Lesson 1: Man and His Nature

J - Yahwist Tradition
Jesus in Aramites - Iesus, Yesus, Yeshua, Ieshua
When people call God :’Yahweh’
E - Elohist Tradition
Eloi or Elohism
using Horeb instead of Sinai for the mountain where Moses received the laws of Israel and the use
of the phrase "fear of God".
D - Deuterocannonical
Deutero - second
Canon - Law
Second Laws of Moses
The first Law is the 10 commandments
Laws not included in the 10 commandments
Priestly Tradition
It is when the priest is the one speaking in the bible
Priestly Clan - Levites (Levi)

1. Nature of Man-
He bears the image of God, he is God's steward of creation, compose of body & soul. He can set his goals &
move toward them, he can make decisions & rule.
PPT Contents
WHAT IS MAN: NATURE OF MAN

Introduction

The Nature of Man is a topic that has been argued over for many generations. There is not right answer of
what the actual Nature of Man is, for many people have their own opinion on whether Man is good or bad.
To find the most rational reason, we must explore the possibilities of the intrinsic Nature of Man - Is Man
good, evil, or neither?

Good vs. Evil

There are many people in this world - a lot of them good, but at the same time, a lot of them bad. Yes of
course, there are many men out there who try and do great thing in the world, such as Gandhi, but the planet
is also full of evil people, such as Adolf Hitler. According to Freud (psychologist), every single man has an
id, and ego, and a superego within him. The id part of a human contains the drive to do something that
benefits you, and that might lead to the harm of others. Superego is the exact opposite the unconscious part
of your brain that tells you to do the right thing. Ego tells you sort of the compromise of the two, which can
sometimes lead to harm and/or help. Depending on the person, some people have different levels of each
part (some people might have higher id than superego, and visa versa). Here are some facts to help us solve
the mystery of man.
1. A person is a spirit of the world
Gerald A. Mccool
Man is capable of self-reflection (Because of Spirit)
He knows that he is a spiritual being
2. Experimental Being
St. John Paul II
Experience is knowledge
3. Social Being
Rolando M. Gripaldo
Historical being
Cultural being
2. Three Views of Man
A. Scientific View of Man
As it relates to man, the conscious subject of scientific exploits, science could be a positive and/or a negative
device in the course of nature. In so far as it rises to the occasion of the imperative of stewardship “till the
earth”, it remains a good news to man. But when and where it reflects the Cartesian inspiration of turning
men into “lords and possessors of nature” it constitutes a lethal tool against humanity. Consequently, at the
various levels of the physical, intellectual and metaphysical realms, it is not difficult to isolate a plethora of
positive constitutions of science as well as an enormity of its disservice to humanity. Indeed, no genuine
history and/or records of the world’s progress and civilization can ignore the details and protocols of the
scientific method without becoming disreputable. And none can “sanctify” all of science’s interventions
without turning into a heresy of history. Science had volunteered great bangs in electricity, automobile and
computer engineering, informatics and architecture, aeronautic and naval engineering to mention a few. It
has provided sundry remedy to diseases through medical researches. Yet it has also bequeathed to humanity
an ensemble of violence and war, a culture of death and a godless world of unbelief. This essay sings the
redemption song of science and men of science, it praises the dominion of science but cautious against a
looming summersault into a fettered world of violence and death. What it recommends is for the education
and repositioning of science back its proper and pristine complementary paradigm of reality. In all, it makes
a case for re-rooting science into its Christian origins where the laws of science are but a natural revelation
of the “mystery” behind the universe, where the inspiration is “to till the earth” than “to subdue it” and
where the ethical perspective of science are prior to the marvel’s of its “actions”.
1. Classical Interpretations of Man
a) Postulates the rationality of Man
b) Reason is the Principal aspect of a man’s soul
c) Reason alone can penetrate to the essence of things
d) Reason is true Glory of Man
2. Hebrew-Christian Interpretation of Man
a) Man is understood from the viewpoint of the divine
b) Uniqueness of man is not just his reason but more distinctively is his soul
3. Scientific Progress Diminishes the Stature of Man

B. Philosophical views of Man-

Any human being endowed with reason, compose of body and soul. This discussion focuses on the ideas of
Ancient and Modern Philosophers on the Nature of Man during each period. It is divided in 2 main parts:
Western and Eastern. In the Western Philosophy, ancient Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and more
gives us the notion of being a man in the Western world, on the other hand, eastern Philosophers especially
in the East Asian region gives us their own ideas on being a Man during their lifetime. At the end of this
discussion, an activity is created to critically check the knowledge you have gained from this. 
Socrates (469 - 399 B.C)
- sought to discover truth and the good life
 - Stresses the value of the soul, in the sense of thinking anf willing subject, and he saw
clearly the importance of knowledge, of true wisdom, if the soul is to be properly tended
- Knowledge is the way to ethical action - to him knowledge and virtue are on, in the sense
that thr wise man, he who knows what is right will also do what is right.
Plato
- The soul is most like the divine and immortal and intellectual and indissoluble and
unchanging, and the body, on the contrary most like the human and mortal and multiform and
unintellectual and dissoluble and ever changing.
Aristotle
- Self realization is the highest good attainable by man
- The highest, richest, and supernatural form of self-realization stems from the full
cultivation of man’s highest nature, namely, rational.
D. Philosophical Approaches to the study of Man
1.0 Ancient Greek : Cosmocentric Approach
1.1 The Greek were concerned with the Nature and Order of the Universe.
1.2 Man was part of the cosmos, a microcosm. So like the Universe, Man is made up of Matter
(body) and Form (soul).
1.3 Man must maintain the balance and unity with the cosmos.
2.0 Medieval ( Christian era: St. Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas ) Theocentric Approach
2.1 Man is understood as from the point of view of God, as a creature of God, made in
His image and likeness, and therefore the apex of His creation.
1. Condescending Love
2. Conciliatory Compassion
3. Fidelity
3.0 Modern ( Descartes, Kant) Anthropocentric Approach
3.1 Man is now understood in his own terms, but basically on reason, thus
rationalistic.
4.0 Contemporary Philosophies arose as a reaction against Hegel.
4.1 One reaction is Marx who criticized Hegel’s geist, spirit, mind and brought out his dialectical
materialism.
4.2 Another reaction is Soren Kierkegaard who was against the system of Hegel and
emphasized the individual and his direct relationship with God. Kierkegaard led the
existentialist movement which became popular after the two world wars.
C. Theological Views of Man- created by God in His own image & likeness, compose of body & soul,
given by God knowledge & free will, capable of entering into communion with God, created for a purpose

