Abstract This paper examines the Christianart of the first five centuries C.E., which is potentially a source of a great deal of data and information about Christianity during the period in question. The author explains that the origins and development of earlyChristianart are indebted to a number of factors. These factors are comprised of certain styles associated with certain regions and practices, converts to Christianity adopting pagan practices, and to more than purely aesthetic functions such as pedagogical uses. The paper concludes that earlyChristianart did not spring into existence without roots. Rather it can be seen as an undisrupted continuous seam going back to ancient religions and practices.
From the Paper "Textual evidence seems to suggest that certain theologians did indeed go against the production of cultic art objects for the practice of idolatry while perhaps understanding the difference between that and the functional uses of art whether it was decorative, symbolic or didactic. Christians probably understood that smaller objects did not have much significance. So when larger objects did come on to the scene it was not of a great shock since they were not seen as objects of worship and "therefore presented no danger of idolatry." Some scholars believe that many of the Christian converts that came from a polytheistic background abandoned their old practices since they would recognize it was incompatible with their new faith."
Abstract This paper discusses contemporary Christianart. The paper looks at how the variation in works of Christianart corresponds to the variation in Christian faith. It explains that some Christianart reflects a traditional Catholic perspective and draws on centuries of traditions of Catholic art, while other Christianart reflects the doctrinal practices and emphases of a range of sects, from Quakerism to Pentecostal.
From the Paper "Contemporary Christian art is much like contemporary Christianity in general. There is as much variation in works of Christian art as there is variation in Christian faith. Some Christian art reflects a traditional Catholic perspective and draws on centuries of traditions of Catholic art. Other Christian art reflects the doctrinal practices and emphases of a range of sects from Quakerism to Pentecostal. And much of what artists might call Christian art because it reflects their own beliefs as Christians might not generally be classified as Christian art by..."
Abstract EarlyChristianart rarely tries to represent reality as is. This art is characterized by religious symbolism and its purpose is to portray the spiritual world, rather than depict three-dimensional figures. The paper examines how the beliefs of earlyChristians were reflected in their art. Originally, pagan art contained gods and heroes, but in their place emerged the Christian figures who dominated art for nearly a thousand years. The paper explores how these religious messages were depicted through images of golden halos, in architectural designs, miniature scriptures and supernatural symbols.
From the Paper "In early Christian art there are often personifications of the sun and moon, which were drawn from pagan imagery, but also came to represent the relationship between the old testament (the moon), which could only be understood in light of the new testament (the sun). Art often focused on the supernatural, and the paintings were rich in symbolic meaning. Radiant colors, suspended angels, and detailed symbols were the motifs used to represent the supernatural. Many early Christian masters were monks and craftsmen. In AD 533, reincarnation was declared a heresy by the Council of Constantinople; before then, reincarnation could be depicted in art as well."
Tags: Christ, Muiredach, Cross, nativity, crucifixion, God
Abstract This paper examines and describes the traditional symbols and motifs of Celtic Art and discusses how they were so important in Celtic societies that they survived the conversion to Christianity. These Celtic symbols and motifs can also be found in earlyChristianArt. This paper also includes illustrations of various Celtic artwork.
From the Paper "Often in illuminated manuscripts one finds a Celtic characteristic of placing red dots around initials that reminiscent of the stippling on metalwork . And a textual tradition that is popular even today, known as diminuendo, in which the first letter of a text is large and the rest diminish in size. Illuminated manuscripts kept not only imagery of the Celts but the superstitions in some cases as well. Many illuminated manuscripts were thought to have special powers, and were often used for "talismanic purposes " including healing and hope for victory in battles. Thus the societies of the Celts and Christians were not only blended in art but in religion and culture as well. Keeping their superstitions and respect for nature, the Celts adopted certain aspects and rituals of Christianity. And Christianity in return adopted many Celtic customs and beliefs."
Abstract This paper consists of four papers, each dealing with a part of Justo Gonzalez's ?The Story of Christianity?, Volume1: "The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation".
