Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems

2. •Is considered as the most popular religion in the world with the most
number of adherents among all religions. starting around the 1st
century C.E., it developed out of Judaism during the reign of he Roman
Empire in West Asia. It centers on the life, teaching, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is considered the messiah or saviour of
the humanity.

3. CONCEPT MAP
OF CHRISTIANITY

4. CHRISTIANITY
Jesus as the
founder around
1st century C.E.
Bible (old and
new testament)
as the sacred
texts
God in the form
of holy trinity
(father son and
the holy spirit)
Belief in Virgin
Birth
Resurrection,
and Last
Judgement
Sects include
Roman
Catholicism
eastern
Orthodox and
Protestantism

5. Christianity is the largest religion in the world with over 2 billion
followers. 42 million people in Britain today describe themselves
as Christian, and there are 6 million who are actively practising.
Christianity is focussed on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ,
who Christians believe to be the Son of God. Jesus was born in
Bethlehem in the Middle East over 2000 years ago.

6. SYMBOLS
Christian Fish or Ichthys
The Christian Fish, also called the Jesus Fish or Ichthys, was a
secret symbol of early Christianity.The Ichthys or fish symbol was used by
early Christians to identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ and to
express their affinity to Christianity.
Christian Cross
Roman Catholic depictions of the cross often reveal the body of Christ
still on the cross. This form is known as the crucifix and brings emphasis to
the sacrifice and suffering of Christ.

8. SOURCES OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION

9. The Bible, which is composed of the Old
Testament and the New Testament, is the primary
source of historical information about Christianity.
The Old Testament serves as the repository of the
sacred covenant between God and the people
through Abraham and Moses, while the New
Testament records the new covenant, this time
through Jesus.

10. RELIGIOUS LEADERS

11. Pope
- serves as the head of the Catholic
church, the inheritor of Peter. He has a
headquarter in Vatican, an
independent state in Rome. He is
responsible for the general supervision
of the church.

12. Cardinals
- are next to the Pope and who are also
appointed the by the Pope. The cardinals
represent the Pope and the Roman Catholic
Church in different parts of the world. They
serves as advisers to the Pope and elect a
new pope as the need arises, thus they have
the power to choose the successor of the
outgoing pope.

13. Bishops
- are teachers of the doctrine,
priests of sacred worship, and
ministers of church government. They
provide pastoral supervision for a
diocese and serve as representatives
of the Church.

14. Priests
- are the ordained ministers
responsible for the
administering of the
sacraments, such as the
Eucharist, marriage, baptism,
and confirmation.

15. Deacons
- are classified into two types: the
transitional deacon is a seminarian
who is studying for the priesthood and
the other one is a permanent deacon,
who can get married and serves as a
priests assistant in administering in
some of the sacraments.

16. DEITY/GOD

17. Christians believe in one
God, therefore Christianity is a
monotheistic religion. God
seen as the creator and the
maintainer of the universe.

18. HOLY TRINITY

19. Christians believes in the Holy Trinity,
which means that God is composed of
three persons; God the father, the Son
(Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. The
doctrine of the Holy Trinity was the
Christianity’s way to end the controversy
generated by the Arianism, a teaching by
Arius which claimed that Jesus Christ was
not actually a God.

20. SACRED
SCRIPTURES

21. The bible is considered the sacred scriptures of
the Christianity. It is a collection of songs, stories,
poetry, letters, history, as well as literature. It is
composed of two books, the Old testament and
the new testament. The old testament is
considered he original Hebrew bible, written
between 1200 and 165 B.E.C. the new testament
was written by Christians around 100 C.E

22. OLD TESTAMENT

23. The Hebrew Bible has 39 books, written over a long period of time, and is the literary
archive of the ancient nation of Israel. It was traditionally arranged in three sections.
The first five books, Genesis to Deuteronomy. They are not 'law' in a modern Western
sense: Genesis is a book of stories, with nothing remotely like rules and regulations, and
though the other four do contain community laws they also have many narratives. The
Hebrew word for Law ('Torah') means 'guidance' or 'instruction', and that could include
stories offering everyday examples of how people were meant to live as well as legal
requirements.
These books were later called the 'Pentateuch', and tradition attributed them to Moses.
Some parts undoubtedly date from that period, but as things changed old laws were
updated and new ones produced, and this was the work of later editors over several
centuries.

24. NEW
TESTAMENT

25. The New Testament has 27 books, written between about
50 and 100 AD, and falling naturally into two sections: the
Gospels, which tell the story of Jesus (Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John); and the Letters (or epistles) - written by
various Christian leaders to provide guidance for the
earliest church communities.