MAN IN EASTERN PHILOSOPHY

Main Schools
- Buddhism
- Confucianism
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Taoism
- Zen
- Legalism
- Maoism
- Shinto
Main Principles
 Cosmological unity
 Life is a journey towards eternal realities that are beyond the realities that surround us
 Circular view of the universe, based on the perception of eternal recurrence Inner-world dependent
 Self-liberation from the false "Me" and finding the true "Me". The highest state is believed to be a state
of 'no-self, where neither self-worth nor self importance have any real meaning.
 Behavioral ethics
The Me Concept
- Eternal Reality of the Universal Truth:
Self Liberation through getting rid of the false “Me” and discovering the true “Me”

Relationship with Religion

Integration

Search for Absolute Truth

Systematic Approach - all event in the universe are interconnected
Searching inside yourself - by becoming a part of the universe through meditation and right living.

Search for Truth and Fundamental Research

The truth given does not have to be proved. The Philosophic base for and culture of fundamental research is
weaker.

Future
Your future is determined by your deeds today
“Study the past if you would like to divine the future” - Confucius

Beliefs and Values

- The true Key is inside. The inner world of a human being and his or her ability to control and develop it is
of the highest value. The way to the top is inside yourself, through self-development.
“the Superior man understtands what is right: the inferior man understands what will sell” - Confucius
“By chasing desired you will meet only the outer Surface: - Lao Tzu

Individualism / Collectivism
> A human being is an integral part of the universe and the society.
> People are fundamentally connected.
> Duty towards all others is a very important matter.
> Collectivism is stronger.

Improvement/Evolution
> Cyclic development, hence improvement is a never ending journey that has no limits.
3. Filipino View of Man:
Aside from learning different perspective of Man in different historical and philosophical periods, we also
need to learn the perspective of our country about man in relation to our culture, norms and traditions. This
will lead us to deeply understand key Filipino concepts that make us Filipino and unique as compare to other
cultures.

Filipino Social Philosophy

▸ Non-individualistic
▸ Tied with groups called "SAKOP"
▸Sakop is the place where he says "TAYO"
▸ Tayo-tayo is where fellowship prevails.
▸Sakop can be either one's relatives, fraternity members, barkada and the like.
▸ For indigenous Filipinos, their concept of sakop is tribe calling their members as "katribo"
▸Kapwa is "a recognition of shared identity, an inner self shared with other" (Virgilio Enriquez, 1992)

Kapwa

The "unity of the one-of-us-and-the other", according to Virgilio Enriquez who declared the concept as a
Filipino core value. Kapwa, meaning 'togetherness', is the core construct of Filipino Psychology.

2 Categories of Kapwa
1. Ibang Tao (outsider)
5 domains:
a. Pakikitungo: civility
b. Pakikisalamuha: act of mixing
c. Pakikilahok: act of joining
d. Pakikibagay: conformity
e. Pakikisama: being united with the group

2. Hindi Ibang Tao (one-of-us)

3 domains:
a. Pakikipagpalagayang-loob: act of mutual trust
b. Pakikisangkot: act of joining others
c. Pakikipagkaisa: being one with others.

Pakikipagkapwa (shared identity)

▸ Definition:
This idea of "shared self" opens up the heart doors of the I to include the Other. Here, it is not important if
you are rich or poor, or status in society. "People are just people in spite of their age, clothes, diplomas,
color or affiliations."

Concept of Pakikipagkapwa
1. Strangers
2. Acquaintances
3. Peers
4. Friend
5. Best friend
6. Soul mate, Lover

Pakikiramdam: A Pivotal Value

▸Definition:
Filipinos use damdam, or the inner perception of others' emotions, as a basic tool to guide his dealings with
other people. It characterizes Filipino emotion. Enriquez named this emotional quality "shared perception"

Pakikisama/Pakikipagkapwa

- To Filipinos, "pakikisama" is a very important trait.

- "Pakikisama" is the ability of a person to get along with others to maintain good and harmonious
relationships.
- It implies camaraderie and togetherness in a group and the cause of one's being socially accepted.
- "Pakikisama" requires someone yielding to group opinion, pressuring him to do what he -can for the
advancement of his group, sacrificing individual welfare for the general welfare.
› One good aspect of pakikisama exists within close family kinship and is interpreted as helping each other.
Pakikisama is defined as an apathy towards others with the readiness to help.

