Rel 101 Web Final (Christianity) Bos

Which of the following sacraments enables Catholics to be forgiven of post-baptismal sin? Extreme Unction Holy Orders Penance Confirmation

Penance

Marriage

Perhaps as early as the eleventh century, the - of Christians had come to be regarded as a sacrament. This explains continued opposition to divorce by some Christian denominations.

Augustine

Perhaps no other Christian after Paul and Constantine so deeply influenced the life and direction of Christianity as did -. Like many of the other leaders of the early church, he was born in North Africa. His mother was a devout Christian, but his father was pagan. Although he received Christian instruction as a child, he did not accept the faith until later in life. As a young man, he took a concubine and had a child by her. For a time, he was interested in Manichaeism, a religion that was a syncretism of Christian and Zoroastrian ideas. After a few years with Manichaeism, - followed the teachings of Neoplatonism, but he was not completely satisfied with this earlier. In Milan, Italy, - came under the influence of the Christian bishop Ambrose. Ina. Very dramatic conversion experience, - became a Christian. He returned to North Africa, where he became a writer and eventually the bishop of Hippo. Two of his writings have become classics in Christian literature: his autobiographical Confessions and his City of God, an interpretation of history written in response to those who blamed the Christians for the fall of the city of Rome to the Goths.

Constantine

Persecution of the Christians reached its peak in 303 CE under Diocletian in an empire wide movement that lasted more than ten years. This period was followed by the reign of -. - was not Christian but was strongly influenced by his wife and mother, who were. In 313 CE, - issued the Edict of Milan, which gave Christianity the same privileges as other religions. The official persecution of Christians was over. In 325 CE, - called the Church Council of Nicaea to stop the warring within Christian factions over the nature of Christ. Twelve years later, when he was dying, - finally accepted baptism and officially became Christian.

Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany

The Christian year begins with the season of -, the four weeks before -. During this period, Christians read from the Old Testament, the prophets, and seek to prepare themselves for the coming of -. -, which marks the birth of Jesus, is celebrated in Western Christianity on December 25 and in January by Eastern Orthodox Christians. Although - was one of the last major holidays to be accepted, it has become the best known of all Christian celebrations. The season is kept by giving and receiving gifts and by participating in family gatherings, special worship services, and feasts. Twelve days after - (January 6), Western Christians celebrate - to remember the wise men who came to Bethlehem to find the infant Jesus.

Indulgences

The early Reformation of Bohemia was led by John Hus. Rector of the University of Prague, Hus was influenced by the writings of Wycliffe. Hus denounced the evils of the current papacy and drew a large following from the citizens of Prague. To raise money for various reasons, the medieval papacy had approved the sale of -. For a price, a Christian could buy an - that, drawing upon the treasury of good that the saints had developed, would pay for a sin committed by the living or by the dead who were in purgatory. Hus was particularly bold in denouncing this practice (that naturally led to all manner of corruption). Hus was condemned by the Council of Constance in 1415 and burned at the stake.

Martin Luther

The most outstanding figure of the Reformation was - of Saxony, in what is now Germany. An Augustinian monk, - skills as a scholar were noted by his superiors, and he was sent as a teacher of theology to the University of Wittenberg. There he taught, preached, and obtained his Doctorate of Theology. While at Wittenberg, he lectured on Paul's letters to the Romans and Galatians. In both of these books, the phrase "the just shall live by faith" caught his eye and became a source of illumination to him. - was convinced that he, and all other humans, were unworthy of salvation, but that in return for unconditional faith, God would bestow his saving grace. Like many others, - began to call for moral reform within the Church. He was particularly incensed by the sale of indulgences by a monk named Tetzel, who promised people that as soon as their money fell into the coffer, a soul rose from purgatory. On the basis of his opposition to this sale of indulgences, - chose his Ninety-five Theses as grounds for debate and nailed them to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. These theses were widely read all across Germany and created an immediate sensation. In the publications and debates that followed, - was led into more and more controversy with the papacy. He came to declare that every Christian was a priest who could interpret Scripture and that the popes and the church hierarchy were not superior to the believer. He also challenged the doctrine of transubstantiation, which taught that at the mass the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus. - writings on these and many other controversial issues were widely distributed using a new technology: the printing press. Because of the controversy - had caused, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, convened an imperial diet (court) at the city of Worms in April 1521 to try -. When questioned, - admitted that the writings under scrutiny were his, but he refused to recant or retract any of their contents. He is reported to have said, "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise." As a result of his actions before the diet, he was placed under and imperial edict that banned the printing and sale of his books and forbade anyone to provide hospitality or shelter for him or his friends. It had been expected that - would suffer the same fate as that of Hus 100 years before, but the emperor was too busy with other matters. Instead, - was kidnapped by friends and taken to the Wartburg Castle, where he lived in disguise for almost a year. During this time, he wrote nearly a dozen books and translated the New Testament into German. Later, he translated the Old Testament; his translation of Scripture became classics in the German language. In 1522, - returned to Wittenberg, where he took charge of the rapidly developing Reformation. He repudiated the acts of radical reformers who wanted to destroy everything in the Christian church that was not specifically mentioned in Scripture. His own style was to remove only those things he felt were contrary to Scripture. In the following years, - was busy in. many ways. He was, of course, organizing the Reformed Church in Germany. He was writing hymns, such as the Protestant classic, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." He was encouraging former priests and nuns to marry. He himself married a nun, Katherine von Bora, and became a father. The Reformation sprang up in other nations during - lifetime and immediately thereafter. In Germany, the decision to be reformed or to remain Catholic lay with the prince of any particular region. If the ruler were reformed, the region became reformed; if the ruler chose to remain Catholic, the region remained Catholic. Thus, the religious orientation of Germany became a kind of patchwork. The Scandinavian nations—Sweden, Denmark, and Norway—became - during the following decades.

Eucharist

This sacrament is known throughout the Christian world as the Lord's Supper or communion. The Council of Trent not only reaffirmed this sacrament but also gave renewed support to the doctrine of transubstantiation. According to this doctrine, the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus during the mass. The council held that because the whole Christ was present in both the bread and the wine, it was not necessary to give the wine to the laity.

