CHRISTIANITY AND WORLD POLITICS: CHRISTIANITY & THE WORLD The 8th of 10 Series Books

By Dr. LI JIN WEI

This book provides the basis for politicians invoking God's blessings on the country. It explains the main beliefs of the political imagination and how it is imbued with Christianity. This belief guides the history of Christianity, world politics, the origin of Christianity, and Christian beliefs in politics. While there are several versions of this story from political or religious history, there are few that escape the artificial separation of the two.
This helps clarify how social scientists view religion and why Christianity as a body of religion remains relevant to politics. The latter also considers the influence of religious beliefs, institutions, and the legitimacy of politics and observes certain problems found in opinions and the perspectives of Christianity on politics.
This book investigates the origins of Christian fundamentalism before moving on to a more general examination of fundamentalism as a type of "political" religion that has developed in various religious traditions in response to conflicts over modernization. It is also about the movement that emphasizes the need to reassess the power of religion in society critically and to develop new forms of relationship between religion and politics that preserve the freedom and integrity of these two dimensions and their importance for the life of society.
This book has been revised with contents and chapters covering political theology, Christian beliefs, doctrines, ideologies, secularization, and the arguments of political theology to justify Christian's involvement in politics. It will also broaden readers' knowledge of the historical evolution of the tense relationship between religion and politics and how each relates to power. The aim is to explain the relationship between political and religious activities in the public space.
This book then summarizes the politics of religion, the Scriptures and political life, justice, and the word of God. It fills the void and provides a readable and concise introduction to the continuing relationship between Christianity and world politics. This will help solve the puzzles of how a Christian should see politics and that a Christian can go into politics.
It will also help to broaden the reader's knowledge of how to respond to the confusion generated by the variety of candidates for the public service and the different perspectives of church leaders trying to assess the political picture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LI JIN WEI
• Release date: Feb 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9781990861215

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

This book provides the basis for politicians invoking God's blessings on the country. It explains the main beliefs of the political imagination and how it is imbued with Christianity. This belief guides the history of Christianity, world politics, the origin of Christianity, and Christian beliefs in politics. While there are several versions of this story from political or religious history, there are few that escape the artificial separation of the two.

This helps clarify how social scientists view religion and why Christianity as a body of religion remains relevant to politics. The latter also considers the influence of religious beliefs, institutions, and the legitimacy of politics and observes certain problems found in opinions and the perspectives of Christianity on politics.

This book investigates the origins of Christian fundamentalism before moving on to a more general examination of fundamentalism as a type of political religion that has developed in various religious traditions in response to conflicts over modernization. It is also about the movement that emphasizes the need to reassess the power of religion in society critically and to develop new forms of relationship between religion and politics that preserve the freedom and integrity of these two dimensions and their importance for the life of society.

This book has been revised with contents and chapters covering political theology, Christian beliefs, doctrines, ideologies, secularization, and the arguments of political theology to justify Christian's involvement in politics. It will also broaden readers' knowledge of the historical evolution of the tense relationship between religion and politics and how each relates to power. The aim is to explain the relationship between political and religious activities in the public space.

This book then summarizes the politics of religion, the Scriptures and political life, justice, and the word of God. It fills the void and provides a readable and concise introduction to the continuing relationship between Christianity and world politics. This will help solve the puzzles of how a Christian should see politics and that a Christian can go into politics.

 It will also help to broaden the reader's knowledge of how to respond to the confusion generated by the variety of candidates for the public service and the different perspectives of church leaders trying to assess the political picture.

CHAPTER 1 CHRISTIANITY AND POLITICS

1. CHRISTIANITY

Around 2.4 billion people worldwide practice Christianity, making it the largest religion in the world. It started about 2,000 years ago in the land of Judah in Jerusalem, Israel. Christians believe in Jesus Christ's life and teachings, whether they believe he is the Messiah or the Savior of all humanity. Jesus' teachings centred on love, forgiveness, peace, and hope.

What is Christianity?

Christianity began around A.D. 10 with Jesus Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, called the City of David. Today, Bethlehem is a Palestinian city south of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Jesus lived and taught in Nazareth and around Galilee in today's Israel. Jesus was crucified and died in Jerusalem. These places are still the most sacred places for Christians for two thousand years. Since the time of Christ, Christianity has spread to all corners of the world, and today there are about 2.4 billion faithful, or about 30% of the world's population. Christians believe in one God, the creator of heaven and earth. The fundamental principles of religion revolve around the birth, life, death, resurrection, and teachings of Jesus Messiah as the Son of God sent to offer salvation to humanity.