Concept of Loob
› Comparative Oriental Philosophy
› Metalinguistic Analysis - understanding the mind of the speaker
› Phenomenology of behavior direct experiences, how people behave
› Javanese and Filipino culture strive for Harmony and Order
› Javanese society is hierarchical manifested by their language.
› Their group orientation discourages competition.
› Individuals should be humble and low profile.
› Traditional Filipino World View is that the world is full of spirits.
› Aspects of the natural world has power in them. For example: mountains, trees, animals, rivers and also
people.
› Liwanag or light in the sun is the image of power and divine presence.
› Life giving powers
› Also points out the path of death
› Indicated the way of the cross that revolutionaries must take.
› Attainment of paradise through hardships is also the attainment of liwanag.
› Extraordinary beings with transformed kaloobans.
› A weak loob is an indication of the state of darkness.

Loob in Historical Perspective

› Ileto defines LOOB as an inner being which is associated with the ideas of leadership, power, nationalism,
and revolution.
› A Purified kalooban requires a special knowledge which was given more to the leaders and less to the
members.
› LOOB must be continually purified and strengthened.
› The Forms of sacrifice like prayers and abstinence can purify the soul
› Through sacrifice, a new man will emerge
› In the Revolutionary sense, Prospero Covar noted that it is necessary to purify the body so that it will be a
worthy temple of anting anting or agimat.
› Revolutionaries regarded their leaders as men of psychic powers in winning wars.
› Powers should be used in good terms and necessary occasions.
› Taking advantage of other people is not advised

LOOB and KATAWAN

› Filipino Philosophy is non-dualistic or holistic
› It means that the body is one. Any part can assume the whole
“I am a body” no “I have a body concept.”

LOOB and KATAWAN: Metalinguistic Analysis - Intellectual Theme

LOOB and KATAWAN: Metalinguistic Analysis - Volitional

LOOB and KATAWAN: Metalinguistic ANalysis - Emotional

LOOB and KATAWAN: Metalinguistic Analysis - Ethical

Social Dimensions of Loob

› Kaputol or Utol means brother or sister
› Kapatid or patid also means brother and sister
› Laman sa aking katawan and dugo sa aking dugo or offspring

Loob and Sarili

› Sarili as Self
- Sarili points to the man’s being or personhood
- Sarili means pagkatao
- Self is not separate from personhood
- it is the whole self
› Sarili as Freedom
-Sariling pagiisip
- Sariling paraan
- Magsarili
-Kasarinlan
› Sarili as Property
- Sariling Bayan
- Sariling Pera
- Sariling Gamit
- Sariling atin
- Walang Sarili
› Sarili as Privacy
- No original word for Privacy
- No other party should see and hear what you are doing
- It applies to sakop as well communal.
› Sarili as Expression

LOOB and BAIT

› Differentiate Isip from Bait
› Isip is thought intelligence, sense or Judgment.
› Bait is intrinsic goodness and sense or consciousness
Filipino concept of bait is both emotional and intellectual or hollistic

Concept of Batin.

› Batin means "inner realm of human experience", also means inner, in the heart, hidden and mysterious.

Concept of Batin and Loob

▸ Kebatinan is the place where someone meets the Absolute.
▸ Rasa is the intuitive feeling or the way to essential knowledge.
▸ Ngesti is the spiritual discipline.
‣ Lahir is the physical body, outward appearance.

Conclusion
› Sarili is a bigger umbrella which embraces loob and katawan which is inseparable with soul and spirit
› Loob is an interior aspect of sarili
› The Filipino looks at himself as a self, as one who feels and wills, as who thinks and acts as total whole
conscious of his freedom, dignity and sensitive to the violation of these.

Lesson 2: What is Religion and Spirituality?

Most of the time, it is religion that provides meaning and sense to man's daily existence. Man as a
journeying being--Homo viator- always seeks to find something-or someone-grater than himself.
Spirituality is a phenomenon related to religion. Religion and spirituality were formerly linked, as can be
seen in one dictionary definition of the term Spirituality as "the quality or state of being concerned with
religion or religious matters." However, nowadays, it is more common for people to consider religion and
spirituality as being distinct and separate from each other. Some people describe themselves as spiritual but
not necessary religious. Conversely, there are those who are religious but not spiritual, One textbook on the
Psychology of Religion makes this distinction: "Spirituality is about a person's beliefs, values and behavior,
while religiousness is about the person's involvement with a religious tradition and institution." It appears
that religiosity may be more exterior, while spirituality goes much deeper within oneself.
But what happens when spirituality is lacking in a person's practice of religion? What is the danger of
insisting religion and spirituality as being distinct and separate from one another? Here are some thoughts to
consider:
"When the heart is far from God, worship and religious rituals clearly become an empty and ridiculous
human gesture incapable of nurturing a loving relationship with God. When the interior disposition is
lacking, our liturgies and sacraments can become routines that we go through mechanically, repetitively,
and, hence meaninglessly. These liturgies cease to become real celebrations of love and mercy of God in
our lives. This scenario of an empty religion is what Jesus is most wary about." - Fr. Joey R. Rapadas
How then does one define spirituality? Like religion, spirituality is a complex human experience, and no
single defintion can accommodate all its diverse expressions. An understanding of what is meant by spirit is
implied in spirituality. The Scottish theologian John Macquarrie describe that dynamic mode of being called
spirit as "a capacity for going out of oneself and beyond oneself... The more man goes out from himself or
goes beyond himself, the more spiritual dimension of his life is deepened, the more he becomes truly
(hu)man... On the other hand, the more he turns inward and encloses himself in self-interest, the less human
does he become. This is the strange paradox of spiritual being --- that precisely by going out and spending
itself, it realizes itself." For Macquarrie, "fundamentally, spirituality has to do with becoming a person in the
fullest sense."
Spirituality can thus be understood as the human being's "capacity for self-transcendence in relations to the
Absolute," which involves a search for the meaning and ultimate value of one's life. it is a way of life that is
shaped by the believer's encounter with the Sacred/Transcendent. It has been suggested that spirituality be
understood as the "active ingredient" of world religions and belief systems. As such, faithful followers of
Buddhism practice Buddhist spirituality; believers of Jesus Christ live out Christian spirituality.
There are basic components of Spirituality that must be practiced in order to keep a healthy life of the spirit.
Prayer or attending to his/her interior life keeps man centered on the essentials of the religious tradition and
facilities and the development of his/her moral integrity. Part of the process of spiritual growth is striving to
live out the ethical demands of the religious tradition on the social or communal level. Active involvement
in a community of believers provides adherent some support, fellowship, accountability, and opportunities
for communal spiritual exercises. When these components are all present and come together, they keep a
man well-grounded and, influenced be core beliefs, mesh with the ethical, cultic, and communitarian
dimensions of religion.
While it is possible to be spiritual without being religious and vice versa, the practice of a religious faith
helps a person to better express his/her experience of the Sacred/Transcendent in both words and actions by
providing a well-trodden path and the support of a community of fellow pilgrims. Ultimately, spirituality
and religion intertwine to lead the believer into an authentic and dynamic search for meaning and wholeness.