Which of the following was a Medieval Christian philosopher who composed the Summa Theologiae? Martin Luther Ulrich Zwingli John Calvin Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas

Apostles' Creed

To consolidate their views about the Trinity and the nature of Jesus, the winners of these early theological debates developed statements of faith, or -. They had to be simple enough to be memorized and used regularly; at the same time, they had to be thorough enough to combat heresies effectively. The result was the so called -. The critical mind cannot believe that this - was developed by Simon Peter, James, and John, although it does have the ring or early authority.

Differences Between the Gospels

Two -, Mark and john, begin with the ministry of a mature Jesus. Only Matthew and Luke speak of his birth, and only Luke contains materials relating to Jesus' childhood. The reader must assume that for the early church, the years before Jesus' actual ministry were not terribly important. In those - that do tell of his birth, there are problems in harmonizing details. They do agree, however, that Jesus was born in the ancestral home of David: Bethlehem. Matthew places the time of Jesus' birth in the years prior to the death of Herod the Great. Both Matthew and Luke assert that Jesus' birth was unique in that he was born of Mary, who was a virgin. They tie this event to the world of the eighteenth-century BCE. Hebrew prophet Isaiah: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." All of the - agree that Jesus was a resident of the village of Nazareth in the province of Galilee. About his childhood and young maturity, we are told only of the event recorded in Luke, in which the twelve year old Jesus went to Jerusalem for a festival with his parents and became so involved in a discussion with the teachers of the law that he failed to find his way to the party returning to Nazareth. Except for this lone incident, the life of Jesus prior to his thirteenth year is not mentioned. Naturally, this blank has led to all sorts of speculation by Christians and non-Christians. The - all place Jesus within the background of first century Judaism. He quotes the Hebrew Scriptures in his teachings. Each - writer sees Jesus as a fulfillment of the promises of the Hebrew Bible. Jesus and his Apostles used the Jewish synagogue as the starting point of their ministry. The New Testament shows them celebrating the Jewish holidays and being concerned with the correct interpretation of Jewish laws. Jesus is often presented in variance with some forms of first century Judaism, but the similarities are much more common. The - of Luke tells its readers that Jesus was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry, and all of the - agree that his first public act was his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The figure of John also is not clear in the - accounts. Luke says that he was Jesus' second cousin. Whatever his relationship may have been, John was a powerful and charismatic figure in Judea. When he preached his message of repentance, large crowds came down to the Jordan River to hear him. A body of disciples followed him. Years later, the Apostle Paul encountered Jews in Ephesus who had heard of John but not of Jesus. The - list twelve disciples, but this number must have varied. There were times in Jesus' ministry when only three to four disciples of this group were close to him. At other times, he seems to have been followed by thousands of disciples. The exact length of Jesus' public ministry is not known. The events of this ministry given in the synoptic - (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) could fit into one year, beginning and ending at Passover. However, the - of John presents Jesus' ministry over several seasons that seem to fit into a three year period. Traditionally, Christians accept John's outline and talk of a three year ministry. The locations of Jesus' ministry is also a matter of some dispute. The synoptic - present Jesus working mainly in Galilee and appearing in Jerusalem only for special occasions. John's account has Jesus spending more time in the province of Judea, around Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified on Friday and was placed in the tomb by Friday evening. When women came to tend to his body the following Sunday morning, they found the tomb empty. The four - tell different tales about the events that followed: Mark records that the women found the tomb empty and conversed with a young man there who told them that Jesus had risen and gone into Galilee. The other - present more elaborate statements. In them. Jesus appeared to different groups of disciples in Jerusalem and Galilee at various times over the next forty days. Eventually, he gathered his friends together at the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem and ascended into heaven. All of the - agree, however, that the tomb was empty and that Jesus had conquered death. Most agree that he was seen after his resurrection by a number of reputable witnesses. Luke mentions that some of the Apostles doubted the resurrection of Jesus, and that he ate a piece of broiled fish to prove to them that he was not a ghost or spirit but a living man. The resurrection event became central to the early Christian Church and almost all subsequent Christian groups and denominations.

Which Swiss Reformer argued that the Eucharist was not literally the body and blood of Jesus but rather a way to "remember" or memorialize his death? Martin Luther Ulrich Zwingli Thomas Aquinas John Knox

Ulrich Zwingli

Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Marriage, Holy Orders

What are the 7 Sacraments

Persecution of Christians

During the period between 64 and 330 CE, Christianity went through several periods of - and acceptance by the Roman Empire. Officially, the Empire was tolerant of all religions. However, the Christians occasionally found themselves in trouble because of their refusal to accept the official Roman gods and to worship them on state occasions. Jews also were in turmoil over this issue. In addition, the Christian sect was accused by the Romans of a variety of evils. Because Christians were often from the slave classes and often met in secret, they were accused of performing evil secret rituals that included eating human flesh and drinking human blood. They also were accused of sexual immorality. As the number of Christians grew, as they refused to give first allegiance to the emperor, and as they occasionally refused to be members of the Roman army, opposition to them grew. Frequently, - was the result. Nero's - of Christians was local and brief. Emperor Domitian insisted that citizens of the Empire worship his person, and he instituted the first widespread - of Christians who refused to worship him. This - may have formed the background from which the Revelation of John was written. Early - of Christians also led to the development of traditions concerning that sanctity of martyrdom that persist to this day.

