Christian Studies Year 9: Messages from the Memory Banks
Unit 2: From Honest Beginnings
Requirements:
Video - Messages from the Memory Banks. Session #2 From Honest Beginnings (18 min.)
Booklet 'Messages from the Memory Banks' (in .zip format)
Main Question
Were the writers telling us the truth in the first place?
Sub-questions
What do we mean by telling the truth?
How do different types of truth come together?
How do we know reporting is accurate and truthful?
What about reports from 'the opposition'?
What evidence do we have from other sources (corroborating evidence)?
What is the significance of eyewitnesses?
Activity: Media Investigation
Select or make up a local event. Organise people into different groups to present an account of the story from a different viewpoint.
Example. To celebrate the completion of the foreshore redevelopment, music group 'The Rolling Stones' come to Geraldton and perform a live concert at the local beach. The concert is attended by over 1000 people. 2 young people are arrested for disorderly behaviour and an old man from the local caravan park just down the road rings the police at 9.30pm complaining that he is having trouble sleeping.
Groups present different reports from the event
1. The Geraldton Grabber Newspaper, doesn't like young people and has been running stories about how we need stronger laws to stop disorderly behaviour in public places.
2. The Mid-West Tinker has been running stories about how the restoration of the local beach is good for the community, and will stimulate the local economy.
3. The West Aussie Paper runs a story on how such a world famous band came and took a small country town by storm.
4. The Rolling Bone Magazine thinks that the Rolling Stones are a mob of old desperate men who don't sound like they used to, who will go anywhere to get some decent press coverage in some local newspaper.
5. The Sedentary Senior Newsletter is full of stories that complain that thing's aren't what they used to be.
6. A member of the school community had a back stage pass and interviewed a member of the band for the school newsletter.
7. A reporter from the Australian has been following the band's tour. This concert has been marred by riots during the concerts and large numbers of arrests, sometimes totalling 10% of the audience. The reporter considers that Geraldton took a risk having a band whose followers always cause trouble, but was impressed by the behaviour people in Geraldton at the concert.
The Video
Before starting the video, consider and discuss the first question
What is meant when we say that someone (or thing) is telling the truth?
� Do they describe something accurately? Do they help us understand something? Do they help our conduct in a positive manner?
� The truth may be 'scientifically' factual, or a statement of belief or experience honestly held.
� We can express different types of truth in different ways
From Honest Beginnings
How do different types of truth come together?
� Through the action and conduct of people involved or present at the time. The type of person affects the type of truth conveyed. i.e. Sports Referee, Press information, Coach, Police Report
How do we know if reporting is accurate and truthful?
� Details are verifiable from sources on different sides
� Important aspects back each other up
� The information can be checked out against other sources
What are some of our other sources of information?
The Talmud
� These are official sayings of Jewish religious leaders
They tell us about
� The disciples (5)
� Jesus' miracles/ sorcery
� Death on eve of passover
Josephus
� History of the Jewish Nation
He tells us about
� John the Baptist
� James, brother of Jesus (Called the Christ)
� Miracle worker
� Impact on Jews and Gentiles
� Death under Pilate
� Founder of Christians
So we have 2 sources who were
� Close to the same place at the same time
But were
� Not on Jesus' side
For the Old Testament we have
� Stone tablets telling of historical events in the Bible from different sources
Examples of Early Symbols
� Chi Rho - CH R - the first 3 letters of Christ
c r
� Ichthus
o Iesous Jesus
o Christos Christ
o Theou God
o Uios Son
o Soter Saviour
From the early Christians we have secret symbols they created because
� They had to worship in secret
We can track various historical records that show the expansion of Christianity
� AD 49 Suetonius, biographer of 1st Twelve Roman Emperors wrote in 120 ad that Claudius expelled Jews from Rome after disturbances thought to be started by Christians.
� AD 64 Taticus, official historian of Rome records that Nero tried to pin the blame on Christians for the great fire of Rome
� AD 79 Volcano at Pompeii erupts fossilising everything in its path, including a range of Christian symbols.
� AD 112 Pliny, Governor of Bythinia (Turkey) writes to Rome about Christians refusing to worship the Emperor.
� AD 300 Evidence of Christians in Britain
The importance of eyewitnesses
We know that much of the New Testament was in circulation while many eyewitnesses were still alive. So when he writes
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Paul is saying that
� If you want to check what I am saying, go ask someone who was there.
In Conclusion
If the Bible has been passed down accurately and we can rely on its writers to report truthfully, then . . .
� We have a record of some important information that has been inspired by God that will have an impact on our lives.
