1. Religions with Christian and American Roots
Appendix:

2. Close to Home: Introduction
Hope we broadened understanding of world’s religions
From familiar to unfamiliar back to familiar
Catholic Teaching, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and now American religions
19th century American Protestant roots
Most not technically Protestant or Christian though
Often misunderstood & will encounter
Method: history, beliefs & practices, thru a Catholic lens

3. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: A Brief History
Commonly known as the Mormons—one of the fastest growing
Founded by Joseph Smith ( ) around 1830
Father & Jesus appeared to him while praying at 14 in NY
Don’t join any church b/c all corrupted—Jesus will restore Church through new teachings & priesthood
4 years later received visions from Moroni who directed to buried golden plates with hieroglyphics—Book of Mormon (1830)
Ancient American civilization writings from Resurrection appearance
From upstate New York to Nauvoo, IL; finally to Salt Lake City, UT—persecution
Persecuted b/c of the acceptance of polygamy & political power
Imprisoned & killed w/ his brother Hyrum in 1844 in outside Carthage, IL by angry mob

4. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: A Brief History cont.
Brigham Young succeeded as leader
Splinter group formed by those who though Joseph Smith III should lead (descendant)—Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Headquartered in Independence, Missouri (both still today)
Young led 1300 mile journey to Salt Lake City, UT—10 million; half in US
Joseph Smith had a reported 34 wives (children only from Emma, his first wife)
wives-of-joseph-smith.html
Brigham Young had 55 wives (57 children)
of-brigham-young.html

5. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Beliefs & Practices
Primitive Christianity founded by Jesus fell into apostasy
New revelation, scripture, & priesthood to Smith to renew
Elements of truth in other religions; they are the only true one
Not Protestants but most pure Christians
Only saved inside Mormonism so also baptism of the dead by proxy
Native Americans are one of the 10 Lost Tribes of Israel
Trinity but Jesus is not divine
Millenialists—Jesus will reign 1,000 years on earth at 2nd Coming
Revelation (Bible or Book of Mormon) is open— president/prophet

6. Wilford Woodruff—end polygamy (1900)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints : Beliefs & Practices cont.
Wilford Woodruff—end polygamy (1900)
Spencer Kimball—African males to be priests, not from Cain (1978)
Pearl of Great Price—writings/revelations of Smith
Doctrine and Covenants—writings/revelations post Smith
Worship is simple—songs, prayers, sermon, Lord’s Supper (water)
Drugs forbidden—alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine
Baptism by immersion at age 8 or older & proxy baptism of dead
Research family genealogies
Missionary work at age 20 for 2 years; 50K annually; foreign & domestic

7. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints : A Brief Look at Mormonism through a Catholic Lens
Little common ground between Catholics and Mormons:
Jesus is the first spirit born to heavenly parents; not divine
3 Gods in One Godhead—Yahweh, Elohim, and Jehovah
Baptism of the Dead & absolute necessity of baptism for salvation
Only true & living Church
Some similarities:
Emphasis on evangelization and missionary work
Care of the poor and disadvantaged—Catholic Relief Services
Depend on God’s grace and mercy for life and salvation

8. You Tube Videos: Mormons
10 Things You Didn't Know About Mormons
The History of Mormonism

9. Appendix: Mormonism: Review Questions
Where does the term “Mormon” come from?
Why is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints not considered a Protestant church?
Why were Mormons persecuted in Illinois?
Why do Mormons allow baptism by proxy of the dead?
What is one essential difference between Catholicism and Mormonism?

10. Seventh-day Adventists: A Brief History
Adventist = one who believes the 2nd coming of Jesus is imminent
Emerged out of 19th century Millennialist Movement = belief that at 2nd Coming Jesus, kingdom, & followers reign for 1K years
William Miller ( ) calculates date Jesus will return to earth in physical form
# of people followed him and called themselves Adventists
Jesus did not come so recalculated for 7 months later
Jesus did not come = Great Disappointment so many left Miller
Adventists modified their teaching to include the Investigative Judgment = Jesus’ 2nd coming would be preceded by the judgment, pronouncement, and execution of judgement of the living & dead
Did not set a date but believed it was immanent
Seventh-day Adventist Church formed from this movement
Prophetess Ellen White in 1863—English books & lectures