Roman Empire in the 1st Century CE

Christianity began as a sect of Judaism in the first century CE, when the - was at its peak and Augustus Caesar ruled. Some knowledge of the condition of both Judaism and the - of those days will help us understand the forces that created Christianity. In the first century CE, much of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East were under Roman rule. The Mediterranean Sea was a "Roman Lake." The various peoples of the - shared a common language and a common intellectual culture that combined elements of Greek and Roman philosophy and religion. Under the rule of Augustus Caesar and his successors, the Roman legions had conquered almost everything that could be conquered. Wherever they went, they took with the Roman civilization, efficient administrators, and thorough engineers. They built cities and roads to link them. They swept the Mediterranean of pirates and made sea travel safe. Communication and travel across the vast area had never been safer or more sure. When Christian missionaries, such as the Apostle Paul, began to spread the gospel of Christianity, the - provided the path. In addition to material benefits, as mentioned, the - gave the world one language. Each captive nation continued to speak its own native tongue, of course, but wherever one went in the Roman world, the leaders of government and business would, in addition, be able to speak Koine Greek. Although the language of the common people of Rome was Latin, many of the leaders had been educated by Greek slaves and tutors; they found Greek a more beautiful and expressive language. Furthermore, Alexander the Great had conquered much of the world that later became the -, and he had sowed the seeds of Hellenistic culture and its Greek language wherever his armies had gone. Because ancient Greece had been the home of philosophy, the beautiful and accurate language of Greece is considered by many to be one of the best vehicles for expressing philosophical and theological thought. A Christian missionary (Paul) could go anywhere in the - and be sure that he could conserve with the populace in Koine Greek. He could also write letters, epistles, to Christian communities in Greek and know that they would be read and understood. The world of the first century - was one of political stability. The Romans governed with great cruelty, but they produced a world of relative peace. Augustus and his successors imposed their pax romana (the peace of Rome); although it was harsh, it was peace nonetheless. To be sure, there were local revolts against Roman government, such as the Jewish revolt of 66-70 CE, but there were no major international wars during this period. Christianity developed in a time stable government and international calm. The Roman world of the first century had no major religious commitment. The Greeks and Romans had their pantheons, but belief in them had largely ceased, at least among the ruling elite. Sacrifices to the Roman gods were still carried on officially, but there was little popular support for them. The nations within the - had their own national religions, and many of these were alive and well. However, the - itself had no vital official religion during this era, and many people were seeking a new religion to take the place of the dead or dying faiths. Many sought out astrology as a solution to the problems of life. Others turned to new religious cults that developed from various Eastern religions. These and other so called mystery religions gained large followings among the citizens of the -.

Penance

Christians must confess their sins regularly in private to priests and receive absolution. Absolution, or forgiveness, may be conditioned upon acts of - ordered by the pries, depending on the seriousness of the sin confessed.

In which text does Augustine argue that Christians were not to blame for the sack of Rome by the Goths? The Confessions Rules for Monks City of God Summa Theologica

City of God

Which Roman Emperor was the first to convert to Christianity and also made Christianity legal in his Edict of Milan? Justinian Constantine Theodosius Marcian

Constantine

Which of the following did NOT result from Vatican II? a) Non-Catholic Christians began to be regarded as true Christians b) Vernacular languages were allowed during Mass c) Jews were declared to be no longer held responsible for the death of Jesus d) Priests were allowed to marry

D

Which early Christian sacrament developed from the Jewish Passover which Jesus consumed the night he was executed? Eucharist Baptism Reconciliation Matrimony

Eucharist

Which sacrament is also known as the Last Rites? Baptism Confirmation Holy Orders Extreme Unction

Extreme Unction

The life of Jesus was recorded in which of the following? Epistles Gospels Apocalypses Psalms

Gospels

Which language was spoken throughout the Roman Empire in the 1st century CE (and the language by which most early Christians communicated in person and in letter, including Paul)? Hebrew Arabic Latin Greek

Greek

Which of the following is most likely NOT to have happened to Jesus near the end of his life? He was enthroned as the King of Judea by elite Jews. He appeared before the Jewish Sanhedrin (court). He was beaten by Roman soldiers. He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate.

He was enthroned as the king of Judea by elite Jews

Ulrich Zwingli

In Switzerland, the reform movement was led by -. - was a contemporary of Luther and was much influenced by his writings. At first, the Reformed Church in Switzerland was very close to the Lutheran movement. However, - and Luther differed substantially over one central issue. Although Luther denied that the bread and wine of communion actually became the body and blood of Christ, he did believe that Christ was spiritually present in the elements. He believed that the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, "This is my body," were to be taken literally. - chose to emphasize the other words of Jesus at the Last Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me." Therefore, to the Swiss reformer, the communion meal was a memorial, a remembrance of Jesus's death. This issue prevented a union between the Swiss Protestants and the Lutherans.

Christian Monasticism

Introduced by the early medieval church, the - movement became a major part of Christianity. OF all the major religions of the Western world, Christianity is the only one to encourage - orders. Neither Judaism nor Islam has encouraged its members to live alone apart from the evils of normal life, although there have been minor movements in both religions in that direction. The movement toward asceticism and - community life apparently began in Egypt in the middle of the third century CE. Christians in Egypt may have been influenced by the asceticism of native Egyptian religions, or they may have been influenced by the basic distrust of the flesh taught by the Manichaeans, the Gnostics, and the Neoplatonists. Egypt itself, with its deserts and wild places, offered the ideal setting for men and women who wanted to leave the problems of normal life behind them and seek solitude in the wilderness. Some began to sell their possessions and go out into the desert regions to live simple lives dedicated to God. A number of them were widely known for their feats of asceticism. The first Christian monastery is attributed to Pachomius, who was born in Egypt in the last decade of the third century. For a variety of reasons, the - movement soon became popular throughout Christendom. Benedict of Nursia is another important figure in the history of Christian - and is especially remembered for his "Rule," a disciplinary guidebook that provided order for communities of monks and nuns. Basically, monasteries were secluded places where people dedicate themselves to a simple life of hard manual labor, prayer, fasting, and sometimes study. What little learning and scholarship existed in the medieval period was kept alive in monasteries. Historically, some of the best minds of the church were produced by the communities. Jerome, who translated the Hebrew and Greek biblical material into the Latin Vulgate—the standard Bible for the Roman Catholic Church for over 1,500 years—was a product of the - movement. Some have suggested that the vitality and strength of the monasteries at any given time was an accurate gauge of the vitality of the entire church.