The Birth of Christ

The vast Roman Empire ruled the lands of Judea and Galilee in modern-day Israel from around 6 BC to 0 A.D., which stretched over three continents, from Europe to North Africa and the Middle East. Emperor Augustus was emperor, and Israel was under the control of King Herod and later his sons. The Jewish people were angry with Roman law for its cruelty and oppression. They expected a saviour or Messiah who would redeem them from persecution and restore the Kingdom of David. His disciples wrote stories about Christ's life a few decades after his death, around 50-150 AD. They constitute the New Testament in the Christian Bible. The four main narratives of his life or the Gospels, which mean good news, were written by the disciples or disciples of Jesus, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Angel Gabriel visits Mary

The gospels tell the story of a young woman named Mary, who lived in the little village of Nazareth when she was visited by an angel one evening. This is the angel Gabriel, the same angel written in the Jewish Bible that appeared to Abraham, the father of Judaism. Angel Gabriel said to Mary: Do not be afraid, Mary, for you, have found grace with God. Behold, thou shalt bear a son, and call him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31). It was a shock to Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph but was not yet married. She recognized that God had chosen her to be the birth mother of this particular kid and told the angel that she consented as a devoted servant of God. It was shortly discovered that she had given birth. Joseph was enraged and surprised when he learned about it, But, like Mary, he saw the angel in a dream and believed that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem

At that time, Rome forced citizens of its territories to travel to their home cities for a census to facilitate its ability to collect taxes from them. Joseph and Mary had to return to Bethlehem, where Joseph came from. It was a difficult and long journey, and Mary was very advanced in her pregnancy. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the city was so full of people for the census that there was no available place for them to stay. All the hostels turned away the poor couple. Finally, a nice innkeeper told Joseph and Mary that they could stay in his barn with the animals. That night Mary went to work, and the baby Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph wrapped the little newborn in diapers or warm blankets. But since they had no cradle, they placed Jesus in a feeder full of straw. It is important for Jesus' disciples that his birth was not a great luxury but a humble birth since Jesus did not represent powerful and wealthy kings but all humanity.

Shepherds and wise men are happy

The story says that neighbouring shepherds outside Bethlehem's hills noticed a bright star in the sky at Christ's birth. An angel appeared to the shepherds and told them that a baby would be born in Bethlehem, who would be the Messiah. It further claims that three wise men who studied the constellations in a place far to the east spotted the same dazzling star in the sky that they had never seen before. They believed that he could be a great new leader born. They followed the bright star to Bethlehem, where they met the child Jesus, bowed before him and honoured him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.

Christmas

The story of the birth of Christ is celebrated as one of the highest feasts for Christians. It is called Christmas and takes place on December 25 of each year. Christmas since then has become a celebration of God's love for humanity and the world. Celebrations include gift exchanges, charitable donations, Christmas tree decorations, participation in religious services and family celebrations. Santa Claus, Santa Claus, or Saint Nick, is a popular legend who, although not being a significant figure in Christianity, distributes Christmas Eve gifts to well-behaved children

The life and teachings of Jesus

According to the Bible, Mary and Joseph first fled to Egypt with their child to escape the persecution of King Herod. They then returned to Nazareth, raising Jesus in their Jewish faith. Joseph was a carpenter and taught his craft to his Son. Jesus also showed great wisdom and religious knowledge from a young age. He was a young man who discussed difficult issues with the rabbis and impressed them with his ideas.

John the Baptist baptizes Jesus

Elizabeth, Mary's cousin, also gave birth around the time of Jesus' birth. She called him John. Because Elizabeth was so old and unable to have children, it was regarded as a miracle. Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah believed that John was a gift from God. John became John the Baptist and was considered a prophet. When Jesus was 30, John the Baptist baptized him in the Jordan. John believed that Jesus was the Messiah or saviour that the prophecies proclaimed and preached to his disciples.

Jesus and His Apostles

Jesus retreated into the desert for 40 days to meditate and pray, and when he came back, he began to teach what he called the words of God about love, forgiveness and mercy. He travelled through Galilee preaching to the synagogues, in the streets, and in the village to anyone who would listen. Jesus had many disciples, among them 12 central disciples, also called the apostles, who travelled with him faithfully.