26. DOCTRINE

27. Doctrine is something that is taught; a principle or creed of principles presented for
acceptance or belief; a system of beliefs. In Scripture, doctrine takes on a broader
meaning. In the Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology this explanation is given:
"Christianity is a religion founded on a message of good news rooted in the
significance of the life of Jesus Christ. In Scripture, then, doctrine refers to the entire
body of essential theological truths that define and describe that message ... The
message includes historical facts, such as those regarding the events of the life of
Jesus Christ ... But it is deeper than biographical facts alone... Doctrine, then, is
scriptural teaching on theological truths."

29. The following beliefs are central to almost all Christian faith groups. They are
presented here as the core doctrines of Christianity. A small number of faith groups
who consider themselves to be within the framework of Christianity do not accept
some of these beliefs. It should also be understood that slight variances, exceptions,
and additions to these doctrines exist within certain faith groups that fall under the
broad umbrella of Christianity.

31. You shall have no other Gods but me.
You shall not make for yourself any idol, nor bow down to it or worship it.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
You shall remember and keep the Sabbath day holy.
Respect your father and mother.
You must not commit murder.
You must not commit adultery.
You must not steal.
You must not give false evidence against your neighbour.
You must not be envious of your neighbour's goods. You shall not be envious of his
house nor his wife, nor anything that belongs to your neighbour.

32. Seven sacraments

33. In baptism, God's saving grace, His very presence, enters into the human soul. The essential rite
of baptism is very simple. The person celebrating the sacrament (usually a priest) says 'I baptize
you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit' while pouring water over the
head of the person receiving the sacrament or dipping the person in water. For Catholics, baptism
is the sacrament of salvation and the door to all other sacraments.
A Catholic Baptism
Those who partake in the Eucharist receive the real Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus
Christ in what appears to be bread and wine. During Mass, regular bread and wine are
consecrated by the priest, through God's power, when he repeats Jesus's words, 'This is My Body'
and 'This is the chalice of My Blood.'
Confirmation provides a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which helps the confirmed Catholic
witness to Christ and lead a mature Christian life. The rite of confirmation, usually performed by a
bishop, involves the anointing with chrism (holy oil), the laying on of hands, and the words 'Be
sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.'

34. In reconciliation, which is also called 'confession' or 'penance,' a Catholic confesses his or her
sins to a priest in the spirit of true repentance and receives forgiveness. The priest acts as a
visible representative of Christ, who forgives sins through Him, when he says the words of
absolution: 'I absolve you of your sins in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit.'
Anointing of the sick offers the comfort of God's grace to those who are ill. The sacrament
provides spiritual and sometimes physical healing, according to God's will, but also allows the
sick person to join his or her sufferings to Christ and prepare for death. The essential rite of this
sacrament involves anointing with the oil of the sick and prayer.
Marriage, or matrimony, joins a man and a woman together in a life-long covenant of self-giving
love. The two spouses give their consent to join together in marriage as the Church defines it.
God gives special grace to the couple that they may live out their vow.
In holy orders, men are ordained as bishops, priests, and deacons through a bishop's laying on
of hands and prayer. These men are given the grace to live out their lives in service to the
Church and to God's people.

36. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.

38. In Western Christendom, four Sundays are included, but in the East the season is longer and
begins in the middle of November.
However, Advent always finishes on Christmas Eve. If that falls on a Sunday, it is considered to be
the fourth Sunday of Advent.
The name Advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus' meaning arrival.
Using an advent wreath and four candles - one to symbolise each of the Sundays in Advent,
Christians celebrate this time of year by praying together and enjoying the time as a family.
Advent calendars were created to hold the younger members of the families' attention during the
time, helping them to count down the days until Christmas Day.
The calendars have since gone on to be used by non-Christians, and sold with chocolates inside
for each day.

40. Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before
the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate
Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by
fasting, both from food and festivities.
Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross,
Lent recalls the events leading up to and including Jesus' crucifixion by Rome. This is
believed to have taken place in Roman occupied Jerusalem.

41. The Christian churches that observe Lent in the 21st century (and not all do significantly)
use it as a time for prayer and penance. Only a small number of people today fast for the
whole of Lent, although some maintain the practice on Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday. It is more common these days for believers to surrender a particular vice such as
favourite foods or smoking. Whatever the sacrifice it is a reflection of Jesus' deprivation
in the wilderness and a test of self-discipline.
40 is a significant number in Jewish-Christian scripture:
In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by 40 days and
nights of rain.
The Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the land promised to
them by God.
Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.
Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry.