Modulo
Giving Life Meaning
Module 4 - Our Response
4/0 Introduction
Logo, Pile of Cubes 4
.Picture, Ancient & Modern Man Introduction
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Module 1 looked at how God made himself known, gave us his rules for living in society, and how early people found it impossible to keep them. Module 2 showed what God did to help us understand and apply the rules (came himself in the form of Jesus) and how he put right our relationship with God that is spoilt by our disobedience (sin). Module 3 revealed how his disciples spread Jesus’ teaching out into the world.

This Module 4 now looks at how the creation of the church and its inter-relation with the State which helped incorporate those rules into everyday life, giving meaning to our life today.
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          Module 4 Index
    4/0  Introduction (this page)
    4/1  The Church is Created
    4/2  The Church Expands
    4/3  Christianity in Europe
    4/4  In Britain and Ireland
    4/5  Control, Corruption & Reform
    4/6  Modern Era
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.Picture, Early Church Gathering Module 4/1 – The Church is Created
From the ‘Small Beginnings’ begun by the Apostles, the Christian Church they created has to stand on its own, and after initial persecution, becomes the State Church of the Roman Empire. (Return to top)
  • ‘The Church Fathers’, scholarly thinking works out what to believe, and defines that in ‘The Nicene Creed’.
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Picture, Hagia Sophia Church. Module 4/2 – The Church Expands
The church develops and Ecumenical Councils address false belief (heresy). The Roman Empire splits into two, the East flourishing whilst the west Declines and Falls. As a result, political re alignment brings expansion and the inter-relationship of church and state. (Return to top)
  • In the meantime, a deeply spiritual man in Saudi Arabia (Mohamed) has ‘revelations’ leading to the creation of an alternative faith, Islam, that will threaten Christianity.
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.Picture, Charlemagne Module 4/3 – Christianity in Europe
The Holy Roman Empire unites much of Europe in both politics and religion, but the church in the West and East now splits (‘The Great Schism’). The church’s influence grows, but becomes corrupted and is threatened by Islam moving into Europe, countered by ‘Crusades’. (Return to top)
  • The heads of the church (the Pope and the Patriarch) have to work within a relationship with the heads of State, so church and politics become further inter-related.
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.Picture, Viking Britain Module 4/4 – In Britain and Ireland
Some Roman occupiers were Christian but Christianity largely disappears when the Romans leave the islands. It’s re-established through the work of several monks and saints but is threated by the invasion of pagan Vikings. (Return to top)
  • Christian principles to a greater or lesser guide the kings over the next 1,000 years as the kingdom develops.
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.Picture, Inquisition Rack Module 4/5 – Control, Corruption & Reform
The leaders of both the State and the Church develop ways of forcing their will on people. Islam defeats the Eastern Empire causing Greek scholars to flee to the west; they bring their knowledge and ancient items with them which helps produce renewal of ideas. (Return to top)
  • People begin protesting at the church’s corruption and non-Biblical teaching which results in reform and a split into Catholic & new ‘Protestants’.
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.Picture, Modern Church Module 4/6 – Modern Era
This Module is still under construction (Return to top)