE and discovered suffering through encountering old age, disease, and death. He attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, spreading his teachings of the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path through India and Asia. Buddhism is considered both a philosophy and religion by some definitions and focuses on meditation, wisdom, and compassion rather than faith or gods.
This document provides an overview of many of the major religions of the world. It discusses the origins and basic beliefs of religions that began in Southwest Asia like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It also examines Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and how ancestor worship was incorporated into religions in Asia. The largest religions today are Christianity with 2.2 billion followers, Islam with 1.3 billion followers, and Hinduism with over 900 million followers.
This document discusses terrorism, including definitions, types, causes, methods, and prevention. It defines terrorism as the unlawful use of violence or threats to intimidate for political goals. The types discussed are national, international, state, bio, cyber, eco, nuclear, and narco terrorism. Causes mentioned include injustice, politicians, poverty, illiteracy, media influence, and religion. Methods listed are firearms, explosives, chemicals, biology, and nuclear weapons. Prevention is broken down into primary (education), secondary (surveillance, protection) and tertiary (early detection, rescue, support) levels.
God save me! The North American Christian FundamentalismYury Fontão
The work was presented in a discipline in the course of
International Relations, aiming to demonstrate the main thinkers and theological currents that underlie Christian Fundamentalism in the United States of America.
I hope you like it, good reading everyone!
Philosophy and theology terms dante vocabulary colorizedgibb0
This document defines and briefly describes various philosophical, theological, and religious terms. Some key terms summarized are:
Philosophy is defined as the love and pursuit of wisdom through intellectual means and moral self-discipline. Theology is the study of the nature of God and religious truth. Catholicism pertains to the universal Christian church or the ancient, undivided Christian church. Protestantism refers to Christians who seceded from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation. Buddhism is the doctrine attributed to Gautama Buddha that suffering comes from existence but can be overcome through enlightenment.
Christianity originated with the teachings of Jesus Christ, who lived in Israel around 2000 years ago and is believed by Christians to be the Messiah. It later developed into three major divisions - Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism, which have some differences in beliefs, practices, and authority structures but are united in their core beliefs about Jesus. The document provides details on the origins and spread of Christianity, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and the differences between the three major branches of modern Christianity.
Contrast the Protestant and Catholic Reformations related to actua.docxdickonsondorris
Contrast the Protestant and Catholic Reformations related to actual reforms within each religious tradition.
BF
The Protestant Reformation started in the early sixteenth century. The reformation stemmed from people who wanted to challenge the higher power in the Roman Catholic church. Martian Luther started the movement when he disagreed with the religious rules that was created in the Roman Catholic Church. When it came to the bible, Protestants and Catholics had very different understandings. “Justification by faith alone” became the stem of Protestant beliefs (Bentley, Ziegler, Streets-Salter, p. 509).
Catholic reformation was partly created to respond back to the Protestant reformation. Since the Protestant reformation happened, the Catholics wanted to gain back the people they had lost. The Council of Trent and The Society of Jesus were a big help in the Catholic reformation. The council requested that the higher power follow firm moral rules. Which caused them to be in training, so that they could do their responsibilities properly. People of the Society of Jesus were called Jesuits. St. Ignatius Loyola founded the society and made sure the Jesuits were well educated. They were excellent missionaries and retained a great reputation. Jesuits were often counselors to both kings and rulers, which they used to gain influence on policies.
JLA
Through the high middle ages Christianity guided Europe through many matters ranging from religion to ethics. however in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries there were many revolts that were launched against the Roman Catholic Church which shattered a lot of the religious unity throughout Western Europe.
The Catholics and Protestants had major disagreements which stemmed from the interpretation or understanding and the authority of the Bible. It was the belief of the Protestants that the authority of the Pope and the Priests of the Roman Catholic Church were not necessary and that all they needed was Faith alone to be saved. This was the Core of the Protestant beliefs and were widely received by the masses and found much success.
The Reformation of the Catholic Church was in response to the success of the Protestants and to be able to regain much of the followers they had lost. In doing so they made an effort to be able to clarify the difference between the two denominations and even consulted and abide by the council of Trent and the Society of Jesus Christ.
Reference:
Bentley, J. H., Ziegler, H. F., & Streets-Salter, H. (2015). Traditions & encounters: a global perspective on the past. Boston: McGraw Hill.
.
This document discusses several topics related to religion from a sociological perspective. It begins by outlining Troeltsch's typology of religious organizations as ecclesia, church, sect, and cult. It then discusses trends in religion in the United States, noting the diversity of denominations and the civil religious aspects. The document also examines different perspectives on the relationship between religion and society, and debates whether religion serves to unite or divide societies.
This document provides diagnoses of the Catholic Church from historians, sociologists, psychologists, feminists and theologians. It discusses issues like clericalism, lack of reform, complicity with political powers, dysfunctional behaviors and exclusion of women. The marks of the church - oneness, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity - are also analyzed critically in light of these issues rather than being used to assert the church's perfection.
This document provides an overview of religion from several perspectives:
1. It defines religion and key religious concepts like sacred, profane, faith, and ritual.
2. It outlines three sociological approaches to analyzing religion: structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and social conflict theory.
3. It discusses several world religions - Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism - and compares religious practices between Eastern and Western traditions.
PHILOSOPHY 1304 INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONSwanguikamau8
DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545)
Rejected the Teachings of the Protestant Reformation
Catholic Doctrine co-equal with Scripture
Declared Latin Vulgate to be the true sacred canon and affirming the books included in the Canon
Restricted the printing of religious materials that were not approved by the Church
Only Catholic Church could interpret Scripture
Affirmed Seven Sacraments Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick), Marriage, Holy Orders
Recognized the Pope as Vicar of Christ on earth, thus increasing the power of the Pope in the Church at the expense of the Councils
Affirmed veneration of Saints and icons,
Corrected many abuses of indulgences and addressed problems of morality in the Church and clergy
Founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) Ignatius Loyola (d 1556,) Francis Xavier, famous Jesuit
Religion has always played an important role in American history and culture. The majority of early European settlers were Protestant Christians from England, and Protestant values had a strong influence on the development of American society. While the US has separation of church and state, religion remains intertwined with politics. Today, around 70% of Americans identify as Christian, with the largest denominations being Protestant (50%) and Catholic (24%).
This document provides an overview of religion from a sociological perspective. It defines religion and discusses its universal nature and influence. Religion is interwoven with social, economic, and political life. The sociological study of religion focuses on its structure, organization, and role in society. Various religious structures like churches, sects, denominations and cults are described. The functions and dysfunctions of religion for individuals and society are outlined. The document also discusses folk Catholicism, faith healing, occult practices, and the separation of church and state in the Philippines.
This document provides an overview of religion from a sociological perspective. It defines religion and discusses its universal nature and influence. Religion is interwoven with social, economic, and political life. The sociological study of religion focuses on its structure, organization, and role in society. Various religious structures like churches, sects, denominations and cults are described. The functions and dysfunctions of religion for individuals and society are outlined. The document also discusses folk Catholicism, faith healing, occult practices, and the separation of church and state in the Philippines.
Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers criticized the Roman Catholic Church for doctrines and practices they saw as contradicting biblical teachings. Luther argued that salvation came through faith alone rather than good works. The accessibility of the Bible to the common person through translations and the printing press allowed for new interpretations of Scripture outside of the Church. This led to the emergence of Protestantism with different denominations. The Catholic Church responded by incorporating reforms to address Protestant criticisms.
This document provides information about different religions in the Philippines, including Buddhism, Mormonism, Iglesia ni Cristo, Jehovah's Witnesses, Rizalista, Born Again Christian, and Atheism. It discusses their core beliefs and origins. For example, it states that Buddhism focuses on spiritual development and enlightenment, while Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in New York and emphasizes traditional family life.
This document provides an overview of Christianity. It begins with a review of Judaism and then examines Christianity in more detail. Some key points covered include: Christianity's origins and teachings are based on Jesus Christ; it is one of the largest religions in the world with over 2 billion followers; core beliefs include monotheism and the Holy Trinity; and important figures, texts, holidays, and doctrines are discussed such as priests, the Bible, Easter, and the Ten Commandments. The document also explores the history of Christianity's divisions and selected issues like sexuality, family/divorce, and capital punishment.
