Introduction

to Lesson
World and
3 Christianity
Beliefs
Objectives:
System
a. Understand the Historical background and teachings of Christianity.
b. Explain: the core teaching of Christianity is the message that a loving God sent
His begotten Son to redeem humankind from eternal damnation.
c. Interview a Christian parent or couple on why they are Christians and what beliefs
and practices they adhere to.

Christianity is considered the most popular religion in the world with the greatest
number of adherents among all religions. Starting around the 1st century C.E., it
developed out of Judaism during the reign of the Roman Empire in West Asia. It centers
on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is considered the
Messiah or Savior of humanity. The most common symbol for Christianity is the cross,
for Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humanity from their sins and
to restore people’s relationship with God the Father. Christians also believe in the Holy
Trinity, which means God has three aspects—Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is
believed that God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus, to earth to redeem humanity
from their sins for them to avoid the eternal flames of hell.

Although there has been a prophesy in Judaism that God the Father will send His only
Son to redeem humanity from their sins and to restore relation-ship with God, the Jews
do not accept that Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise. Instead, the Jews are still
waiting for the Messiah to be sent by God the Father. Christians, on the other hand,
have accepted that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise. Nonetheless, Christianity is
considered one of the first monotheistic religions in the world and shares many
similarities with Judaism in terms of belief in prophets, angels, judgement day, among
others. Together with Judaism and Islam, Christianity is considered one of the world
religions which traces its origins to the patriarch Abraham.

MOTIVATIONAL ACTIVITY (write your answer on the answer sheet given)

Label the different photos about Christian celebrations.

 Christianity is a religion that is very familiar to Filipinos because the
Philippines has become predominantly Catholic since the Spaniards
occupied the country from the 16th to the 19th centuries, with the spread
of Catholicism as one of their enduring legacies to the Filipino people.
It is considered the world’s largest religion, a religion based on the
teachings of Jesus Christ who is considered the Son of God and the
Messiah or Savior.

Followers of Christianity are called Christians. As of 2010, there are more than 2 billion
Christians all over the world, which make up more than 30% of the world’s population of
6.9 billion. According to the Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of
the World’s Christian Population (2011), 10 countries with the largest number of
Christians are the following:

Countries Estimated2010 Percentage of Percentage of

Christian Population that World Christian
Population is Christian Population
United States 246,780,000 79.5% 11.3%
Brazil 175,770,000 90.2% 8.0%
Mexico 107,780,000 95.0% 4.9%
Russia 105,220,000 73.6 4.8
 Philippines 86,790,000 93.1 4.0
Nigeria 80,510,000 50.8 3.7
China 67,070,000 5.0 3.1
DR Congo 63,150,000 95.7 2.9
Germany 58,240,000 70.8 2.7
Ethiopia 52,580,000 63.4 2.4
Subtotal for the 1,043,880,000 40.4 47.8
10 Countries
Total for Rest 1,140,180,000 6.3 52.2
of World
World Total 2,184,060,000 31.7 100.
TABLE 5.1 10 Countries with the Largest Number of Christians

Source: Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's
Christian Population.

