Table of Contents When Did It Happen?

Table of Contents When Did it Happen?

Introduction ...... 3 If you have ever read about something that happened long ago, then you are probably familiar with the abbreviations BC or BCE and AD or CE. Buddha was born in 563 BCE. Muhammad The Bible ...... 5 died in 632 CE. Both BC and BCE represent the years before the birth of Jesus. CE and AD The Roman Empire ...... 6 mean the years after the birth of Jesus. The abbreviations stand for the following: The Birth of Jesus ...... 8 BC = Before Christ BCE = Before the Common Era The Baptism of Jesus ...... 10 AD = Anno Domini (in the year of our CE = Common Era Lord) Jesus is Tempted ...... 11 In this book, only BCE and CE will be used. Apostles and Beatitudes ...... 12 You have probably also read of events happening, for example, in the 5th century or even in Miracles...... 13 the 5th century BCE. A century is 100 years. If people lived in the 1st century, they lived in The Last Supper ...... 16 the first 100 years CE or in the first 100 years after the birth of Jesus. So, if we say something The Crucifixion...... 17 happened in the 19th century, we mean it happened during the years 1801–1900 CE. The same rule applies to the centuries BCE, only we count backwards from the birth of Jesus. For The Resurrection ...... 18 example, Buddha was born in 563 BCE, which would mean he was born in the 6th century Review: Jesus’ Life ...... 19 BCE. Sayings of Jesus ...... 21 Questions Forgiveness ...... 23 Here are some practice questions. You will need to use the time line below and your math The Spread of Christianity...... 24 skills to find the answers. Branches of Christianity ...... 28 Statement of Faith ...... 31 2000 BCE 1500 BCE 1000 BCE 500 BCE 0 500 CE 1000 CE 1500 CE 2000 CE Sacraments ...... 32 Eternal Life ...... 33 1. Who is older, someone born in 1760 BCE or someone born in 1450 BCE? Rites of Passage ...... 34 ______Special Days ...... 35 2. How many years difference is there between 250 CE and 250 BCE? The Cross ...... 37 ______Christian Symbols ...... 38 3. How many years difference is there between 1524 CE and 1436 BCE? Greek Orthodox Church (Inside View) ...... 40 Episcopalian Church (Inside View) ...... 41 ______Roman Catholic Church (Inside View)...... 42 4. You visit a cemetery. One of the tombstones reads: ‘Born in the 15th century, died in the 16th’. Make up possible dates that this person may have been born and died. The Lord’s Prayer ...... 43 ______Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle ...... 44 Quiz and Review ...... 45 5. In what century are you living now? When Did it Happen? ...... 47 ______Answer Key ...... 48

2. Tell about one Christian symbol or practice. What is its meaning or significance? If your students were asked what they know about Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism or Christianity, they might respond with a limited amount of information. Although they ______are impacted almost daily with information related directly or indirectly to religious issues, they ______often know little about the religions themselves or the lives of the great spiritual leaders.

______As our world becomes more interdependent, there is a need to awaken to one another’s spiritual heritage. Throughout history, the world has been shaped by people religious beliefs. To ______teach history without religion is equivalent to teaching biology without reference to the human ______body. Schools now recognise this issue and have begun to advocate religious studies within the framework of history. 3. How would you explain the basic message of Christianity to someone who knows absolutely nothing of the religion? What would you say? Religious studies foster tolerance. This is, perhaps, the most valuable lesson. Racism and ______stereotypes are born largely out of ignorance. How wonderful to give students the opportunity to listen to a Buddhist speaker or to visit a synagogue and ask questions of a rabbi. These ______kinds of direct contacts are invaluable. ______Many people may wonder if students in the middle years are too young to begin studying religion. Absolutely not! In fact, such a unit may provide spiritual nourishment missing in many ______students’ lives or it may strengthen the students’ ties to their own faiths. Some may finally have ______the chance to wonder out loud about the meaning of life. They might return home and ask questions of their parents. Students are usually genuinely inspired by such a topic. Parents are ______likely to be appreciative because in many cases they will lean along with their children. ______Teaching religion presents the educator with a tremendous responsibility. The teacher must 7. Jesus instructed to his disciples to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. What does this always be sensitive to their own religious and social conditioning, as well as that of the mean? Have you met anyone who does this? How can you do this? To whom does the students and parents. If this sensitivity exists, today’s students will begin to harbour a deeper word neighbour refer? Does it include people of all races and religions? understanding of and respect for one another’s faith. ______Each title in this series introduces one of the world’s ‘great’ religions but cannot address each ______religion in great detail. Rather, this series should be thought of as a starting point. While it is written for middle-years students, it can easily be adapted for younger or older students. ______

#TCM-3684 Exploring World Beliefs: Christianity 46 © 2003 Hawker Brownlow Education © 2003 Hawker Brownlow Education 3 #TCM-3684 Exploring World Beliefs: Christianity The Roman Empire The Lord’s Prayer

By the 1st century CE, the Roman Empire ruled a large part of the known world. In 63 BCE, The Lord’s Prayer, from Matthew 6, is a main prayer for all Christians. Jesus taught it to his General Pompey conquered Jerusalem, capital of Judea. The Romans renamed this area disciples when they asked him how they should pray. It is also called Pater Noster, which Palestine and ruled over it for nearly 700 years. The Empire’s sophisticated system of roads means ‘Our Father’ in Latin. helped aid the fast spread of Christianity. The map below shows the Roman Empire in the 1st century CE. From 37–4 BCE, Herod the Great was made King of the Jews by the Romans. When he died, he divided the territory among his three sons: Archelaus, Antipas and Philip, who also used the title ‘Herod’. Archelaus ruled over Judea, but in 6 CE he was deposed and a Roman governor took control. At the time of Jesus’ death, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea. Our Father who art in heaven, The map on page 7 shows Palestine in the time of Jesus. Many places may already be Hallowed be thy name. familiar to you. You will want to refer to the map as you read about the life of Jesus. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. BRITAIN Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts, GAUL MACEDONIA As we forgive our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, SPAIN ROME But deliver us from evil: ITALY ASIA For thine is the kingdom and the power, SYRIA GREECE And the glory, forever. AFRICA MEDITERRANEAN SEA Amen.