Which brother of Jesus was the leader of the Jerusalem church after Peter left on mission work? Jude John James Simon

James

The Events Leading to the Execution of Jesus

Jesus and his followers began their journey southward to Jerusalem. They arrived at the time of celebration of the Passover, when the city was crowded with pilgrims from the Diaspora communities all over the world. It was a season of great expectation because if commemorated God's greatest intervention in history on behalf of his people. On the Sunday before his death, Jesus entered the city and was widely accepted and acclaimed by the citizens. On this day and those that followed, Jesus spent much time in the temple teaching and engaging in debates with his opponents. Each afternoon, he left the city and went a few miles to the village of Bethany, where he stayed at the home of his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. On Thursday evening, Jesus entered Jerusalem and partook of a final meal with his disciples. It is not clear in all of the Gospels whether this was the Passover Seder or simply a common meal. He shared bread and wine with his disciples. Following the meal, Jesus and his party went out of the city to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed for a few hours. Here he was betrayed by Judas, one of his disciples, and arrested by the temple guards. He was tried on charges of blasphemy by the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, early the next morning. This trial was followed by a hearing before Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator of Judea, and a beating by his troops. Jesus was also interviewed by Herod Antipas, the governor of Galilee. Finally, at about nine o'clock in the morning, he was sent out of the city and crucified with two felons. By three o'clock in the afternoon, he was dead. He was taken from the cross and buried in a nearby borrowed tomb.

Vatican II

John XXIII became pope in 1958 and was determined to revitalize the Church and bring it into line with the twentieth century. Therefore, he called the Second - Council (often called -), which was to be the most revolutionary council since Trent. Invited to the Council were representatives of Orthodox and Protestant Christian groups acting as observers to the proceedings. Meeting between 1962 and 1965, the Council effected some of the most sweeping changes ever made in the Catholic Church. Non-Catholics were recognized as true Christians, the vernacular was allowed in many parts of the mass, the Index of Prohibited Books was abolished, more congregational participation in worship was encouraged, and the Church officially declared that Jews were no longer to be held responsible for the death of Jesus. There also was an outreach toward dialogue with non-Christian religions. In general, - attempted to bring the Church up to date and took several steps toward reconciliation with Orthodox and Protestant groups.

Which German monk is often credited with officially beginning the Protestant Reformation when he posts his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg church? Martin Luther John Wycliffe Thomas Aquinas John Knox

Martin Luther

Role of James in the Jerusalem Church

Our knowledge of the Jerusalem church is drawn from the accounts of the New Testament book Acts of the Apostles. The leadership of the group seems to have resided in two men. A second leader who came to have more and more influence in Jerusalem was -, the half-brother of Jesus. Tradition says that - was not a follower of Jesus during his ministry but came to believe in him after the resurrection. - assumed leadership of the Jerusalem church when Simon Peter moved out to other communities. Beyond these two, there seems to have been no official leadership.

Benedict of Nursia is an important figure in which movement? Christian monasticism Christian Gnosticism Zoroastrianism Jewish Christianity

Christian Monasticism

Key Moments in the Life of Paul

- is the best known early Christian. Not only was - important as a missionary of the early faith, but he also made a great contribution as a theologian. He was among the first to attempt to state systematically the beliefs of Christianity. Indeed, - is sometimes called the "Second Founded of Christianity." According to the biographical material presented in Acts and that which may be gathered from his epistles, - was reared in the Diaspora Jewish community of Tarsus in Asia Minor. He was educated in both Judaism and Hellenistic traditions. He studied with the great Rabbi Gamaliel and was a member of the Pharisee party. - was originally strongly anti-Christian, and when opposition to the Christian sect in Jerusalem became active persecution, - became a leader and observed the stoning of Stephen. On a mission to persecute the Christians in Damascus, he was struck down by a light from heaven and was converted from an enemy of the Christians to a spokesperson for them. After a time of study, he began to preach on behalf of Christianity. With various companions, he traveled across the Roman Empire, preaching first in the Jewish synagogue and then to gentile audiences. It was -, perhaps more than anyone else, who led the movement to allow gentiles to become Christians without first becoming Jews and following the laws of Judaism. The fact that converts could come very easily into the church from almost any background, without a lengthy and arduous preparation for Judaism, made it possible for Christianity to become an independent universal religion rather than a sect of Judaism. - and his companions carried out three missionary journeys, which took them to many of the cities of Asia Minor and Greece. Upon completion of his travels, - returned to Jerusalem, where he was arrested by the Roman authorities. HE was imprisoned in Caesarea for several years and eventually sent to Rome, where he was to be tried by Caesar. Acts concluded with - entering Rome somewhere around 60 CE, and there is no biblical material about the remainder of his life. Tradition says he was imprisoned in Rome during the period of the Neronic persecution of the church and executed.

Baptism

- of infants is necessary to wash away the taint of original sin. Any infant who dies without the benefit of - is technically destined for hell. Later, however, it became popular to say that the unbaptized infant was to spend eternity in a land called limbo.

Baptism

- was apparently a part of Christian worship from the earliest times. - as an initiation into a new faith was practiced by the Pharisees when they took converts into Judaism. John the Baptist baptized people in the Jordan River as a symbol of repentance. Jesus' disciples baptized converts even during his ministry, and Paul baptized converts wherever he went. Both the mode and meaning of Christian - have been objects of debate throughout the history of the church. The word baptize comes from the Greek word baptizein, "to immense." Presumably, John immersed his converts in the Jordan River. As Christians grew in number, the inconvenience of finding a body of water large enough to immerse the candidate may have ushered in a more moderate form of -. Pouring of sprinkling water on the head became accepted as the proper mode of -. Some Christian communities continue the practice of - by immersion. It appears originally to have been an outward sign of the change in status from the pagan life to the Christian life. In later years, it took on deeper meanings. Eventually, - was understood to be the washing away of original sin. Whatever the original manner and meaning of - may have been, it has long been one of the most important rituals in Christianity.

