Christianity

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Christianity Science Secularism
By Amina Sheikh Elizabeth Valles Alva
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Christianity Science
Christianity, Christian religion

•  It is a monotheistic system of beliefs and
  practices based on the Old Testament and the
  teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New
  Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as
  savior

What is Science?

• Science is a human creation arising from the
  need to make sense of the world.
• Systematized knowledge derived from observation,
  study, and experimentation carried on in order to
  determine the nature or principles of what is
  being studied.

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Rise of Science in a Christian world

• Scientific Revolution/ Enlightenment period 16th
  early 17th century
• Began around 1543
• This period saw a significant transformation in
  scientific ideas in areas including, physics,
  astronomy and biology. There were more
  institutions supporting scientific investigation

• Christianity was confronted with major
  discoveries in science
• Ie Nicolaus Copernicus, argued for the
  heliocentric theory of the solar system
• Arise of biblical criticism

• Globalization technology in the modern world
• Invention of telecommunications, Computer,
  internet etc

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Great Contributors to Science/ Opposition by the
church

• 1610 Galileo Galilei Sidereus Nuncius
  telescopic observations
• 1859 Charles Darwin
• -Darwins theory of evolution created controversy
  in the Church
• Evolution Vs. Creation
• 1927 Georges Lemaître The Big Bang theory
• 1996 First mammal cloned by somatic cell nuclear
  transfer, Dolly the sheep

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Heresy Trials

• Throughout the middle ages, till the late 18th
  century we see how the Church accused people of
  heresy and blasphemy
• Women who were midwives, herbalists were out of
  said to be out of their gender roles, and accused
  to be witches and working with the devil
• Also, scientists, liberal artists, philosophers
  and any one with new and innovative ideas were
  accused of heresy and blasphemy
• -the greatest sinner, and those who could be
  punished by death was someone who was seen as
  blasphemous and whom was defiling holy objects
  or places
• - we see these punishments occurring during the
  Spanish Inquisition during 1478- 1834 which was
  directly supported by the papacy, there ultimate
  goal was to unite Catholics and bring Orthodoxy

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Science Modernity

• Science and ethics
• Modernity has brought new technological
  advancements, and science. However, science has
  often conflicted with religious ethics, because
  many Christians and their Church may be opposed
  to these new innovations.
• A binary dichotomy is created faith vs. fact

Current Issues in Christianity Today
Cloning Roman Catholicism and many conservative
Christian groups have opposed human cloning and
the cloning of human embryos, because they argue
that a human life begins the moment a human egg
becomes fertilized.
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Christianity Technology
Jehovah Witnesses believe that blood transfusions
are unethical. They believe that God views blood
as sacred and holy, and therefore should not be
used for the purpose of transfusion. Proof Genesi
s 9 3-4 Every moving animal that is alive may
serve as food for youI do give it all to you.
Only flesh with its soul- its blood you must not
eat.
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Christianity its embrace of technology and science

• In the 80s statistics show that 130 million
  Americans tuned into Christian radio and
  television programs
• Nowadays there are chat rooms and forums for
  Christians set up by Christian organizations to
  interact and connect with Christians around the
  World

• Again we are able to log on to the Vaticans
  website and access prayers, the Popes sermons
  and speeches. Also we are able to read the Bible
  online

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• Euthanasia, and Abortion

- The Church is adamantly opposed to idea of
Euthanasia because they argue the right to life
is God given, it is not in our moral competence
to deliberately and directly take the life of any
human being either with or without his/her
consent.
-The Church also is opposed to the idea of
abortion, because it is argued that from the
moment of conception there is a living organism,
and to kill that organism, is regarded as murder
and a sinn.
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Christianity and Secularism Secularism -a
system or social philosophy that rejects all
forms of religious faith and worship -the view
that public education and other civil matters of
civil policy should be conducted without the
introduction of religious element -a doctrine
that rejects religion and religious
considerations http//dictionary.reference.com/bro
wse/secularism
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The best for God the rest for ourselves

• - during Medieval period in Europe religion
  played such a crucial role in everyday life
• -the Church as much authority as the Kingdoms and
  States, sometimes even more, there ability to
  persuade and implement the laws that govern
  countries all over Europe
• -this was of course because the Church was a very
  rich institution, that was rich because of the
  people, the people paid taxes and supported the
  Church
• - Churches and large city buildings all over
  Europe were erected in the name of God

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Criticism of the Church

• there was always questioning and criticism of the
  Church, clergy and papacy, for not having good
  conduct, for having too many privileges,
  questioning of where the money was going i.e.)
  the tithe money, some clergy members were
  criticized for not being literate
• for example, in many countries the Church and
  clergy were exempted from paying taxes, immunity
  from prosecution in Civil Courts, they were
  funded constantly by public

