Christianity

Answer the following questions after your reading assignment. Submit your responses as a Microsoft Word document.

1) Paul is often considered an “apostle” although he was never physically present during the life of Jesus. He is a critical cog in the development of Christianity particularly when it separated from Judaism and became its own religion. What sets Paul apart in his pronouncements of the faith? Many scholars point out some striking differences between the teachings of Paul and the ideas expressed by Jesus in the Gospels. Can you contrast the two?

2) As you have seen from your readings, the schism between the two discrete areas that developed in the first few hundred years of Christianity was dramatic and absolute. Yet this schism was about much more than theology. Give reasons other than theology why the two traditions differed. Make an argument for the validity of both from the point of view of Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

3) Look at the Protestant Reformers Martin Luther, John Calvin and John Wesley. What did each of them find objectionable about the Roman Catholic Church? The response of the Church at the time was violent and extremely oppressive. Why was this the case? Keep in mind this is much more than a simple theological dispute.

4) Christianity is a religion which has two millennia of development. If you tie it to Judaism, it is also one of the world’s oldest religions that is still practiced. In your readings and information from the course you can see that there are enormous variations in the way Christians approach things. Identify at least three groups that hold unique and unusual views about Christianity and describe those views. Keep in mind that if a view is held by the majority of Christians (ex: Jesus is the son of god), it is neither unique nor unusual.

5) Please review the BBC website on Christianity (Link – http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/). Pick one subdivision or sect of Christianity. Describe its escatology (a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind; specifically : any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment) and how it developed. Be specific. Describe exactly what they believe will happen. And don’t just tell me the good people “go to heaven.” Be specific. What happens there? What will it be like?