11. Seventh-day Adventists: A Brief History cont.
Seventh-day Adventists name comes from:
The belief that Jesus’ return is imminent (Advent)
The 7th day was Saturday, the Sabbath
Millennialism - like Mormons, Adventists believed that Jesus’ 1,000 year reign was about to happen
The Great Disappointment
William Miller predicted Jesus return on two different dates in 1844
James ( ) and Ellen White ( ) became the visionaries and founders of the religion in 1863
Investigative Judgment – day when Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead

13. Seventh-day Adventists: Beliefs and Practices
Strict, literal, fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible
Saturday is Sabbath and day of worship as it is the 7th day
Follow strict Jewish dietary laws
Look for evidence of the Parousia in Scripture
No drugs—alcohol, nicotine, caffeine b/c harm Temple of HS
Sola Scriptura but not standard Christian interpretation:
Jesus’ redemption only effective for those who truly believe
Souls of unrighteous are destroyed = not immortal
Baptism by immersion after instruction
Deny the theory of evolution = creationists (but periods)
Vegetarians
No dancing or movies for some
Ironically, no female clergy despite Ellen White

14. Seventh-day Adventists: Beliefs and Practices cont.
Bible alone is sacred authority
Ellen White’s visions interpreted scripture
Salvation
Jesus saves all, but only effective for believers
No hell, unbelievers will vanish (souls are not immortal)
Baptism by immersion
Deny evolution
No dancing, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, most vegetarians – all harmful to body and soul

15. Seventh-day Adventists: A Brief Look at Seventh-day Adventists through a Catholic Lens
Many points of agreement:
Trinity, divinity of Christ, Virgin birth, Resurrection, 2nd Coming, valid baptism, Original Sin, salvation through faith & works
Some points of disagreement:
Saturday Sabbath, break Sinai covenant if don’t keep 7th day, destruction of unrighteous souls = not immortal
St. Justin Martyr proves early Christian belief in Sunday worship

16. You Tube Videos: Seventh-day Adventists
History of the Seventh- day Adventist Church
10 Things You Should Know about Seventh-day Adventists

17. Appendix: Seventh-day Adventists: Review Questions
Summarize the origins of the Adventist movement.
What was the Great Disappointment?
Why do Seventh-day Adventists worship on Saturday rather than Sunday?
Why does the Catholic Church hold that Sunday is the proper day of worship?

18. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society: A Brief History
Founded by Charles Russell ( ) in PA in 1884
Original name was Zion’s Watchtower Bible & Tract Society
Predicted the fall of 1914 as the 2nd Coming of Jesus
Battle of Armageddon would expel Satan from earth—did not occur
Succeeded by Joseph Rutherford ( )
Centralized, refined, & moved headquarters to Brooklyn, NY
Changed Russell’s democracy to a theocracy & renamed Jehovah’s Witnesses—International Bible Students Association in EU
Emphasize Jehovah (Yahweh) the one true God
True followers witness to God in the name of Jehovah
Third president Nathan Knorr ( ) expanded publications, translated the New World Translation of Holy Scriptures, & founded Watchtower Bible School in Gilead, NY to train leaders
Worldwide but not always welcome—allegiance to theocracy

19. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society: A Brief History cont.
Charles Russell founded 1884 in as Zion’s Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
Another millennial trying to predict return of Jesus
Predicted date as 1914 as the date for Armageddon (final battle of Satan & Jesus)
Joseph Rutherford centralized the head- quarters in Brooklyn, NY
Trained missionaries for evangelizing
Taught a theocracy (God’s invisible reign)
New World Translation (Jehovah named 7,000 times)
Beliefs from their website:

20. Watchtower Bible and Tract Society: Beliefs and Practices
Many beliefs not unlike Christian beliefs:
Bible is the Word of God & sole source of authority
Jesus is the Son of God, born of a Virgin, & reconciler of mankind
However, Christians reject their translation of the bible & many interpretations based on it—bent to reflect teachings
True Christians & only source of salvation—others false or pagans
Do not recognize the Trinity—Jesus is not God & HS is not God but presence of Jehovah in creation
Jesus is son of God; subject to him; Archangel Michael b4 birth
Crucifixion & resurrection are spiritual not physical
Not on a crossbeam but on a stake or pole—cross is a pagan symbol
Secular governments & other religions are instruments of Satan
No government, flag, public office, military, vote, holidays, …
No hell, soul dies at death; soul reinstated in perfect raised body

21. Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Home reading & study of Bible
Semi-monthly periodicals: Bible, Watchtower, & Awake
Distribute door to door & in public
Place of worship = Kingdom Hall—congregation = company
Every day is holy so no day of rest
Weekly meetings not worship times for talks & training
Average member is called a publisher (meetings & door to door evangelization—neighborhood on Saturday)
Only celebrate what is commanded by Christ in the Bible = not Christmas & Easter but death of Jesus
Do not celebrate birthdays = pagan feasts
No blood transfusions = “eating blood”
Goal is to establish a theocracy on earth b4 Jesus’ 2nd Coming to purify of all evil so Jesus can set up kingdom

22. Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Believe their scriptures are true; all others are false
No Holy Trinity; Jesus is son of God (subject to God)
Jesus is Michael the Archangel, come to earth
Jesus was not crucified on a cross (pagan myth)
Governments are instruments of Satan, thus they do not celebrate holidays; personal or civil
At death the soul dies; Jesus will reinstate a perfect body at the resurrection
Kingdom Hall is gathering place for God’s company
Evangelism is a major ministry of each publisher
Do not accept blood transfusions--Lv. “eating blood”

23. Watchtower Bible & Tract Society: A Brief Look at Jehovah’s Witnesses through a Catholic Lens
Many clear differences:
Christ’s divinity—Jehovah’s Witnesses is basically Arianism
Use of the Bible to support their beliefs
Apt to quote passages out of context
Use their own translation of the Bible which scholars regard as highly inaccurate
Secularization is
our enemy not
serious religious
beliefs that differ
from ours

24. You Tube Videos: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
History of the Jehovah's Witnesses
9 Things You Should Know about Jehovah's Witnesses

25. Appendix: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society: Review Questions
What is the significance of the name “Jehovah’s Witness”?
What is the goal of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teaching and practice?
Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses not celebrate holidays and birthdays?

26. The Church of Christ, Scientist: A Brief History
Mary Baker Eddy ( ) founded in Massachusetts in 1979
Commonly known as Christian Science
Raised strict Congregationalist & taught to love Bible
Sickly child so sought conventional and non forms of healing
Fell on ice around age 40 and seriously injured
Realized suffering & sickness were illusions while reading Bible
Could be overcome and healed with right thinking
She was healed and spent several years in intense biblical study
Wrote Science & Health to formulate doctrine of Christian Science
Est. First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, MA (today)
Grew rapidly from then leveled off
Wrote the Manual of the Mother Church—guidelines for individual churches that are otherwise self-governing & autonomous
Worldwide but predominantly in Protestant countries

27. The Church of Christ, Scientist: A Brief History cont.
Founded by Mary Baker Eddy 1879 in Boston
Beliers can have a “right mind” to allow for inner & physical healing
Book of Science & Health speaks of her doctrine

28. The Church of Christ, Scientist: Beliefs and Practices
Bible study led Eddy to belief that Jesus’ teaching, especially on healing, had been lost over the last 1800 years—intend to recapture
Bible & Science and Health equally authoritative
God is Mother/Father, masculine/feminine, strong/compassionate
Jesus is not God but son of God
Physical healings are brought through spiritual means alone
People can be healthy & happy if they discover this truth = God
Suffering & death = effects of evil but also illusions so can rid
Prayer is used to treat physical ills—pray to possess the Mind of XT
Consults a registered practitioner—paid to pray WITH the person to assist and guide them to GOD who alone heals
Do NOT excommunicate those who seek medical attention
Encourage attention to public health laws, immunization, assistance with baby deliveries, dentists, & eye doctors

29. The Church of Christ, Scientist: Beliefs & Practices cont.
No creed per se but six tenets found in Science and Health:
Inspired Word of God is sufficient
God, his son, and the Holy Ghost; man in God’s image
Forgiveness of sin through spiritual understanding
Jesus’ atonement is evidence of God’s love
Crucifixion & resurrection uplifts faith to understanding
Pray for Mind of Christ to be with us; act like Christ
Reading Rooms near churches show importance of study
Public is welcomed
Lesson-Sermon from Mother Church is always available = Sunday sermon—26 topics rotating
Taken weekly from “pastor of church” = Bible & Science & Health
Two readers from the congregation; simple service

