Untitled Quiz

Study Notes

Branches of Christianity

Catholicism (Western, Roman): Emerged in the 3rd century CE.
- Jesus lived from 0-33 CE.
- Sacraments are rituals where God is believed to be present:
  - Baptism: Entry into the Church.
  - Reconciliation (Confession/Penance): Forgiveness for sins.
  - Confirmation: Strengthening of baptismal vows.
  - Eucharist (Communion): Partaking in the body and blood of Christ.
  - Holy Orders: Ordination of priests and bishops.
  - Anointing of the Sick: Blessing for the sick.
Orthodox Christianity (Eastern): Origins in the 3rd century CE.
- Similar beliefs to Catholic but without a Pope.
- Each nation has its own bishop.
- The Great Schism in the 12th century:
  - The Crusades led to conflict with Muslims.
  - Catholic pilgrimages to the Holy Land.
  - Catholic conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul).
Protestantism: Started in the 16th century by Martin Luther.
- Luther was a Catholic monk.
- He criticized abuses in the Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences.
- Emphasized faith in Jesus and the Bible as the foundation of salvation.
- Lutherans: one of the first Protestant groups.
- Reformed churches: another major Protestant group.
- Church of England: Anglicanism.
- Methodists: a further branch of the Church of England emphasizing personal piety.
- Anabaptists: early Protestant group that emphasized adult baptism and pacifism.
  - Early Protestants opposed Anabaptists violently.
- Liberation Theology (Catholic): Focuses on the liberation of the oppressed.

Historical Critical Method

Historical: Studies the biblical text within its historical context.
- Aims to understand the text's time and place.
Critical: Analyzes and explains the text critically.
- Compares the text with other texts from the same period.
- Examines influences on the text.

Genesis: Who, When, Where

Multiple editors contributed to the book of Genesis.
- Evidence: changes in vocabulary and writing style.
- Gen 1: "God" (elohim)
- Gen 2: "Lord God" (YHWH Elohim)
Genesis was likely written sometime after 586 BCE.
The writers likely lived in Babylonia/Assyria, modern-day Iraq.

Genesis: Order of Creation & Before Creation

Genesis 1: Presents a structured, day-by-day account of creation.
- Light is created first, followed by animals and humans last.
Genesis 2: Offers a narrative, story-like account.
- The male human is created first, followed by animals, and then the female human.
Genesis 1 describes a dark, watery world before creation.
Genesis 2 describes a dry, barren land without plants or rain.

Genesis: When and Where - Side Notes

Elohim: a Hebrew word meaning "God," comprised of "El" (God) and "ohim" (plural ending).
YHWH Elohim: the unpronounceable name of God, a combination of YHWH (unpronounceable) and Elohim.
The repetitive language in Genesis 1 (e.g., "Let there be..." ) may have been used in worship services.

Questions: Genesis

Who: Who are the authors of Genesis?
Where: Where were they located?
When: When was Genesis written?
What: What is the genre of Genesis?

Genres in the Bible

Non-Fiction:
- History: May contain contradictory accounts.
Fiction:
- Myths: Significant stories that shape a nation or culture.

Analyzing the Genesis Creation Stories

The Bible's Genesis Creation Stories provide a framework for understanding the world and our place in it.
The stories are NOT literal scientific accounts, but they offer insights into the historical context, culture, and beliefs of the writers.
Historical Context: The Genesis creation stories emerged during a time of exile and oppression for the Israelites.

Babylonian Influence

Babylonian Myths: The Israelites were heavily influenced by Babylonian mythology.
- Babylonian myths reinforced the worldview of slaves, justifying their oppression.
- The Israelites found themselves in a similar situation during their exile in Babylon.

The Israelites' Resistance

Creation Stories as Resistance: The Israelites crafted their own creation stories as a form of resistance against their Babylonian enslavers.
Reframing Babylonian Myths: They took the Babylonian myths and reframed them to reflect their own beliefs and aspirations.
Challenging the Existing Order: The Israelite creation stories challenged the existing worldview of oppression and slavery.

The Underworld: Different Cultures

Greek Mythology: The underworld is ruled by Hades (Pluto), where warriors reside after death.
- Elysium Fields: A paradise for those who live good lives.
Norse Mythology: No specific concept of an underworld like those found in Greek Mythology.