Is Christianity Relevant?
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| What history demonstrates is that we learn very little from our
past. This is particularly evident in the issues that face the
modern church, some so perplexing that after a number of centuries
they seem too complicated to solve. What views did the earliest
Christians hold on topics such as: abortion, astrology, demons,
magic and homosexuality? Similarly, how does the
twenty-first-century church compare in doctrine to that maintained
during the apostolic age, especially on important matters like:
Baptism, the Lord's Supper, Sabbath worship, prayer and tithing?
Simply redefining these issues is not enough to make them
applicable; what is required involves returning to the first-century
church and consulting her practical wisdom. |
| Perhaps the finest way to reconstruct the teaching of the early
church community is to evaluate her literary legacy. One document
written during this time was designed to address matters of faith
and practice; it is called the Didache, the earliest known catechism
of the church. Based on apostolic tradition, this manual dealt with
issues that arose among the believers scattered throughout the
Mediterranean world. Translations, outlines and parallel biblical
passages will be provided at the beginning of each session, as we
open this remarkable little treasure from the apostolic church. Join
us in the pursuit of the early Church as we ask the question: Is
Christianity still relevant in the twenty-first century? |
Discussion topics:
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About the Teachers
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Brent Walters
By the time Brent was 18 he had acquired 1,000 volumes of
ancient Christian literature. Now (at a more mature age), his
library numbers 85,000 pieces. This includes books, critiques,
documents, articles and journals, some of which can only be found in
elusive, exclusive libraries. This is indicative of Brent's hunger
for knowledge. Trained in Philosophy and Theology at SJSU and Boston
Theological Seminary, he currently teaches in the Comparative
Religion Department at San Jose State University. He prefers the
undergraduate classes on the Bible, church history and Western
religion because he likes the idea of teaching in a secular school
to a wide variety of students with different beliefs and faiths. For
Brent, the idea of questioning one's faith is the key component to
faith. |
| He's a firm advocate of questioning to learn, not
necessarily to challenge. "Belief is something you have to be
convinced of, that you have evidence of," says Walters.
"If you don't understand its foundations, how can you possibly
understand what you believe in?" |
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