Christianity Notes From Lecture Series

Christianity

Jesus of Nazareth was a Palestinian Jew who was non-observant (he broke the Sabbath, hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors and other outcasts in violation of contemporary Jewish law). He was generally not a law-giver; instead, he tended to criticize the short-comings of contemporary legalistic interpretations of Torah.

An argument following the death of Jesus broke out over whether Gentiles could be Christians. Paul (himself a Jew as were all of the disciples) argued they could. Peter and others resisted. Paul, of course, prevailed and what began as an offshoot of what is still a tiny religion (there are between 14 and 16 million Jews worldwide versus over 2 billion Christians and over a billion Muslims and several hundred million Buddhists and Hindus). Paul also argued that faith, not works, is what really counts. "For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

Leviticus also commanded to "love your neighbor as you love yourself."

The teachings of Jesus are at times contradictory and often in parable, so are often open to widely divergent interpretations. He wrote nothing down, so we are entirely dependent upon the accounts created at about 70 CE, decades following his death, often by those who had never met him.

One of the few times he was quite clear about what he believed was his Sermon on the Mount, in which his standard given was actually higher than of the prevailing Jewish law. Not committing adultery was not enough; even committing it in your heart was just as bad. The bottom line, however, was that one would love God with all his heart and soul, and love his neighbor as he would love himself.

Presbyterian means "board of elders" and comes from the old Greco-Roman school system.

Liturgy was a word used in ancient Greece to refer to all public works including sacrifices, prayer, etc.

Gnostics in the first century argued that good Christians should not have sex or even have children. Apologists arguing against Gnostic influence shaped much of early Christian thought.

313: Edict of Milan issued by Emperor Constantine changes Christianity from a fringe religion on the run and hunted by authorities to the official state religion of Rome.

325: Council of Nicea attempted to develop a more uniform creed.

Nave was a long hallway with aisles on the side from naves, an ancient word for ship. The apse is the circular space containing the altar.

Eucharist means thanks giving.

Extreme unction = last rites = anointing of the ill.

Sunday is the first day of the week and is the pagan name for "one" day.

Pentecost was a Jewish holiday celebrated 40 days after Passover. It became a Christian holiday, the time the holy spirit was supposed to have descended upon followers of Jesus, 40 days following his execution by the Romans.

Lent = 40 days prior to Easter, somewhat analogous to Ramadan.

Advent = 30 days prior to Christmas.

Pilgrimage began in Christianity in the 4^th Century.