Tags: THEOLOGY AND RELIGION STUDIES / CHRISTIANITY, earlychristian church
Abstract This paper states that Christianart, which is one of the few forms of art based almost entirely on symbolism, is one of the most diverse genres of art in the world. The paper specifically discuses the phoenix, the pomegranate, the crucifix, the crown of thorns, the rose and the tomb as a few of the prominent symbols contained in Christianart. The paper concludes that, without these symbols, it is very likely that many of the images and stories of the oral tradition of the Church may have been lost.
From the Paper "The crucifix is also a great example of how the same basic symbol can represent different ideas. Take, for example, the christus triumphans style of the crucifix. In this version, the image of Chris is alive on the cross, head held high. This is to represent that while Jesus did suffer and die physically on the cross he was triumphant in the end because his actions cleanse the sins of all of his followers. In stark contrast to this is the christus patiens. This image of Christ shows the figure slumped on the cross, head down, eyes closed, obviously either suffering greatly or dead."
Tags: crucifix, popularity, phoenix, donatello, aid
Abstract This paper discusses early Renaissance art. It focuses on sculptures that were commissioned for various reasons. The paper describes these works of art - their inspiration and properties and the purpose of their commissions. It particularly focuses on a statue of Pallas Athena, the ancient goddess of wisdom and the protector of the city of Athens and the sculpture of "David."
From the Paper "The only possible objection might be the church that might resist the image of a nude female form from mythology standing proud before the city. Yet the Medicis wished that their power, over the authority of the Church and the technical legal status of Florence as a republic would reign supreme. They were making a new republic of wisdom that was in reality not a democracy at all, just like "David," for all of the gestures made to Biblical times in its name and in the statue's slingshot, really strikes the viewer as more of a celebration of Man and the artistry of the sculptor than the divine. The sculpture would pay homage to the right ideology on the surface, but an even deeper message of raw power would be expressed by the image of stone and metal."
Abstract This thesis discusses the subject of Christian missions throughout the world. It is divided into four chapters, beginning with the world situation before the birth of the mission, continuing with the early missionary activities and earlyChristian persecutions. The author provides a clear explanation of how the earlyChristians and missionaries were persecuted under the different emperors and the rapid growth of the Christianity in spite of all the persecutions. Finally he explains the relevance that the early missions have today.
Outline:
Introduction
The World Situation before the Birth of the Mission
Starting Point for the Mission and Early Missionary Activities
EarlyChristian Persecutions
From the Paper "The Church came into existence in the world with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "When the fullness of time was come", St. Paul writes, "God sent his Son, born of a woman, that he might redeem them who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of the sons" (Gal. 4: 4-6). Thus early Christian mission involved in the person of Jesus. The early Christian community owed to the disciples; Easter experience, the experience of the risen Lord, for its mission. If we observe carefully, we can understand that Easter is the point of connection between ministry of Jesus and the mission of his followers. We should not forget that Church and mission were synonyms. The early community lived through mission and for mission. Every early Christian promoted the cause of mission either by word or by the example. The chief agents of the spread of the Christian faith were not professional missionaries who made it a living, but men and women involved in ordinary life."
Abstract This paper explains that canonization of sainthood for a Christian in antiquity was achieved either by living piously and being recognized as a holy person within the church after natural death or by leading a virtuous life though the Christian faith and consequentially being killed for those beliefs, which is known as becoming a martyr. The author points out that the earlyChristians were mainly martyred because of their refusal to perform actions that contradicted a Christian lifestyle and violated church doctrines such as St. Perpetua. The paper relates that, throughout the stories of the martyr's lives and the lives of the Desert Fathers, the essential designs are similar: The pious lifestyle leads to sainthood and heaven.
From the Paper "In 303CE, the Emperor of Rome issued an edict, which called for the destruction of churches, the burning of scripts and the arrests and eventual deaths of Christians. The reason for the edict was not because of ritual wrong-doing, but to reorder the hierarchy of the population of Rome. The Christian faith had started to spread at a phenomenal rate (at one point reaching to almost 25% of the population of Rome), and started to threaten the bureaucratic stability. Using the provisions already in place, Diocletian used his military power to reorder the Roman socio-economic class to his liking."