 Definition- religion is an organized group with one creed, code & cult. While spirituality is a solitary
experience of the divine; has to do with the soul or the inner life.
 Significance of religion or being spiritual- shapes people's morals, customs, beliefs & behavior
 What could be the difference of a man with religion & a man without religion or a man with
spirituality & without spirituality. Answer on the assignment.
 There are a few places in the Bible where spirit, soul and body are all three mentioned. But what
exactly is meant by body, soul and spirit? It seems not too difficult to distinguish the body from the
soul and spirit. The body is physical and with the five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch)
it connects and interacts with the outer world. The soul and spirit are much more difficult to
separate from each other. Many Christians hold to the opinion that the soul is the part of us that
covers our will, affections and thoughts. The soul is the part of us that connects with our fellow
human beings. The spirit is the part that connects to God and covers matters like faith, trust,
worship and so on. The spirit is seen as the innermost part of our being. It is enveloped by our soul,
which in turn is enveloped by our body. The spirit then is the part that needs regeneration in the
person who does not know God.

Body - External physical layer

Soul - mind, will, emotions
Spirit - inner core of being sensitive to god innate conscience
 Religion
- Religion is commonly defined in terms of an organized set of beliefs and practices - directed toward
spiritual concerns - that are shared by a community
- a particular system of faith and worship
Spirituality
- Spirituality is typically conceptualized in in more subjective, individualistic terms.
- The quality of being concerned to material or physical things.

Religion versus Spirituality

- Sometimes used interchangeably, they are in fact very different.
- Religion = as a set of beliefs, ritual and practices, usually embodied within an institution or an
organization.
- Spirituality = a search for what is sacred in life, one’s deepest values, along with a relationship with god,
or a higher power, that transcends the self.
Elements of Religion
4 elements(Usually)
1. Ritual
2. A Sense of the sacred
3. A system of beliefs in the supernatural and a set of ethics or a set of abstract ideals
4. Organization - each religion has a public component

Characteristics of Religion
- Most scholars agree that every religion has the same three basic element
1. Wisdom or Creed - sacred writing and oral tradition
2. Worship or Cult - Rituals express the emotional experience to have the right attitude toward God and
others.
3. Works or Code - Holiness in action or daily lives, commandments to live by.
All religion are an expression of a people’s response to the Divine

Importance of Studying Religion

- Understand Difference and see Similarities between nations and culture both political and philosophical
- Appreciate our own beliefs by seeing them alongside those of others.
- Work for Ecumenism through a meaningful exchange of ideas between religious groups.
Elements of Religion
The 4 C’s
1. Cult - Belief in Deity (how we worship)
2. Creed - A A doctrine of Salvation (what we believe)
3. Code - A code of Conduct (how we live)
4. Community - the believers

MODULE 2
1. Basic concept of Judaism: Creed, Code, Cult and Community.
2. Fundamental History, Basic Beliefs and Practices.
SOME FUNDAMENTAL FACTS:
FORMED – nearly 4000 years ago.
FOUNDER: Considerably, ABRAHAM
“Chosen People”
ORIGIN: Egypt – CANAAN FOLLOWERS:
13-14 million (80% - Israel, 20% - United States)
EXPERIENCE: Slavery to Promise Land
One of the oldest MONOTHEISTIC faith system aside from the three (3) Abrahamic religions.
- YHWH (Yahweh)
- TORAH (Pentateuch) as God’s revelation (Old Testament).
- “HEBREWS” refer to those who accepted
Yahweh as their God and much of their history is written in the Hebrew bible (Old Testament).
“ISRAELITES” refer to the descendants of the Hebrews which originated from Abraham.
The Fundamental Jewish Ideas
 No one saw exactly how the Earth came to be like it is.
 But SCIENCE and RELIGION both have their own theories.
SCIENTIFIC ARGUMENTS
1. Cosmological Theories – How the universe came into being. Chief amongst these is the BIG BANG
THEORY.
2. Evolutionary Theories – How living things came to be like they are today. *On the origin of the
Species by Charles Darwin
In the JEWISH understanding they have their own IDEAS.

