“Exploring the Origins of Christianity: Reflections on the PBS Series ‘From Jesus to Christ’” Title: The Influence of Beliefs and Circumstances on the Story of Jesus

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Intro to Video Series:
This program explores the life of Jesus, his death, and the men and women whose belief, conviction, and martyrdom created the religion we now know as Christianity. 
It reveals that Christianity did not arise as a single, uniform, and coherent movement, but as one marked by diversity of opinion, practice, and belief. From the beginning, the movement was forged by conflict as the early Christians wrestled with their Jewish heritage, collided with paganism, challenged the authority of the Roman Empire, and clashed with each other. 
Documentary Reflection Instructions: 
Minimum 400 words with 100 words per half. 
Watch the PBS series: “From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians.” There are two parts. 
Watch Video for Part One Link：https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/showsreligion/?#video-1
Watch Video for Part Two Link：https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/documentary/showsreligion/?#video-2
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Part 1
First Half of Part 1 examines how Judaism and Roman rule, Pax Romana or “Roman peace,” shaped Jesus’ life. Jesus was most likely arrested and executed by Roman authorities whose principal concern was to keep the peace. The Romans had little tolerance for those it judged disruptive of the Pax Romana, punishing them in many ways, including crucifixion. 
Reflection Question for First Half of Part 1:
First, post what two things you learned that you didn’t know before (if you know everything already, sucks to be you ;). Explain why these two things are interesting to you.
Second Post a response to the questions: Who killed Jesus? and What difference does it make who really killed Jesus? (Consider how traditional stories contributed to the rise of antisemitism, anti-Judaism, the Holocaust.)
Initial post must be a minimum of 100 words
Second Half of Part 1 explores the period after the crucifixion of Jesus and traces the beginnings of the Jesus Movement, in those early years before it was called Christianity. It began as a sect within Judaism. Along the way, the early Christians began to branch out and to spread their message to non-Jews or gentiles (meaning “nations”). Around 50 CE, the Apostle Paul travelled away from the traditional centers of the Jesus Movement and began to found new churches in Greek cities. His letters to these fledgling congregations mark the first writings of the New Testament. Meanwhile, expectations about the coming of the Kingdom of God would culminate in a catastrophic Jewish revolt against Rome from 66–70 CE, ending in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple-the center of Jewish spiritual life. The traumatic failure of this revolt would dramatically affect the future for Jews and Christians.
Reflection Question for Second Half of Part 1
Share two things you learned that were new and interesting from this program. Make sure to explain briefly why it was interesting to you and thus stood out. Note: make sure to pay attention as the shift from Program 1 to Program 2 is subtle.
In the same post, also answer: What conditions allowed Christianity to grow as quickly as it did?
Initial post must be a minimum of 100 words
Part 2
The first half of part 2 follows the story of the first attempts to write the life of Jesus—the Gospels. They were products of social and religious reconstruction in the period after the war, ranging from roughly 70 to after 100 CE. The program looks at how these stories were passed down before they were written and how the writing of each Gospel reflects the experiences and circumstances of early Christians. They do not all tell the same story of Jesus because each one is responding to a different audience and circumstances. 
Reflection Question for First half of Part 2
First, post what two things you learned that you didn’t know before. Explain why these two things are interesting to you.
Second Post a response to the questions: How are the authors of the Gospels interjecting their own beliefs and circumstances into the story of Jesus? What is the value of understanding how stories are influenced by the storyteller?
Initial post must be a minimum of 100 words
Second half of Part 2 follows the period between 100 and 300 CE, when the movement grew and became suspicious in the eyes of the Roman authorities. At times there were heated debates about beliefs, worship, and even about Jesus himself. At other times, faced by external threats, the Christian Movement pulled together. In the end, what started as a small sect of Judaism became a significant part of the population, enough so that a new Roman emperor, Constantine, decided that they should be part of the official religion of Rome. 
Reflection Question for Second half of Part 2
post what two things you learned that you didn’t know before. Explain why these two things are interesting to you.
Respond to the question: How did the Roman Empire’s response toward Christianity influence the Christian Movement? 
Initial post must be a minimum of 100 words

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