The document discusses the proliferation of Pentecostalism in Cameroon. It provides background on Pentecostal beliefs and examines reasons for its spread in Buea, including its distinctive doctrines. The summary analyzes the proliferation through several anthropological theories: evolutionalism explains how religions change over time in response to the environment. Diffusionism notes how Pentecostalism diffused rapidly through new media. Functionalism and structural functionalism view religions as filling social roles and shaping society. Finally, politics also influence the growth as governments regulate religious authorization.
The Protestant Reformation began in the 16th century with Calvin and other reformers and reshaped Christianity. It emphasized justification by faith, Scripture as the sole religious authority, and a less hierarchical church structure. Calvin argued that all vocations could be used to serve God, not just religious offices. His teachings helped shaped a new conception of the independent, responsible individual bearing the image of God. This empowered people to disobey religious authorities and rebel against tyrants, spreading Reformed ideals across Europe and eventually to North America to establish new societies.
This document discusses several key topics related to the sociology of religion:
1) It defines religiosity and the different ways people can express or experience religion.
2) It outlines Ernst Troeltsch's typology of religious organizations as ecclesia, church, sect, and cult. It then describes the characteristics of each type.
3) It discusses some of the major theoretical perspectives in sociology on how religion affects society and individuals, such as the functionalist, conflict theory, and rational choice perspectives. Religion can both unite and divide society.
This document discusses sociological perspectives on religion. It covers topics like defining religiosity, types of religious organizations, trends in religion in the US, and how religion affects both individuals and society. It also explores theoretical perspectives on the functions and dysfunctions of religion from a sociological standpoint.
The document discusses various topics related to religion including Yoruba religion and its syncretism with Catholicism in Cuba forming Santería. It also compares Sikhism and Catholicism, discussing their worship practices and histories. Various religious sites in Berkeley are listed including the First Presbyterian Church, Newman Catholic Church, and Berkeley Buddhist Temple. The document then shifts to discussing the Holy Spirit and how to feel its presence through speaking in tongues. It provides biblical references. Finally, it covers slam poetry and the Berkeley Poetry Slam, analyzing it through Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of the sacred.
Confucius was a Chinese philosopher who lived from 551-479 BCE and whose teachings formed the foundation of Confucianism. He believed that social harmony could be achieved through personal and governmental morality, justice, and family loyalty. The Analects contain his teachings which emphasize virtues like propriety, righteousness, and filial piety. Daoism emerged in the 4th century BCE teaching that order emerges from chaos and humanity should follow the natural order of 'the way' or Dao through non-action (wu wei) and acceptance of change. Confucianism and Daoism differed in their views on order versus change and propriety versus spontaneity but both shaped Chinese philosophy and culture.
The document provides an overview of key concepts in Buddhism, including the story of Buddha's life, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and concepts of suffering, no-self, and rebirth. It discusses how Buddha was inspired to leave his life as a prince and become an ascetic after witnessing old age, sickness, death, and an ascetic. It then explains his teachings on the cessation of suffering and the path to achieve nirvana.
The document discusses different types of traditional and modern dances from around the world, including their cultural significance and origins. It describes dances like the legong dance of Bali, which is performed by trained young women, and Kecak, a Balinese musical drama. It also covers topics like dance as a form of religious worship, gender expression, cultural identity, and how dances can fuse cultural influences or represent modern choreography.
The document discusses religious diversity in America, explaining that several factors contributed to its development. It notes that the separation of church and state meant religious groups had to promote themselves without government support. It also says religion helped preserve cultural identities for immigrants and provided a sense of community. The document then discusses some of the major religious groups that were present in colonial America, including Puritans, Catholics, Baptists, Quakers, and others.
1. The document discusses the origins and early history of Christianity from the time of Jesus through the establishment of churches in the 1st and 2nd centuries.
2. It describes Jesus as a Jewish prophet and religious leader who was executed under Roman authority but whose followers believed he was resurrected.
3. Christianity rapidly established communities across the Roman Empire and the New Testament, comprised of writings from the 1st century, became the foundational text for the emerging religion.
This document discusses rites of passage, which are transitional rituals that mark changes in a person's life stages. It provides examples of religious, secular, and underground rites from various cultures around the world. The document also summarizes models of rites of passage from anthropologists van Gennep and Lincoln, noting stages of separation, transition, and incorporation/emergence. Case studies are presented on Apache girls' initiation rituals and Amish Rumspringa.
The document discusses various types of narratives and stories. It defines a narrative as a sequence of connected events typically involving humans or sentient beings. Stories are said to involve at least one central character moving toward a goal. Different types of stories are also discussed, including myths, legends, and folktales, which often involve supernatural elements and serve to explain cultural beliefs.
The document discusses several key aspects of language and linguistics, including:
1. It defines language as a complex biological tool used by humans to communicate through organized systems of symbols and rules.
2. It examines some key design features of human language, including duality of patterning, displacement, open-endedness, stimulus-freedom, and arbitrariness.
3. It discusses differences between human and animal communication, focusing on the human vocal tract and genes like FOXP2 that enable the complexities of human speech.
The document provides an overview of the origins and foundations of Judaism through its history. It discusses how Judaism emerged from the patriarchal family of Abraham in 2000-1500 BCE and the key defining moments of the Exodus from Egypt under Moses and receiving the Ten Commandments. It also summarizes the periods of exile and return, the development of prophets and scripture, and continuing traditions up to present times.
Between 800 and 200 BCE, major religious and philosophical traditions emerged independently across Asia and the Mediterranean. These included Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Greek philosophy, and the prophets of Israel. This period saw increasing urbanization, political turmoil, and new concerns about morality and the afterlife. Major thinkers from this time established foundations for understanding humanity and its relationship with the cosmos that still influence many cultures today.
The document discusses the emergence of agriculture and civilization in ancient Mesopotamia from 4000 BCE to 2350 BCE. It describes the major periods of the Uruk Period, Jemdat Nasr Period, and Early Dynastic Period. During these periods, settlements increased in number, temples and public buildings became more elaborate, and systems of accounting, representations of authority, and mass production of goods emerged. Religion and kings played an important role in early Mesopotamian societies.
The document discusses the emergence of divine kingship in archaic religions. It provides context on Hawaiian mythology and the role of gods like Ku, Lono, Kane, and Kanaloa. It also examines characteristics of archaic religions like the Makahiki festival rituals, and how chiefdoms transitioned to divine kingship through centralized political control, formalized temple systems, and the king being viewed as an instantiation of the gods on Earth with specialized residences.
The document provides an overview of the evolution of religious systems, beginning with indigenous or tribal religions. It discusses 5 types of spirits found in tribal religions: elemental spirits, puppeteer spirits, organic spirits, ancestral spirits, and the high god. It then provides examples of religious practices and beliefs among various indigenous groups, including the Kalapalo people of Brazil, the Walbiri people of Australia, and Navajo traditions. Key concepts discussed include djugurba (Walbiri dreaming), hozho (Navajo harmony), and rituals/ceremonies like the Sun Dance and Blessingway.
The document provides an overview of music from around the world and discusses how to analyze different musical forms and genres. It explores various elements of music like pitch, rhythm, tempo, and tone. Specific musical examples are given to analyze, like Vedic chanting, barbetuques, jazz, and hip hop. Electronic music is also introduced. Students are prompted to listen to and discuss the musical clips to understand different musical traditions and how technology has shaped new forms of electronic music.
This document outlines the requirements for a 2000-word ethnographic project on vernacular religious events. Students must attend two different religious or sacred events lasting about an hour each. They then analyze and compare the events using seven dimensions of religion or approaches to performance events. Drafts are due on October 24th/25th and the final paper is due November 18th. The document provides sample religions and events that could be compared, and questions to consider under each analytical dimension. Students are encouraged to create a mind map to plan their project.
The document provides an overview of key concepts in Hinduism, including:
1) Hinduism is not a single tradition but a diverse set of traditions and philosophies that developed in India over millennia and were given the label "Hinduism" by outsiders.
2) Core doctrines include samsara (cycle of rebirth), karma (law of cause and effect), moksha (liberation from samsara), and concepts like dharma, Brahman, and atman.
3) Ritual practices are an important part of Hinduism and include pilgrimages, festivals, and rituals centered around sacred sites and figures like the Ganges river.