Symbols
The symbols shown above are the most common symbols
associated with Christianity. The cross serves as a symbol of
Jesus Christ’s victory over sins when He died on the cross for
humanity’s redemption and salvation. Christ died on the cross and
the cross serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by God in order
for humanity to live. In Roman Catholic churches, the crucifix is a
regular feature, with the image of Christ nailed on the cross. This aims to emphasize
Christ’s sufferings for humanity. Meanwhile, Protestant churches often feature only the
cross without the image of the body of Christ, to emphasize Christ’s resurrection and
not His suffering.
Meanwhile, the fish symbol is as old as Christianity itself, for it
was used by persecuted Christians as a secret sign when
meeting other Christians. Because Christians were threatened
by the Romans during the time, they had to make a secret code
to avoid persecution. Thus, when
meeting strangers on the way, a
Christian would draw one arc of the
fish outline, and if the stranger drew
the other half it means they are both
Christians and therefore safe in each
other’s company. The word “fish”
also has a secret meaning, for
Christians made an acrostic from the
Greek word for fish, which is ichtys:
Iseous Christos Theou Yios Soter,
meaning Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Savior.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Christianity developed in Palestine around 100 C.E. It was founded by Jesus,
considered to be the Son of God and Messiah or Savior. Regarded as an offshoot of
Judaism, Christianity has survived and even surpassed Judaism and other religions in
terms of number of adherents. Today Christianity is divided into three major sects—
Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox Church, and Protestantism. These major Christian
sects are further subdivided by Christian denominations that differ in certain beliefs and
practices but are united in worshipping Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Historical Context
Judea, the mountainous southern part of Palestine, was the home of Christianity. During
that time, Judaism was the dominant religion in Palestine, and it was considered by the
Jews as land promised to them by God. However, historical developments in the region
we now call West Asia have shown that successive powers have dominated
Mesopotamia and nearby territories, including Palestine which is considered to have a
desirable location. Thus, it was conquered by the Assyrian Empire, then by the
Babylonian Empire which enslaved the Jews, then the Achaemenid or Persian Empire
under Cyrus, who permitted the Jews to return to their land. Soon the Greeks under the
leadership of Alexander the Great conquered West Asia including Palestine around 400
B.C. Then the Romans conquered Jerusalem in 63 B.C. When Jesus was born,
Palestine was still under Roman rule.

Thus, Christianity was born in an era when Palestine was ruled by a foreign
power, the Romans. Conditions were ripe for the beginning of a new religion. Since the
concept of Messiah (which was promised in Judaism as the one who will liberate them
from the evils of the world) proved to be very attractive for a group of people being
colonized by a foreign power. Social conditions cooperated with the relatively free
atmosphere created by Agustus’ Pax Romana or Roman Peace. Also, the birth of a
man who was considered as the fulfilment of the prophesy among the Jews that God
will send His Son to liberate the people from sufferings and sins paved the way for the
development and spread of a new religion called Christianity.

Jesus as the Founder of Christianity

It was in this backdrop that Jesus, founder of Christianity, lived and preached
teachings that served as criticisms of Judaism, although he himself was a Jew. His
ministry began when he was in his early thirties. Preaching and healing in the villages,
he started to preach teachings which were considered revolutionary at that time. For
example, He criticized the uprightness and insincerity of religious officials and
emphasized that God values service and love. He also taught about the new covenant
that God will bring to humanity: that of sending His begotten son to save humanity from
their sins and restore the people’s relationship with Him. Jesus preached that he was
sent by God to fulfill this goal by dying on the cross, then resurrecting to life after three
days to prove that God’s plan had succeeded. Hearing these messages, Jesus soon
attracted a group of followers who became his disciples and who called Him their
teacher. Thus, Christianity started with a prophecy in the Old Testament: that God will
send his only begotten Son to save humanity from eternal damnation. Jesus was seen
by his followers to be the Messiah they were waiting for. Meanwhile, Jews did not
accept this to be true; instead, they are still waiting for the promise to be fulfilled.

Religious Leaders
The Catholic Church follows a certain hierarchy based on the Canon Law of the
Catholic Church. At the top of the hierarchy is the pope, considered as Peter’s
successor. The hierarchy also includes the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests, and
deacons. Each member of the hierarchy has his own function for the efficiency of the
church.

The Pope serves as the head of the Catholic Church, the

inheritor of Peter. He has his headquarters in the Vatican,
an independent state in Rome. He is responsible for the
general supervision of the church. He is the head of the
Catholic Church and the head of the Vatican. He also has
the authority to appoint administrative and religious
officials in the Vatican.
Pope Francis 

Next to the Pope are the cardinals, who are also appointed by the
Pope. The cardinals represent the Pope and the Roman Catholic
Church in different parts of the world. They serve 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. The body
comprising the cardinals is called the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, DD 

The bishops also form part of the hierarchy. 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. The Pope himself is a bishop.
A bishop is ordained to his station, just like priests.
Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD
Next to the hierarchy are the priests, who are ordained ministers
responsible for the administering of the sacraments, such as the
Eucharist, Marriage, Baptism, and Confirmation. They may belong to
religious order, such as Jesuits, Dominicans, Augustinians, among
others, or they may be committed to serve a certain congregation. Fr. Efren Antiga Gubac Jr. 
 At the bottom of the hierarchy are the deacons, who are classified into two
types: the transitional deacon is a seminarian who is studying for the priest-
hood and the other one is a permanent deacon, who can get married and
serve as a priest’s assistant in administering some of the sacraments.
Rev. Andrei Paz

Think?
1. Who is our Pope today?
2. Who is the Bishop of the Diocese of Tagum?

