Christian Theology 101

What Christianity is all about The Problem: Sin (not sins) – a state of separation from God, from each other, and from our true self Solution: An end to this separation. This is made possible through the person and work of Jesus Christ Image of God: Though made in the “image of God,” that image is hard to find as it is buried under ego.

Theological Language

The Resurrection of Jesus Bodily? Or Existential?

Who is this Jesus? Christology – The study of the person and the saving work of Jesus Christ

The Incarnation (the divinity of Jesus) – The claim that in the person, life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth God is most clearly, fully, and powerfully made known

But what does it mean to say Jesus is divine?

What God was The Word Was Jesus is called: Wisdom of God Word of God Image of God Face of God Son of God Lamb of God The New Adam

Chalcedon Creed 451 A.D Jesus is one person That person is both fully divine and fully human

The Trinity – The one God is made known to us in three primary ways, as the Father who creates us, the Son who guides and leads us, and the Holy Spirit within us and our community of faith

Atonement – The death of Jesus saves or the Life of Jesus saves?

Western Christianity St. Augustine: Original Sin

Theories of Atonement The Substitution Theory The Moral Influence Theory St. Anselm 1095 Peter Abelard 1120

Main Branches of Christianity: Roman Catholicism Big ideas: 1) The Church as teaching authority 2) The Church as Sacramental agent 3) A Major Role for The Virgin Mary

Catholic Sacraments

Transubstantiation

Eastern Orthodox Christianity Differences from Western Christianity: 1) rejects the Western notion of original sin. 2) It is not Christ's death, so much as the incarnation itself that brings us salvation.

The Eastern View Theosis “God became a human being, so that human beings can become God.” We are saved by the Incarnation itself. Jesus shows us the image of God without blemish. When we live as Jesus did we restore the image of God in ourselves and become united to the Divine ground of our being.

Protestantism Big ideas: 1) Faith alone 2) The Protestant Principle

Christianity today Conservative Theology Liberal Theology The Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God Evolution is not true. Rejects science Substitution view of the death of Jesus Other Religions are invalid Abortion is wrong, homosexuality is immoral, women should not be clergy. The Bible is 100% a human product. It is neither inerrant nor infallible. It is a human response to the divine, flawed but important. Evolution is true. Accepts Science Moral Influence view of the Atonement All World Religions have value Abortion is a woman’s choice, Homosexuality is not wrong at all, women should be allowed to be clergy.