The Christian Life in the Society: a Case Study of Early Believers
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of the study:
- To ascertain the impact of the Christian life on the society.
- To promote Bible literacy in the family, society and our educational system.
- To examine if there is any significant role the early believers’ faith have in the lives of Christians in our society today.
- To encourage the influence of Jesus on art, music, and literature.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The Early Christian Church through the Middle Ages
Rodney Stark (1997) has done an excellent analysis of how early Christianity arose and triumphed in the Roman world. Among the contributions he first noted was the Christian redefinition of disease. Many non-Christian religions defined disease as a result of a curse of God. This view was exemplified by the words of Jesus’ disciples when they asked him what sin a blind man (or his parents) had committed (John 9:1-3). Jesus made it clear that disease was not necessarily the result of individual behavior, but rather just a part of living in the world. His healing ministry had an enormous impact on how his followers behaved. Stark (1997) argues that Christians played a major role in changing how the Roman world not only defined illness but how the sick were treated. Matthew 25:35-40 presents a final judgment motif not in terms of doctrine but in terms of social justice. This judgment story provided a strong impetus for Christian social action in the Roman world. There is evidence that early Christians, rather than abandoning the sick during epidemic periods, stayed in the community and cared for the sick. They not only defined illness differently but saw carrying for the sick as sacerdotal (as making them holy) or at least following in the example of Christ. This resulted in what was to become a religious order of the hospitalars (which cared for sick pilgrims) to the modern faith based health care system. In fact, hôtel-Dieu, one of the old French terms for hospital, means “hostel of God” (Wikipedia, 2006). This attitude toward the sick and healing the sick dramatically changed Western culture in its fundamental attitude toward disease and how the sick were treated. While much has been made about the tensions between feminist views and Christian Theology, one of the most interesting aspects of Christianity is that demographically, although not administratively, it is a religion practiced primarily by females. Surveys show females are significantly more likely to attend church than males and that the majority of those attending services in any given week are female (Association of Religion Data Archives, 2006). A part of this may be inherent in how Jesus treated women. The story of Martha and Mary suggests that Jesus was very comfortable with women being a part of theological teaching and discourse (Luke 11:38- 42).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the Christian life in the society: A case study of early believers
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the Christian life in the society: a case study of early believers
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of the Christian life in the society: a case study of early believers
5.2 Summary
This study was on the Christian life in the society: a case study of early believers. Four objectives were raised which included: To ascertain the impact of the Christian life on the society, to promote Bible literacy in the family, society and our educational system, to examine if there is any significant role the early believers’ faith have in the lives of Christians in our society today and to encourage the influence of Jesus on art, music, and literature. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 members of selected churches in Oyo state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up pastors, deacons, female members and male members was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
In the early period it was perhaps the practice of avowed virginity that was the most marked sign of this freedom of decision and differentiation against authorities for the sake of a yet higher authority. But in relation to all earthly societies, the exercise of freedom thus conceived remains vital to Christian self-understanding, just because the ordered and differentiated society of the city that God intends is not to be identified with the imperfect societies of other cities that recognize other authorities or none.
Recommendation
In today’s world, an important challenge for all people of faith is to learn about religions different from their own. Meeting that challenge may be the surest path to peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths
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