Deity/God
Christians believe in one God; therefore Christianity is a monotheistic religion.
God is seen as the creator and maintainer of the universe, and is believed to be
omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present), and
omnibenevolent (all-good). God is also sacred, moral, unchangeable, compassionate,
graceful, and timeless.

Holy Trinity
Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, which means that God is composed of three
persons: God the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This doctrine of
the Holy Trinity was affirmed at the Council of Nicea in 25 C.E. where it was agreed
upon that the Son has the same substance with the Father, therefore they are both
eternal. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity was Christianity’s way to end the controversy
generated by Arianism, a teaching by Arius which claimed that Jesus Christ was not
actually a God.
The concept of the Holy Trinity was never mentioned in the Old Testa-ment. The
New Testament, although it never implicitly mentioned the term, gives some references
to it. In Matthew 28:19, it is stated that:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

In 2 Corinthians 13:1:

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
For some Christians, the concept of the Holy Trinity is not easy to under-stand.
Although it is central to most Christian denominations, some Christian churches rejected
it, such as The Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehova’s Witnesses,
Christian Scientists, Unitarians, the Unification Church, the Christadelphians, and
Oneness Pentecostals, among others.

SACRED SCRIPTURES
 The Bible is considered the sacred scripture of 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 the
original Hebrew Bible, written between 1200 and 165 B.C.E. The New Testament was
written by Christians around 100 C.E.

The Old Testament

The Old Testament, also called the Hebrew Bible, is composed of 39 books
which are arranged in three parts: The first five books (Genesis to Deuteronomy) are
considered “The Law” or Torah which may refer to guidance or instruction. They are
called as such because they serve as guidelines on how people should live their
everyday lives, as well as other legal necessities. Later these books were called the
Pentateuch, which were attributed to Moses. Meanwhile, the second part of the Old
Testament is called “The Prophets” which is divided into two parts, the earlier prophets,
and the latter prophets. The book of former prophets is considered historical while the
book of latter prophets contains sayings and stories of the prophets. The third part is
called “The Writings,” which include Psalms (songs, prayers, and worship liturgies),
Proverbs (wise sayings), Job (a drama that explores the nature of suffering), and the
five scrolls (Megiloth) which were grouped together for their associations with a
particular religious festival.

The New Testament

The New Testament is composed of 27 books written around 50 to 100 C.E. and
is composed of 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
serve as guide to the early Christian community. They were written to tell the life and
teachings of Jesus. The first 3 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are called the
synoptic gospels, which present similar narratives of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
The gospels do have different audience as it is written. Matthew write it for the Jewish
Christians, Mark write it for the Romans, Luke write it for the Gentiles while John write it
for the Greek. The Acts of Apostles and Luke tell how Christianity developed from a
small group of Jewish believers to becoming one of the world’s major religions.
Revelation is the last book of the New Testament, traditionally attributed to the apostle
John, which is considered an epistle and an apocalypse.

TRIVIA
The use of the terms B.C.E. (Before Common Era) to replace B.C. (Before
Christ) and C.E. (Common Era) to replace A.D. (Anno Domini or the era
after the birth of Christ) is seen as a move to veer away from the
supposedly Christian-centric use of B.C. and A.D. B.C.E. and C.E. are
therefore seen as neutral terms that are not based on one specific religion
(which is Christianity) and therefore acceptable to all world religions. The
shift from BC/AD to BCE/CE has met opposition from several Christians
who argue that there is no point in the shift since they are already widely
recognized and understood as chronological terms. Still, some critics
argue that BCE/CE may appear to be neutral terms, but the reference
point is still Christianity (http:// www.macmillandictionary.com/us/
buzzword/entries/common-era.html).
 Think?

Why is the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) included in Christianity’s sacred

scriptures?

BELIEFS/DOCTRINES
Christianity has certain beliefs and doctrines that serve as moral guidelines for its
followers. As much as possible, Christians should follow these teachings strictly if they
want to redeem God’s promise of eternal life. These teachings are essential to their
belief system as Christians and not following them would lessen their chances of being
called true Christians and reduces their chances of salvation in the afterlife.