Basic Content of the Gospels

About forty years after the death of Jesus, members of this group began to write biographical statements about him, centered on his death and resurrection. These books, or -, are not biographies in the true sense of the word but give most of their attention to the last few months in the life of Jesus. Only rarely are Jesus' childhood or early adult years mentioned, and none of the - contains a physical description of Jesus. Even the exact details of Jesus' last few months differ among the four -. If the earliest - was written forty years after the death of Jesus, and if all of the - were written by confessed Christians who had a biased point of view, then admittedly they may not be the most reliable sources of objective material. With all of their subjective biases, however, the - still provide the best information we have about the life of Jesus. Two -, Mark and john, begin with the ministry of a mature Jesus. Only Matthew and Luke speak of his birth, and only Luke contains materials relating to Jesus' childhood. The reader must assume that for the early church, the years before Jesus' actual ministry were not terribly important. In those - that do tell of his birth, there are problems in harmonizing details. They do agree, however, that Jesus was born in the ancestral home of David: Bethlehem. Matthew places the time of Jesus' birth in the years prior to the death of Herod the Great. Both Matthew and Luke assert that Jesus' birth was unique in that he was born of Mary, who was a virgin. They tie this event to the world of the eighteenth-century BCE. Hebrew prophet Isaiah: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Mormons

Another modern movement in Christianity is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the -. Joseph Smith, a young man in upstate New York, experienced a series of visions in which he received spiritual instruction from God the Father; Jesus Christ; John the Baptist; the Apostles Peter, James, and John; an angel known to church members as Moroni. The angel informed him of the location of a set of gold tablets and bestowed on him the ability to translate them. This is the Book or -, which recounts the history and teaching of the Nephite prophets. The church teaches that the Nephites were a branch of the Israelites who migrated to the Americas. Its mission is to restore what is held to be the original Christianity. Smith continued to receive revelations concerning doctrinal and ritual matters. These were recorded in Doctrines and Covenants. A third - scripture is Pearl of Great Price, an inspired translation of an Egyptian papyri. - are proud to call themselves Christians and at the same time their beliefs and teachings differ substantially from those of other Christian communities. Among the most important teachings of the church are these: Heavenly Father and Mother are physical beings. They have spirit children who are subsequently born on Earth in human form. Marriage is eternal if "sealed" in a - Temple ceremony. The afterlife is a transformative process through which humans can ultimately become divine. Between the time of his crucifixion and resurrection Jesus preached in the Americas. The Church is led by prophets who continue to receive revelations from God. Because of these teachings and of the practice of polygamy, - were severely persecuted. They were driven from Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois before settling in Utah in 1847. Despite persecution and the hostility of many other Christian denominations, the church has experienced phenomenal growth. - are enthusiastic missionaries. Young me are expected to devote two years to mission activities. The result has been enormous growth of church members. In 1900 there were approximately 240,000 - worldwide; today the number is more than 11,000,000. In the late 1990s conversion was responsible for more than 80 percent of annual growth in church membership.

Pentecost

Another of the most ancient of Christian holy days is -. The word - was the Greek name for the Jewish festival of Shavuot. It was established fifty days after Passover and commemorated the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai after the Exodus. According to the Book of Acts, this day came fifty days after Jesus's resurrection: The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples gathered in Jerusalem and sent them into the streets to preach their new faith. Many modern Christians regard the - to be the birthday of the church and celebrate it with great joy. Throughout the year, various Christian communities have other celebrations. Some observe the special days of certain saints. Many Christians recognize the first of November as All Saint's Day, in which all of the recently deceased are remembered and honored.

Which of the following is NOT one of the differences between Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy? a) Whether or not the clergy may marry b) Whether or not Jesus is a divine being c) The language used in liturgy d) Whether or not the bishop of Rome had complete authority over all of Christendom

B

Extreme Unction

As a Catholic nears death, he or she is to be visited by a priest and anointed with healing oil. The priest then hears the last confession. In receiving these last rites, the Catholic is properly prepared to die.

Which day formally begins the Easter holiday? Ash Wednesday Advent Ascension Resurrection Sunday

Ash Wednesday

Confirmation

At some point before maturity, usually at about age thirteen, children must be - as an extension of their baptism.

Which Christian sacrament is an initiation ritual that removes past sins a person has committed prior to becoming a Christian? Eucharist Baptism Holy Orders Extreme Unction

Baptism

The Weakened Papacy in the 14th Century

Because of its great missionary activities and basic attractiveness, Christianity had become virtually the only religion of Western Europe by the medieval period. The thrust of the Muslim movement into Western Europe was stopped by Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours in 732. Although Spain was Muslim for another seven centuries, the rest of Western Europe remained Christian. The implications of this for the - were immense. For Europeans, there was only one Holy Catholic Church, outside of which there was no salvation. This church had one head, Christ, who ruled through his vicar, Simon Peter, and his successors on the throne of the Church in Rome. The line of succession from Simon Peter to the various popes was said to be unbroken line of authority. This power and its potential were the occasion for both excellence and abuse by the medieval popes. In the chaos that followed the decline of the Roman Empire, the - was often the only secure leadership in Europe, and the popes of the Christian church exercised much of the same power as did temporal rulers. Indeed, they were the makers of many temporal rulers, as it was the custom of those who would be emperors of the Holy Roman Empire to be crowned by the popes. Naturally, this power led to abuses. The - gathered lands, wealth, and art treasures and went to war in a manner similar to that of any other feudal state. Frequently, ecclesiastical offices were give to relatives (nepotism) or sold to the highest bidder (simony) because they carried to much potential power and wealth. In terms of its moral leadership, the - reached its weakest point between 1309 and 1377, when the headquarters of the - moved from Rome to Avignon I what is now France. All of the popes and most of the cardinals of this era were French; at times, the - was virtually captive to the king of France, which weakened its power and prestige with nations that were not friendly to France. This was a period of papal wealth, luxury, moral laxity, and abuse. In 1378, the Avignon cardinals elected a new pope, Urban VI, who then refused to return to Avignon with them and instead restored the - to Rome. The cardinals declared Urban's election void and elected another pope, who would rule from Avignon. Thereupon, Urban selected another college of cardinals. The European nations were divided in their support of the two men who claimed to be the successor to Saint (Simon) Peter. The Council of Pisa was called in 1409 to settle the issue but instead selected a third pope, who also claimed to be Christ's vicar on Earth. This division was finally healed by the Council of Constance, which met from 1414 to 1418, and the - was returned to one pope, with his capital in Rome.

