Development Of Christianity

As the Syllabus states, upon completing this course students should be able to:

Discuss the origins and historical development of Christianity

Discuss and define relevant concepts, important historical figures, and key terms relating to Christianity

Demonstrate familiarity with Christianity's basic theological assumptions and development of essential doctrines

Understand the varieties of American Christian denominations and their history, and study one tradition in depth through the major paper

Understand Christianity's ongoing historical relationship with Judaism, Islam, and other faiths

Understand Christianity's religious and historical influence on Western culture Throughout taking this class I believe my knowledge and understanding of

One of my favorite things during this course was researching the Episcopalian denomination and attending a service at the National Cathedral. Some things I learned that were not necessarily shocking but struck my interest included how art and literature were impacted or influenced by Christianity. For example, during the Black Death several images that reflected the sentiments of the time were produced. One depiction was that of death as a grinning skeleton holding the traditional scythe-tool for gathering harvest- hovering over the dead and decaying, and showing the healthy and prosperous where their future lies. The second famous image is the bloody portrayal of Jesus Christ on the cross with discolored flesh and weeping wounds which was meant to warn people that the world was coming towards the end. It also, however, gave hope to Christians because they believed that by Christ’s redemptive death on the cross, better things awaited those who experienced great suffering as Christ had endured. The third and last artistic representation was the pietà, in which Mary mourns over her crucified son. This representation encouraged Christians to identify their suffering and death with that of Christ