Ten Commandments
Also called the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments are a set of laws given by
God to the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai through Moses. In Exodus, God gave Moses the
tablets containing the Ten Commandments, which Moses smashed into pieces because
of extreme anger when he saw the golden calf idol created and worshipped by the
Hebrews. God gave Moses another set to replace the broken one.

The Ten Commandments are said to appear twice in the Bible, in Exodus 20:1-17, and
at Deuteronomy 5:-21. They are meant to guide Christians on how to behave within the
family, society, and most especially with respect to God.

Ten Commandments

1. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is
in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am
a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and
fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those
who love Me and keep My commandments.”
3. “You shall not take the name of the Lord Your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold
him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your
work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no
work; nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female
servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in
them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and
hallowed it.”
5. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which
the Lord Your God is giving you.”
6. ” You shall not murder.”

7. You shall not commit adultery.”

8. “You shall not steal.”

9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

10. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife,
nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his donkey, nor anything that is
your neighbor’s.”

Seven Sacraments
The Catholic Church has seven sacraments which are considered signs of inner
kindness given by God for Christians to live a genuine human life. The seven
sacraments include Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Confession, Matrimony,
Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick. The first three sacraments are Baptism,
Confirmation, and Holy Communion, which are considered the sacraments of initiation.
Baptism is meant to remove the guilt and effects of Original Sin and welcome the
baptized to the Church. Confirmation, which should be administered right after Baptism,
is meant to complete Baptism and bring the baptized the graces of the Holy Spirit that
were given the Apostles on Pentecost Sunday. Holy Communion entails the reception of
Christ’s body and blood which helps Christians grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Confession is considered the fourth sacrament, which is meant to reconcile Christians
with God by confessing their sins. The Sacrament of Marriage comes next, with the
union of a man and a woman for the purpose of procreation and mutual support. It also
reflects the union of Jesus Christ with His Church. The Sacrament of Holy Orders is
considered the continuation of Christ’s priesthood which He passed on to His apostles.
And the last sacrament is the Anointing of the Sick, also known as Extreme Unction or
Last Rites, which is administered to those who are on the verge of death or are
seriously ill, or about to undergo a serious operation, for physical and moral strength.
Eight Beatitudes
The Beatitudes comprise what is known as the “Sermon on the Mount” recorded in
Matthew 5-7. The Beatitudes refer to the eight sayings of Jesus at the beginning of the
“Sermon on the Mount.” Here are the Eight Beatitudes mentioned in Matthew 5:3-10:

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his
disciples came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before you.

Apostles’ Creed
The Apostles’ Creed is believed to have developed in the 100 or 200 C.E. and was
influenced later by the Nicene Creed. A letter written by the Council of Milan in 390 C.E.
is the earliest historical evidence of the existence of the Apostles’ Creed. It is not written
by the apostles themselves, but it serves as a summary of their basic teachings.

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus
Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the
Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died, and was buried; He
descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; He ascended to heaven, He is
seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, The holy Catholic Church, The communion of saints, The
forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.

Story of Creation and Big Bang Theory

The Story of Creation, which narrates how God created the universe in six days, is
found in Genesis 1 of the Old Testament. It narrates how God created light and
darkness on the first day; the sky and the ocean on the second day; the earth and
plants on the third day; the sun, moon, and the stars on the fourth day; sea creatures,
land animals, and birds on the fifth day; and finally the first man and woman on the sixth
day, after which He rested on the seventh day. This story has often been attributed as
the one which explains the origin of the universe from a Christian point of view. Other
religions would offer their own explanations on the origin of the universe. Science also
has its own theories on how the universe began. The most accepted among scientists is
the Big Bang Theory, which states that the universe began as an incredibly hot, very
dense point in space about 14 billion years ago. It then underwent rapid expansion in no
time and, as it cooled, led to the creation of stars, galaxies, and planets.

WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

Christians have certain religious observances in which they commemorate
events in the history of Christianity. Some of the most important Christian observances
are Advent, Lent, and Pentecost.

