who is christian?
"Any individual or group who devoutly, thoughtfully, seriously, and prayerfully
regards themselves to be Christian. That is, they honestly believe that they
follow Jesus Christ's teachings as they understand
them to be." (from religioustolerance.org)
For more information click here
For more information click here
christian denominations
This pictures gives us a simple view of the development of the many Christian Denominations contemporary with us. The UCC is in the green line. For a more complete list of denominations, click here. You will find the United Church of Christ under "united and uniting churches."
why would anyone choose to be a christian?
To do:
For each section, read and watch the resources, answer any poll questions, and do the journal writing indicated.
Then discuss your questions and answers in the confirmation meeting.
For each section, read and watch the resources, answer any poll questions, and do the journal writing indicated.
Then discuss your questions and answers in the confirmation meeting.
Finding Moosewood, Finding God
Jack Perkins
Lately, in moments of prayerful reflection, I have come to understand that my
whole life -- the adventures and experiences of my TV years, our moving to an
empty island off Maine, my wife and I, and living there with no public utilities
for 13 years -- the abundant highs and inescapable lows -- all these have been
leading to this.
This essay. And in general, my time of witness. Going from reporting other
people's biographies for A&E, to confessing my own in a new book. From
broadcasting the news to broadcasting the The Good News.
It's about time.
I grew up in a smalltown Ohio home that was nominally Christian. There was a
Bible on the shelf but on the shelf! If the family went to church it was
more a social occasion than devotion. I picked up just enough faith too stamp
"Lutheran" on my dog tags but nothing on my heart.
Read on...
Lately, in moments of prayerful reflection, I have come to understand that my
whole life -- the adventures and experiences of my TV years, our moving to an
empty island off Maine, my wife and I, and living there with no public utilities
for 13 years -- the abundant highs and inescapable lows -- all these have been
leading to this.
This essay. And in general, my time of witness. Going from reporting other
people's biographies for A&E, to confessing my own in a new book. From
broadcasting the news to broadcasting the The Good News.
It's about time.
I grew up in a smalltown Ohio home that was nominally Christian. There was a
Bible on the shelf but on the shelf! If the family went to church it was
more a social occasion than devotion. I picked up just enough faith too stamp
"Lutheran" on my dog tags but nothing on my heart.
Read on...
Journal Writing:
For at least 2 videos answer the following questions in your journal
Do their answers make any sense to you?
What do you agree with?
What do you disagree with?
For at least 2 videos answer the following questions in your journal
Do their answers make any sense to you?
What do you agree with?
What do you disagree with?
WHat Being Christian Means to Me
this is the song referred to in the Marcus Borg video
Why jesus?
Below you will find different understandings of why one would choose to follow Jesus. One talks a lot about the fruits of the faith, another offers a salvific understanding of Jesus, one offers us the Jesus of radical hospitality, one sees Jesus as an example for how we should live, and one calls us to seek Justice for Jesus.
Journal Writing: For each video, answer these questions
1) Why do these people think one ought to follow Jesus?
2) What do they think it means to follow Jesus?
3) What might they say would be the result if one chose not to follow Jesus?
4) What do you think?
Journal Writing: For each video, answer these questions
1) Why do these people think one ought to follow Jesus?
2) What do they think it means to follow Jesus?
3) What might they say would be the result if one chose not to follow Jesus?
4) What do you think?
who was jesus?
from wikepedia
Jesus (pron.: /ˈdʒiːzəs/; Greek: Ἰησοῦς Iēsous; 7–2 BC/BCE to 30–36 AD/CE), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, is the central figure of Christianity, whom the teachings of most Christian denominations hold to be the Son of God.[7] Christians hold Jesus to be the awaited Messiah of the Old Testament and refer to him as Jesus Christ or simply as Christ,[8] a name that is also used secularly. Jesus is also considered to be a Prophet in Islam.
Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed.[9][10] While the quest for the historical Jesus has produced little agreement on the historicity of gospel narratives and their theological assertions of his divinity,[11][12] most scholars agree that Jesus was a Jewish teacher from Galilee in Roman Judea, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate.[4][13][10] Scholars have offered various portraits of the historical Jesus, which at times share a number of overlapping attributes, such as the leader of an apocalyptic movement, Messiah, a charismatic healer, a sage and philosopher, or a social reformer who preached of the "Kingdom of God" as a means for personal and egalitarian social transformation.[14][15] Scholars have correlated the New Testament accounts with non-Christian historical records to arrive at an estimated chronology of Jesus' life.[16]
Read More...
Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed.[9][10] While the quest for the historical Jesus has produced little agreement on the historicity of gospel narratives and their theological assertions of his divinity,[11][12] most scholars agree that Jesus was a Jewish teacher from Galilee in Roman Judea, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate.[4][13][10] Scholars have offered various portraits of the historical Jesus, which at times share a number of overlapping attributes, such as the leader of an apocalyptic movement, Messiah, a charismatic healer, a sage and philosopher, or a social reformer who preached of the "Kingdom of God" as a means for personal and egalitarian social transformation.[14][15] Scholars have correlated the New Testament accounts with non-Christian historical records to arrive at an estimated chronology of Jesus' life.[16]
Read More...
from a progressive christian perspective
From the Nicene creed
Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
From the UCC Statement of faith
Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Lord,he has come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to himself. He bestows upon us his Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
from the salvific perspective
Examples of the Teachings of Jesus (Bible Stories)
why the trinity?
from Wikepedia
Trinity: Definition
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons or hypostases:[1] the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit; "one God in three persons". The three persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or nature".[2] A nature is what one is, while a person is who one is.[3][4][5]
Read More...
Trinity: Definition
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons or hypostases:[1] the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit; "one God in three persons". The three persons are distinct, yet are one "substance, essence or nature".[2] A nature is what one is, while a person is who one is.[3][4][5]
Read More...
from
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingaholyadventure/2012/05/the-adventurous-lectionary-trinity-sunday/
"The Trinity is only an occasional theme in progressive and moderate Christian
preaching. Indeed, most progressives tend toward a type of Unitarianism that
focuses on the unity of God with only modest attention to the Father/Mother,
Son, and Holy Spirit, or Creature, Redeemer, and Transformer/Sustainer. Still,
reflection on the Trinity has a place in Christian theological reflection and
spiritual experience. The Trinity points to the mystery of unity and diversity
in God’s experience and in the ongoing creative process. God is not an
unchanging monad, but a lively dancing, creating, and relating being/becoming,
constantly growing, evolving, and inspiring. The Trinity is not segmented or
digital but a holistic reality in which each one of the “many” experiences and
acts in relationship to the other. Here we can agree whole-heartedly with the
wisdom of early Trinitarian thinking – the Divine Parent feels everything the
Holy Child experiences, the Spirit reflects and embodies in history the loving
and embracing character of the Holy Child, and the Creative Power of the
Universe is ultimately loving, revealing, and healing. The “Father” feels the
pain of the Cross and the joy of Resurrection."
Read More...
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingaholyadventure/2012/05/the-adventurous-lectionary-trinity-sunday/
"The Trinity is only an occasional theme in progressive and moderate Christian
preaching. Indeed, most progressives tend toward a type of Unitarianism that
focuses on the unity of God with only modest attention to the Father/Mother,
Son, and Holy Spirit, or Creature, Redeemer, and Transformer/Sustainer. Still,
reflection on the Trinity has a place in Christian theological reflection and
spiritual experience. The Trinity points to the mystery of unity and diversity
in God’s experience and in the ongoing creative process. God is not an
unchanging monad, but a lively dancing, creating, and relating being/becoming,
constantly growing, evolving, and inspiring. The Trinity is not segmented or
digital but a holistic reality in which each one of the “many” experiences and
acts in relationship to the other. Here we can agree whole-heartedly with the
wisdom of early Trinitarian thinking – the Divine Parent feels everything the
Holy Child experiences, the Spirit reflects and embodies in history the loving
and embracing character of the Holy Child, and the Creative Power of the
Universe is ultimately loving, revealing, and healing. The “Father” feels the
pain of the Cross and the joy of Resurrection."
Read More...