Christianity
• Major world religion • Follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth who lived 2000 years ago
Origins
• Christianity has its roots in Judaism. • The Jewish scriptures provide the context for understanding the teachings of Jesus.
Incarnation
• Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that in Him God became a human being. • This has profound consequences for our understanding of the relationship between God and humanity.
Crucifixion
• Jesus died for humanity to save the world from the consequences of sin, that is the selfish human desire to do as we please. • It was an act of self-giving love, in which God shows by example the potential of human life.
Resurrection
• Jesus proved his divinity by rising from the dead after three days. • Christians believe that following death we rise with Christ to eternal life.
Festivals
• Christmas • Easter • Pentecost
Holy Spirit
• Christians believe that God is in all people through the Holy Spirit, which is the part of God in all of us. • Holy Spirit is the part of us which connects with God.
Trinity
• • • • One God Father - creator Son - Jesus Holy Spirit – God in us
Baptism
• Initiation rite in which the believer or the infant are sprinkled with or immersed in water.
Communion
• A simple sharing of bread and wine in which the believer shares in the unity of the body of Christ and connectedness with both God and other believers.
Denominations
• Sects in early church • Orthodox/Western Church. • Reformation • Catholicism and Protestantism • Baptists
Churches in Scotland
• • • • • • • • • • • • Church of Scotland Roman Catholic Episcopal Baptist Free Church Free Presbyterian Methodism Society of Friends Congregational United Free Church Orthodox Lutheran
Bible
• Old Testament • New Testament
Old Testament
• Law • Writings • Prophets
New Testament
• Gospels • Acts • Letters
Biblical Scholarship
• • • • Interpretation Holy Spirit The Word The culture
Ethical Dilemmas
• • • • • • • Word and tradition Just war Nuclear weapons Abortion IVF Stem Cell Research Homosexuality
Interfaith Relations
• Christianity is evangelical • Minority faith • Pantheon • Blood of the martyrs • Subversive
Christianity and healing
• • • • • • Wholeness Shalom Well being Body Mind Spirit
Prayer
• Prayer is an important part of the way we care for each other. • Mystical experience of the Divine presence.
Death
• Not the end • One chance at life • Judgement