Status: MODERATED
The Student will know 2 comparative facts about Early Catholicism.
Early Catholicism Slides (below)
Worksheet - Early Catholicism
Worksheet - Early Catholicism - Answer Sheet
Tokens
Game Board Map - Ancient Rome
Christian Persecution Game Rules
All are attached below.
Prepare presentation equipment
Copy sufficient copies of the Worksheet
Copy sufficient copies of the Game Board (1 for each team/player)
Copy sufficient copies of the Game Rules
Print Tokens and cut out
Gassho
Welcome/Roll
Intro (If desired, use the presentation)
Have you been chased by a lion?
Stoned for your beliefs?
Been punished for your beliefs?
This was the life of an early Christian
Overview
Video: Crash Course: https://youtu.be/TG55ErfdaeY
Talk w/ Worksheet
Founder?: Jesus of Nazareth
Greek name Christ means “annointed” (chosen)
Remember: Tenakh (Jewish Bible) = Old Testament
Was an observant Jew (from New Testament) who claimed to be the Messiah.
Diffs: Baptized people. But believed in keeping the Jewish Covenant.
After being cruxified by King Herod, supposedly resurrects and tells the Apostles to spread throughout the world. This is where many evangelicals claim this requirement.
Founder?: Paul the Apostles (was Saul of Tarsus)
14 Chapters of the New Testament are attributed to him (7 are authoritative)
As a leader of the Jewish community used to persecute Christians
On the road to Damascus he is blinded and a voice claiming to be Jesus tells him to stop persecuting Christians. This is after Jesus’s resurrection.
He is a Roman citizen as well as Jew.
He founds several groups among the non-Jews: Gentiles
They practiced a relaxed version of the Jewish codes; No Covenants
Early he was independent of the rest of the Apostles; Christianity continued to diverge from Judaism
Continued to spread Christianity throughout the Mediterranean and to Rome
Some Christians considered him their founder.
Christianity in Rome
There was some Christians in Rome before Paul who arrives in 60 AD.
Originally, tolerated as something among the Jews
Peter was the leader of the Apostles and leader of the Church of Jerusalem. Church means a Christian organization.
According to Catholic tradition, both Paul and Peter are said to be the Bishop of Rome although Peter did not spend a long time there before being martyred.
The Bishop of Rome came to be called the Pope
From around 253 to around 300 AD, the Christians are heavily persecuted for their refusal to worship the Roman gods;
Driven from their homes
Stoned
Forced into gladiatorial games
Enslaved
Peter is crucified and is said to be buried under the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
Review the answers on the Worksheet
Persecution Game
Objective:
Vigiles: (Policeman, V)
To find and catch the Early Christians (5 pts)
To find evidence of their religion (1 pt)
Early Christians (EC)
To hide/Stay hidden (1 pt)
To escape (5 pts)
Setup
Each person/team gets a map of Rome
EC get to cover their map w/ a piece of paper and a token
V get a map with a token
Decide among EC order of play and starting space
Turn
Please read the Christian Persecution Game Rules below)
At this point, free EC get a point.
Game ends when time runs out.
Review
This game is a simulation of what an Early Christian faced.
Ask how certain actions felt
During the Review
The game can be played in another session or skipped all together. The game may be played with teams instead of players.
Mas Nishimura, nish221.at.gmail.com, San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 2017