Advent
Advent refers to the season of waiting for the birth of
the Messiah, hence its celebration lasts for four weeks,
beginning four Sundays before Christmas and ending on
Christmas eve. It is meant as an opportunity to reflect on
the significance of the birth of Jesus who was sent by God
the Father to restore humanity’s relationship with God.
During Advent, it is not only the birth of Christ which is
anticipated but the Second Coming of the Savior as well.
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus,
which means “coming” or “visit.” Advent also features
certain colors, such as purple/dark blue, which symbolizes
seriousness, repentance, and royalty; and pink, which
signifies joy.

Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred
religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial
phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have
been observing it with traditions and practices that are both
religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas
Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a
spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion.
Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas
trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends. In
the Philippines we have the Misa de Gallo (Mass before the
cock crows) a nine days novena before the birth of Jesus.
 Was Jesus born on December 25th? Yes/No
If YES then what are the evidence? If NO then why we celebrate it on
December 25?

Lent
Lent refers to the season observed by
Christians in preparation for Easter, a
celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
Ash Wednesday signals the start of the
season of Lent, which begins 40 days
before Easter. It is a time for Christians
to prepare for Easter by following
certain rituals, such as fasting,
repentance, moderation, and self-
discipline. This is a time to reflect on the suffering, sacrifice, life, death, burial, and
resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time for prayer, penance, sacrifice, and
good works as a way of remembering the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The
word Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon words Lenten, meaning “Spring”, and lenctenid,
which means “Springtide” and the word for “March,” the month when Easter is usually
celebrated.

Pentecost
Pentecost is celebrated as a holiday to
commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the
early Christians. Thus, Pentecost is also
celebrated as the birthday of the Church. The
word Pentecost comes from the Greek word
pentekostos, which means “fifty,” pertaining to the
Jewish holiday celebrated every fifty days from
the end of Passover to the beginning of the next
holiday (also known as Shavuot).The event was
recorded in the New Testament, in The Acts of the
Apostles, in the Acts of the Apostles it narrates how the first Christians came together in
one place when suddenly they heard a sound coming from heaven and tongues of fire
rested on their heads. They were said to be filled with the Holy Spirit which enabled
them to speak other languages, after which Peter stood up and delivered his first
sermon.

TRIVIA
In the Philippines, some Catholics observe Lent
with a ritual called “penitensiya,” which means
self-flagellation, meant to depict the suffering of
Christ. In this event, Catholics who practice
penitensiya march on the streets and whip their
backs until blood comes out of their wounds,
which is believed to cleanse their sins and cure
SUBDIVISIONS
Prior to the reign of Emperor Constantine who declared himself a Christian in 312
C.E., Christians were persecuted under Roman emperors. Christianity was only
legalized in 313 C.E. upon Constantine’s declaration of the Edict of Milan, which
declared equality among all religions. After defeating his opponents and becoming the
sole leader of the Roman Empire in 324 C.E., Emperor Constantine made Christianity
the official religion of the empire and sought to end all doctrinal arguments on
Christianity. In 325 C.E., he convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in Asia
Minor, which was attended by bishops from the eastern and western regions of the
empire. Then, in 330 C.E., he transferred the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome
to Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) and renamed it Constantinople.

As time went by, conflicts arose between the Roman Empire and the Byzantium
Empire, resulting in the inevitable split between the Roman Catholic Church and the
Greek Orthodox Church. The conflict was further heightened when Pope Leo III
crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, the Holy Roman Emperor in 800 without
consulting the Byzantine Empire. The official split happened in 105 with the “Great
Schism” which divided the Western Latin Roman Christianity from the Eastern Greek
Byzantine Christianity.

Abuses and corruption in the church led another sect to be formed around the
16th century. Martin Luther, a teacher and a monk, posted his list of ninety-five
propositions to the door of the church at Wittenberg in Saxony in 1517, which signaled
the beginnings of another Christian sect called Protestantism. The Protestant
Reformation is considered the second greatest split in Christianity. Luther’s timing was
perfect, for the printing press was just recently invented thus he was able to reprint
numerous copies of his theses, which led to a wider dissemination of his ideas. One of
the things he opposed was the selling of indulgences (indulgence refers to the pardon
granted by the Pope to purgatorial punishment to Christians who pay a certain amount
for the absolution of their sins) of the Catholic Church, which was meant to save the
soul in the afterlife. His ideas spread to England, with King Henry VIII severing his ties
from Rome, creating the Church of England and Lutheranism in 1555. As a result, the
Catholic Church initiated its own reformation to address the issues raised by Luther.
Read Martin Luther’s The 95 Theses at http://www.luther.de/ en/95thesen.html. Which
among his theses are concerned about the issue of indulgence? Explain your answer.

