Key Figures and Concepts in Christian History
Who was Abraham? How did his sons influence history? Abraham is considered the patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, which include Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. According to Christianity, he is considered the progenitor of the believers, and in Islam, he is seen as a link in the chain of prophets. Abraham is the father of Isaac (Judaism) and Ishmael (Islam).
Was Jesus Christ a troublemaker? He was considered a troublemaker because he created disturbance in the power systems of Judaism and Islam. He shook up Jewish religious leadership. Jews consider him a false prophet as they believe the Messiah is yet to come. Muslims believe in Jesus as a prophet but not as a reincarnation of God. Muslims also believe Jesus was not crucified but ascended alive to heaven.
Jesus was the King of the Jews: The fact that Christ was a king is supported by the Three Wise Men who came to Bethlehem to anoint Him. It’s likely that the magi thought of the Jewish Messiah as a future political ruler, which may account for why they presented Jesus’ parents with offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, expensive gifts indicative of kingly worship. Having heard the magi refer to the child as the “King of the Jews,” King Herod, a regional ruler of Judea given authority by the Romans, assembled his chief priests and scribes, who affirmed the connection to Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.
Who was James, the Great? The legend originated in the 9th century. According to modern scholars, the presence of James the Great in Spain is impossible. There’s no mention of James going as far as Galicia by early writers; the first certain mention we find is in the 9th century, in Notker, a monk of St. Gall (Switzerland). Historia Compostelana, commissioned by Bishop Diego Gelmírez in the 12th century, states that St. James preached the gospel in Spain, as well as in the Holy Land. After his martyrdom at the hands of Herod Agrippa, his disciples carried his body by sea to Iberia, where they landed at Padrón on the coast of Galicia.
Who was Theodosius? He described as “foolish madmen” those who did not support the Trinity. He persecuted pagans from 381 onwards, banned ritual sacrifice and access to temples, with heavy fines for infractors, and prohibited pagan worship in every form, including animal sacrifice and offerings of incense and wine, again threatening offenders with confiscation of property. He is believed to have discontinued the ancient Olympic Games, whose last record of celebration was in 393.
Who was St. Jerome?
Prolific writer, translated most of the Bible from Hebrew into Latin: Vulgate, wrote commentaries on the Gospels, taught how women should live their life devoted to Christ (monasticism) – was surrounded by Virgins, and criticized the clergy of Rome.
What is the Doctrine of Arianism?
The son of King Liuvigild of the Visigothic Kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula and in southern France, Hermenegildo rebelled against his father and converted from Arianism to Chalcedonian Christianity (accepted Trinitarianism). Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but he is distinct from the Father (therefore subordinate to him). Arianism holds that the Son of God is not co-eternal with God the Father. Hermenegildo was imprisoned in Toledo. During his captivity, an Arian bishop was sent to him for Easter, but he would not accept the Eucharist from him. King Liuvigild ordered him beheaded; he was executed on April 13, 585.
What was the East-West Schism?
It is the break of communion since the 11th century between the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The schism was the culmination of theological and political differences which had developed during the preceding centuries between Eastern and Western Christianity. The issues included the procession of the Holy Spirit, whether leavened or unleavened bread should be used in the Eucharist, the Bishop of Rome’s claim to universal jurisdiction, and the place of the See of Constantinople in relation to the pentarchy. In 1053, the Greek churches in southern Italy were forced to conform to Latin practices, and if any of them did not, they were forced to close. In retaliation, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in Constantinople.
What did the Protestants Criticize About the Roman Catholic Church?
The major criticism stated by the Protestants to the Catholic Church was that they were interested in money rather than in saving souls. To spotlight some facts about this criticism, we can remark on the recent rise of nationalism, appointment of cardinal nephews, cases of corruption in the Roman Curia, the learning of the Renaissance and the shift between schola moderna to schola antiqua, simony activities, and the sale of indulgences.
Who was John Wycliffe?
John Wycliffe was a scholastic philosopher, theologian, biblical translator, reformer, priest, and a seminary professor at the University of Oxford. He advocated the translation of the Bible into the common vernacular. In 1382, he completed a translation directly from the Vulgate into Middle English, an important predecessor to Protestantism. He questioned the privileged status of the clergy which had bolstered their powerful role in England and the luxury and pomp of local parishes and their ceremonies.
Who was John Hus?
John Hus was a priest, philosopher, and Master at Charles University in Prague. He promoted Wycliffe’s ideas and, like him, was against indulgences. He wanted independence from Rome, denounced the moral failings of clergy, bishops, and even the papacy from his pulpit, and asserted that no pope or bishop had the right to take up the sword in the name of the Church.
Who was Martin Luther?
Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a follower of John Wycliffe and Jan Hus. He opposed the system of indulgences (Ninety-five Theses of 1517), wanted to reform the practices of the Church and return to pure and primitive Christianity where the Bible became the axis of worship.
What is the Counter-Reformation? It was the reaction of Catholics to the currents of renewal of Protestantism. Its proponents were the Jesuits and their fight against heresy to strengthen papal authority and the unity of the Church. Saint Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuit order, which served the Pope as missionaries, and they were bound by a fourth vow of special obedience to the sovereign pontiff in regard to the missions. They, therefore, emerged as an important force during the time of the Counter-Reformation. The Council of Trent issued key statements and clarifications of the Church’s doctrine and teachings, including Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Marriage, Holy Orders scripture, original sin, the sacraments, the Mass, chastity, indulgences, and the veneration of saints.
What is Christian Social Thought?
CST is the theological, sociological, historical, and economic contribution of Christian thinkers such as Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Abelard, and Domingo de Soto. It’s critical of modern ideologies: liberalism, communism, anarchism, feminism, atheism, socialism, fascism, capitalism, and Nazism. It defends human dignity and liberty against exploitation.
Who and Why Wrote Rerum Novarum?
Pope Leo XIII wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum. It was the Church’s first social encyclical dealing with workers’ working conditions. The central theme was the establishment of a just social order (defending the dignity and rights of the poor, the principle of collaboration, the justice of charity, the obligations of the rich). The encyclical seeks to indicate the tasks and responsibilities of Christians and seeks their universal consensus. It’s considered to be the foundational text of CST.
Could You Describe the Main Points of Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical?
The dignity and rights of the worker, the right to establish professional associations of employers and workers, the right to private property, the right to a just wage, freedom of religion, the kingdom of God cannot be confused with any temporal kingdom, and to defend and promote the dignity and rights of human persons regardless of personal convictions.
What is the Economy of Communion?
It is a project of the Focolare Movement that seeks to unite people through economic activity and enterprise. It was formed in 1991 in São Paulo, Brazil. It unites those in material and spiritual need with entrepreneurs, their companies, customers, employees, competitors, and suppliers in a global effort to create material and spiritual abundance and to freely share that abundance in ways that make us all better off. There are more than 800 businesses around the world (more than 40 in North America) whose owners and founders commit their business activity to EC ideals.
Positive and Negative Sides of Socialism/Marxism According to CST:
- Positive: collective ownership of the means of production, central or state planning of the economy and the production, central role of the party in governing the nation.
- Negative: Irresponsibility and arbitrariness of the bureaucratic decisions of the hierarchy of the political party, total economic planning that stifles individual and group entrepreneurship, The great political and administrative bureaucratization.
Which Political Regimes are Praised by CST and Why?
Totalitarian regimes: totalitarian conception of the world and life (Nazism, Communism, and Fascism) embodied by the state, whose mission is to extend this ideology among citizens and impose it on other states. Dignity and human rights are trampled on in the name of this ideology.
Which Political Regimes are Criticized by CST and Why?
Democratic regimes: the rulers are elected and deposed by the people, who participate in the government via a referendum or voting. A system that favors citizen participation and control of the rulers and their peaceful replacement. They are states of law (sovereignty of the law and division of powers: executive, legislative, and judicial).
Which Values are Important in Politics According to CST?
Presenteeism, politicians are only interested in what happens today or in four years from now. Personal or corporate interests. Defining happiness as material well-being. No citizen participation in politics (elections must be free). Populist authoritarianism (to rule and not to rule) Disagreement between the executive, legislative, and judicial powers (conflicts with judges, political, economic, and police leaders). Governing by decree-law and not using parliament.
What are the Political Fundamentals of CST?
Dignity of the person, equality, solidarity, the common good, peace, subsidiarity, and secularism. The fact that we speak of obligatory or absolute principles does not mean that they are not subject to historical contextualization or translation and to the enrichment of democratic consensus. Only after having people and their dignity as the main focus, will it be possible to improve and maintain human rights, freedom, legality, the market, and its rules.
Positive and Negative Aspects of Globalization According to CST:
- Positive: increased trade, easy and low-cost access to consumer products, growth in opportunities for all economies and mostly for emerging economies and poverty reduction, lower product prices, global knowledge transfer, incentive for innovation and strong economic growth.
- Negative: lack of adequate macroeconomic policies, lack of global political and economic governance, loss of moral authority of international political and economic bodies, privatization of public services, frequent currency crises and public debt crises, speculation.