The document discusses signs and meaning in social protest movements through semiotics. It introduces key concepts like sign, representation, and semiotics. It analyzes how meaning is constructed and interpreted through signs like graffiti, which are perceived differently by different groups. The document uses examples from a film on graffiti artists and debates on whether graffiti is a form of artistic expression to illustrate how semiotics studies the creation and interpretation of signs in social contexts.
1. The document discusses different types of spaces and places, including formal, functional, and vernacular cultural regions as well as public, private, online, and confined spaces.
2. It also examines concepts like ghettos and gated communities, noting that while ghettos forcibly segregated and controlled groups, gated communities are voluntary enclaves that provide security and seclusion.
3. Maps are discussed as both physical guides but also ideological distortions that shape understandings of space and culture.
1. The document is an excerpt from a textbook about Islam that provides background information on the religion, including its core beliefs, history, and spread around the world.
2. It discusses the life of Muhammad and the origins of Islam, covering events like Muhammad's first revelations and the migration to Medina.
3. The text also outlines some key Islamic concepts like the Five Pillars, the Quran, and the subsequent expansion of the Islamic empire and caliphates over the centuries.
Main Java[All of the Base Concepts}.docxadhitya5119
This is part 1 of my Java Learning Journey. This Contains Custom methods, classes, constructors, packages, multithreading , try- catch block, finally block and more.
Macroeconomics- Movie Location
This will be used as part of your Personal Professional Portfolio once graded.
Objective:
Prepare a presentation or a paper using research, basic comparative analysis, data organization and application of economic information. You will make an informed assessment of an economic climate outside of the United States to accomplish an entertainment industry objective.
A workshop hosted by the South African Journal of Science aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers with little or no experience in writing and publishing journal articles.
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
Let’s explore the intersection of technology and equity in the final session of our DEI series. Discover how AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to support and enhance your nonprofit's DEI initiatives. Participants will gain insights into practical AI applications and get tips for leveraging technology to advance their DEI goals.
Thinking of getting a dog? Be aware that breeds like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds can be loyal and dangerous. Proper training and socialization are crucial to preventing aggressive behaviors. Ensure safety by understanding their needs and always supervising interactions. Stay safe, and enjoy your furry friends!
বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক সমীক্ষা ২০২৪ [Bangladesh Economic Review 2024 Bangla.pdf] কম্পিউটার , ট্যাব ও স্মার্ট ফোন ভার্সন সহ সম্পূর্ণ বাংলা ই-বুক বা pdf বই " সুচিপত্র ...বুকমার্ক মেনু 🔖 ও হাইপার লিংক মেনু 📝👆 যুক্ত ..
আমাদের সবার জন্য খুব খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ একটি বই ..বিসিএস, ব্যাংক, ইউনিভার্সিটি ভর্তি ও যে কোন প্রতিযোগিতা মূলক পরীক্ষার জন্য এর খুব ইম্পরট্যান্ট একটি বিষয় ...তাছাড়া বাংলাদেশের সাম্প্রতিক যে কোন ডাটা বা তথ্য এই বইতে পাবেন ...
তাই একজন নাগরিক হিসাবে এই তথ্য গুলো আপনার জানা প্রয়োজন ...।
বিসিএস ও ব্যাংক এর লিখিত পরীক্ষা ...+এছাড়া মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিকের স্টুডেন্টদের জন্য অনেক কাজে আসবে ...
MATATAG CURRICULUM: ASSESSING THE READINESS OF ELEM. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS I...NelTorrente
In this research, it concludes that while the readiness of teachers in Caloocan City to implement the MATATAG Curriculum is generally positive, targeted efforts in professional development, resource distribution, support networks, and comprehensive preparation can address the existing gaps and ensure successful curriculum implementation.
Strategies for Effective Upskilling is a presentation by Chinwendu Peace in a Your Skill Boost Masterclass organisation by the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan on 08th and 09th June 2024 from 1 PM to 3 PM on each day.
it describes the bony anatomy including the femoral head , acetabulum, labrum . also discusses the capsule , ligaments . muscle that act on the hip joint and the range of motion are outlined. factors affecting hip joint stability and weight transmission through the joint are summarized.
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
3. SOURCE: Luke Timothy Johnson. The Resurrection is the basis for Christianity becoming a worldwide religion rather than a sect within Judaism. RECALL
4.
5. SOURCE : Rodney Stark. The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force. (HarperOne, 1997). The Rise of Christianity 2. People are willing to adopt a new religion to the extent that it retains cultural continuity with conventional religion.
6. SOURCE : Rodney Stark. The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force. (HarperOne, 1997). The Rise of Christianity 3. Social movements grow much faster when they spread through preexisting social networks.
7. SOURCE : Rodney Stark. The Rise of Christianity: How the Obscure, Marginal, Jesus Movement Became the Dominant Religious Force. (HarperOne, 1997). The Rise of Christianity Religions supplies “compensators” or rewards that are scarce or unavailable.
8. The Rise of Christianity Religions provide a symbolic form of attachment that stands in for both conscience and community.
9. Why was Christian monotheism so powerful as a belief system? Omniscience and omnipresence of God represents a private and public form of sacred inclusion.
10. Historical Context Paul (originally Saul) of Tarsus (modern Turkey) converted to Christianity.
13. Paul and the Spread of Christianity He went on numerous missionary expeditions, setting up Christian churches in major urban areas in Cilicia, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia (modern Turkey and Greece).
14. Paul and the Spread of Christianity He help convert former pagans to belief in the one God of the Jews and Jesus, his Son, whose death brought salvation.
18. The Problem of Categorizing Religions church : a tradition which has been significantly integrated in society through the process of institutionalization (organizations, politics, etc.)
19.
20. The Problem of Categorizing Religions sect : a group that has separated from an established church or religious tradition in protest in order to maintain a distinct sense of “purity” or “truth”
21. The Problem of Categorizing Religions cult : a derogatory term often used to categorize extreme religious groups; these groups tend to have a powerful leader that bounds or restricts choice among its members
22. The Problem of Categorizing Religions All of these categories are ideal types that attempt to characterize how religious groups maintain their sense of community over time.
23. The Problem of Categorizing Religions At the same time, these are scholarly attempts to describe the ever-changing dynamics of new religious groups and practices.
24. Beware! These categories are often used to portray religious groups in certain (positive or negative) light.
33. Protestant Christianity The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period.
C. In the context of a deeply divided 1st-century Judaism, Jesus met conflict with Jewish leaders and was executed by crucifixion under Roman authority. III. Christianity is born as a religion centered on the revelation of God in Jesus Christ through the resurrection experience. The proper understanding of the Resurrection is critical to grasping Christianity’s claims. 1. The claim is not that Jesus was resuscitated and continued his mortal existence but that he transcended mortality by entering into a share in God’s life and power. 2. The essential designation of Jesus as “Lord” signifies that Jesus has been exalted to the status of God and has become “Life-Giving Spirit” (1 Cor 15:45). 3. The Resurrection is not historical but eschatological, a “new creation” that transforms humans through a new power of life. B. The Resurrection is the basis for other fundamental convictions concerning Jesus. 1. The Resurrection reveals what Jesus was already in his mortal life, namely, God’s unique Son. 2. The Resurrection is the premise for the expectation that Jesus will come again as judge of the world. 3. The Resurrection makes Jesus not simply a Jewish messiah (in fact, he fails at that) but establishes him as “a new Adam,” the start of a new humanity. 4. The Resurrection is the basis for Christianity becoming a worldwide religion rather than a sect within Judaism.
Sangha, monks
Sangha, monks
Sangha, monks
Sangha, monks
Sangha, monks
Sangha, monks
Holy communion very center of community; the power of the church to include everyone gives it leverage; “We are a body knit together.”
Holy communion very center of community; the power of the church to include everyone gives it leverage; “We are a body knit together.”
Holy communion very center of community; the power of the church to include everyone gives it leverage; “We are a body knit together.”