 “In the beginning God created the heavens, the earth and everything on it.” Gen. 1:1
 In the Jewish Faith, esp. the ORTHODOX JEWS see the Torah as the Word of God and so literally
true – and would find it difficult to accept scientific arguments about creation.
 REFORMED JEWS might argue that creation as described in the Torah is more a way to understand
and not explanation of HOW it happened.
 “If you see something beautiful or amazing, you are seeking the work of God.” – Albert Einstein
 “The beauty that we can perceive is a manifestation of a reality...” –
 By chance or design ... points us to someone greater than us. *event, person, a reality.

Fundamental Jewish Practices and Principles:

 Throughout Judaism’s history, their followers have been called by names and of many names, and this
notion is one of the influences of Judaism from the Abraham, Moses and those found in the Hebrew
scripture to the present. To name some:
 ABRAHAM – “father of many”
 MOSES – “to draw/pull out”
 NOAH – “rest”
 DAVID – “beloved”
 EVE – “life”
 ADAM – “humankind”
 SARAH – “princess”
 MALACHI – “my messenger”
  NAOMI – “my delight”
 ABIGAIL – “father is rejoicing”
 DEBORAH – “bee”
 NATHAN – “gift”
 MIRIAM – “rebellion”
 AMOS – “carried by God”
 There is no official Jewish Creed, only a set of central beliefs.
 As formulated by Moises Maimonides, “God is one, formless, all – knowing, creator and judge, both
loving and just, belief in the words of the prophets, that God gave the law to Moses, belief that the
Messiah (a political one) will come, and belief that there is a resurrection of the good in the world to
come.”
DIETARY PRACTICES
 One of the areas of the Jewish life influenced by the laws of Torah.
 Done according to religious laws.
 No to pork and shellfish.
 “all blood must be drained, before the meat is cooked and eaten, because blood which gives life, is
sacred to God.”
 KOSHER – ritually correct in lieu with food preparation and consumption.
SABBATH
 Starts a few minutes before sunset on Friday and runs until an hour after sunset on Saturday.
 The idea of a day of rest comes from the Bible story of the Creation: God rested from creating the
universe on the seventh day of that first week, so Jews rest from work on the Sabbath.
 Morning: public reading from the Torah, home for lunch, a Sabbath nap, late afternoon service.
Passover
 The Jews have many Holy Days throughout the year, but the most important for them is the Feast of the
Passover
 Commemorates the LIBERATION of the Hebrews Egypt
 The primary food ingested during the Passover is matzah, unleavened bread, which was consumed
during Exodus
 It symbolizes freedom and liberation
Messiah
 This is one of the most fundamental Jewish beliefs
 They were expecting their Messiah, who will be a political, military leader and will liberate them from
the Romans.The traditional Jews refused to believe and to accept Jesus as the Messiah, so until now
they are still waiting for the Messiah.
 And those Jews who believed in Christ became the First Christians.
Understanding of Evil and Suffering..
 Loads of things happen in the world..
 These issues often cause people to ask WHY
 WHY is ‘YHWH” LETTING THIS TO HAPPEN?
 Evil and Suffering may lead some to question God.
 Why would as so good God allows negative things to happen?
 Or feel that prayers are being unanswered.. that God COULD help but DOESN’T
 That God can’t be very powerful if he is unable to prevent suffering.
 In the JEWISH Faith Principle
1. No Sincere prayer goes unanswered, it is just that we cannot understand.
2. It is a test of Faith
3. It is a result of disobedience
 In the Jewish faith and understanding, we all have the choice.
1. Man was created with Free Will
2. Therefore, people can choose to follow the good (God) or choose to do wrong.
3. Judaism believe that suffering and evil (Natural or moral) can be overcome and can bring positive
outcomes.
Belief System:
1. In the Hebrew Bible (Jewish Text) contains a key Idea on evil and Suffering
Job – suffered – questioned God – realized and concluded that God is powerful and all knowing.*
Suffering must be accepted because we can’t really grasp the world and God’s plan – but it would fade.

2. Judaism teaches that we have free will.

We are able to choose what we do. But we are prone to making mistakes, which could lead to suffering.

3. Jews believe that prayer is the way to respond to suffering and evil.
4. The Jewish approach to suffering stresses the idea that good can come out of terrible suffering.
Suffering can bring people closer to each other and closer to God. It allows people to make sacrifices for
one another and draw inner strength from it.
5. “Not to have known suffering is not to be truly human.” - Midrash ( a collection of Rabbinical
commentaries from the Tanakh)
It suggest that suffering is simply a part of the human experience and therefore must be accepted.

 Most Jewish thought doesn’t seek to explain the presence of evil, or try to explain away the problem of
evil.
 Many Jews believe that evil requires a human response rather than philosophical explanation.

Take note:
 The experience of exile”
 The 1920s economic problem in Germany.
 1933’s Holocaust Adolf Hitler.
 These posed vary serious spiritual problems for the Jews and they had to find answers
 “If we are the ‘chosen people’. how could God let million to be wiped out?

3. The sacred texts of Judaism:

a. Tanakh - Over centuries, the Israelites’ literature, history, and laws were compiled and edited into a
series of texts, now often referred to in secular contexts as the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh. The Hebrew Bible
or Tanakh contains three major sections: the Torah, or Five Books of Moses, the Prophets, and the
Writings. Learn more about these at the attached file.
b. Septuagint - This text is considered as the earliest extant Greek translation of the Old Testament from
the original Hebrew. The Septuagint was presumably made for the Jewish community in Egypt when
Greek was the common language throughout the region.
c. Talmud - Talmud literally means “study”. It is the generic term for the documents that comment and
expand upon the Mishnah (“repeating”), the first work of rabbinic law, published around the year 200 CE. 