Abstract This paper examines the factors that were responsible for the formation of Christianity, particularly in the context of Orthodoxy and Heresy. In other words, the paper discusses how Christianity became Christianity as seen through the lenses of Orthodoxy and Heresy. The research explores several defining moments in the history of Christianity including proto-orthodox and the boundary markers that enabled the proto-orthodox to prevail and become the dominant religion of the empire from the first through the fourth century.
Outline:
Introduction
Proto-Orthodox
Heretical Text and Heretical Doctrines
The Rule of Faith and Apostolic Succession
Gender
The Appeal to Jewish Antiquity
Future Research
Conclusion
From the Paper "In addition to docetic theologies there were other theologies that emerged and were deemed to be heretical by the proto-orthodoxy. Among these was the adoptionists theology. This particular theology asserted that Jesus was a man but he was not divine. They also asserted that Jesus was adopted by God as his son (Grant). Those that held this view asserted that there were church traditions that solidified this view but just what these church traditions were differed greatly from that of proto-orthodox Christians (Grant). Adoptionists also claimed that all Christian held the aforementioned doctrine. However proto-orthodox Christians argued that the doctrine of the adoptionists was in opposition to scriptures (Grant). They also asserted that Christian apologists and anti-heretical authors had throughout history, declared that Jesus was God or that Jesus was both God and Man (Grant). In addition both hymns and psalms that were written from the beginning of time describe Christ as the Logos and describe him as God (Grant). "
Abstract Christianity was one of the many different religions competing for the attention of people of the Roman Empire during the first three centuries CE. The paper shows that its growth during this time was extraordinary, and by the early part of the fourth century CE, it would become the official religion of the Roman Empire. The paper shows that this growth can be accredited to several different facets of the religion: its universal acceptance of all people regardless of their pasts, the strong sense of community within its congregations, its duty to care for the weak, sick and needy, and the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. The paper shows that, when combined with the great demographic shifts that were occurring in the Roman Empire, it is much easier to understand the extreme growth of the earlyChristian church.
From the Paper "Another appealing aspect of early Christianity was the strong sense of community within its congregations. With the Roman Empire newly established, and the Romans being tolerant of different religious customs, many new immigrant groups moved into the area. Similar to any new group of individuals in a society, their goal was acceptance into the Roman society, to find a sense of belonging. Acceptance into the Christian church meant acceptance into a close-knit community."
Abstract The paper discusses some aspects of the persecution of Christians under the Roman Empire in the first through third centuries. The paper mainly focuses on the Martyrdom of Polycarp and other writings by Palestinian Bishop Eusebius who wrote in the early fourth century. The paper discusses the persecutions as desperate measures for a declining empire.
From the Paper "The history of the early Christian Church is complex and multinational, with key events taking place all around the world in the first three centuries of its existence. As is to be expected, one of the most important locations was Palestine, but there were also significant events in northern Africa, Rome and what is today parts of Turkey. The introduction of Christianity was often met with violence and persecution in these areas and this paper will examine some of the elements of the persecutions in the first through the third centuries. Through the Church history of Eusebius of Caesarea, and related secondary sources, we will investigate the changes in Christian persecution in these times and places. Eusebius was probably born in Palestine while it was under Roman rule, in approximately 260AD and wrote into the fourth century, assuming he died around 340."
Abstract This paper explains that Christianart, evolving along with the church, began in the Near East, which was a vast religious and cultural melting pot where all the competing faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism and many others, tended to influence each other. The author points out that the oldest sizeable and coherent body of Christianart, which can be traced to no earlier than 200 AD, is the painted murals in the Roman catacombs and the underground burial places of the Christians. The paper relates that the halo around Jesus' head stems from pagan artists, who used a halo, usually of a gold color, to mark the chief of men and women in their pictures, and from the Romans, who associated it with the cult of light as a special gift from God. Chart. List of illustrations but no illustrations.