Once Paul came to think that Jesus’s death and Resurrection were the keys to salvation, he had to rethink his understanding of his own Jewish religion: If Christ is the way of salvation, what about the salvation God had already provided his people through the Law? 1. Paul came to think that the Jewish Law was misunderstood if it was taken to be a way to maintain a right relationship with God. 2. The Jewish Law can tell a person how to live, but it does not provide anyone with the power to do what it demands. It is itself good, then, but it is not able to bring salvation, only condemnation. 3. Everyone is under the cosmic power of sin in this evil world, and as such, no one is able to fulfill the righteous demands of the Law. 4. Christ, though, broke the cosmic powers of sin and death (evidence: he overcame death!). Those who believe in his death and Resurrection can be made right with God (= justified)—not by keeping the Jewish Law, but by having faith in the one who triumphed over evil. E. Because salvation comes apart from the Law, it is available to everyone, both Jew and Gentile, on equal terms. It comes by faith in Jesus, not by joining the Jewish people or by keeping the Jewish Law. 1. Once Paul became convinced of this, he became a missionary to take the “good news” (the literal meaning of gospel) to others, understanding himself principally as an apostle to the Gentiles (that is, “non-Jews”). 2. He went on numerous missionary expeditions, setting up Christian churches in major urban areas in Cilicia, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia (modern Turkey and Greece) and converting former pagans to belief in the one God of the Jews and Jesus, his Son, whose death brought salvation. 3. Once Paul established a church in one place, he would move on to another, working to convert as many people as he could as quickly as possible, because for him, “The end is near.” IV. With one exception, the surviving writings of Paul are all letters that he wrote to his churches after he left. A. Problems would arise in these churches, involving questions of what to believe and how to act, and Paul
Once Paul came to think that Jesus’s death and Resurrection were the keys to salvation, he had to rethink his understanding of his own Jewish religion: If Christ is the way of salvation, what about the salvation God had already provided his people through the Law? 1. Paul came to think that the Jewish Law was misunderstood if it was taken to be a way to maintain a right relationship with God. 2. The Jewish Law can tell a person how to live, but it does not provide anyone with the power to do what it demands. It is itself good, then, but it is not able to bring salvation, only condemnation. 3. Everyone is under the cosmic power of sin in this evil world, and as such, no one is able to fulfill the righteous demands of the Law. 4. Christ, though, broke the cosmic powers of sin and death (evidence: he overcame death!). Those who believe in his death and Resurrection can be made right with God (= justified)—not by keeping the Jewish Law, but by having faith in the one who triumphed over evil. E. Because salvation comes apart from the Law, it is available to everyone, both Jew and Gentile, on equal terms. It comes by faith in Jesus, not by joining the Jewish people or by keeping the Jewish Law. 1. Once Paul became convinced of this, he became a missionary to take the “good news” (the literal meaning of gospel) to others, understanding himself principally as an apostle to the Gentiles (that is, “non-Jews”). 2. He went on numerous missionary expeditions, setting up Christian churches in major urban areas in Cilicia, Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia (modern Turkey and Greece) and converting former pagans to belief in the one God of the Jews and Jesus, his Son, whose death brought salvation. 3. Once Paul established a church in one place, he would move on to another, working to convert as many people as he could as quickly as possible, because for him, “The end is near.” IV. With one exception, the surviving writings of Paul are all letters that he wrote to his churches after he left. A. Problems would arise in these churches, involving questions of what to believe and how to act, and Paul
Early Buddhism: denial that God exists or that the Self exists, regardless of wealth or power, caster, anyone can achieve enlightenment, Principal radical egalitariansm Legit. Is built into archaic systems of religion
Early Buddhism: denial that God exists or that the Self exists, regardless of wealth or power, caster, anyone can achieve enlightenment, Principal radical egalitariansm Legit. Is built into archaic systems of religion
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
claim universality, include all members of the society within their ranks, and have a strong tendency to equate 'citizenship' with 'membershipexercise religious monopoly and try to eliminate religious competitionvery closely allied with the state and secular powers - frequently there is overlapping of responsibilities and much mutual reinforcementextensively organized as a hierarchical bureaucratic institution with a complex division of laboremploy professional, full-time clergy who possess the appropriate credentials of education and formal ordinationalmost by definition gain new members through natural reproduction and the socialization of children into the ranksallow for diversity by creating different groups within the church (e.g., orders of nuns or monks) rather than through the formation of new religions DENOM: similar to churches, but unlike sects, in being on relatively good terms with the state and secular powers and may even attempt to influence government at timesmaintain at least tolerant and usually fairly friendly relationships with other denominations in a context of religious pluralismrely primarily on birth for membership increase, though it will also accept converts; some even actively pursue evangelizationaccept the principle of at least modestly changing doctrine and practice and tolerate some theological diversity and disputefollow a fairly routinized ritual and worship service that explicitly discourages spontaneous emotional expressiontrain and employ professional clergy who must meet formal requirements for certificationaccept less extensive involvement from members than do sects, but more involvement than churchesoften draw disproportionately from the middle and upper classes of society Sects are newly formed religious groups that form to protest elements of their parent religion (generally a denomination). Their motivation tends to be situated in accusations of apostasy or heresy in the parent denomination; they are often decrying liberal trends in denominational development and advocating a return to true religion. Cults are, like sects, new religious groups. But, unlike sects, they can form without breaking off from another religious group (though they often do). The characteristic that most distinguishes cults from sects is that they are not advocating a return to pure religion but rather the embracement of something new or something that has been completely lost or forgotten (e.g., lost scripture or new prophecy). Cults are also more likely to be led by charismatic leaders than are other religious groups and the charismatic leaders tend to be the individuals who bring forth the new or lost component that is the focal element of the cult.
I. Christianity is a religion that has unity as an ideal but has experienced conflict and division throughout its history. A. The ideal of unity is expressed in the New Testament and is stated by the creed as one of the four “marks of the church.” B. The early centuries were marked by a variety of severe conflicts concerning belief and practice: 1. The New Testament shows sharp disagreements between Christian groups (see Galatians, 2 and 3 John). 2. The 2nd century struggle for self-definition involved sharp ideological and political divisions. 3. The battles involving Trinitarian and Christological doctrine in the 4th and 5th centuries likewise had ecclesiastical and political overtones. C. The three great families in Christianity arose from specific contentious circumstances between the 11th and 16th centuries and led to three distinct and usually competing versions of the religion. Each of them claims to best represent the essence of Christianity. 2. Each of them claims a particular kind of continuity with Christian origins. 3. All of them share the same basic story, creed, and moral teaching but differ most on questions of organization, theological emphasis, and worship.
withauthority coming from the Bishop of Rome (the pope), through archbishops and bishops, to the local clergy and laity of dioceses throughout the world.
withauthority coming from the Bishop of Rome (the pope), through archbishops and bishops, to the local clergy and laity of dioceses throughout the world. The Catholic clergy is all male, is celibate, and has a sacramental focus. The ministry of local parish priests is supplemented by that of active religious orders, such as the Jesuits and Dominicans. D. Catholicism claims and cultivates a powerful intellectual tradition reaching from Augustine and other patristic authors, through Aquinas and other Scholastic masters, to contemporary philosophers and theologians. E. The sacramental piety of Catholicism extends to devotion to the “ communion of saints,” among whom Mary, the Mother of Jesus, receives most attention.
withauthority coming from the Bishop of Rome (the pope), through archbishops and bishops, to the local clergy and laity of dioceses throughout the world. The Catholic clergy is all male, is celibate, and has a sacramental focus. The ministry of local parish priests is supplemented by that of active religious orders, such as the Jesuits and Dominicans. D. Catholicism claims and cultivates a powerful intellectual tradition reaching from Augustine and other patristic authors, through Aquinas and other Scholastic masters, to contemporary philosophers and theologians. E. The sacramental piety of Catholicism extends to devotion to the “ communion of saints,” among whom Mary, the Mother of Jesus, receives most attention.
withauthority coming from the Bishop of Rome (the pope), through archbishops and bishops, to the local clergy and laity of dioceses throughout the world. The Catholic clergy is all male, is celibate, and has a sacramental focus. The ministry of local parish priests is supplemented by that of active religious orders, such as the Jesuits and Dominicans. D. Catholicism claims and cultivates a powerful intellectual tradition reaching from Augustine and other patristic authors, through Aquinas and other Scholastic masters, to contemporary philosophers and theologians. E. The sacramental piety of Catholicism extends to devotion to the “ communion of saints,” among whom Mary, the Mother of Jesus, receives most attention.
III. The Orthodox tradition also claims continuity with the earliest church. Indeed, the embrace of “holy tradition” ( hagia paradosis) is emphatic in a version of Christianity that eschews change. A. Orthodoxy shares most with Catholicism. The two camps split as a result of schism in 1054, the climax of centuries of growing tension between the old Rome and the “New Rome” of Constantinople. 1. Political rivalry between capitals was expressed by religious rivalry between patriarchates, and the Latin-speaking West (facing the rapid changes subsequent on barbarian invasions) grew culturally apart from the more stable Greek-speaking East. 2. Specific causes of schism involved diplomatic misunderstandings and the theological dustup around the phrase “and the Son” ( filioque) in the creed.