SELECTED ISSUES
We have discussed how the Christian Church was subdivided into different sects. To
address the issue of disunity among Christians, the concept of ecumenism was adopted
by the Roman Catholic Church. Thus, ecumenism is one important issue in Christianity.
Still, there are some issues which conflict with Christian teachings, concerning sexuality
(especially issues of contraception, abortion, and homosexuality); divorce; capital
punishment and euthanasia.

Ecumenism
Ecumenism refers to the effort of the Catholic Church to sponsor activities and initiatives
to promote mutual understanding and unity among all Christians. Ecumenism can also
be described as the promotion of worldwide Christian unity (Brodd 2003). It is based on
Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism which states that:

“The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the
Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only.
However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors
of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go
their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided. Such division openly contradicts
the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the only cause of preaching the
Gospel to every creature.”

Ecumenism is based on three principles, which states that: 1) Christ established the
Church on the Apostles and their successors, whose head became Peter and his
successor the Bishop of Rome; 2) since the first century there have been divisions in
Christianity, but many persons now separated from visible unity with the successors of
the Apostles under Peter are nevertheless Christians who possess more or less the
fullness of grace available in the Roman Catholic Church; and 3) Catholics are to do
everything possible to foster the ecumenical movement, which comprehends all “the
initiatives and activities, planned and undertaken to promote Christian unity, according
to the Church’s various needs and opportunities” (Decree on Ecumenism, I,4).

Ecumenism was emphasized and intensely propagated by the Catholic Church through
a series of addresses, homilies, and regular audiences with the goal of achieving unity
among all Christians and non-Christians.

Sexuality
The issue of sexuality has always been controversial for the Catholic Church.
Due to its conservative view of human sexuality, it has often found itself in conflict with
progressive and liberal ideas about certain issues connected to sexuality such as
artificial contraception, abortion, and homosexuality. In general, sexuality refers to
sexual orientation, sexual activity, and sexual feelings.
Christianity advocates that the goal of sexual union between men and women is
procreation, thus anything that might hinder this is considered immoral. Having sexual
pleasure from such union is not necessary, thus when people use artificial
contraceptives, such as condoms, birth control pills, IUDs (intrauterine contraceptive
devices), and the like, they are committing a sin because they are engaging in sexual
acts without procreation in mind. Instead, Christianity advocates natural family planning
methods such as the rhythm method, wherein couples will engage in sexual acts only
during days when the woman is not fertile and cannot conceive a baby. In this light,
abortion is also considered as immoral by the Catholic Church since it entails the killing
of life. For the Catholic Church, life begins at fertilization, when the sperm and ovum
meet to form a single cell, hence abortion is already considered as taking away the life
of a person.
Another issue about sexuality is that of homosexuality. It refers to attraction to
members of the same sex. Males who are attracted to males are called gays, while
females attracted to females are called lesbians. The Catholic Church states that
homosexual orientation itself is not a sin, it is nevertheless a tendency towards the
"moral evil" of homosexual sexual activity. It also states that when God created humans,
He created male and female only, and that their union is meant for procreation. Thus, in
the Christian line of thinking, homosexuality should not be practiced since it is not in
accordance with God’s plan. The Church does not allow same-sex marriage and is
vocal in opposing homosexual relationships. Nevertheless, while the Church condemns
homosexual acts (sexual activity), being homosexual (orientation) is not wrong or sinful.
It also states that homosexual persons must be accepted with respect, compassion, and
sensitivity.

Family and Divorce

The Christian view on marriage is based on Matthew 19:-6, “He who made man
from the beginning, made them male and female. And he said: For this cause shall a
man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be in one
flesh. Therefore, now they are not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined,
let no man put asunder.” Thus, divorce is not allowed in the Catholic Church, since it
believes in the sanctity of marriage, which should be a lifetime bond between a man and
a woman, and is considered a legal bond on earth and a spiritual bond in heaven.