Holy Orders

For Christians who choose a religious vocation instead of marriage, taking the - is considered a sacrament.

4 Reasons for Spilt Between the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church

From the time of the establishment of the city of Constantinople as the new capital of the Roman Empire, there developed a gradually widening division between the Christians of the East and those of Western Europe. This basic division was political and geographic as well as theological. When Constantine set up his capital in the East, he took an active role in the development and direction of the church and called the Council of Nicaea to settle theological differences. His successors followed his example and usually took an active part in directing religion. In the West, Rome had been left without an effective political leadership. The bishops of the Roman church stepped into this vacuum and even took some of the titles of the ancient caesars. When the barbarians massed at the walls of Rome, it was the popes who negotiated with them for the city. The theological differences between the East and West were basic. Most of the great thinkers and leaders of the early church were from North Africa and Asia Minor. Most of the early councils that established Christian doctrine were held in the East. Eastern Christians tended to be more interested in theological formulations and became bitterly divided over certain issues. Western Christians tended to be more practical and were concerned with survival in a hostile, decaying world. Eastern theologians tended to emphasize the divine nature of Christ, whereas those of the West emphasized his humanity. The largest issue dividing Eastern and Western Christians was the papacy. The great cities of the East and outstanding bishops who became known as patriarchs. Although Constantinople was the capital, its patriarch could never gain authority over the patriarchs of the other major cities. In the West, there was only Rome, and the bishop of that city clearly led the Western church. Gradually, the bishop of Rome claimed to be the leader of all Christendom, but the Eastern patriarchs refused to accept his authority. Numerous minor differences also developed between these churches, which came to be known as Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. The Eastern Church used icons—two dimensional pictures of Jesus, Mary, and the disciples—in their worship, whereas the Wester church long eschewed them. The East baptized infants by immersion, whereas the West allowed sprinkling. The East gave people both bread and wine in the communion meal, whereas after the tenth century, the West gave them only bread. The East allowed its clergy the possibility of marriage before ordination, whereas the West came to insist on celibacy. The East used Greek as its language of worship, whereas the West used Latin until the mid-twentieth century. The rift between the two branches of Christendom continued to grow during its first thousand years. Western Christians were busy repelling various barbarian invasions and building what has become Western Europe, while the East saw almost all of its empire fall into the hands of Muslim invaders In the seventh and eighth centuries. Antagonism reached a climax in 1054, when Leo IX sent delegates to Constantinople to excommunicate the Patriarch Cerularius. This event, often referred to as the "Great Schism," marks division of the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox churches. Even this breach might have been healed, but Christian Crusaders from European nations stopped at Constantinople in 1204 on their way to the Holy Land and sacked the city. Even today, the modern ecumenical movement within Christendom is still seeking a reunion between these two branches of the church.

Koine Greek

In addition to material benefits, as mentioned, the Roman Empire gave the world one language. Each captive nation continued to speak its own native tongue, of course, but wherever one went in the Roman world, the leaders of government and business would, in addition, be able to speak -. Although the language of the common people of Rome was Latin, many of the leaders had been educated by Greek slaves and tutors; they found Greek a more beautiful and expressive language. Furthermore, Alexander the Great had conquered much of the world that later became the Roman Empire, and he had sowed the seeds of Hellenistic culture and its Greek language wherever his armies had gone. Because ancient Greece had been the home of philosophy, the beautiful and accurate language of Greece is considered by many to be one of the best vehicles for expressing philosophical and theological thought. A Christian missionary (Paul) could go anywhere in the Roman Empire and be sure that he could conserve with the populace in -. He could also write letters, epistles, to Christian communities in Greek and know that they would be read and understood.

Development of the Papacy

In the early years of Christianity, Jerusalem exercised leadership over the church. After 70 CE, other cities, such as Alexandria and Antioch, took over this leadership. These cities produced many of the outstanding thinkers, known as the church fathers, whose writings have influenced Christianity for all time. Each of the great cities of the Roman Empire had a bishop; the larger and more influential city, the greater the authority of its bishop. The bishops of Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Rome were all considered to be leaders in the early church. Eventually, the bishop of the Church of Rome came to be recognized as the most important bishop of all and finally was designated as pope. There were several reasons for this ascendency. First, Simon Peter, whom Jesus had singled out as the rock upon which he would build his church, had become the first bishop of the Roman church and had passed on his authority to the bishops who succeeded him. Thus, the Roman church had a very strong tradition. Second, Constantine, the first Roman emperor to support Christianity, moved his political capital from Rome to Byzantium in 330 CE. This left Rome without a strong political leader. A series of strong bishops of the Roman church filled this void and were looked on by Western rulers as being extremely important. Third, the churches of the East were split by various doctrinal controversies, and no one bishop could speak for all Eastern Christians. The West, however, was relatively free from these controversies; the bishop of Rome was the spokesperson for a widely accepted orthodoxy. Thus, a combination of fortuitous events and able leadership, the Church of Rome came to be the dominant church in Christendom, and its bishops became the Christian popes.

