Decoding Christianity

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5 Technical Specs
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[edit] General Information

Culture Documentary hosted by Christy Kenneally, published by Smithsonian Channel in 2008 - English narration

[edit] Cover

[edit] Information

In each episode, the presenter, Christy Kenneally begins by posing a key question that is fundamental to our understanding of Christianity. He then sets out to find the answer to this question, investigating and decoding the signs, symbols, iconography, myths and miracles of Christianity. He seeks out the sources that hold the key to understanding our initial question and thus comes closer to decoding Christianity itself. Over six episodes, the presenters quest takes him to far-flung corners of the earth: from the primitive frescos in the catacombs of Rome, to the massive, colourful pilgrimage at Kulubi in Ethiopia, to the extraordinary Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, we are taken on a journey into Christianity in all its fascinating and colourful manifestations.

[edit] Flesh and Blood

Christianity, says Decoding Christianity host Christy Kenneally, is not for the faint-hearted. Why do vivid images depicting the torment of Jesus Christ and the Christian martyrs play such an important role in Christian art? In this episode, Kenneally attempts to decode the powerful symbolism of the crucifixion and the Christian fascination with physical suffering. His journey takes him from a church in Dublin, Ireland that claims to hold the remains of the martyred St. Valentine, to Pampagna in the Philippines, where devout believers seek salvation by enduring crucifixion.

[edit] Damned and Saved

Where do we go when we die? What happens to the soul on its final journey? Because the Bible offers little detail about either Heaven or Hell, Christian artists and writers have filled in the gaps. In this episode of Decoding Christianity, host Christy Kenneally reveals how the idea of the afterlife has evolved through the centuries. He investigates the Christian concept of Original Sin, explains where the notions of Limbo and Purgatory neither of which appears in the Bible came from, and contemplates the powerful hold that visions of Hell and the Last Judgment have had upon the artistic imagination.

[edit] Angels

More than three-quarters of North Americans believe in angels. But what are angels, and where do they come from? In this episode of Decoding Christianity, host Christy Kenneally considers the many ways in which artists have portrayed angels over the centuries. He ventures into the catacombs of Rome to find one of the earliest depictions of a Christian angel, learns how angels got their wings, and ponders the dark side of angels. Finally, he takes a look at the present-day angel industry, traveling to Reno, Nevada to meet a woman who claims to be a channel for the Archangel Michael.

[edit] Secrecy Symbols and Mystery

Why is Christianity so steeped in symbols? In this episode of Decoding Christianity, host Christy Kenneally asks how the faith developed such a rich symbolic language. He revisits Christianitys origins as a persecuted underground movement, and explains how early followers used secret signs to identify themselves to one another. He also discovers how the cross went from a symbol of shame to a powerful and glorious image, and reveals the importance of mystery to Christian practice.

[edit] Miracles

What is a miracle? In this episode of Decoding Christianity, host Christy Kenneally asks why, even today, people all over the world quest after miracles. He considers one of the earliest and most significant of miracles Constantines vision on the Milvian Bridge in the 4th century and investigates the connection between saints and miracles, joining pilgrims on their journeys to the sites of miraculous happenings from Ethiopia to Wales.

[edit] A Faith Divided

In the 11th century, Christianity split into the Eastern Orthodox and Western Churches. In the 16th century, Western Christianity divided into Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. Why did these great divisions take place? In this final episode of Decoding Christianity, host Christy Kenneally examines the causes and impact of the Great Schism and the Reformation, and ponders the possibility of reconciliation between Christianitys Western and Eastern traditions.

[edit] Screenshots

[edit] Technical Specs

Video Codec: x264 ,AVC-1
Video Bitrate: CRF 20
Video Resolution: 1280x720
Video Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Audio Codec: AC3
Audio BitRate: 192 kbps
Audio Streams: 2.0
Audio Languages: English
RunTime Per Part: 46 min
Number Of Parts: 6
Part Size: ~1.3 GB
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