R Study of Christianity

Key terms (OOTIARSE)

• Omnipotent - God is all powerful

• Omnibenevolent - God is all loving

• The Trinity - The three forms of God; father, son, and holy ghost

• Incarnation - God in human form (Jesus)

• Atonement - Restoring the relationship between God and humans

• Resurrection - Jesus rising from the dead proving he is the son of God

• Sacraments - God given gifts of grace

• Evangelism - Spreading the Gospel with the intention of converting

God’s Omnipotence

• Belief - God is all powerful and there is nothing he cannot do

• Quote - "that I might show you that power"

• Example - Creating everything and enacting the flood

God’s Omnibenevolence

• Belief - God is all-loving, full of mercy and compassion

• Quote - "God is compassionate and slow to anger" [Psalm 86:15]

• Example - Sending his son so people could be forgiven and have eternal life

God as the Trinity

• Belief - God is one but is known in 3 different ways

• Quote - "I and the father are one" [John 10:30]

• Example - The resurrection and other miracles proved the incarnation was a form of God

The Inconsistent Triad

• Belief - God cannot be all powerful and all loving if evil and suffering still exists

• Quote - "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent" - Epicurus

• Example - Job was made to suffer despite faith and goodness

• Counter - Obstacles develop souls, God's intention is comprehendible

Order of Creation

1. Light and Dark

2. Sky and Waters

3. Land and Vegetation

4. Sun, moon and stars

5. Fish and Birds

6. Animals and Humans

7. Rest

Key quotes about creation

• "God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." Genesis 1:3

• "God created humankind in his image…male and female he created them" Genesis 1:27

• "God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good" Genesis 1:31

• "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over every living thing" Genesis 1:28

Literalist views on Creation

• God literally made the Universe by hand

• God's spirit moved across the waters

• Creation took place over 6 24-hour days

• Adam was formed from the dust of the Earth

• Eve was formed out of Adam's rib

Non-literalist views on Creation

 

Non-Literalist Views

• God created the natural processes that created the world

• There were 6 periods of creation, but not necessarily days

Jesus as the Incarnation

• Archangel Gabriel told the virgin Mary she were to have a baby and that the baby was to be named Jesus and that he would be the son of God

• One third of the trinity

• "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" John 1:14

Jesus and the Crucifixion

• Good Friday - Nailed to a wooden cross and left to die

• Way of forgiving all of humanity for their sins

• Ground shook

• Sky turned dark

• Sign hung near him that read "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews"

• A soldier pierced Jesus' side and both water and blood flowed out

• Matthew 27:28-50

Jesus’ Resurrection

• On Easter Sunday, two women went to open the tomb and found no body

• Then two angels appeared behind them and told them he had risen

• He then disguised himself before appearing to his disciples and then over 500 people

• Luke 24:1-9

Jesus’ Ascension

• 40 days later, he took his disciples out to the Mount of Olives

• He told them to "Make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20)

• He lifted his hands put to bless them and as he did, he lifted up into the sky

• They all bent down in worship and were full of joy

Beliefs about salvation

• Sacraments - Rites in which the Holy Spirit comes on believers and encourages faith

• Law - The law and rules by God that can be chosen to live in

• Holy Spirit - Sent by God to bring grace and help people live in faith away from sin

• Sin - Separates people from God and so requires salvation

• Other authority - Ministers, priests, church teachings, Holy Spirit and conscience can also lead to salvation

• Bible - Inspired, revelation, interpreted, literal, non-literal, symbolic

Beliefs/quotes about the Afterlife

• "…the righteous [those who respond to Jesus and those in need in the world] go to eternal life" (Matthew 25:46)

• "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die" (John 11:25)

• "…then they [who have not responded to Jesus or those in need in the world] will go away to eternal punishment" (Matthew 25:46)

• Catholics believe in a purgatory where souls are cleansed for heaven and prayers shorten their stay

Beliefs about Judgement

• Judgement day will judge people's quality of life (like in the Parable of the sheep and the goat)

• This is also when Jesus will return "The Parousia"

• There will be a bodily resurrection and human existence on Earth will end

• A new heaven and Earth will commence with no tears, sorrow, sin, or death

Beliefs about DOJ Resurrection

• Soul will go heaven to be with God for eternity

• "The trumpet of the Lord will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed" (1 Corinthians 15:52)

• "the perishable has been clothed with imperishable, and the mortal with immortality;… death has been swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

Beliefs about Heaven and Hell

• Heaven is for believers and those who have done good + eternal closeness with God + no more sorrow, sin, or death + some believe physical but others spiritual + referred to as a paradise (Luke 16)

• Hell is for non-believers and those who have lived lives of sin + eternal separation with God (Luke 16) + some believe physical but other spiritual + characterised by flames

Types of Worship

• Liturgical - Set structure with established rituals + Sunday and other holidays + quiet reflection with sermons and extracts read + usually by Catholic and Orthodox + eucharist held but only for baptised or christened

• Informal - No set structure + spontaneous charismatic and personal + Sundays and other days + open to everyone + speaking in tongues and raising arms in the air

• Individual - Saying of prayers or readings to self (PASTA) + done at an everyday convenience + done wherever the believer happen to be + often done with rosary beads