If couples wish to separate, they could seek an annulment, also known as

Decree of Nullity, in which it is declared that the marriage was never valid in the first
place. But unlike divorce, annulment entails a long, tedious, and expensive process, in
which a partner has to prove that his/her partner is psychologically incapacitated to
understand the commitment marriage entails, or one of the partners has deliberately hid
some information, such as previous marriage, impotence, or infertility.

As of today, every country in the world has a divorce law except the Philippines.
Although some lawmakers have been pushing for the divorce bill, the strong opposition
of the Catholic Church as well as the devout Catholics in the Congress and the Senate
have made it difficult for the divorce bill to be passed.

Capital Punishment and Euthanasia

Capital punishment or death penalty wherein a person is punished by death for
his or her capital crime goes against the Christian belief that life is given by God and
should not be taken away by any person. It is illegal in most Christian countries such as
the Philippines, but some push for capital punishment as a way of deterring crime.

Since Christianity advocates the belief that life is given by God, euthanasia or mercy
killing is also considered immoral since it entails taking away what has been given by
God, and that human beings should not interfere with the natural process of death.
Even if a person is extremely suffering from his/ her illness, he/she has no right to take
away what God has given him/her. Also, human beings are made in the image of God
so people have a unique capacity to become rational which enables them to see what is
good and to want what is good, that is why they have no right to end this gift from God.
Another reason why the Church is against euthanasia is the belief that people have no
right to interrupt the natural process of dying, and that the period just before death is a
reflective spiritual moment. In Christianity, all human lives are equally valuable and no
one, even the person himself/herself who wants to end his/her life, has the right to
assume that his or her life is no longer valuable.

Summary
 Christianity is one of the first monotheistic religions in the world. It considers God as
the creator and maintainer of the universe—omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent,
and omnibenevolent.
 The Bible is considered the sacred scripture of Christianity and is the basis of the
religion's teachings.
 According to Christianity, since human beings are created in the likeness of God,
they are intrinsically good; but they are also given free will, so they are considered
prone to sin and in need of grace.
 The goal of every individual is to have eternal life of the soul after death.
 For those who have become good Christians, the reward is eternal life in heaven; for
those who lived a life full of sins, the punishment is eternal damnation in hell.

Evaluation

A. Critical Thinking
Despite the split in Christianity into numerous sects, what bind these
religious sects together?

B. Modified True or False. Write the word TRUE if the statement is true. Otherwise,
write the word FALSE and change the underlined word to make the statement correct.
1. Christianity is considered the world’s largest religion.
2. Followers of Christianity are called Catholics.
 3. Christianity started in the 2nd century CE in a land called Palestine.
4. According to a 2010 survey, Brazil is the country with the largest number of
Christians in the world.
5. Christianity was born in an era when Palestine was colonized by the Muslims.
6. Pontius Pilate was the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity.
7. Martin Luther King formed a Christian sect named Protestantism as a reaction to
the abuses of the Catholic Church.
8. Christianity believes in the Holy Trinity but remains a monotheistic religion.
9. The Sacrament of Confirmation is considered the continuation of Christ’s
priesthood which He passed on to His apostles.
10. The Big Bang Theory narrates the origin of the universe and humanity according
to the Bible.
C. Matching Type. Match the terms in Column A to their equivalent meanings in Column
B Write the letter of the correct answer.

Column A Column B
1. Season in preparation for Easter a. Messiah
2. Successor of Christ as head of the Church b. Trinity
3. Split between Roman Catholicism and Greek c. Peter
4. Basic beliefs d. Ecumenism
5. Coming of the Holy Spirit on the early Chris tians e. Pentecost
6. Savior f. Euthanasia
7. Self-flagellation g. Great Schism
8. Mercy killing h. Penitensiya
9. Mutual understanding among all Christians i. Lent
10. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit j. Creed

D. Draw one Christian observance that you are doing in your Church that is significant
for you. Describe the drawing and explain why it is significant for you.

E. Interview your parents why they are Christians and what beliefs, and practices are
they doing. Write your answer on whole sheet of paper.

F. Describe a Christian in 500 words.