III. The Orthodox tradition also claims continuity with the earliest church. Indeed, the embrace of “holy tradition” ( hagia paradosis) is emphatic in a version of Christianity that eschews change. A. Orthodoxy shares most with Catholicism. The two camps split as a result of schism in 1054, the climax of centuries of growing tension between the old Rome and the “New Rome” of Constantinople. 1. Political rivalry between capitals was expressed by religious rivalry between patriarchates, and the Latin-speaking West (facing the rapid changes subsequent on barbarian invasions) grew culturally apart from the more stable Greek-speaking East. 2. Specific causes of schism involved diplomatic misunderstandings and the theological dustup around the phrase “and the Son” ( filioque) in the creed. The Orthodox tradition is dominant in Greece, Russia, the Slavic nations, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Middle East. Organization is patriarchal, with special honor given to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Local clergy are married, but the long-standing monastic tradition is celibate, and bishops are drawn from among monks. C. Orthodox spirituality is rich and complex, with particular emphasis on an apophatic mysticism. The veneration of the saints is reflected in the use of icons in liturgy and in contemplative prayer. The resistance to the iconoclastic movement within Orthodoxy (influenced by Islam) was a defining moment in shaping this tradition’s character. D. Orthodoxy is centered in worship. The liturgy is regarded as a participation in the heavenly worship and is a powerfully moving and transforming experience.
III. The Orthodox tradition also claims continuity with the earliest church. Indeed, the embrace of “holy tradition” ( hagia paradosis) is emphatic in a version of Christianity that eschews change. A. Orthodoxy shares most with Catholicism. The two camps split as a result of schism in 1054, the climax of centuries of growing tension between the old Rome and the “New Rome” of Constantinople. 1. Political rivalry between capitals was expressed by religious rivalry between patriarchates, and the Latin-speaking West (facing the rapid changes subsequent on barbarian invasions) grew culturally apart from the more stable Greek-speaking East. 2. Specific causes of schism involved diplomatic misunderstandings and the theological dustup around the phrase “and the Son” ( filioque) in the creed. The Orthodox tradition is dominant in Greece, Russia, the Slavic nations, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Middle East. Organization is patriarchal, with special honor given to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Local clergy are married, but the long-standing monastic tradition is celibate, and bishops are drawn from among monks. C. Orthodox spirituality is rich and complex, with particular emphasis on an apophatic mysticism. The veneration of the saints is reflected in the use of icons in liturgy and in contemplative prayer. The resistance to the iconoclastic movement within Orthodoxy (influenced by Islam) was a defining moment in shaping this tradition’s character. D. Orthodoxy is centered in worship. The liturgy is regarded as a participation in the heavenly worship and is a powerfully moving and transforming experience.
The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period. Although symbolically connected to the figure of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Reformation took many forms from the beginning and has developed in distinct ways. The overall feature that most distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is its emphasis on verbal revelation, preaching, and Scripture. A. The Lutheran tradition emphasized a return to Scripture as the norm for Christian life and a concentration on faith as the means of being in right relationship with God. It is found especially among Germanic and Nordic populations. B. The Anglican tradition began as a schismatic break with Rome by King Henry VIII but, under Thomas Cranmer, developed a distinctive reform of the Catholic tradition, reflected above all, in the forms of piety found in the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans (or Anglo-Catholics, or Episcopalians) are primarily English speaking. This tradition uses both ancient tradition and reason in its reading of Scripture and is, therefore, characterized by a highly intellectual character. C. In the 18th century, Methodism began as a lay reform reform movement within Anglicanism that emphasized fervent piety in imitation of the ancient monks. Methodists, in addition to Scripture, tradition, and reason as norms for their lives, add, revealingly, experience. The Methodist (or Wesleyan) tradition places a high premium on experience and the transformation of the heart. D. The Reformed tradition began in France and Switzerland with John Calvin but achieved great success among English-speaking populations under John Knox. Strict and intellectually rigorous, the Presbyterian tradition embraces the doctrine of predestination and elicits an enthusiastic commitment to good works. E. The Anabaptist (meaning, “to be baptized again”) movement in 16thcentury Germany emphasized free and intentional commitment reflected in the practice of adult baptism. It broke away from the centralized, hierarchical tradition of other sects and is centered in the local congregation, each local congregation being freestanding. The Baptists represent the largest (and most “evangelical”) form of Protestantism worldwide; most Baptists reject any form of creed or hierarchy and put tremendous emphasis on liberty. F. There are literally thousands of other versions of Protestantism, including Holiness and Pentecostal traditions, and a spectrum of local or national amalgamations of the dominant traditions. V. The biggest scandal to non-Christians in this constant proliferation of Christian denominations is the intense rivalry and hostility that has so often existed among them, deriving from each one’s claim to be the exclusive representative of authentic Christianity.
The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period. Although symbolically connected to the figure of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Reformation took many forms from the beginning and has developed in distinct ways. The overall feature that most distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is its emphasis on verbal revelation, preaching, and Scripture. A. The Lutheran tradition emphasized a return to Scripture as the norm for Christian life and a concentration on faith as the means of being in right relationship with God. It is found especially among Germanic and Nordic populations. B. The Anglican tradition began as a schismatic break with Rome by King Henry VIII but, under Thomas Cranmer, developed a distinctive reform of the Catholic tradition, reflected above all, in the forms of piety found in the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans (or Anglo-Catholics, or Episcopalians) are primarily English speaking. This tradition uses both ancient tradition and reason in its reading of Scripture and is, therefore, characterized by a highly intellectual character. C. In the 18th century, Methodism began as a lay reform reform movement within Anglicanism that emphasized fervent piety in imitation of the ancient monks. Methodists, in addition to Scripture, tradition, and reason as norms for their lives, add, revealingly, experience. The Methodist (or Wesleyan) tradition places a high premium on experience and the transformation of the heart. D. The Reformed tradition began in France and Switzerland with John Calvin but achieved great success among English-speaking populations under John Knox. Strict and intellectually rigorous, the Presbyterian tradition embraces the doctrine of predestination and elicits an enthusiastic commitment to good works. E. The Anabaptist (meaning, “to be baptized again”) movement in 16thcentury Germany emphasized free and intentional commitment reflected in the practice of adult baptism. It broke away from the centralized, hierarchical tradition of other sects and is centered in the local congregation, each local congregation being freestanding. The Baptists represent the largest (and most “evangelical”) form of Protestantism worldwide; most Baptists reject any form of creed or hierarchy and put tremendous emphasis on liberty. F. There are literally thousands of other versions of Protestantism, including Holiness and Pentecostal traditions, and a spectrum of local or national amalgamations of the dominant traditions. V. The biggest scandal to non-Christians in this constant proliferation of Christian denominations is the intense rivalry and hostility that has so often existed among them, deriving from each one’s claim to be the exclusive representative of authentic Christianity.
I. Columbus’s discovery of the Americas narrowly preceded the Reformation. Religious hatreds were added to intense national rivalries in the ensuing 200 years, which poisoned relations among the powers that colonized America. Attitudes about the Reformation also affected patterns of migration to the New World. II. The Reformation. A. For several centuries, Protestants looked back to the Reformation as a dawn of truth, while Catholics looked on it as a massive outbreak of heresy. Today, historians seek more to understand than to condemn, but they have to take seriously the intensity with which rival religious ideals were debated and defended. B. Martin Luther’s criticism of Johann Tetzel, the seller of papal indulgences, led to a broader controversy with the Vatican. 1. The heart of Luther’s teaching was embodied in the three principles sola scriptura (Christianity should be based on scripture alone, rather than scripture and tradition), sola fide (that man is saved by faith alone, not faith and works), and the priesthood of all believers, without the need for priestly intermediaries. 2. He was protected, after his 1521 excommunication, by Prince Frederick of Saxony. 3. Luther’s support for the German princes in suppressing the Peasant Revolt of the 1520s ensured that Lutheranism could become a state religion in much of north Germany and Scandinavia. C. The Swiss Reformation, especially the work of John Calvin in Geneva, created a rigorous Protestant way of life. 1. Calvin emphasized God’s power and man’s sinfulness in the theology of predestination. 2. Calvinism was iconoclastic, seeking to annihilate all Catholic vestiges. 3. Calvin organized a theocratic government for Geneva, which many later Protestants regarded as a model. . The English Reformation sprang from Henry VIII’s eagerness to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, in the hope of siring a male heir. 1. Henry had criticized Luther in a 1521 pamphlet and won papal thanks. 2. The Pope’s Spanish connections forestalled Henry’s divorce project. 3. He declared himself head of the English church and seized its extensive properties, making himself much richer and more powerful than before. 4. He did not want to adopt Protestantism wholesale inside English Christianity.
