1 / 29

Timeline

Timeline. ~ CE 29 Crucifixion of Jesus 34-64 Missionary activity of Paul 250-260 Brutal persecution by Romans 313 Constantine tolerates Christianity 325 Council of Nicaea 391-2 Christianity becomes state religion 479 End of Western Roman Empire 529 Benedict founds monastery.

Mercy
Télécharger la présentation

Timeline

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Timeline • ~ CE 29 Crucifixion of Jesus • 34-64 Missionary activity of Paul • 250-260 Brutal persecution by Romans • 313 Constantine tolerates Christianity • 325 Council of Nicaea • 391-2 Christianity becomes state religion • 479 End of Western Roman Empire • 529 Benedict founds monastery

  2. EARLY CHRISTIANITY Mosaic of the Good Shepherd - Ravenna

  3. Outline I. Cultural context II. Influence of Judaism III. Early Christianity IV. Christianity evolves: The 4th Century V. Legalized Christianity

  4. I. Cultural Context • Mystical Religion • First through Third century is time of mystical religions • holy groves, shrines, oracles, power of dreams • high initiation fees • belief in afterlife only for believers • usually have parades/ events in cities • power of astrology

  5. Find your horoscope:

  6. How accurate was your horoscope?

  7. I. Cultural Context • Gnosticism • A powerful and prevalent belief system • easily adapted to other religions • belief that “Wisdom” (or “light”) came to earth and returned to heaven • Those who are enlightened or “chosen” will listen • Seen as a conflict between “light” and “dark” • merging Greek philosophy toward religious ends

  8. II. Influence of Judaism • Roman world • skeptical, tolerant and mystical • especially cosmopolitan • 1st Century widespread Jewish beliefs • unscriptural belief in afterlife • awaiting a Messiah

  9. II. Influence of Judaism • The career of Jesus • Born in Judea • Preaching, healing, and teaching • Arrival in Jerusalem during Passover (30 C.E.) • Seen as foretold Messiah • Arrest • Pontius Pilate • Crucifixion

  10. II. Influence of Judaism • 1st Century: Judeo-Christians • follow Jewish practices and add two others • love feast (agapecutpe) • Eucharist (re-enactment of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples).

  11. II. Influence of Judaism • St. Paul (c. 10–c. 67) • Converted to Christianity • Rejected Jewish law as irrelevant to salvation • Making converts among Greek-speaking Jewish communities • conversions lead to divergence from Judaism

  12. Paul’s journeys

  13. III. Early Christianity • The appeal of Christianity • Communal aspect • Early organizational structure • Special position of women • Growth of Christianity

  14. Christianity Expands

  15. III. Early Christianity • Threat to the state • why was Christianity viewed as a threat? • Failure to accept state gods • aversion to all political/social activity • focus on otherworldly pursuits • challenging social practices • cannibalism

  16. III. Early Christianity • Roman Reactions • persecutions • blamed as scapegoats • Nero (64 CE) incites local persecutions • Decius, Gallus and Valerian (250-260) • Diocletian (303)

  17. III. Early Christianity • Christian defense mechanisms • secret symbols • meeting places • Homes – special role and power of women • Catacombs

  18. Catacombs - burial societies burial of dead decoration. III. Early Christianity

  19. Art work religious themes, concepts. III. Early Christianity

  20. IV. Christianity evolves: 4th Century • Persecutions were intermittent and short-lived • By 300, 1–5 percent of total Roman population were perhaps Christians

  21. IV. Christianity evolves: 4th Century • Constantine and his “conversion” to Christianity • Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 • Christianity tolerated in 313 CE (Edict of Milan) • determined to gain control of Christianity as a tool to unite the Empire • new relationship with a Christian ruler • individualism in Christianity.

  22. Council of Nicaea 325 Purpose: to end religious dispute over Arianism to define nature of relationship between imperial power and the church church recognized Constantine’s power. IV. Christianity evolves: 4th Century

  23. IV. Christianity evolves: 4th Century • 392 Theodosius I makes Christianity the official religion of Rome • persecutions continue • tolerant Roman religious view of world changes • impact on Christianity • positive • negative

  24. V. Legalized Christianity • Legalization and state support changes Christianity • Disillusionment • Asceticism as a substitute for martyrdom • Response to increasing worldliness • common people flee society to dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits • emergence of hermits 3rd century • communal living 4th century

  25. Monasteries in the west - c. 550

  26. V. Legalized Christianity • St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–c. 547) • The Latin or Benedictine Rule • Poverty, chastity, obedience, labor and prayer • Absolute authority of the abbot • Missionary work • Dignity of human labor

  27. St. Benedict’s Monastery

  28. V. Legalized Christianity The growth of ecclesiastical organization • Hierarchical organization • Distinctions of rank • The pope as bishop of Rome • Creation of a male dominated church

  29. Roman World ca. 450 CE

More Related