PALESTINE EGYPT

0 500 km Extensions 1. Rewrite the Lord’s Prayer in your own words. 2. Research the meaning of ‘Amen’.

#TCM-3684 Exploring World Beliefs: Christianity 6 © 2003 Hawker Brownlow Education © 2003 Hawker Brownlow Education 43 #TCM-3684 Exploring World Beliefs: Christianity The Baptism of Jesus Christian Symbols

Jesus and John the Baptist Design four of your own symbols to represent Christianity or copy other symbols that you have seen elsewhere. Be sure to include a description of each. The New Testament (Luke 1) describes the birth of John the Baptist, son of a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth. John’s birth was also foretold by an angel. The angel Gabriel told Zechariah that John would be great in God’s sight and would turn many others toward God. When John grew up, he fulfilled the prophecy. He lived simply, dressed in camel skins and ate locusts and wild honey. He preached to the people about the coming of the Saviour and urged them to repent of their sins and live a godly life. He spoke of generosity, honesty and non- violence. To the people he said, ‘The man with two tunics should share with him who has none and the one who has food should do the same’. To the tax collectors he said, ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to’. To the soldiers, he said, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay’. (Luke 3:10–14) He also baptised people by immersing them in the water of the Jordan River. When Jesus came to be baptised, John acknowledged him as the long-awaited Saviour sent by God. After he was baptised, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said, ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’. (Luke 3:22) Because of Jesus’ example of being baptised, baptism has become an important religious rite for Christians.

#TCM-3684 Exploring World Beliefs: Christianity 10 © 2003 Hawker Brownlow Education © 2003 Hawker Brownlow Education 39 #TCM-3684 Exploring World Beliefs: Christianity Christian Symbols Jesus Is Tempted

There are many important Christian symbols in addition to the cross. You may be familiar After being baptised by John, Jesus left for the desert where he fasted 40 days and nights. with some of them. This story, from Matthew 4:1–11, tells of the temptations Jesus faced during his retreat into the wilderness.

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread’. 4Jesus answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’.’

5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6‘If you are the Son of God’, he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written: Icthus INRI Chi Rho ‘He will command his angels concerning you, In Greek, the word for ‘fish’, INRI was the Latin In Greek, Chi and Rho are icthus, contains the first letters inscription over the cross. the first two letters of Christ. and they will lift you up in their hands, so that of Jesus Christ, thus, the The letters stand for ‘Jesus Here they are superimposed you will not strike your foot against a stone’.’ symbol of the fish. Early Nazarenus Rex Iudaiorum’, upon one another. Christians, fearful of which translates to ‘Jesus of 7Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’.’ persecution, identified Nazareth, King of the Jews’. 8 themselves to one another Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of with this secret symbol. the world and their splendour. 9‘All this I will give you’, he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me’. 10Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only’.’

11Then the devil left him and the angels came and attended to him.

Questions Answer the questions below. Use a separate sheet of paper, if necessary. 1. What were the three temptations that Satan offered Jesus?

______2. What does ‘fasted’ mean? Why do you think Jesus fasted?

Linked Circles A Dove Palm Leaves ______Three linked circles stand A Dove symbolises the The palm leaves are ______for the Trinity. Holy Spirit (from the symbolic of Palm Sunday. baptism of Jesus). ______

Define the following words associated with Christian sacraments and their significance: Jesus Walks on Water 1. Baptism ______Jesus sent his disciples into a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. He ______went up on a mountain alone to pray until the evening. Meanwhile, ______the sea became rough and the boat was tossed about. Seeing this, Jesus walked on the water toward the vessel. ______Sighting Jesus, the disciples were afraid, because they thought he ______was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them and calmed their fears. Peter 2. Communion ______then stated, ‘Lord, if it is you, let me come to you on the water’. ______‘Come’, answered Jesus. Peter walked on the water towards Jesus, ______but when he noticed the strong wind, Peter was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus took him by the hand and ______said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why do you doubt?’ ______Not all rites of passage have religious significance. Below, describe a rite of passage Raising Lazarus from the Dead that you or someone you know has experienced. Remember, it does not have to be a religious event. Describe the process in detail. Here are some possibilities: In a village called Bethany lived two sisters, Martha and Mary and their a. school graduation c. receiving a new belt in karate brother, Lazarus. Jesus was very close to this family. One day, the b. birthday d. joining a club. sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick. Two days later, Jesus went to Bethany, knowing already that Lazarus was dead. ______Martha went out to meet him. ‘Lord’, cried Martha, ‘if you had been ______here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ ______Then Mary came to Jesus, weeping. She took him to the grave of ______Lazarus, which was a cave with a stone in front of it. Jesus wept for ______his friend, who had already been dead for four days. He told them to ______take away the stone at the entrance. ______‘Lord’, Martha cried, ‘by this time he is decaying’. ______‘Did I not say to you’, answered Jesus, ‘that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?’ ______So they rolled away the stone. Jesus prayed and thanked God. Then Jesus called out, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ ______And Lazarus came out of the tomb. He had risen from the dead!