I. Columbus’s discovery of the Americas narrowly preceded the Reformation. Religious hatreds were added to intense national rivalries in the ensuing 200 years, which poisoned relations among the powers that colonized America. Attitudes about the Reformation also affected patterns of migration to the New World. II. The Reformation. A. For several centuries, Protestants looked back to the Reformation as a dawn of truth, while Catholics looked on it as a massive outbreak of heresy. Today, historians seek more to understand than to condemn, but they have to take seriously the intensity with which rival religious ideals were debated and defended. B. Martin Luther’s criticism of Johann Tetzel, the seller of papal indulgences, led to a broader controversy with the Vatican. 1. The heart of Luther’s teaching was embodied in the three principles sola scriptura (Christianity should be based on scripture alone, rather than scripture and tradition), sola fide (that man is saved by faith alone, not faith and works), and the priesthood of all believers, without the need for priestly intermediaries. 2. He was protected, after his 1521 excommunication, by Prince Frederick of Saxony. 3. Luther’s support for the German princes in suppressing the Peasant Revolt of the 1520s ensured that Lutheranism could become a state religion in much of north Germany and Scandinavia. C. The Swiss Reformation, especially the work of John Calvin in Geneva, created a rigorous Protestant way of life. 1. Calvin emphasized God’s power and man’s sinfulness in the theology of predestination. 2. Calvinism was iconoclastic, seeking to annihilate all Catholic vestiges. 3. Calvin organized a theocratic government for Geneva, which many later Protestants regarded as a model. . The English Reformation sprang from Henry VIII’s eagerness to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, in the hope of siring a male heir. 1. Henry had criticized Luther in a 1521 pamphlet and won papal thanks. 2. The Pope’s Spanish connections forestalled Henry’s divorce project. 3. He declared himself head of the English church and seized its extensive properties, making himself much richer and more powerful than before. 4. He did not want to adopt Protestantism wholesale inside English Christianity.
I. Columbus’s discovery of the Americas narrowly preceded the Reformation. Religious hatreds were added to intense national rivalries in the ensuing 200 years, which poisoned relations among the powers that colonized America. Attitudes about the Reformation also affected patterns of migration to the New World. II. The Reformation. A. For several centuries, Protestants looked back to the Reformation as a dawn of truth, while Catholics looked on it as a massive outbreak of heresy. Today, historians seek more to understand than to condemn, but they have to take seriously the intensity with which rival religious ideals were debated and defended. B. Martin Luther’s criticism of Johann Tetzel, the seller of papal indulgences, led to a broader controversy with the Vatican. 1. The heart of Luther’s teaching was embodied in the three principles sola scriptura (Christianity should be based on scripture alone, rather than scripture and tradition), sola fide (that man is saved by faith alone, not faith and works), and the priesthood of all believers, without the need for priestly intermediaries. 2. He was protected, after his 1521 excommunication, by Prince Frederick of Saxony. 3. Luther’s support for the German princes in suppressing the Peasant Revolt of the 1520s ensured that Lutheranism could become a state religion in much of north Germany and Scandinavia. C. The Swiss Reformation, especially the work of John Calvin in Geneva, created a rigorous Protestant way of life. 1. Calvin emphasized God’s power and man’s sinfulness in the theology of predestination. 2. Calvinism was iconoclastic, seeking to annihilate all Catholic vestiges. 3. Calvin organized a theocratic government for Geneva, which many later Protestants regarded as a model. . The English Reformation sprang from Henry VIII’s eagerness to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, in the hope of siring a male heir. 1. Henry had criticized Luther in a 1521 pamphlet and won papal thanks. 2. The Pope’s Spanish connections forestalled Henry’s divorce project. 3. He declared himself head of the English church and seized its extensive properties, making himself much richer and more powerful than before. 4. He did not want to adopt Protestantism wholesale inside English Christianity.
I. Columbus’s discovery of the Americas narrowly preceded the Reformation. Religious hatreds were added to intense national rivalries in the ensuing 200 years, which poisoned relations among the powers that colonized America. Attitudes about the Reformation also affected patterns of migration to the New World. II. The Reformation. A. For several centuries, Protestants looked back to the Reformation as a dawn of truth, while Catholics looked on it as a massive outbreak of heresy. Today, historians seek more to understand than to condemn, but they have to take seriously the intensity with which rival religious ideals were debated and defended. B. Martin Luther’s criticism of Johann Tetzel, the seller of papal indulgences, led to a broader controversy with the Vatican. 1. The heart of Luther’s teaching was embodied in the three principles sola scriptura (Christianity should be based on scripture alone, rather than scripture and tradition), sola fide (that man is saved by faith alone, not faith and works), and the priesthood of all believers, without the need for priestly intermediaries. 2. He was protected, after his 1521 excommunication, by Prince Frederick of Saxony. 3. Luther’s support for the German princes in suppressing the Peasant Revolt of the 1520s ensured that Lutheranism could become a state religion in much of north Germany and Scandinavia. C. The Swiss Reformation, especially the work of John Calvin in Geneva, created a rigorous Protestant way of life. 1. Calvin emphasized God’s power and man’s sinfulness in the theology of predestination. 2. Calvinism was iconoclastic, seeking to annihilate all Catholic vestiges. 3. Calvin organized a theocratic government for Geneva, which many later Protestants regarded as a model. . The English Reformation sprang from Henry VIII’s eagerness to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, in the hope of siring a male heir. 1. Henry had criticized Luther in a 1521 pamphlet and won papal thanks. 2. The Pope’s Spanish connections forestalled Henry’s divorce project. 3. He declared himself head of the English church and seized its extensive properties, making himself much richer and more powerful than before. 4. He did not want to adopt Protestantism wholesale inside English Christianity.
I. Columbus’s discovery of the Americas narrowly preceded the Reformation. Religious hatreds were added to intense national rivalries in the ensuing 200 years, which poisoned relations among the powers that colonized America. Attitudes about the Reformation also affected patterns of migration to the New World. II. The Reformation. A. For several centuries, Protestants looked back to the Reformation as a dawn of truth, while Catholics looked on it as a massive outbreak of heresy. Today, historians seek more to understand than to condemn, but they have to take seriously the intensity with which rival religious ideals were debated and defended. B. Martin Luther’s criticism of Johann Tetzel, the seller of papal indulgences, led to a broader controversy with the Vatican. 1. The heart of Luther’s teaching was embodied in the three principles sola scriptura (Christianity should be based on scripture alone, rather than scripture and tradition), sola fide (that man is saved by faith alone, not faith and works), and the priesthood of all believers, without the need for priestly intermediaries. 2. He was protected, after his 1521 excommunication, by Prince Frederick of Saxony. 3. Luther’s support for the German princes in suppressing the Peasant Revolt of the 1520s ensured that Lutheranism could become a state religion in much of north Germany and Scandinavia. C. The Swiss Reformation, especially the work of John Calvin in Geneva, created a rigorous Protestant way of life. 1. Calvin emphasized God’s power and man’s sinfulness in the theology of predestination. 2. Calvinism was iconoclastic, seeking to annihilate all Catholic vestiges. 3. Calvin organized a theocratic government for Geneva, which many later Protestants regarded as a model. . The English Reformation sprang from Henry VIII’s eagerness to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn, in the hope of siring a male heir. 1. Henry had criticized Luther in a 1521 pamphlet and won papal thanks. 2. The Pope’s Spanish connections forestalled Henry’s divorce project. 3. He declared himself head of the English church and seized its extensive properties, making himself much richer and more powerful than before. 4. He did not want to adopt Protestantism wholesale inside English Christianity.