Main characteristics of a family according to CST: The family is the cradle of life and the place where a person learns to love and develop. It is the basis of society and as such it must be supported by public authorities. “The future of society is forged in the family.” Affection and respect are essential in families so that the members can develop their personalities to the full, being recognized and accepted as they are. The family is an older institution than the state and therefore the latter cannot take away the functions that it can carry out itself, such as the education of children. The state should not interfere in its structure. The Church supports married couples so that they can live faithfully and forever. At the same time, the church gives special support to families in difficulty.
What Does the Church Think About Surrogacy?
The Church is opposed to surrogacy: a desire to be a father or mother does not justify a false “right to the child,” who on the contrary has the right to have a biological father and mother.
What Does the Church Think About the Use of Biotechnology?
Biotechnology includes the techniques that use living organisms to intervene in their biological processes in order to obtain products that are applied in different fields. Biotechnology must be subject to the precautionary principle, which indicates that any biotechnological product or process is considered legitimate only if there is moral certainty that it does not entail serious and irreversible risks for human beings and life. Each human person, in his absolutely unique singularity, is constituted not only by his spirit, but by his body as well.
What are the Origins of Judaism? How Did These Origins Influence Christianity?
Hebrews appeared around 5700 BC. The patriarch Abraham (was born in the area of today Southern Iraq, later moved to the land of Canaan). His two sons were Ishmael (the patriarchs of Arabs) and Isaac (the patriarch of Jews). Abraham believed in one God; however, Hebrews originally believed in polytheism and worshipped many Semitic gods. After some time, Hebrews started professing monotheism mostly thanks to Moses. Moses wrote the ten commandments. Later at Mount Sinai, Moses and the elders entered into a covenant, by which Israel would become the people of YHWH (Yahveh), obeying his laws, and YHWH would be their god. According to Jewish tradition, Moses is the author of the Book of Genesis, as well as the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and most of Deuteronomy.
How and Where was the First Christian Community Formed?
Christianity slowly spread along the Mediterranean coast and also to the inland parts of the Roman Empire. After his death, his apostles went spreading Christ’s teaching. The early Christian groups were strictly Jewish. They were led by James, the brother of Jesus, they described themselves as “disciples of the Lord” and [followers] “of the Way”. St. Paul (c. 5 AD – c. 64/67) declared that Christ’s followers didn’t need to be Jews, and didn’t need to keep Jewish laws; they could be Gentiles!
What was the Second Vatican Council? It was instigated by Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. It was intended to bring the Church closer to people on a global scale and unify the Church practices. The Paschal Mystery (Easter) became the center of what it is to be Christian and therefore of the Christian life, the Christian year, and the Christian seasons.
MASS: The altar was turned around to face the people, Mass was changed to be in the vernacular, no longer in Latin, Women no longer had to cover their hair in church, Non-members of the clergy could be selected to read out verses or carry up the bread and wine down the aisle, or even collect donations. People would be allowed to sing and play their instruments during mass.
WORLD-WIDE PRESENCE OF THE CHURCH: The Catholic church established a vigorous presence in Africa and parts of Asia and became a more prominent and outspoken church in Central and Latin America.
DOCTRINAL CHANGES: Declaration of Religious Liberty
Who was Pope Leo XIII? What Were His Main Achievements?
He wrote the Rerum Novarum, he was the first pope to fully embrace the concept of Mary as Mediatrix, In his encyclical Orientalium dignitas of 1894, he stated that Eastern churches constitute a most valuable ancient tradition and symbol of the divine unity of the Catholic Church, and opened the Vatican archives to researchers.
Positive and Negative Sides of Economic Liberalism According to CST:
- Positive: Positive contribution in terms of work organization and industrial progress, Fundamental and positive role of entrepreneurship and personal development.
- Negative: Private property denies the principle of the universal destination of goods, The law of maximum profit negates the social function of economic development, The free market and its entrepreneurial oligarchies make equality impossible.
What is the Church’s Stand on Abortion and Euthanasia?
The first right is to live, from conception to natural death. Abortion involves depriving a person of life and is a particularly serious act. The Church is against euthanasia (life is a gift that doesn’t depend on a personal choice) and recalls that behind many requests for euthanasia there is not a desire to die, but to live without so much pain. For this reason, we must work hard to improve the palliative care of the sick, accompany them in their pain, and help them to find meaning in their suffering.
What is the Main Focus of Pope Francis’s Encyclical Laudato Sí?
The title of the social encyclical is taken from Francis of Assisi’s 13th-century “Canticle of the Sun”, a poem and prayer in which God is praised for the creation of the different creatures and aspects of the Earth. The pope states that concern for the natural world is no longer “optional but is an integral part of the Church teaching on social justice.” The pope criticizes consumerism and irresponsible development, and laments environmental degradation and global warming.