Athanasius of Alexandria is the first Christian on record who regarded all 27 (and only these 27) books of what would become the New Testament as authoritative and sacred. Approximately when did this happen? Within a decade after Jesus died At the end of the 1st century In the middle of the 4th century During the Middle Ages

In the middle of the 4th century

Production of the New Testament

In the years following Jesus' death, Christians undoubtedly wrote their remembrances of the events of his life as well as his sayings. We may speculate that collections of his teachings were compiled for use in the instruction of converts. However, Christians may not have made a careful attempt to write the story of Jesus because they were expecting his imminent return. As the years passed and as the people who personally knew of Jesus began to die, fewer and fewer Christians were able to recount the events in Jesus' life with any certainty. In 70 CE, the Roman armies closed in on Jerusalem to finish off the Jewish rebellion that had begun four years earlier. By the end of the summer, Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed, along with the Jerusalem church and many witnesses to the life of Jesus. It may have been this event that caused a Christian to collect a brief statement of events in the last few months of Jesus' life and to circulate it as the Gospel of Mark. In the next decade, two more elaborate Gospels, Matthew and Luke, were written using Mark as a base. The Gospel that differs most from the others in terms of content, chronology, and message is the Gospel of John. This work supposedly was written between 90 and 100 CE, although its date is by no means certain. The account of the early church in Jerusalem, Acts of the Apostles, was probably written by the author of Luke as a sequel to that Gospel. Other epistles by anonymous authors were probably written between 90 and 150 CE and make up 8 books in the current -. In addition to these books, there were many other epistles, Gospels, and histories written in these early centuries that were circulated and read by Christians, but they were not popular or authoritative enough to have been maintained. The exact list and number of the books in the - probably remained in flux for the first centuries of the life of the church. By the fourth century, Athanasius of Alexandria placed his authority behind the twenty seven books that make up the -.

Which of the following is a Protestant emphasis or idea? The immaculate conception of Mary Papal infallability Justification by faith alone Veneration of relics

Justification by faith alone

John Wycliffe

One of the earliest reformers of the Protestant Reformation was - of England. - was an Oxford scholar who eventually held many of the ideas that were later representative of the Protestant movement. His greatest contribution was the translation of the official Bible of the Church, the Vulgate, from Latin to English. To facilitate the reading of this Bible by the common people, - organized a band of wandering preachers known as Lollards, who went about the country preaching and teaching. Efforts to reform the Church met with fierce resistance. - died peacefully in 1384 but was condemned by the Council of Constance in 1415. His remains were unearthed and burned in 1428 as an expression of this condemnation. Even though the Lollard movement was intermittently persecuted by the kings of England, it survived long after -.

The Ecumenical Movement

One of the most important movements among Christians in the twentieth century was the -. As we have noted, Christianity has long been divided into two main branches, Eastern and Western; since the sixteenth century, the Western church has been divided into Protestant and Catholic. In the twentieth century, some Christians attempted to begin a hard journey toward reunion. The Catholic contribution to this journey was the Second Vatican Council. There were also attempts to reconcile theological differences dividing Protestant denominations. The most visible attempt at reunion was the formation of the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam in 1948. This organization supported by many Protestant denominations and some representatives of Eastern Orthodoxy. Although the World Council is organized to promote church unity, little actual unification has been produced. In fact, there are few concrete examples of reunion within Christendom. One has been the uniting of a small number of Protestant denominations that had no great theological differences. Other more dramatic unions stemmed from the pressing needs of the mission fields in nations like India, where factions within Christianity had weakened the case for conversions. Still, the reunification of Christianity is a long way off. Eastern Orthodoxy maintains aloofness toward the Western church. The post-Vatican II Catholic Church is more open to non-Catholic Christians than ever before, but the Protestant-Catholic dialogue, although progressing, still has many hurdles to clear. Protestants, as always, are vastly divided. Although some are eager for church union and willing to pay almost any price for it, the majority apparently still prefer to go it alone.

Anabaptists

One of the most radical dissenting groups was the -. Luther and Calvin had rejected only those elements in the Catholic Church that they felt were expressly forbidden in the Bible. - attempted to discard all of those elements not expressly found in the New Testament. Luther and Calvin advocated infant baptism because it was not condemned by the New Testament. - rejected it because they could not find such a practice in the New Testament. They therefore baptized adults who had formerly been baptized as infants—this the nickname - (those who baptize a second time). Because this movement was inherently divisive, there were many - subgroups with a great variety of beliefs. - have ranged from pacifists to violent revolutionaries, although most today are committed pacifists. Many of the - sects came to view the technological developments of the modern world as evil. Many of them do not use automobiles or other mechanized forms of transportation. Because they were different and their numbers were small, the - were persecuted by both Catholics and other Protestants, to the point that they were almost eliminated from the European continent. They survived in southern Germany, Britain, and America as Mennonites and Amish. Most Amish live in rural communities and continue to farm with horses. Mennonites are more accepting of the modern world, and many are active in peace and human rights movements.

John Calvin

Probably the greatest and most influential mind of the Reformation was -. - was born in France and received a classical education at the University of Paris. By 1534, he had come under the influence of the Protestant movement and made his break with the Roman church. By the time he was twenty-six, he had turned his fine mind to theological matters and had written the massive book that became the classic of Protestant theology, The Institutes of the Christian Religion. This book, originally written in Latin and later translated into French, was revised four times in - lifetime. In it, he set forth his understanding of the nature of the true Christian faith before it was corrupted by Rome. He repeated many of the teachings of Augustine, stressing such ideas as the sovereignty of God, original sin, the total depravity of man, predestination, and election. Among the most important of his teachings was the God determined those who were destined for heaven and those doomed to hell prior to the time of creation. Eventually, - served as a minister in the Reformed Church of Geneva, Switzerland, and then in Strasbourg, on the French-German border. He was invited back to Geneva a second time and remained there from 1541 until his death in 1564. Although he was never more than a minister in Geneva, - influence over the life of the entire city was enormous. Despite opposition from theological and political foes, he was virtually the ruler of Geneva. He himself was given to hard work and simple living, and he impressed this upon the city. He discouraged frivolity of any kind. He encouraged commerce and industry as well as lending money at reasonable rates of interest. He encouraged education and founded the University of Geneva. Under - leadership, Geneva became the home of oppressed Protestants from all over Europe. - was very intolerant of interpretations of Christianity other than his own and condemned theologian Michael Servetus to be burned at the stake because he did not accept the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. The importance of - to the Reformed Church cannot be stressed enough. His writings set the intellectual base for much of the later Protestant theology. His concern for the rightness of labor and thrift as proper expressions of Christianity continue to impact many Protestants today.