JEWISH SACRED: BASIC PRINCIPLES

Judaism is a monotheistic religion that emerged with the Israelites in the Eastern Mediterranean (Southern
Levant) within the context of the Mesopotamian river valley civilizations. The Israelites were but one
nomadic tribe from the area, so named because they considered themselves to be the descendants of
Jacob, who changed his name to Israel.

TEXTS:

1. TANAKH (Hebrew Bible)

Judaism stems from a collection of stories that explain the origins of the “children of Israel” and the laws
that their deity commanded of them. The stories explain how the Israelites came to settle, construct a
Temple for their one God, and eventually establish a monarchy—as divinely instructed—in the
ancient Land of Israel. Over centuries, the Israelites’ literature, history, and laws were compiled and edited
into a series of texts, now often referred to in secular contexts as the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh in other
contexts, written between the eleventh century B.C.E. and the sixth century B.C.E. (although the stories it
contains may be much older). The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh contains three major sections: the Torah, or Five
Books of
Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings.

 Torah – The basis of all Jewish Sacred Texts. In its most basic sense, the Torah is the Pentateuch - the
five books of Moses, which tell the story of the Creation of the world, God's covenant with Abraham and his
descendants, the Exodus from Egypt, the revelation at Mt. Sinai (where God enunciated the Ten
Commandments), the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert, and a recapitulation of that experience
shortly before the entrance to the Promised Land.
 The Principal message of the Torah is the principal unity of God.

2. TALMUD

Talmud literally means “study”. It is the generic term for the documents that comment and expand upon
the Mishnah (“repeating”), the first work of rabbinic law, published around the year 200 CE.
 Although Talmud is largely about law, it should not be confused with either codes of law or with a
commentary on the legal sections of the Torah . Due to its spare and laconic style, the Talmud is studied
rigidly by the Jewish followers and not just read.

3. SEPTUAGINT

This text is considered as the earliest extant Greek translation of the Old Testament from the original
Hebrew. The Septuagint was presumably made for the Jewish community in Egypt when Greek was the
common language throughout the region.

 The name Septuagint (from the Latin septuaginta, “70”) was derived later from the legend that there were
72 translators, 6 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, who worked independently to translate the whole and
ultimately produced identical versions.

M3- Lesson 1- History of Christianity

Christianity Is an Abrahamic Monotheistic religion based from the life and teachings of Jesus who is the
Christ. They believed that Jesus came and gave salvation that is “once and for all”. Christianity takes its
name from the Greek word christós, a translation of the Hebrew word for messiah, or anointed one. This
title was given to Jesus by a Jewish sect who considered him to be the Messiah —the savior prophesied in
the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible—and the Son of God in human form. Christians believe that Jesus’s arrival
on earth heralded a New Covenant or New Testament with God that followed the Old Testament covenants
between God and the Jewish people.
The main beliefs of Christianity are based on the life and teachings of Jesus as recorded by his followers in
the 1st century CE in the Gospels (meaning “good news”) and the Epistles (or letters) of the New Testament.
According to Acts the of the Apostles, "it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians"
(Act. 11:26).
A. The Beginning of Christianity

Year Events

4 BCE Jesus is born in Roman Judea.

30-36
Jesus is crucified by Judea’s Roman rulers.
CE
 44- 68
All but one of the apostles, John, are martyred.
CE

313 The Roman emperor Constantine issues the Edict of Milan

325 Nicene Creed is established

380 Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire

During the Great Schism, Christianity is divided into Western

1054
(Roman Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) branches

1095- A series of religious wars, the Crusades, is launched by the Catholic Church to recapture
1291 Jerusalem From Muslim occupation.

Thomas Aquinas publishes Summa Theologica, which becomes the basis for official Catholic
1274
dogma.

Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, initiates the Protestant R

1517
formation in Germany by publishing his 95 Theses, criticizing clerical abuses

Who is Jesus?
Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the Roman province of Judea, in around 4 BCE, with the extraordinary
claim that his mother Mary was a virgin. Little is known about Jesus’s early life, but it is most likely that
he was schooled in the Jewish scriptures and religion. It is believed that he may have shared his father’s
occupation as a carpenter, and lived and worked in Nazareth. When Jesus was around 30 years old, he
embarked upon a ministry of teaching and healing across the area where he lived. According to the
Gospels, he drew huge crowds with his engaging stories, radical teaching, and astonishing miracles, but paid
special attention to 12 followers, or disciples. However, his message about God’s kingdom soon attracted
the censure of the authorities. He was betrayed by Judas, one of his disciples, and arrested and condemned
to death on fabricated charges. Three days after Jesus had been crucified, reports were made that his tomb
had been found empty and that he had appeared to his disciples, resurrected from the dead.
B. The Period of the First Christian Communities
50 days after the death of Jesus, the bible tell us a story that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles
which starts the organization of the first Christian communities among the followers of Jesus Christ. It was
then at the time of the spring harvest festival of Shavuot, seven weeks after the feast of Passover, that
they experienced the empowerment that would make them a new community. That day became known
as Pentecost in the Christian church and celebrated as the “birthday of the Church.” (Harvard Divinity
School, 2015) 
Most of these followers were converts from Judaism of which Jerusalem is the central place and they were
headed by St Peter and St James the brother of Jesus. Because of the eagerness to respond to the new
calling of the early Christians to spread and teach the good news that Christ had taught them throughout
Jerusalem and to their nearby communities. Shortly after, many non-Jewish converts also join this new
founded Church, they are the Gentile Christians.
 To this new converts, St Paul of Tarsus became their leader. St Paul of Tarsus, which is formerly called
Saul, a tent maker and a former persecutor of Christians. Paul’s conversion to Christianity can be found
in the Acts of the Apostle Chapter 9 verses 1-19, on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians,
he experienced the divine presence and fell down from his horse: a light from heaven flashing around him
and a voice addressing him . Paul preached the gospel and established churches throughout the Roman
Empire (Links to an external site.), Europe and Africa. Many historians believe Christianity wouldn’t be as
widespread without the work of Paul. In addition to preaching, Paul is thought to have written 13 of the 27
books in the New Testament.
These combine communities of Jewish and non-Jewish converts, the Jewish and Gentile
Christians, comprised the first Christian communities. Christians were seen as too exclusive because of their
sharing of common resources, too narrow because of their practice of the “breaking of the bread,” which
they believe as Body and Blood of Jesus and a threat to the social order, because of their worship to one God
which is in contradiction to the existing major Religion of the Roman Empire.
And because of this, they were subject of persecutions. But despite of this, they continuously increase in
number.
Larry Hurtado, an American leading Early Christian Scholar,  in his two books, Why on Earth Did Anyone
Become a Christian in the First Three Centuries?   (Links to an external site.)and Destroyer of the gods:
Early Christian Distinctiveness in the Roman World  (Links to an external site.) answers the reason why
Christians increase in number. One main reason, Hurtado explains, was that the Christian community was a
unique “social project.” They were a contrast community, a counterculture that was both offensive and yet
also attractive to many. It is a religion not being imposed by the state, family or culture on individual but
rather a free willing act of choosing once faith. This what made Christians a unique community.
More so, according to Tim Keller an American theologian, there are 5 Features of Early Christians that
make them unique:

