Religion and Violence Textbook work

Religion and Violence- Page 313

     This excerpt regarding violence in the Christian faith discusses missionaries. This act of bringing the Christian religion (and any religion for that matter) to countries in need has been in active practice for centuries. However, as nationalism increases in these places, violence towards these missionary "invaders" is increasingly common. Missionary work is the foundation of what some call "white mans burden". This includes bringing modern western medicine and culture to the less fortunate. Furthermore, missionaries attempt to convert the people of these places to Christianity and introduce them to the love of God. The problem with this glorified view is what these people actually want. Spreading a religion is an honorable job, but the people who feel they are being pressured to accept western ways see it as a destructive force to ancient culture. This has cause lots of violence and out lash at the presence of missionaries. Some are even killed or executed to make a point about the opinions of locals on these foreign people. This has shaped the culture of Christians and spreading their beliefs. This has also resulted in increased conflict between Christians and cultures all over the world. Less forceful ways of missionary work and spreading Christianity, and increased acceptance of other cultures would help decrease these violent clashes.

Study Questions

1. Christianity began as a sect of Judaism in 1 C.E when the Roman empire was at its peak and Augustus Ceasar ruled.
2. Jesus preformed miracles like the Messiah that included healing people and eventually dying for our sins. He did not however create a Kingdom on Earth with Jerusalem as the capital. 
3. The basic rituals of early Christianity included Eucharist, common meal, and Baptism.
4. The section of the New Testament that was most likely written first is Paul's letters. 50's and 60's of the new century was when the gospels began. 
5. Constantine took advantage of the growing Christian religion to increase his own support. He assembled Christian leaders and selected which gospels would make up the bible. He was similar to Asoka who converted to the new religion, Buddhism. 
6. Eastern Orthodox- Patriarch, Icons, Baptist immersion, Greek, and the use of wine. 
Western Christianity on the contrary included the pope, statues, baptist sprinkling, Latin, and used only bread.
7. The reformation was caused by many things included the rise of nationalism, the teachings of the renaissance, and the decline of the papacy.
8. Seven Sacraments- baptism, confirmation, penance, Eucharist, extreme unction, marriage, and holy orders.
9. Pope John XXII wanted to bring the church into the 20th century. He called the Vatican II Council and made some of the most dramatic changes to the church. One of the most important was the ecumenical movement, to reconcile disagreements.
10. Liberation Theology is an emphasis on liberation from social, economic, and political oppression. This is in anticipation of ultimate salvation. Fundamentalism is based on the fact that the Church was made by God to be its divine authorized interpreter.