Table of Contents
The EarlyChristian Church - The Jews and the Greeks
Byzantine Art The Christian Empire
Nuns, Monks, and Priests
Saints and Martyrs
The Virgin Mary
The Halo
The Conversion of the Northern Tribes
The Celts
The English
The Saxons
The Holy Roman Emperor
East Rome
Church of St. Sophia
The Icons, the Iconostasis, and Iconoclasm
Icons
Iconostasis
Iconoclasm
The Mystics
The Effect of Islam
A Comparison of Christianity East and West
EarlyChristian vs. Byzantine Art Western Society in the Middle Ages
Popes
Society and Religion
Hell and Purgatory
Gothic Cathedrals and Stain Glass Windows
The Renaissance
Exploration
The Reformation
The Modern Age
From the Paper "The first celibates in the early Christian church were women who lived lives of chastity and cleaned church buildings. These women also helped tend the sick. Many spiritually oriented celibate males started as hermits but eventually these men grouped together, elected an abbot, and agreed to abide by a set of rules. These first nuns and monks were called Benedictines. Priests were allowed to marry in the early church but the idea of a celibate priesthood was raised as early as 324 AD (Council of Nicene) but this was unenforceable. In the early church, a man could marry before he became a priest and still become a priest. He could not marry if he became a priest before marrying. The ideal of the totally celibate priesthood was not enforceable until the 11th Century. A man who wanted to become a bishop was not allowed to be married.
In the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, priests still are allowed to marry before taking final vows."
Abstract This paper examines early Irish art and literature in an effort to gain insight into early Irish heritage and culture. The paper discusses Le Tene art, Celtic art, the emergence of craft centers or workshops, influences on Le Tene art and Le Tene art's influence on other cultures as well as earlyChristian artifacts, the importance and significance of the Ulster cycle in Irish literature, and how the story "The Tain Bo Cuailgne" represents the rough, common life of the early Irish.
From the Paper "When attempting to explore early Irish cultures, we can discover much when we observe art and literature in conjunction with historical information. Historical facts only present a portion of the picture, while artifacts and literature fill in the gaps. Art from the Le Tene culture offers incredible insight into early Irish heritage because literacy was not widespread. Symbols and images depicted on pieces discovered at this time represent rituals and beliefs. While most of the population could not write, the literature from the Ulster era helps support what we can learn from artifacts. In addition, when we combine what we see and read from the arts of early Irish cultures, we discover a remarkable connection to historical accounts of these people."
An analysis of early medieval culture through a review of "The Rule of Benedict" by Saint Benedict, "The History of the Franks" by Gregory, and "On the True Doctrine" by Celsus.
Abstract This paper discusses how, during the early medieval period in Europe ranging between more or less 300AD and 600AD, three traditions were prevalent, each exerting its influence in the culture of the time. It looks at how the Roman culture, although still very influential in Europe at the time, was fast losing its power as Rome deteriorated and how other influences, such as the invading Germanic forces, were joining the Roman culture in Europe. It shows how, most notably, Christianity and its Church was a fast-growing and increasingly powerful force during these times. It analyzes the extent of each influence by examining "The Rule of Benedict" by Saint Benedict, "The History of the Franks" by Gregory, and "On the True Doctrine", by Celsus, as representative of the early medieval culture and its frequently opposing influential forces.
Outline
The Christian Culture
The Roman Tradition
The Germanic Tradition
Conclusion
From the Paper "The History of the Franks by Gregory on the other hand, demonstrates a more na?ve view of Christianity. Its focus, insofar as it is influenced by the Christian tradition, is on the supernatural aspect. Gregory for example relates several stories with St. Martin and his religious power as the central character. This saint, a former Roman soldier, worked among the rural population of Gaul and won many superstitious hearts for the Christian cause. Gregory, growing up in an environment filled with such influences, inherited this superstitious character from his parents and his social setting. This manifests itself in the trust Gregory placed in religious relics and their power to protect him."