1. The early church was multi-racial and experienced a unity across ethnic boundaries that was
startling. The book of Acts of the Apostles show us  a remarkable unity between people of different
races. 
2. The early church was a community of forgiveness and reconciliation. Christians were often excluded
and criticized, but they were also actively persecuted, imprisoned, attacked, and killed. But, still they
preached forgiveness and withheld retaliation against their opponents.
3. The early church was famous for its hospitality to the poor and the suffering. This is exemplified by
the story of the Good Samaritan of Luke 10:25-37. Moreover, during the urban plagues, Christians
characteristically didn’t flee the cities but stayed and cared for the sick and dying of all groups, often at
the cost of their own lives, (See Gary Ferngren’s essay “The Incarnation and Early Christian
Philanthropy (Links to an external site.).”) 
4. It was a community committed to the sanctity of life. Christians saved the infants and took them in
while major culture that time, practice abortion and throwing of children. 
5. It was a sexual counterculture. During this period the prevalent concept of marriage is
polygamous . Roman culture insisted that married women of social status abstain from sex outside of
marriage, but it was expected that men (even married men) would have sex with people lower on the
status ladder—slaves, prostitutes, and children. It was regarded as unavoidable. This was in part because
sex in that culture was always considered an expression of one’s social status. Sex was mainly seen as a
mere physical appetite that was irresistible. And this was of course being prohibited by Christian practice.

 
C. The Period of Persecutions
With this video, we can learn some information about the early Christian history especially the persecutions
led by Emperor Nero. 

Introduction: What is the Bible?

 The Bible centers on the one and only God, the Creator of all that exists. God’s will and purpose are
viewed as just, loving, and ultimately prevailing.
 The Hebrew Bible starts with an account of God’s creation of the world, and it tells the story of the
Israelites and the Promised Land. The New Testament deals with the life, the person, and the teachings
of Jesus and the formation of the Christian church. (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2020)
Old Testament

 “Hebrew Bible” as interpreted among the various branches of Christianity. In Judaism, the Hebrew Bible
is not only the primary text of instruction for a moral life but also the historical record of God’s
promise, first articulated in his covenant with Abraham, to consider the Jews his chosen people.
 The Old Testament, a name coined by Melito of Sardis in the 2nd century CE, is longer than the Hebrew
Bible, in part because Christian editors divided particular works into two sections but also because
different Christian groups consider as canonical some texts not found in the Hebrew Bible.
 For example, although the Hebrew canon consists of 24 books, the Old Testament of Roman Catholics
comprises 46 books and that of most Protestant churches has 39. (Britannica Encyclopedia, 2020)
New Testament
The New Testament, as usually received in the Christian Churches, is made up of twenty-seven different
books attributed to eight different authors, six of whom are numbered among the Apostles (Matthew,
John, Paul, James, Peter, Jude) and two among their immediate disciples (Mark, Luke)

1. Four Gospels

 The word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon term god-spell, meaning “good story,” a
rendering of the Latin evangelium and the Greek euangelion, meaning “good news” or “good telling.”
Since the late 18th century the first three have been called the Synoptic Gospels, because the texts, set
side by side, show a similar treatment of the life and death of Jesus Christ. (Britannica, 2020)
 They are written, according to tradition, respectively by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John
(the four evangelists)(Britannica, 2020)

2. Acts of the Apostles

 Known as the fifth book of the New Testament, Acts was written in Greek, presumably by the
Evangelist Luke, whose gospel concludes where Acts begins, namely,
with Christ’s Ascension into heaven. (Britannica, 2020)
 Acts was apparently written in Rome, perhaps between AD 70 and 90, though some think a slightly
earlier date is also possible. After an introductory account of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the
Apostles at Pentecost (interpreted as the birth of the church), Luke pursues as a central theme the
spread of Christianity to the Gentile world under the guiding inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He also
describes the church’s gradual drawing away from Jewish traditions.
 The missionary journeys of St. Paul are given a prominent place, because this close associate of Luke
was the preeminent Apostle to the Gentiles. Without Acts, a picture of the primitive church would be
impossible to reconstruct; with it, the New Testament letters of Paul are far more intelligible. Acts
concludes rather abruptly after Paul has successfully preached the gospel in Rome, then the
acknowledged centre of the Gentile world. (Britannica, 2020)