III. The coincidence of the Reformation with the rise of printing and literacy enabled more people than ever before to study and interpret the Bible. A. Books were rare, expensive, and labor intensive before 1500, because they were written by hand on vellum. B. The invention of printing by Gutenberg and others began to reduce the cost of books. C. Reformers insisted on giving Christians access to the Bible in their vernacular languages. Bibles quickly became common in reformed areas. D. The complexity of the Bible ensured that different readers would interpret it in different ways, which contributed to the centrifugal character of Protestantism.
III. The coincidence of the Reformation with the rise of printing and literacy enabled more people than ever before to study and interpret the Bible. A. Books were rare, expensive, and labor intensive before 1500, because they were written by hand on vellum. B. The invention of printing by Gutenberg and others began to reduce the cost of books. C. Reformers insisted on giving Christians access to the Bible in their vernacular languages. Bibles quickly became common in reformed areas. D. The complexity of the Bible ensured that different readers would interpret it in different ways, which contributed to the centrifugal character of Protestantism.
Religious controversy continued in England at the dawn of the seventeenth century. A. England’s Catholics were disappointed to discover that King James I (1603–1625) did not plan to re-Catholicize England. 1. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, a Catholic, had been beheaded by Elizabeth, but he had assured his succession to the throne by accepting the Reformation. 2. A Catholic conspiracy to blow up the king and Parliament in 1605 (the Guy Fawkes plot) was discovered. Commemoration of the day became an annual event for Protestants, intensifying in their minds the connection between Catholicism and disloyalty. B. Idealistic Protestants in England, especially those who had sheltered in Geneva during the reign of Mary, wanted to complete the Reformation inside England and purge, or purify, the Church of England of what seemed to them “popish” remnants. We remember these idealists as “Puritans.” 1. They contributed to the writing of the “King James” version of the Bible, the most popular and widespread translation in American history. 2. Some of them believed that the imperfections of the English church justified them in withdrawing from it altogether. They were “separatists,” and a group of them moved first to Holland, then to America on the Mayflower. 3. Other Puritans, believing they had a duty to serve and reform a corrupt church and kingdom, remained in England at first. However, many of them emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony when King James’s son, Charles I, took a Catholic queen (Henrietta Maria, a French princess) and showed favor to Catholics.
Religious controversy continued in England at the dawn of the seventeenth century. A. England’s Catholics were disappointed to discover that King James I (1603–1625) did not plan to re-Catholicize England. 1. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, a Catholic, had been beheaded by Elizabeth, but he had assured his succession to the throne by accepting the Reformation. 2. A Catholic conspiracy to blow up the king and Parliament in 1605 (the Guy Fawkes plot) was discovered. Commemoration of the day became an annual event for Protestants, intensifying in their minds the connection between Catholicism and disloyalty. B. Idealistic Protestants in England, especially those who had sheltered in Geneva during the reign of Mary, wanted to complete the Reformation inside England and purge, or purify, the Church of England of what seemed to them “popish” remnants. We remember these idealists as “Puritans.” 1. They contributed to the writing of the “King James” version of the Bible, the most popular and widespread translation in American history. 2. Some of them believed that the imperfections of the English church justified them in withdrawing from it altogether. They were “separatists,” and a group of them moved first to Holland, then to America on the Mayflower. 3. Other Puritans, believing they had a duty to serve and reform a corrupt church and kingdom, remained in England at first. However, many of them emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony when King James’s son, Charles I, took a Catholic queen (Henrietta Maria, a French princess) and showed favor to Catholics.
capitalism in northern Europe evolved when the Protestant (particularly Calvinist) ethic influenced large numbers of people to engage in work in the secular world, developing their own enterprises and engaging in trade and the accumulation of wealth for investment. In other words, the Protestant work ethic was an important force behind the unplanned and uncoordinated mass action that influenced the development of capitalism. This idea is also known as the "Protestant Ethic thesis."[2] The Reformation profoundly affected the view of work, dignifying even the most mundane professions as adding to the common good and thus blessed by God, as much as any "sacred" calling. A common illustration is that of a cobbler, hunched over his work, who devotes his entire effort to the praise of God.To emphasize the work ethic in Protestantism relative to Catholics, he notes a common problem that industrialists face when employing precapitalist laborers: Agricultural entrepreneurs will try to encourage time spent harvesting by offering a higher wage, with the expectation that laborers will see time spent working as more valuable and so engage it longer. However, in precapitalist societies this often results in laborers spending less time harvesting. Laborers judge that they can earn the same, while spending less time working and having more leisure. He also notes that societies having more Protestants are those that have a more developed capitalist economy.[3] :15-16
Eliade suggests that at the heart of religious experience is human awareness of the sacred. He argued that the sacred is made known through heirophanies (manifestations of the sacred) and theophanies (manifestations of God). When people perceive a manifestation of the sacred, everything changes—objects, people, places, and even time. A theophany is a manifestation of God. 1. Moses encountered God and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. 2. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the sky opened, a dove descended, and God’s resounding voice declared, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased!” 3. At a pivotal moment in the Bhagavad Gita, a dialogue takes place between Arjuna (a warrior about to go into battle, who is the focus of the Bhagavad Gita) and his chariot driver. The chariot driver reveals himself as Krishna, the incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. 4. From the Islamic tradition comes the time when, during an interlude of prayer and meditation, Muhammad was first called to be a prophet. A hierophany is a broader category indicating a manifestation of the sacred. For example, according to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama was conceived during a miraculous vision by his mother and was born through her side as flowers bloomed out of season. Sages appeared to visit the newborn and make prophecies about his auspicious career. Sacred time is a universal category in the religions. 1. Easter Sunday is the most sacred day in the Christian calendar. Sunday, then, became the sacred day of the week—a shift from the Jewish Sabbath that starts Friday evening and lasts until sundown Saturday. 2. Muslims are required to fast and refrain from all pleasurable activities from sunrise until sunset throughout the sacred lunar month of Ramadan each year. 3. For Jews, the most holy day of the year is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Traditionally, Yom Kippur is understood as the date on which Moses received the Ten Commandments for the second time. 4. The Hindu festival of Holi is celebrated each spring; devotees imitate Krishna’s frivolous play with the gopis (cowherds’ wives).
According to the new Protestant religions, an individual was religiously compelled to follow a secular vocation with as much zeal as possible. A person living according to this world view was more likely to accumulate money. The new religions (in particular, Calvinism and other more austere Protestant sects) effectively forbade wastefully using hard earned money and identified the purchase of luxuries assin. Donations to an individual's church or congregation was limited due to the rejection by certain Protestant sects of icons. Finally, donation of money to the poor or to charity was generally frowned on as it was seen as furthering beggary. This social condition was perceived as laziness, burdening their fellow man, and an affront to God; by not working, one failed to glorify God.The manner in which this paradox was resolved, Weber argued, was the investment of this money, which gave an extreme boost to nascent capitalism.
However, the Calvinist and Lutheran theologians taught that only those who were predestined to be saved would be saved, by grace alone through faith in Jesus alone. Since it was impossible to know if one was predestined (since one might not receive the "grace of perseverance," and one's conversion might be only lip-service), the notion developed that it might be possible to discern that a person was elect (predestined) by observing their way of life. Hard work and frugality were thought to be two important consequences of being one of the elect; thus, Protestants were attracted to these qualities, seeking to be obedient to God to whom they owed their salvation.
The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period. Although symbolically connected to the figure of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Reformation took many forms from the beginning and has developed in distinct ways. The overall feature that most distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is its emphasis on verbal revelation, preaching, and Scripture. A. The Lutheran tradition emphasized a return to Scripture as the norm for Christian life and a concentration on faith as the means of being in right relationship with God. It is found especially among Germanic and Nordic populations. B. The Anglican tradition began as a schismatic break with Rome by King Henry VIII but, under Thomas Cranmer, developed a distinctive reform of the Catholic tradition, reflected above all, in the forms of piety found in the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans (or Anglo-Catholics, or Episcopalians) are primarily English speaking. This tradition uses both ancient tradition and reason in its reading of Scripture and is, therefore, characterized by a highly intellectual character. C. In the 18th century, Methodism began as a lay reform reform movement within Anglicanism that emphasized fervent piety in imitation of the ancient monks. Methodists, in addition to Scripture, tradition, and reason as norms for their lives, add, revealingly, experience. The Methodist (or Wesleyan) tradition places a high premium on experience and the transformation of the heart. D. The Reformed tradition began in France and Switzerland with John Calvin but achieved great success among English-speaking populations under John Knox. Strict and intellectually rigorous, the Presbyterian tradition embraces the doctrine of predestination and elicits an enthusiastic commitment to good works. E. The Anabaptist (meaning, “to be baptized again”) movement in 16thcentury Germany emphasized free and intentional commitment reflected in the practice of adult baptism. It broke away from the centralized, hierarchical tradition of other sects and is centered in the local congregation, each local congregation being freestanding. The Baptists represent the largest (and most “evangelical”) form of Protestantism worldwide; most Baptists reject any form of creed or hierarchy and put tremendous emphasis on liberty. F. There are literally thousands of other versions of Protestantism, including Holiness and Pentecostal traditions, and a spectrum of local or national amalgamations of the dominant traditions. V. The biggest scandal to non-Christians in this constant proliferation of Christian denominations is the intense rivalry and hostility that has so often existed among them, deriving from each one’s claim to be the exclusive representative of authentic Christianity.
