INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS AND BELIEF SYSTEMS WEEK 5

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Examine the brief history, core teachings, fundamental beliefs, practices, and related issues of Christianity

What I need to know:

Christianity is a monotheistic religion. 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. It is one of world's oldest
Abrahamic religion. There are about 2.3 billion(31.2% of the world’s population) followers of Christianity across the world. In
modern times, there is an extensive debate regarding the founder or founders of Christianity as a Religion. Its roots began with the
teachings of Jesus the Christ followed by his disciples around 4 BCE - 30/33 BCE. The story of how Christianity as a religion
began and how it flourished and kept alive to this day is filled with mysticism, romance and in itself a trigger for the reader and the
believer alike to indulge in a personal journey toward spirituality. It is best to keep an open mindset and clear heart in
understanding the journey that is Christianity. In this lesson we will be talking about the history, core teachings, fundamental
beliefs of this religion and some issues along the way.

Learning objectives:
Cite the similarities and differences among the Abrahamic Religions.
Examine the related issues of Christianity (Ecumenism, Sexuality, Family and Divorce, Capital Punishment and Euthanasia)

What I know: Pre -Test

_____1. A biblical and historical figure in Judaism and Christianity who is known as the “Messiah”.
A. Abraham B.Jesus C. Moses D. T’ Challa

_____2. The Religious book or Sacred Scripture in Christianity.

A. Bible B. Koran C. Torah D. Vedas

_____3. According to Christian teachings, a person who lived his life according to the teachings of Christianity is bound to go to
_______ upon death.
A. Earth B. Heaven C. Hell D. Purgatory

_____4. According to Christian teachings, a person who lived his life not according to the teachings of Christianity is bound to
damnation in _______ upon death.
A. Earth B. Heaven C. Hell D. Purgatory

_____5. According to Christian teachings, this is the goal of every Christian individual for his/ her soul after death.
A. Eternal Damnation B. Eternal Feelings C. Eternal Grace D. Eternal Life

_____6. A system of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate
its external organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the Church
A. Book of Numbers B. Canon Law C. Deuteronomy D. Pentateuch

_____7. What is Christianity’s view about sexuality?

A. Conservative B. Evolutionary C. Liberal D. Progressive

_____8. It is a concept adopted by the Roman Catholic church to address issues in conflict with Christian teachings.
A. Sacraments B. Protestantism C.Calvinism D. Ecumenism

_____9 These are. a set of laws given by God to the people of Israel at Mt.Sinai through Moses..
A. The Beatitudes B. The Pax Romana C.The Seven Sacraments D. The Ten Commandments

_____10. According to Christian doctrine, it is the Triune God, three divine persons in One God, The Father, the Son and The
Holy Spirit.
A. Holy Trinity B. Trikaya C. Trimurti D. Triskelion
Most Christian believers agree that Jesus is the Messiah or the Savior of the world from sin. In Judaism, there was a prophesy
about the coming of a savior or more specifically the Son of God will come and redeem humanity from their sins and restore their
relationship with God. However, the Jewish practitioners do not accept this and instead they still wait for the coming of their
messiah to this day. The Story of Jesus is quite intriguing and mystical from the very beginning. It starts with Mary, a virgin
betrothed to Joseph, a good man from the tribe of Judah. One day Mary was alone, then an angel came to her and said that she
was highly favoured by God and because of this she will conceive and bear a son whom she will call Jesus. Mary accepted the
prophesy despite still being unwed. In Jewish tradition it is considered immoral and punishable by death to have a child out of
wedlock. However, the Christian account of the story goes that despite moral conventions and conflicts, Joseph, her husband to
be accepted her and took in the child as his own. There are slight differences in other religious accounts but that is a story for
another lesson. Moving on, Jesus’ birth was enshrouded by feats of mystical events. Even at a young age Jesus, was said to be
able to perform miracles such as reviving the dead, giving life to clay pigeons and making them fly, fixing problems in carpentry to
help his foster father Joseph. Some accounts also suggest that Jesus had biological brothers and sisters.The mainstream belief,
however, skips the part in Jesus’ life where he develops into the Christ and saviour of humanity. At 12 years old during the days of
Awe in Jewish Festival, he was lost in Jerusalem only to be found by his parents talking to a group of scholars where Simeon a
devotee recognized him as the Christ and expressed his gratitude to God. Details on how Jesus further developed to prepare for
his ministry are skipped in most published bibles. Certain texts are available in limited print. On the other hand, since our focus is
on Christianity as a religion let us focus on Christs teachings that all believers must know and follow. Love. Christ means love.
Jesus the Christ is the Master of love and compassion. Here are some bible passages that confirm these teachings :
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is
the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22: 37-40
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you…” Matthew 5:44
As time passes, these teachings of Jesus the Christ have been prone to many interpretations by the different sects that sought to
spread Christianity to the community of believers. And at the sprouting of modern mindsets these teachings have been
enshrouded by the trending and more popular world views. But what do you think? Do these concepts of love and compassion still
apply to you as a human beings? The answer is on how you live your life. If you want to know more about the story of Jesus the
Christ you may visit your local minister, clergy man, pastor or priest and ask them to lend you a bible for good reading and some
free guidance from a religious/spiritual leader.

