Flashcards on Chapter 9: Christianity

After reading this chapter, you will be able to do the following: • Summarize the life and teachings of Jesus, especially in the context of his times. • Describe the structure and content of the New Testament. • Explain Christian doctrines and practices. • Discuss the growth of Christianity. • Describe medieval and modern developments. • Explain the origins of the major branches of Christianity. • Assess the impact Christianity has had on the arts.

Christianity is centered on the person of Jesus. He was born during a time of great religious and political unrest in Israel under Roman domination. The Jews were splintered into groups that advocated widely divergent responses to the times. Many believed they were living in the "end times" and expected God to intervene in a dramatic way, which would include the appearance of a leader called the Messiah. Jesus' ministry of teaching and healing probably began in his late twenties and lasted no more than three years. He was arrested in Jerusalem at Passover time by authorities who considered him a threat. He was soon tried and executed by crucifixion on a cross. Three days after he was buried, his followers found an empty tomb. Others reported appearances and visitations by a transformed Jesus that had been resurrected from the dead. Christian scriptures say that forty days later he ascended to the heavens, promising to return again. Virtually all we know of Jesus comes by way of the four Gospels in the New Testament that describe the life and teachings of Jesus. These portraits of Jesus were recorded some time after his death and reflect the distinctive viewpoints and culture of the individual writers. Jesus is portrayed as a Jew accepting the practices and authority of his tradition. Noted for independence of thought, Jesus centers his teaching on the subject of the Kingdom of God. He emphasizes love for God and other people. He recommends not judging others, compassion, help for the needy and oppressed, forgiveness, and nonviolence. He urges simplicity and is wary of overly strict observance of laws when they hurt people. Paul is responsible for the spread of belief in Jesus beyond the Jewish world through his extensive travels, powerful letters, and incisive thinking. Through his prompting and leadership, the early church decided that converts did not have to observe Jewish religious laws. In Paul's view, a right relationship with God came only through faith in Jesus. Following moral rules was done willingly out of gratitude for what God had accomplished through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Essentially, Paul's views on the meaning of Jesus, morality, and Christian practice became the norm for most of the Christian world. The Christian worldview took many centuries to be fully worked out through discussions, controversies, and great councils that produced the central creeds of the faith. The Holy Trinity is the belief that God, although one, is three "persons." The Father is the guiding intelligence that created the universe and made human beings an important part of the divine cosmic plan. The Son is Jesus Christ, who has both a fully human and a fully divine nature united in one person. The Holy Spirit is the power of God that guides all believers. Christians believe in life after death, a resurrection of all people, and a final judgment that will lead to an eternal life in either a joyous heaven or a torturous hell, depending on one's faith and goodness in the eyes of God. In the Middle Ages, Christianity developed thriving monastic and mystical movements and produced great figures, such as Francis of Assisi. Controversies over doctrine and church structure led to schisms that produced the great branches of Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Christianity—with Protestantism itself subdividing many more times. Christian practice is rich, complex, and varied in the different branches. All Christians practice baptism and observe the Lord's Supper, with varying understandings. Holidays that mark significant times in the life of Christ and the early church, such as Easter and Christmas, are celebrated. Christianity has had a profound effect on the arts in the fields of architecture, painting, sculpture, and music. Its themes and stories are echoed in much great literature. Christianity continues to affect history and has in turn faced challenges from the modern world, especially with the growth of science and the changing roles of women.

The belief that the world will soon come to an end; this belief usually includes the notion of a great battle, final judgment, and the reward of the good.

One of Jesus' twelve disciples; also any early preacher of Christianity.

The Christian rite of initiation, involving immersion in water or sprinkling of water.

The scriptures sacred to Christians, consisting of the books of the Hebrew bible and the New Testament.

"Overseer" (Greek); a priest and church leader who is in charge of a large geographical area called a diocese.

"Measure," "rule" (Greek); a list of authoritative books or documents.

Dialogue between Christian denominations.

"Good Gift" (Greek); the Lord's Supper.

Emphasizing the authority of the scripture; an adjective used to identify certain Protestant groups.

"Good news person" (Greek); one of the four "authors" of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

"And from the Son"; a Latin work added to the creeds in the Western Church to state that the Holy Spirit arises from both the Father and the Son. The notion, which was not accepted by Orthodox Christianity, contributed to the separation between Western and Eastern Churches.

"Good news" (Middle English); an account of the life of Jesus.

"In flesh" (Latin); a belief that God became visible in Jesus.

"Kindness-toward" (Latin); remission of time spent in purgatory (a state of temporary punishment in the afterlife); an aspect of Catholic belief and practice.

"Lengthening day," "spring" (Anglo-Saxon); the preparatory period before Easter, lasting forty days.

"Anointed" (Hebrew); a special messenger sent by God foretold in Hebrew Scriptures, and believed by Christians to be Jesus.

An inclination toward evil, inherited by human beings as a result of Adam's disobedience.

"Straight opinion" (Greek); correct belief.

The Eastern branch of Christianity.

The bishop of one of the major ancient sites of Christianity (Jerusalem, Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Moscow).

"Father" (Latin); the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church.

The belief that because God is all-powerful and all-knowing, a human being's ultimate reward or punishment is already decreed by God; a notion emphasized in Calvinism.

The ability of each believer to radically rethink and interpret the ideas and values of Christianity apart from any church authority.

"Buy again," "buy back" (Latin); the belief that the death of Jesus has paid the price of justice for all human wrongdoing.

Being sinless in the sight of God; also called "justification."

"Sacred action" (Latin); one of the essential rituals of Christianity.

Wrongdoing, seen as disobedience to God.

A contract; the Old and New Testaments constitute the Christian scriptures.

The three "persons" in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

True

False

False

True

False

False

False

True

True

False

False

True

True

False

True

True

True

True

False

True

False

True

False

False

False

False

True

True

True

True

D) anointed.

B) mixed.

A) Matthew.

D) John.

C) two commandments.

B) apocalypticism.

D) Pharisee.

B) Epistles.

A) Nicaea.

D) Augustine.

C) Second Vatican Council.

D) Calvin.

C) Predestination

D) Lent

B) Indulgence

D) patriarch

A) Original sin

C) Evangelical

A) apostle

B) Orthodox

D) Orthodox.

C) Sacrament

B) Canon

D) Evangelist

D) ecumenism.

B) Gospel

B) Catholic Church.

D) orthodox

B) apostle

C) Eucharist

C) dogma

D) icon

B) incarnation

A) sin

C) redemption or atonement

C) Gospel

A) Predestination

D) baptism

C) Righteousness

C) evangelist

B) bishop

A) patriarch

D) Rome

A) Orthodox

C) sacrament

B) indulgence

C) Lent

A) council

A) evangelical

D) Unitarian

orthodox

apostle

Eucharist

dogma

icon

incarnation

sin

redemption or atonement

Gospel

Predestination

baptism

righteousness

evangelist

bishop

patriarch

pope

Orthodoxy

sacrament

indulgence

Lent

ecumenism

Evangelical

Unitarian