Sacraments

• Baptism - When believers are submerged either partially or fully in holy water

• Confirmation

• Eucharist - Consuming bread and wine to represent Jesus' blood and body

• Penance

• Anointing the Sick

• Holy Orders

• Marriage

Sacrament Study - Baptism

• Two forms - Believers (fully submerged when competent enough to choose) and Baby (dipped as baby on behalf of parents)

• Initiation into the Church and of children into their Christian family

• Indicates the removal of sin

• "Born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:3-6)

Sacrament Study - Eucharist

• Bread represents the body and wine represents the blood (of Jesus)

• Commerates the death of Jesus and the food eaten at the last supper

• Anglican and some Catholic = Eucharist

• Other Catholic = Mass

• Protestant = Communion

• Anglicans and Catholics have it every week but Protestants have it twice a month (all have it on special occasion)

• Eucharist means thanksgiving (for the life and death of Jesus and the Catholic Faith

• Some believe it actually is the blood and body = Transubstantiation

• Others believe it just represents the body = Consubstantiation

Pilgrimage 1 (W)

• Walsingham in Norfolk, England

• "House of our lady"

• 1061 - Richeldis de Favreches had a dream where the virgin Mary asked her to build a replica of her house in Nazareth

• She then travelled to Nazareth to get the measurements and came back and started building it

• After struggling to build it in a marshy area, legend says it was moved by angels who finished the project

• Commemorates the announcement of the birth of Jesus and creates a connection

• Daily prayer services + dedicated annual time to go where people walk slowly to the shrine (last mile barefoot) + sprinkling of the well service happens daily

Pilgrimage 2 (T)

• Roger Shultz founded Taizé in 1940

• Monks come together from many different traditions to focus on reconciling, resolving conflict, and promoting understanding and cooperation

• Young people go for: Curiosity, adventure, act of devotion, walking in footsteps of the faithful, act of atonement, act of supplication (asking God for something)

• Pilgrims join in monastic lifestyle with three daily prayers in the "Church of Reconciliation"

• Also done: private prayer, bible study groups, sharing communal tasks, music, and chants

Traditions of Christmas

• Celebrates the birth of Jesus

• Often done: Giving gifts (as the wise men did), performing the nativity story, Christingle decorations, dedicated church services, Advent candle that counts down the Sundays, Midnight mass on Christmas Eve, Carolling concerts, Eastern Orthodox may fast during advent

Traditions of Easter

• Celebrates the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus, and the forgiving of all of mankind's sins and the proof Jesus was the son of God

• Palm Sunday shows arrival - Purple altar cloth

• Maundy Thursday shows Last Supper and feet washing - Purple altar cloth

• Good Friday shows crucifixion - Black altar cloth

• Easter Sunday shows resurrection - White/Gold altar cloth

• Often done: Exchanging of eggs to symbolise new life, special church services, special coloured altar cloths on specific days, Easter cards given out, candles lit and moments of darkness in services to represent death and resurrection, crosses made of palm trees

• Preceded by 40 days of abstinence known as Lent

Christianity in Britain

• In 2001 to 2011 to 2021, Christianity has gradually decreased

• More and more people identify as no religion

• The second largest religion and still increasing is Islam

• Sunday trading laws made due to "Keep the Sabbath holy"

• Swearing in court and parliament traditionally done on a bible, but now any religious text can be used

• Christian hymns and readings performed in national events (E.g. Remembrance Day services)

• Some mark rites of passage despite not being Christian

Churches in Practise

• Direct faith uses: Sunday services, Holiday services, weddings, baptisms, Bible Study/Sunday school, prayer meetings, funerals

• Uses as a "branch": Foodbanks, informed groups, holiday clubs, meals for the homeless, meeting rooms, fitness classes, polling stations, emergency shelters

• Recent years have seen a decline in UK church attendance, due to televangelism meaning people can stay at home

• Evangelism has seen an increase, as people see it as more lively than liturgical services due to its non-structured and charismatic nature

Evangelism/Mission

• Sharing the good news with everyone

• Standing up on a platform and preaching

• Living a life of faith as a testimony to others

• Giving out leaflets of pamphlets with a clear Christian message

Christian charity trying to alleviate poverty

• Tearfund

• Gives help to those in poverty around the world

• Includes both short term relief after emergencies and long term support to eradicate poverty entirely

• Work in over 50 countries, mostly in Asia, Africa and South America

• Campaigns against the causes of poverty

• Does so to follow the teachings of Jesus

Christian Persecution

• Jesus himself was a martyr and warned others they would be too, like most of his disciples

• Many countries around the world still actively persecute Christians, like the governments of China and North Korea and the state-sponsored terrorists groups of Afghanistan

• Christians believe they have a divine calling to spread the good news, so continue and suffer regardless

• Charities like Open Doors smuggle bible across borders, give emergency support and campaign against such issues

The Ecumenical Movement

• Movement to promote unity of Christian denominations

• Aims to bring about co-operation through shared buildings, joint services and supporting common issues

• Holds various conferences and counsel meeting

• Led by the WCC

The World Council of Churches

• Works in 110 countries globally

• Aim to bring a common Christian witness and service globally

• Holds a week of prayer for Christian unity annually

• 'Churches Together in England' was later established

• Catholics are not members, but do take part in some events