INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Chapter 5
Christianity
Welcome to the fifth module of the course “Introduction to World
Religions and Belief Systems.” For this lesson, we are going to study
Christianity.
It is important for you to get acquainted with the founders of this
religion are, its sacred texts, its basic doctrines, its concept of God, its
sects, and issues concerning it.
Profile
What is Christianity?
Christianity is not just the Roman Catholic church or any other sect.
This is an important point to declare because from a theological
perspective the issue of being the “true religion” has been a constant
theme among Christians and it have been very divisive.
Chapter 5: Christianity 1
Chapter 5: Christianity
By being non-partisan and by applying the lens of religious studies is
this course we will remember while studying Christianity that it is a
worldwide religious tradition with diverse representations, beliefs, and
practices. We are including everyone inside this single name of
Christianity to differentiate it from the other world religions.
What unites all however is their common source: the life and teachings
of Jesus.
Who is Jesus?
Christians call him Christ or the Messiah. In this course we are only
going to refer to him as Jesus as that is the neutral way to refer to him.
Jesus was born in Roman occupied Palestine among Jew parents
around two millennia ago. It is important to remember that Jesus did
not “found” any religion. He did not invent Christianity. Christianity
later on grew out of his teachings and although many regard him as the
founder of Christianity he didn’t see it like that.
Instead, Jesus was part of a tradition of prophets or teachers that came
before him and who spoke of similar teachings like the urgent need to
return to God, love, and justice. Jesus taught aroung a region colonized
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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
by Romans for about three years until he was charged of treason and
killed.
The Spread Of Christianity
Jesus did not write any of his teachings and no one wrote about him
until decades after his death. A small number of his followers that
Christians call his “apostles” reported that Jesus was resurrected from
the dead and that they were inspired to write about his life and create
communities around him.
The word “Christian” was coined by these communities to refer to
themselves. It was first used in Antioch, which is located in modern-
Chapter 5: Christianity 3
Chapter 5: Christianity
day Turkey. From there Christianity continued to spread especially
after Constantine declared it as a state religion of the Roman empire.
Christianity Today
Today, one third of human beings call themselves Christian. Although
there are hundred of churches and denominations there are three major
streams of Christianity – the Catholic Communion, the Orthodox
Christian Churches, and the Protestant movements. Anglicanism and
Pentecostalism are also beginning to grow greater prominence. The
Christian scriptures have been translated into many languages leading
to more conversions into the faith. Christianity grows most rapidly in
Africa and Latin America.
Required Reading
For a historical and cultural backgrounder, please read:
“Christianity” at World Religions by Martin Palmer (pp. 112-
136)
For a profile that applies a cultural studies approach, please
read “Christianity” at: http://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/files/hds-
rlp/files/christianity.pdf?m=1427828085
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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Required Video
How Christianity Conquered the Roman Empire at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKOoPcHxPhU
Forum Discussion
1. [On the Film] If Constantine did not proclaim Christianity as
the state religion of Rome, what do you think could’ve
happened? Use concepts and ideas mentioned in the film to
argue your point.
2. [On the Article] Explain how Christianity became divided in
different sects and denominations.
3. Additional: Respond to at least one answer from your
classmate.
Activity
Accomplish the corresponding Activity Sheet for this module.
Quiz
Take the Quiz for this chapter.
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Chapter 5: Christianity
Issue: Child Sexual Abuse In The Catholic Church
The issue of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church first came into
the public in 1984 with the case of Father Gilbert Gauthe in Lafayette,
Louisiana. This initial event lead to more revelations and disclosures
around the United States and in other countries encouraging victims to
come out and seek for legal help.
In this section we shall spend some time studying and discussing about
the child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church
Required Reading
Please read the readings below in order. Doing so shall give you a
perspective on the issue. The first reading shall provide you with a
scientific glimpse of the immensity of the issue particularly in the
United States where it first came into spotlight. The second reading
shall provide you with the Church’s own perspective of the issue by
putting the issue at a larger social context. The last reading is a brief
history of sexual abuse written by a priest himself which provides
important historical events that may help explain the rise of sexual
abuse inside the catholic church.
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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
Terry, K. J. (2008, May). Stained glass: The nature and scope
of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Criminal Justice
and Behavior, 35(5), 549-569. Doi:
10.1177/0093854808314339.
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (2004). Sexual
abuse in social context: Catholic clergy and other
professionals. Available online at:
http://www.catholicleague.org/sexual-abuse-in-social-context-
catholic-clergy-and-other-professionals/
Doyle, T. (n.d.) A very short history of clergy sexual abuse in
the Catholic Church. Available online at:
http://www.crusadeagainstclergyabuse.com/htm/AShortHistory
.htm
Required Video
“Abuse Documentary: The Shame of the Catholic Church” by
The New York Times at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW-S9Ddws4w
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Chapter 5: Christianity
Forum Discussion
1. What is your reaction about the sexual abuse in the Catholic
clergy?
2. Because sexual abuse is also a form of violence, use Galtung’s
typologies of violence to explain why certain Catholic priests
engage to sexual misconduct?
3. Please respond to at least one classmate.
Lecture
Watch the accompanying video lecture to summarize this chapter.
Long Test
Take this chapter’s long test.
References
Brown, A. (2004). Christianity. In M. Palmer (Ed.) World religions
(pp. 112-137). London: Times Books.
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (2004). Sexual abuse
in social context: Catholic clergy and other professionals. Available
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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS
online at: http://www.catholicleague.org/sexual-abuse-in-social-
context-catholic-clergy-and-other-professionals/
Doyle, T. (n.d.) A very short history of clergy sexual abuse in the
Catholic Church. Available online at:
http://www.crusadeagainstclergyabuse.com/htm/AShortHistory.htm
Ferguson, M. [Screen name]. (2015). How Cristianity conquered the
Roman empire [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKOoPcHxPhU
New York Times [Screen name]. (2014). Abuse documentary: The
shame of the Catholic Church [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW-S9Ddws4w
Papper Masters. (n.d). Spread of Christianity in Europe. Available
online at: https://www.papermasters.com/spread-christianity-
europe.html
Pluralism Project at Harvard University, Religious Literacy Project at
Harvard Divinity Shool. (2015). Christianity. Available online at:
http://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/files/hds-
rlp/files/christianity.pdf?m=1427828085
Chapter 5: Christianity 9
Chapter 5: Christianity
Terry, K. J. (2008, May). Stained glass: The nature and scope of child
sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Criminal Justice and Behavior,
35(5), 549-569. Doi: 10.1177/0093854808314339.
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