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World Religions: Figures and Terms
Unit 3 (part b): Christianity
http://markvillehistory.cjb.net page 1
Person or Term Identify Religious Importance
Jesus The Messiah, who the Christians Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin
believe to be the Son of God. named Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph.
Baptism Sacrament or action that John, Jesus’ cousin, baptized him in the Jordan River, and then the Holy Spirit,
involves the sprinkling of a which is considered by Christians to be the life-giving presence of God, came to
person with water of full Jesus.
immersion as a sign of washing
away sin and entering the
Church.
Holy Spirit One of the three persons in The Holy Spirit is believed to be the life-giving presence of God that helps
God, believed, by Christians, to Christians to live faithful lives and continue the work that Jesus began. Christians
bestow spiritual gifts upon hold that the Holy Spirit enters into believers, dwelling there and energizing them,
individuals. just as the apostles experienced at Pentecost.
Last Supper Jesus’ last meal with his Religious authorities were planning to arrest Jesus, and soon after his entry into
disciples before he was Jerusalem, He shared his last meal, the Passover meal, with his 12 apostles, who
crucified; the origin of the were his closest disciples. After the meal, Jesus was praying in an olive grove,
sacrament of Holy Communion and several officials, led by Judas Iscariot, arrested him.
Crucifixion Execution of Christ on a The gospels report that the soldiers led Jesus to the Place of the Skull, where he
wooden cross, in the method was to be crucified. They made him carry the heavy cross, while many of his
of the Romans; an event female disciples followed him mourning and wailing. The soldiers nailed Jesus to
commemorated by Christians the wooden cross and hung a sign: “This Is the King of the Jews”. Jesus died on
on Good Friday. the cross that afternoon, in the presence of his mother Mary and female
disciples, including Mary Magdalene.
Resurrection Rising of Christ from his tomb According to Christian scriptures, Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb cut out of
on the third day after his rock. Three days after his death, Mary Magdalene, accompanied by other
crucifixion. female disciples, went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices. When they
arrived, His body was gone. An angel appeared to the women and several of
his followers during the days that followed.
Ascension Holy day that marks the bodily As the resurrected Jesus visited with his apostles, he commissioned them to
passing of Christ from earth to baptize all nations, and spread his teachings. Christians believe that forty days
heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection, Jesus ascended bodily into heaven. This event ended his
after Easter. time on earth, and initiated two millennia (2000 years) of Christianity.
Pentecost Christian festival Before he was crucified, Jesus promised his apostles that he would send them
commemorating the descent help in spreading the “good news”. Christians believe that this help, the Holy
of the Holy Spirit upon the Spirit, came on the feast of Pentecost, 50 days after Eater. It is believed that
apostles to help them spread during this event, the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles with various spiritual
the Christian faith. gifts and abilities, including the ability to speak different languages. Often
referred to as the “birthday” of the church.
World Religions: Figures and Terms
Unit 3 (part b): Christianity
http://markvillehistory.cjb.net page 2
Last Judgment Day of God’s final judgement Jesus will come back to determine which humans will join him, body and soul, in
at the end of the world, when heaven. This includes Christians who have died, for they will be risen from the
the faithful will go to heaven. dead to live eternally with God. In Christianity, a person is either rewarded with
perfection in heaven, or punished with eternal suffering in hell, depending on
whether or not he/she has practiced what Jesus taught during his ministry.
Holy Communion Sacrament by which Christians In Holy Communion, the congregation solemnly shares bread and wine or a
commemorate the Last Supper wafer and grape juice to symbolize the Last Supper (bread or wafer is the body
of Christ; wine or grape juice is the blood of Christ).
Cross The most well known symbol of The early Church didn’t use the cross as a symbol because of the suffering and
Christianity. These crosses take horror associated with it. Gradually, it became an acceptable symbol. Different
different forms and serve a groups/denominations use different versions of the cross (e.g. Latin, Greek,
variety of purposes. Celtic, Maltese, St. Andrew’s). Religious crosses are used in jewelry, on grave
markers, and on spires of towers of Christian churches. The symbol also appears
on the flags of Greece, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The Union
Jack is actually three superimposed crosses (St. Andrew’s cross rep. Scotland).
Christmas Festival that celebrates the Advent: 4 Sundays before Christmas. Most Christians celebrate Christmas on
birth of Jesus, marked by Dec. 25th, but many Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine rite Catholic denominations
special Church services, gifts, celebrate Christmas Jan 7. Churches feature nativity scenes, song-filled worship,
and greetings. carols, etc. Two origins of gift-giving: 3 wise men (Magi) and ancient Roman
practice of year-end gifts to honour Saturn, the god of harvest and Mithras, god
of light. The early Church adapted these Roman practices for their own religious
purposes.
Easter Christian festival that Holy week: holiest time in Christian calendar. Easter is celebrated by Protestants
celebrates the Resurrection of and Catholics on the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Christ. Palm Sunday: day Jesus entered Jerusalem
Holy Thursday: day of the Last Supper
Good Friday: trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus
Easter Sunday: marks the resurrection of Jesus and events surrounding it.
Lent Forty weekdays between Ash Begins two months after Christmas; lasts 40 days, ending with Holy week and
Wednesday and Easter Easter. 40 days represents length of time Jesus spent on his meditative journey
Sunday; a period of fasting into the desert before he began his public ministry. Traditionally, Lent is a time of
and repentance for sin in fasting, prayer, and spiritual self-assessment. Public festivals (e.g. Mardi Gras in
many Christian Churches. New Orleans or Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro) are rooted in this Christian tradition
as social events before sombre time of Lent. On Ash Wednesday, some
Christians are marked on the forehead with ashes to remind them that they are
mortals and that they will return to the dust upon their death.
Confirmation Also known as Chrismation, this Importance of attaining full participation in the Church is acknowledged through
is the rite in some Churches this ritual. Some Christians believe that it is during youth when people receive
World Religions: Figures and Terms
Unit 3 (part b): Christianity
http://markvillehistory.cjb.net page 3
that is a component of the spiritual gifts (wisdom, knowledge) from the Holy Spirit to help the individual grow
initiation process into the in faith. Sponsors (relatives/close friends) assist the parents of youth to be a
Christian faith, which begins member of the Church. By anointing with oil, accompanied by the laying on of
with baptism. hands by a minister, bishop, or priest, are common characteristics of this rite. In
the Eastern Orthodox Church, Chrismation rites are performed on infants at the
time of baptism, and include anointing with blessed oils.
Eastern Schism The Church split into “east” As Christianity expanded westward into Europe, the Pope claimed authority
(Rome) and “west” over the whole church, causing serious disagreement
(Byzantium/Constantinople) Filioque clause (doctrine): a Latin word inserted into the Nicene Credby the
when the Roman Emperor Church in the west, acknowledging that the both the Father and the Son
Constantine shifted his capital sent forth the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Church believed that the Holy Spirit was
city. The influence of the sent only from God the Father.
Roman patriarch developed 1054 CE: both churches formally expelled one another’s senior officials,
(“pope”) and serious causing a schism or a break. The Church split into two branches: Eastern
disagreement resulted. Orthodox (universal patriarch) and Western Church (focused on Pope)
Roman Catholic The Western Church expanded The central role of the pope is one thing that sets apart Roman Catholicism apart
Church its influence and centralized its from the rest of Christianity. Catholics believe that popes are successors to St.
authority. In 1095 AD, Pope Peter and that their central leadership helps to hold the huge membership of the
Urban II decided to recover Church together. In 1870, the First Vatican Council strengthened the pope’s
Jerusalem and the Holy Land authority by making papal infallibility RC doctrine. This means that provided the
from Muslim rule, starting the pope has consulted widely and is speaking formally as Church leader, his
Crusades (holy war), which teachings relating to faith and morals are protected from error by God. Vatican
lasted more than 100 years. II (1962-1965) introduced and updated important aspects of the Church (e.g.
The Crusades unified Europe Latin was eliminated from worship, direct participation in the Mass was
and extended the reach of the encouraged by turning altar and priest to face the congregation, giving lay
Western, or Roman Catholic people roles as commentators and assistants in distributing Holy Communion).
Church. One of the major challenges of the RCC today is the shortage of priests in
industrialized nations.
Protestant Religious movement in Europe During the Renaissance (1517 AD) a German monk, Martin Luther, called for a
Reformation during the 16th century that led simpler “inner faith”, free from long-established rituals and outward shows of
to the establishment of the devotion. The Church excommunicated him, no longer allowing him
Protestant Churches. membership or participation. His followers established the Lutheran Church and
the Protestant Reformation—the reform of the western Church in protest to its
practices. It also caused the Catholic Reformation as a response to the criticisms
of the Protestant reformers.
