Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013)

Chapter 10- Early Christian Foundations Teaching Tips

Approach to Teaching

Christianity is the largest religion in the world. Its evidence is all around. This might be a good class to ask students to reflect and share about the various evidences that they see around them of the influence of Christianity on the world.

Some fruitful areas of inquiry might include: politics, architecture, values, morality, ethics, laws, art, music, chronology and life style.

This discussion could be moved in the direction of whether or not the influence of Christianity on the world is a negative or positive thing. This is where anecdotal assumptions and conclusions can be explored. Some such ideas might be, Christianity promotes war. Christianity is exclusive and intolerant etc. These might not be right or wrong, but often learning starts when we recognize and own what we first believe or at least knew.

One of the other approaches to this lesson might be to have a comparative look at the major monotheistic religions of the world; Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Since Islam is not yet introduced to the student, the teacher might want to assure students that anecdotal information about their knowledge of Islam is accepted. Areas to compare might be origins, concept of God, similarities between their sacred text, worldview, practices and rituals.

The video entitled a history of God, http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/a-history-of-god/, might also be a good way to introduce Christianity. This video looks at the development of monotheism in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Since Christianity is so dominant and wide spread this might be a good place for the instructor to isolate common themes within Christianity that are true for other religions. Some examples might be;

Trinity Christianity Buddhism Hinduism Islam

Father, Son, Cosmic Buddha, Brahma, Vishnu, Allah, Manat, Holy Spirit Historical Shiva Allayth, Al-uzza Buddha, Maitrya Virgin Birth Christianity Buddhism, Daoism- Laozi Jesus Siddhartha Gautama Suffering Christianity- Themes in Themes in Servant Jesus Zoastianism Judaism- Isaiah Heroes Journey Jesus Journey Buddha’s Abraham’s Mohammed’s and Death Journey Journey- Judaism Flight to Medina Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013)

These are just some examples, others can be explored.

Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDk9TIOwVOg

This video was produced by Vision Media Productions. It tells the story of Jesus and his disciples. It seeks to shed light on many of the misunderstandings that surround Christianity. It is clearly presented with a bias toward the biblical account, but the student will find the connection between stories and the land of Israel refreshing. Dr. David Hulme, publisher of Vision.org at Middle East scholar, seeks to separate what he calls myth from truth about early Christianity in the presentation. https://www.visionvideo.com/detail.taf?_function=detail&a_product_id=35467&vv_link=dsg

The resource is a production of Vision Videos. It provides an in depth analysis on the rise and spread of early Christianity. Focus is given to the Roman Empire and its impact on Christianity, from persecution, to legalization to shaping of the structures and form of Christianity, such as the hierarchy seen in Roman Catholicism. The video series addresses such issues as the scandal of the cross, conversion of an empire, persecution and Christianity and the impact of Constantine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCWE_-ftNO4&feature=related

One of the early controversies that the early church had to settle concerned the idea of the trinity. Common in many religions was the idea of polytheism. However in Christianity the focused shifted from many God’s to one, while at the same time embracing a plurality of gods. This concept became known as the trinity. This video gives a spirited debate on the subject. The student will become familiar with some of the difficulties in understanding this subject. The video was first broadcast on Revelation TV. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVDOyok6nLo

Larry Wessels is the director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas. In this video Wessels looks at Christianity in the first few centuries, addressing such questions as, what did the early Christian Church teach & practice? He examines the works of early pre-Nicene (before 325 A.D.) writers such as Ignatius, Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Melito, Iranaeus, Origen of Alexandria, Tatian, Athenagoras, Polycrates, Montanus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian, Novatian, Lactantius, Arnobius, Eusebius, Dionysius of Rome, Dionysius of Alexandria, among others.

Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013)

Articles http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/

Frontline is a PBS production on Jesus and early Christianity. It blends together archaeological and historical information on the beginnings of Christianity. Interwoven in the videos and articles are discussion pieces by prominent scholars on Christianity. The series of resources might prove challenging and controversial to the Christian practitioner, but the student might find such information refreshing. The field of archaeology is ever evolving. New finds continue to challenge previous knowledge on religions on a whole, Christianity included. Some areas that are explored are the “Quest for the Historical Jesus”, “The First Christians” and “Why did Christianity succeed.” http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/Early-Christianity-Articles.html

Scroll Publishing is a site that gives very informative articles on early Christianity. Featured among the many writings are concentrations on some of the main Church Fathers, Apologist and other thinkers. The student will find information on church scholars and historians such as Tertullian, Pliny, Clement, Papias, and Hippolytus among others. Movements such as Montanism are also covered. If a student wants to do reading on the Early Christian martyrs, gnostic gospel sources such as the Shepherd of Hermas or the Letter of Barnabas, all can be found on this site.

http://www.laudemont.org/a-witec.htm

In this article Dr. Richard C. Leonard discusses New Testament Worship in the early Church. The practice of worship was central to the formation of the Christian Community. Leonard explores this subject in terms of major teachings such as the Didache, the contribution of some of the apologist and an examination of the apostolic tradition of Hipplytus. http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/

Early Christian Writings is a site with works from over two hundred figures in the early church. The student will find writings from apostles, church fathers, about the church councils, apologist, the Gnostics gospels and the Apocrypha. These writings are original, but are translated. This resource will give the student a good feel for issues that were critical to the early church. The student will also get a fairly unfiltered view of what some of the early church leaders thought about different subjects such as the divinity of Christ, the trinity, church organization etc.

Sullivan, Religions of the World (Fortress Press, 2013)