3. Epistles

 The Epistles are letters written to the fledgling churches and individual believers in the earliest
days of Christianity. The Apostle Paul wrote the most of these letters, each addressing a specific
situation or problem. In terms of volume, Paul's writings constitute about one-fourth of the entire
New Testament. (Fairchild, 2019)
  The General Epistles, also known as the Catholic Epistles, are the seven New Testament letters
written by James, Peter (1 and 2), John (1, 2 and 3), and Jude. These epistles, with the exceptions of 2
and 3 John, are addressed to a general audience of believers rather than to a specific church.
(Fairchild, 2019)

 James— has a well-deserved reputation for providing practical advice for Christians.
 1 Peter—r offers hope to believers in times of suffering and persecution.
 2 Peter— contains his final words to the church: a warning against false teachers and an
encouragement to press on in faith and hope.
 1 John— contains some of the Bible's most beautiful descriptions of God and his unfailing love.
 2 John— delivers a stern warning about ministers who deceive others.
 3 John—catalogs the qualities of four types of Christians we should and should not imitate.
 Jude—written by Jude who is also called Thaddeus, shows Christians the dangers of listening to
false teachers, a warning that still applies to many preachers today.

 Hebrews- The Epistle to the Hebrews, written by an unknown early Christian, builds a case for the
superiority of Jesus Christ and Christianity.
 Pauline- Based on authorship issues, the Pauline corpus is divided into three groups: the Pastoral
epistles (1-2 Timothy and Titus), the Deutero-Pauline  epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, and 2
Thessalonians), and the undisputed Pauline letters (Romans, 1-2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians,
1 Thessalonians, and Philemon).

 Romans—The book of Romans, the Apostle Paul's inspirational masterpiece, explains God's plan
of salvation by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

 1 Corinthians—Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to confront and correct the young church in Corinth as it
was struggling with matters of disunity, immorality, and immaturity.
 2 Corinthians—This epistle is a deeply personal letter from Paul to the church in Corinth, giving
great transparency into Paul's heart.
 Galatians—The main theme is justification by divine grace through faith in Jesus Christ—against
the Judaizing doctrine of meritorious works of the law. 
 1 Thessalonians—Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica encourages new believers to stand
firm in the face of strong persecution.
 Philippians- is one of Paul's most personal letters, written to the church in Philippi. In it, we learn
the secret to Paul's contentment.
 Philemon- one of the shortest books in the Bible, teaches an important lesson on forgiveness as
Paul deals with the issue of a runaway slave, Onesimus.
 1 Timothy- describes Christ-centered living in the Christian church, directed to both leaders and
members.
 2 Timothy- is a moving letter, teaching us how we can be confident even during hardship.
 Titus- is about choosing competent church leaders, a topic especially relevant in today's immoral,
materialistic society.
 Ephesians- gives practical, encouraging advice on living a life that honors God, which is why it's
still relevant in a conflict-ridden world.
 Colossians- warns believers against the dangers which threaten them.
 2 Thessalonians—Paul's second letter to the church in Thessalonica was written to clear up
confusion about end times and the second coming of Christ. (Fairchild, 2019)The Pauline Epistles

4. Revelation

 It is the last book and only book of the New Testament classified as apocalyptic literature. It appears
to be a collection of separate units composed by unknown authors who lived during the last quarter of
the 1st century, though it purports to have been written by an individual named John—who calls
himself “the servant” of Jesus—at Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. 
M3- Lesson 3- Basic Doctrines and Practices
The Nature of God
Christianity is a monotheistic religion that believes in God who is perfect and possesses certain attributes
which are:

1. Pure Spirit- which means God does not change; simple- cannot be divided into parts; does not have a
physical body.
2. Eternal- has no beginning or end; neither created nor destroyed
3. Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing), wholly good or benevolent, just and caring.

The monotheism Christianity is qualified by the belief that God has three persons: Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. This belief is called the Trinity ( Blessed or Holy Trinity)

 
The Nature of Jesus
There are at least seven fundamental beliefs that Christians hold about the nature of Jesus. These are:

1. Jesus is a true God

2. Jesus is also a true human person.
3. Jesus is the Messiah.
4. Jesus came into this world through a virgin birth. He was conceived in the womb of Mary through the
Holy Spirit.
5. Jesus is sinless.
6. Jesus resurrected from the dead.
7. Jesus ascended into heaven.

 
Practices and Rituals
Baptism is a ritual for moral purification and serves as an initiation rite. A person who undergoes it signifies
their commitment to repent form their sins, lead a new life and be ready to receive the Kingdom of God.
It is an initiation rite as it signals one's entry into the Christian community. Different forms of
Christianity differ on certain aspects of baptism both in terms of how it should be done and what it does to a
person. In addition to baptism, some Christians also undergo the Sacrament of Confirmation. 
The Last Supper/Eucharist is a practice that commemorates the sharing of bread and wine in the Last
Supper. 
D. Period of the emergence of different branches of Christianity

 From its beginning with a tiny group of Jesus' followers, Christianity has spread all over the world.
 Today, it is practiced by two billion people. As with any large group, Christianity has experienced many
different interpretations, disagreements and struggles for power over the centuries.
 These have led to the growth of many different branches of Christianity interpreting the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus in different ways.
 There are three basic streams of Christianity: Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic. (United
Religions Initiative, 2020)