Which group of Christians involved in the Protestant Reformation argued that infant baptism was unacceptable and thus one had to be baptized a second time as an adult? The Lutherans The Anabaptists The Presbyterians The Lollards

The Anabaptists

Apostles

The Gospels all place Jesus within the background of first century Judaism. He quotes the Hebrew Scriptures in his teachings. Each Gospel writer sees Jesus as a fulfillment of the promises of the Hebrew Bible. Jesus and his - used the Jewish synagogue as the starting point of their ministry. The New Testament shows them celebrating the Jewish holidays and being concerned with the correct interpretation of Jewish laws. Jesus is often presented in variance with some forms of first century Judaism, but the similarities are much more common.

Bishop

The New Testament mentions several kinds of leaders in the early church, but their roles are never clearly delineated. One such leader was the -. The Greek word for -, episkopos, literally means "shepherd." Qualifications for this office were laid out by Paul in the epistles to Timothy and to Titus, and the - seems to have managed the church in a certain geographical area.

Sunday

The earliest Christians apparently continued to worship on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. By the late 50s CE, however, references to offerings on the "first day of the week," -, began to appear in writings of Paul. It is believed that early Christians chose to worship on this day in memory of the resurrection of Jesus. With rare exceptions, Christians keep - as a day of rest and worship. Some even refer to it as the "Sabbath." The Christian worship service has two primary foci. The first is the Christian Scripture, the Bible. Passages from the Bible are always read, and typically, the priest of minister preaches a sermon that relates the Scripture reading to the lives of people gathered for worship. The second focus is the celebration of sacraments like baptism or communion. In Catholic and Eastern Orthodox as well as in some Protestant churches, the Eucharist is observed at almost every gathering. Other Protestants have communion less frequently. Other common features of Christian worship include public prayers and hymn singing.

Thomas Aquinas

The issue that most concerned Christian thinkers was the relationship between faith and reason. Were Christian beliefs, which had been communicated through Scripture and the Church, consistent with what people perceived to be the truth by means pf their ability to reason? The most outstanding Christian scholar to address this issue was -, a Dominican monk whose entire life was given over to scholarship. He was a student of Albertus Magnus at the University of Paris. Although - was a prolific writer of hymns, commentaries, and theological studies, he is best remembered for two works. The first was Summa Contra Gentiles, a series of arguments defending the Christian faith against infidels. The second and best known of his works was Summa Theologiae, a massive systemization of the Christian faith that became the standard theological formulation for the Roman Catholic Church. -, more than anyone else, attempted to Christianize Aristotle. To prove part of the Christian scheme, - used Aristotle's arguments (based on reason) for the existence of God. However, - believed that reason could take the Christian only so far; beyond this point, there had to be divine revelation to complete the message. Therefore, both reason and revelation were necessary for Christian belief.

Easter

The oldest and most widely accepted holiday in the Christian calendar is -. The date for - is established each year according to the lunar calendar and may vary by a number of weeks from year to year. Forty days before -, Christians observe Ash Wednesday. O this day, it is traditional to begin the season leading to - with a somber reminder of the burden of sin. Some Christians receive a mark of ashes on their foreheads at special Ash Wednesday services. For the next forty days, Christians observe the season of Lent. During this period, it has been customary for some to abstain from a certain food or habit or to fast on certain days to be more aware of the need for repentance. The Lenten season closes with Holy Week. The first day of this week is known as Palm Sunday, when Christians commemorate Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. On Thursday of this week, Christians observe Maundy Thursday. This is traditionally the day of Jesus's last supper with his disciples. Some Christian communities partake of the communion meal, and some practice the ritual of foot washing on this night. The next day is known as Good Friday. On this day, Christians remember the trial, execution, and burial of Jesus. Special services are held to recount Jesus's last words from the cross. The Sunday following Good Friday is designated as -. On this day, Christians remember the resurrection of Jesus. It is a time of joyous celebration. The early church used - as a time to receive its new members with baptism and new robes. The tradition of new clothing has continued in many modern Christian communities. It also is a time of family gatherings and special meals. Forty days after - is Ascension Day, when Christians remember that Christ ascended into heaven after having spent time with his disciples following the resurrection.

Eucharist

The second addition of the early Christians was the -, or communion meal. This was probably modeled on the Seder meal of Judaism, in which community members recall divine history as they partake of sacred foods. Specifically, it was adopted by Christians from the model of Jesus' last supper with his disciples on the evening before his death. In the early years of the church, It became customary for Christians to gather together and eat a meal recalling the death of Jesus. Perhaps it was simply a meal of bread and wine, or it may have included other foods. Again, both the manner and meaning of the communion meal have been debated within the church. Eventually, the - became a sacred meal in which the bread and wine actually became the flesh and blood of Jesus; individuals who received these elements were actually eating and drinking the body of Jesus and these their souls were sanctified and aided in their journey toward eventual salvation. Like baptism, the - is considered a sacrament by most Christians.

The Catholic Counter-Reformation

When it became apparent that large numbers of Christians were leaving the Catholic Church and following the reformers, the Catholic Church responded, in 1545, by convening the Council of Trent. Some who came to the Council wanted reforms that would bring reconciliation with the Protestants. Others wished to state the Catholic position so clearly that there could be no reconciliation. Generally, the decisions of Trent favored those who preferred the second path. To counter the Protestant emphasis on Scripture as the sole word of God, the Council declared that Catholic tradition was co-equal with Scripture as a source of truth for Christians. Therefore, when Protestants pointed to a Catholic practice that was contrary to Scripture, the Catholics replied that the Church had written Scripture and therefore its traditions were at least equal if not superior. As a response to such Protestants as Wycliffe and Luther, who insisted on translating Scripture into the vernacular, the Council of Trent stated that the Latin Vulgate was to be the true sacred text of the Church. This also ran counter to the belief of reformers who had chosen to exclude certain Old Testament books not found in Jewish Scripture. This flew in the face of the Protestant doctrine of the "priesthood of the believer." Although most reformed churches had rejected all of the sacraments except baptism and communion, the Council of Trent reaffirmed the traditional seven. The Council of Trent also strongly supported the veneration of relics, saints, and sacred images—all contrary to most Protestant teaching. As a positive response to the challenge of Luther and others, the sale of indulgences was controlled, and other abuses of the medieval church were corrected.