Guided Assessment : Identification

_______1. They believe that having a child out of wed lock is a sin or an immoral act punishable by death.
_______2. The meaning of Christ.
_______3. The core teaching of Jesus the Christ.
_______4. The foster Father of Jesus.
_______5. A virgin, highly favoured by God who conceived and bore Gods only son. .

Enrichment 1 - Christian Sects and Symbols

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 followers. 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 worshiping Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
the most common symbols associated with Christianity are the cross and the ichtys. 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. 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 which aims to emphasize Christ’s sufferings for humanity. On the other hand, 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, Orthodox Christians throughout the centuries have consistently celebrated the cross as an emblem of
victory.They venerate the Cross of Christ, by which the power of the demons and the deceit of the devil were destroyed. On the
other hand, the "ichtys” 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.
INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY: Answer the Cross Word Puzzle to the best of your ability

Across
1. A symbol of Christianity rich in meaning
2. A Christian Sect that focuses on the resurrection
of Jesus the Christ instead of his suffering.
3. A Christian Sect that emphasizes on Christ’s
suffering for humanity.

Down
1. The fish, a symbol used by persecuted Christians
when meeting each other.
2. A Christian Sect that celebrates the cross as
an emblem of victory.

Enrichment 2 - WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES

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. 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. 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
Christians have certain religious observances in which they commemorate particular events in the history of Christianity.
Some of the most important Christian observances are Advent, Lent, and Pentecost. 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. 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.
Pentecost is celebrated as a holiday to commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians. It is also celebrated as
the birthday of the Church. The event was recorded in the New Testament, in The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2, which 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.
The Roman Catholic Church follows a certain hierarchy based on the Canon Law of the Catholic Church.The Canon law is
thhe system of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate its
external organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the 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 Roman Catholic
Church follows certain moral guideline also found in the bible such as the ten commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17, and at
Deuteronomy 5:-21; The beatitudes also known as the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:1-12.
Protestantism, was raised from protests against the malpractices which were so prevalent in Catholic religion and thus
acquired its name from this idea of Protest. It originated in Germany, in 1517, when Martin Luther published in 95 theses. There
are several points of differences between Catholicism and Protestantism, one of the most important differences being, unlike
Catholicism, Protestantism does not have a hierarchical structure. This is so because the latter believes that, to reach God, a
general man does not need the help of a mediator.There senior pastors, pastors, elders/ lay leaders and deacons in protestant
churches to carry out religious tasks in service to followers.
.
Guided Assessment
True or False
_____1. Protestantism originated in Germany in 1517.
_____2. In the Roman Catholic Hierarchy the Pope is considered as Peter’s successor.
_____3. The Beatitudes also known as the Sermon at the Mount can be read at this bible passage Deuteronomy 5:21.
_____4 Advent refers to the observed by Christians in preparation for Easter.
_____5. Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of of Advent.
_____6.Pentecost is celebrated as a holiday to commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians.
_____7.Christians believe in one God.

Enrichment 3 - SELECTED ISSUES

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).
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”

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 with regard to 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 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 with
regard to 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.
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 together, 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

Reflection and evaluation:

Answer these questions to evaluate what you learned in this lesson.
What part of the lesson do you find most interesting and easy to understand?
What concpets do you find difficult to grasp and difficult to understand?

Referrences:
Jerome A. Ong and Mary Dorothy dL. Jose. Introduction to World religions and Belief Systems, Vibal Group Inc.
https://dwellcc.org/learning/essays/five-worldviews

*note.
 Kindly answer all activities except ones specified as opitonal.
 NO ANSWER KEY was provided in this lesson to encourage the learner to read and comprehend the concepts at their own
pace.
 If you find some concepts difficult you are encouraged to discuss your concerns and clarifications with your teacher facilitator.
 Do not write anything on this booklet. Kindly write your answers on the medium specified by your teacher facilitator. .