The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period. Although symbolically connected to the figure of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Reformation took many forms from the beginning and has developed in distinct ways. The overall feature that most distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is its emphasis on verbal revelation, preaching, and Scripture. A. The Lutheran tradition emphasized a return to Scripture as the norm for Christian life and a concentration on faith as the means of being in right relationship with God. It is found especially among Germanic and Nordic populations. B. The Anglican tradition began as a schismatic break with Rome by King Henry VIII but, under Thomas Cranmer, developed a distinctive reform of the Catholic tradition, reflected above all, in the forms of piety found in the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans (or Anglo-Catholics, or Episcopalians) are primarily English speaking. This tradition uses both ancient tradition and reason in its reading of Scripture and is, therefore, characterized by a highly intellectual character. C. In the 18th century, Methodism began as a lay reform reform movement within Anglicanism that emphasized fervent piety in imitation of the ancient monks. Methodists, in addition to Scripture, tradition, and reason as norms for their lives, add, revealingly, experience. The Methodist (or Wesleyan) tradition places a high premium on experience and the transformation of the heart. D. The Reformed tradition began in France and Switzerland with John Calvin but achieved great success among English-speaking populations under John Knox. Strict and intellectually rigorous, the Presbyterian tradition embraces the doctrine of predestination and elicits an enthusiastic commitment to good works. E. The Anabaptist (meaning, “to be baptized again”) movement in 16thcentury Germany emphasized free and intentional commitment reflected in the practice of adult baptism. It broke away from the centralized, hierarchical tradition of other sects and is centered in the local congregation, each local congregation being freestanding. The Baptists represent the largest (and most “evangelical”) form of Protestantism worldwide; most Baptists reject any form of creed or hierarchy and put tremendous emphasis on liberty. F. There are literally thousands of other versions of Protestantism, including Holiness and Pentecostal traditions, and a spectrum of local or national amalgamations of the dominant traditions. V. The biggest scandal to non-Christians in this constant proliferation of Christian denominations is the intense rivalry and hostility that has so often existed among them, deriving from each one’s claim to be the exclusive representative of authentic Christianity.
The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period. Although symbolically connected to the figure of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Reformation took many forms from the beginning and has developed in distinct ways. The overall feature that most distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is its emphasis on verbal revelation, preaching, and Scripture. A. The Lutheran tradition emphasized a return to Scripture as the norm for Christian life and a concentration on faith as the means of being in right relationship with God. It is found especially among Germanic and Nordic populations. B. The Anglican tradition began as a schismatic break with Rome by King Henry VIII but, under Thomas Cranmer, developed a distinctive reform of the Catholic tradition, reflected above all, in the forms of piety found in the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans (or Anglo-Catholics, or Episcopalians) are primarily English speaking. This tradition uses both ancient tradition and reason in its reading of Scripture and is, therefore, characterized by a highly intellectual character. C. In the 18th century, Methodism began as a lay reform reform movement within Anglicanism that emphasized fervent piety in imitation of the ancient monks. Methodists, in addition to Scripture, tradition, and reason as norms for their lives, add, revealingly, experience. The Methodist (or Wesleyan) tradition places a high premium on experience and the transformation of the heart. D. The Reformed tradition began in France and Switzerland with John Calvin but achieved great success among English-speaking populations under John Knox. Strict and intellectually rigorous, the Presbyterian tradition embraces the doctrine of predestination and elicits an enthusiastic commitment to good works. E. The Anabaptist (meaning, “to be baptized again”) movement in 16thcentury Germany emphasized free and intentional commitment reflected in the practice of adult baptism. It broke away from the centralized, hierarchical tradition of other sects and is centered in the local congregation, each local congregation being freestanding. The Baptists represent the largest (and most “evangelical”) form of Protestantism worldwide; most Baptists reject any form of creed or hierarchy and put tremendous emphasis on liberty. F. There are literally thousands of other versions of Protestantism, including Holiness and Pentecostal traditions, and a spectrum of local or national amalgamations of the dominant traditions. V. The biggest scandal to non-Christians in this constant proliferation of Christian denominations is the intense rivalry and hostility that has so often existed among them, deriving from each one’s claim to be the exclusive representative of authentic Christianity.
The Protestant tradition began in the 16th century as an attempt to reform what was regarded as the corrupt Catholicism of the late-medieval period. Although symbolically connected to the figure of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the Reformation took many forms from the beginning and has developed in distinct ways. The overall feature that most distinguishes Protestantism from Catholicism and Orthodoxy is its emphasis on verbal revelation, preaching, and Scripture. A. The Lutheran tradition emphasized a return to Scripture as the norm for Christian life and a concentration on faith as the means of being in right relationship with God. It is found especially among Germanic and Nordic populations. B. The Anglican tradition began as a schismatic break with Rome by King Henry VIII but, under Thomas Cranmer, developed a distinctive reform of the Catholic tradition, reflected above all, in the forms of piety found in the Book of Common Prayer. Anglicans (or Anglo-Catholics, or Episcopalians) are primarily English speaking. This tradition uses both ancient tradition and reason in its reading of Scripture and is, therefore, characterized by a highly intellectual character. C. In the 18th century, Methodism began as a lay reform reform movement within Anglicanism that emphasized fervent piety in imitation of the ancient monks. Methodists, in addition to Scripture, tradition, and reason as norms for their lives, add, revealingly, experience. The Methodist (or Wesleyan) tradition places a high premium on experience and the transformation of the heart. D. The Reformed tradition began in France and Switzerland with John Calvin but achieved great success among English-speaking populations under John Knox. Strict and intellectually rigorous, the Presbyterian tradition embraces the doctrine of predestination and elicits an enthusiastic commitment to good works. E. The Anabaptist (meaning, “to be baptized again”) movement in 16thcentury Germany emphasized free and intentional commitment reflected in the practice of adult baptism. It broke away from the centralized, hierarchical tradition of other sects and is centered in the local congregation, each local congregation being freestanding. The Baptists represent the largest (and most “evangelical”) form of Protestantism worldwide; most Baptists reject any form of creed or hierarchy and put tremendous emphasis on liberty. F. There are literally thousands of other versions of Protestantism, including Holiness and Pentecostal traditions, and a spectrum of local or national amalgamations of the dominant traditions. V. The biggest scandal to non-Christians in this constant proliferation of Christian denominations is the intense rivalry and hostility that has so often existed among them, deriving from each one’s claim to be the exclusive representative of authentic Christianity.
I. Christianity is a religion that has unity as an ideal but has experienced conflict and division throughout its history. A. The ideal of unity is expressed in the New Testament and is stated by the creed as one of the four “marks of the church.” B. The early centuries were marked by a variety of severe conflicts concerning belief and practice: 1. The New Testament shows sharp disagreements between Christian groups (see Galatians, 2 and 3 John). 2. The 2nd century struggle for self-definition involved sharp ideological and political divisions. 3. The battles involving Trinitarian and Christological doctrine in the 4th and 5th centuries likewise had ecclesiastical and political overtones. C. The three great families in Christianity arose from specific contentious circumstances between the 11th and 16th centuries and led to three distinct and usually competing versions of the religion. Each of them claims to best represent the essence of Christianity. 2. Each of them claims a particular kind of continuity with Christian origins. 3. All of them share the same basic story, creed, and moral teaching but differ most on questions of organization, theological emphasis, and worship.