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Renaissance and Humanistic ideas

• The Renaissance was a literary movement, that
  began in Italy during the 14th century. It gave
  birth to humanistic ideas, which was brought to
  the forefront of literature, art, and architect.
  It took religion out of the art, literature, and
  architect, and made it more central on human
  morality. It stressed the use of science,
  philosophy and reason, rather than the dependence
  on faith to explain life, and humanity. It
  questioned the role of the Church and organized
  religion, it emphasized that all human beings are
  equal, and can find the truth individually. The
  humanists also wanted the Church to be
  dismembered from the states affairs, and peoples
  individual lives.

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Humanism

• human person as measure of all things
• Humanists saw people as innately good, and had
  the ability by mere rational to do good, this
  conflicted with the Churchs teachings that
  humans were innately prone to doing evil seen in
  the Original Sinn
• Humanists saw people as being able to govern
  themselves, without the authority of the Church
• Humanists wanted more secularism and liberalism
  in all spheres of life
• They encouraged science, philosophy and learning
  of everyone
• Saw all as equal, which also contradicted the
  Church who saw the clergy and papacy above the
  masses

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Reformation and Protestantism

• Symbolic Beginning of the more militant
  reformation of Northern Europe, Martin Luther
  posted the 95 theses opposing the Church who
  collected indulgences. The collection of
  indulgences was to raise funds to build a new
  Church. It was said those who gave funds, the
  Pope could pardon their sins. This Martin Luther
  saw this as abuse of the Churchs power, and he
  emphasized the scripture rather than the Church.
• Martin Luther was a key figure in the Protestant
  Reformation, and the removal of the Church from
  governing the lives of Christians. This
  anti-Church and anti-clergy helped in the
  formation of the Protestant Reformation.
  Protestantism was a way of faith alone, through
  scripture and individual alone. During this
  period, the Protestant Reformation was a
  definitely impacted by the introduction of the
  printing press, this helped distribute ideas, and
  helped facilitate individual learning of the
  scripture.

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French Revolution

• The French Revolution- started around 1789
• -an anti-Catholic Church movement that led to
  removal of Church from the state and every day
  lives of individuals
• -also in France it was very much an anti-
  religions movement
• Relegating religion to the private sphere
• 1800 years of Orthodox Christianity and Church
  hegemony was coming to a halt
• - militant secularism as taking an attack the
  Church, it was seen as a strong threat to
  freedoms and democracies.
• - reorganization of the Church in France, state
  in order, subjection of Church to civil authority
• - 1791 new constitution was implemented that was
  extremely hostile to the Church
• - anti-Church zealots threatened priest to
  surrender their certificates of ordination or
  renounce their sacerdotal state
• - Church clergy were murdered or imprisoned
• - prayer was taken out of school, and Christian
  schools were closed
• - Churches were deprived of tithe, nationalized
  their property, end to corporate independence,
  unilaterally redrew ecclesiastical boundaries
• -persecuted clerical members who did not conform,
  or who were suspicious
• - September Massacres, during 1792, the public
  rose up against the Church and the monarchy,
  massive massacres of royalty and clergy members
• - this massacre led to the end of the Churchs
  hegemony in France

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Communism and Bolshevik Revolution

• Communism was the anti-thesis of religion, it was
  used in Russia to destroy all existing religious
  institutions, especially the Orthodox Church
• churches were destroyed, and members of the
  Church papacy were killed. Communisms hate for
  organized religion became very apparent during
  the Bolsheviks rule in Russia.
• - adopted Anti-God ideologies from
  Marxist-Leninist theories
• however, this hate was directly related to
  Communism, and their personal distaste for
  Christian Orthodoxy its Church power

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Secular France, and Conservative America Today

• France- extremely secular, no religious garments,
  symbols are allowed in state institutions i.e.
  schools
• America- in certain states gay marriages are
  prohibited, and abortion is still restricted in
  many states

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Secularisms impact on modern Christianity

• CBN, the Christian Broadcasting Network, viewers
  are from all across the globe
• Shows that discuss ethical issues from money, to
  jobs, intimacy, to temptation in every day life
• Gospels music has infiltrated through
  telecommunication networks such as radio,
  internet, BET
• Through these new technologies we see how
  secularism has impacted Christian way of life,
  because no longer does a believer have to attend
  Church to embrace God and religion, but can do it
  individually

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Challenging Questions
Has science disproved Christianity? Do you think
countries like France and their current secular
laws could be oppressive?