30. The Church of Christ, Scientist: Beliefs & Practices cont.
Believed the healing teachings of Jesus had been lost
God is masculine/feminine (strong & compassionate)
Evil & suffering are an illusion; spiritual healing can cure pain through union with God , the mind of Christ
Registered Practitioners can deliver the healing of God’s grace
Christian Science Reading Rooms provide a space to learn and develop the mind

31. The Church of Christ, Scientist: A Brief Look at Christian Science through a Catholic Lens
Deny most essential Catholic doctrines:
Creator God Magisterial teaching Angels
Divinity of Christ Sacraments Demons
Redemption Necessity of faith Heaven
Free will Grace Hell
Original Sin Prayer
Actual Sin Resurrection of the body
Christian Science healings are distinct from the gift of miracles given by Christ to the apostles in Mk. 16
Healing ministry is not a regular part of the priesthood
Physical healing is not essential to a person’s salvation
Christians hold this last point but also that God desires and often does heal physically & spiritually—Anointing of the Sick
Illusive vs. redemptive (connects Christians to the Resurrection)

32. You Tube Videos: Church of Christ, Scientist
What is Christian Science?
What is Christian Science II
Christian Science Practitioner: Healing Prayer

33. Appendix: The Church of Christ, Scientist: Review Questions
What did Mary Baker Eddy discover about healing?
Why is it incorrect to say Christian Scientists are hostile to the medical profession?
What is the role of registered practitioners?
Name a Christian Scientist belief that contradicts Catholic doctrine.

34. Unitarian Universalists: A Brief History
Unitarian Universalist Association = 1961 consolidation of Universalist Church of America & the American Unitarian Association & is commonly called the Unitarian Church
Do not consider themselves Christian—wisdom in all religions
Originated under the belief that no one will suffer damnation
Famous American members = John Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Clara Barton, & Susan B. Anthony
Headquartered in Boston, MA
No central government; each congregation is autonomous
International Association for Religious Freedom—global
No formal creed but statement of principles
Individual has authority to form own beliefs and behavior
From experience, science, & reason
No sacred text—world texts give guidance & wisdom

35. Unitarian Universalists: A Brief History cont.
Unitarians do not consider themselves Christian; rather believe all religions provide spiritual wisdom
Americans: John Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Clara Barton, Susan B. Anthony
Believe all people will be saved
Headquarters in Boston
No central authority
All congregations are autonomous
No creed, only statements of principles.
Ultimate authority is with each individual

36. Unitarian Universalists: Statement of Principles & Purposes
Affirm & promote:
Dignity of every person
Justice, equality, & compassion
Acceptance & encouragement of others
Free & responsible search for truth
Right of conscience & the democratic process
World community, peace, liberty, & justice
Respect for all existence & its interdependence
Sources of living tradition (gratitude for pluralism; trust & support):
Direct experience
Words & deeds of prophetic men & women
Wisdom of world’s religions
Jewish & Christian teachings on love
Humanist teachings on reason & science
Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions

37. Unitarian Universalists: Beliefs and Practices cont.
We affirm seven principles:
1st Principle:  The inherent worth & dignity of every person
2nd Principle: Justice, equity & compassion in human relations
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another & encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
4th Principle: A free & responsible search for truth & meaning
5th Principle: The right of conscience & the use of the democratic process within our congregations & in society at large
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, & justice for all
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

38. Unitarian Universalist: Unitarian Universalists through a Catholic Lens
Practices vary among congregations
Most have a regular weekly service
Prefer term society or fellowship
Draw from various sources
Do not hold divinity of Christ or Holy Trinity
Focus on love & service to poor
Drawn to the Beatitudes of Jesus
Few doctrinal agreements since they lack formal doctrine & beliefs

39. You Tube Videos: Unitarian Universalists
History of Unitarian Universalist
Unitarian Universalism: You're a Uni-What?

40. Appendix: Unitarian Universalists: Review Questions
Why are Unitarians not considered a Christian church?
What are some sources Unitarians draw on for worship?