christianity key vocab

ascension

• event 40 days after the resurrection

• when Jesus returned to glory in heaven

atonement

• belief that reconciliation between God and humanity

• was brought about by

• the death of Jesus as a sacrifice

baptism

• sacrament through which people become members of the Church

• it involves the use of water as a symbol of the washing away of sin

believer’s baptism

• initiation into the Church by immersion in water

• of people old enough to understand the rite

• and who have made the decision to live a Christian life

bible

• source of wisdom authority

• holy book containing both the Old and New Testaments

catholic

• Christian Church

• which is led by the Pope

CAFOD

• Christian charity

• that provides emergency and long-term aid

• to the developing world

Christian Aid

• Christian charity

• that provides emergency and long-term aid

• to the developing world

christmas

• festival/celebration

• to remember

• the birth of Jesus

consubstantiation

• process where

• in the eucharist

• where the bread and blood

• is spiritually transformed

• into the body and blood of Christ

creation

• bringing the world into existence

• the belief that the world is God’s beloved creation

crucifixion

• death of Jesus

• form of death penalty used by the Romans

easter

• festival/celebration of the resurrection of Jesus

• easter season ends with Pentecost which remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit to earth following the ascension of Jesus

eucharist

• sacrament

• in which death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated

• using bread and wine

evangelism

• preaching the gospel

• to convert people

• to Christianity

the Father

• first Person of the Trinity

• belief in God as the creator and sustainer of the universe

gospel

good news about God

grace

• unconditional and generous love

• that God shows to people

• who do not deserve it

heaven

• belief that after death

• Christians can enter a state if being

• with God for eternity

hell

• belief in a place of eternal suffering

• or a state after death of being in separation from God

holy spirit

• the third Person of the Trinity

• believed to be present with believers since Pentecost

• immanent

incarnation

• belief that God took on human form

• in the person of Jesus

infant baptism

• sacrament of initiation

• of babies and young children

• into the Church

informal prayer

• spontaneous prayers

• spoken from the heart

• which are personal and unique

• to the person/people at the time

Iona

• place of pilgrimage

• founded by St Columba

• in the 4th century

Jesus

• believed by Christians to be the Son of God

• 1st century Jewish teacher living and travelling in Palestine/Israel

judgement

• belief that God will decide whether each person

• should receive eternal life or eternal punishment

• based on their earthly life

just

• fair or equal treatment, a state of justice

• belief about the nature of God as treating all people justly

liturgical worship

• church service

• which follows

• a set structure or ritual

law

• rules or commands

• which must be followed

• the law of God is revealed in the Bible

Lourdes

• place of pilgrimage

• where the Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette

• in a series of visions

• place where miraculous healings are claimed to have take place

Lord’s prayer

• prayer taught by the disciples of Jesus

• widely said by Christians

• in both church services and privately

mission

• duty of Christians

• to spread the gospel

non-liturgical worship

• service which doesn’t follow

• a set text or ritual

• sometimes spontaneous or charismatic

omnipotent

belief God is all-powerful

oneness of God

belief that God is one singular divine being

Original Sin

• belief that human nature is flawed

• and that all humans have the tendency to sin

• traditional belief held by some Christians

• that Original Sin came from Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit

• as recorded in Genesis 3

orthodox

• denomination/tradition of the Church

• popular in some parts of eastern Europe

persecution

• facing hostility and ill-treatment

• some Christians face persecution for practising their faith

pilgrimage

• religious journey

• to a holy site

• or sacred place

• it’s an act of worship and devotion to complete it

prayer

• communicating with God

• through words of praise, thanksgiving, confession or requests for help/guidance

• listening to and speaking to God

private worship

• believer giving God

• praise and worship

• on their own

Protestant

• Christian denominations

• in which authority is based on the Bible

• rather than Church tradition/teaching

reconciliation

• rebuilding relationships

• between 2 groups/sides

• after disagreement

resurrection

• event 3 days after the crucifixion

• when it is believed that God raised Jesus from the dead

• form that many Christians believe the afterlife will take

• through either physical or spiritual bodies

sacrament

• outward and visible sign

• of an invisible and spiritual grace

salvation

• belief that through God’s grace

• Jesus’ death and resurrection

• brought about salvation for humanity

• saving humanity’s souls

• allowing them to be able to enter eternal life in heaven

set prayers

• prayers written throughout the centuries

• which many Christians worldwide use

sin

• behaviour which is against God’s laws and wishes

• and against Christian principles of morality

the Son (of God)

• second Person of the Trinity

• Jesus

• believed to be God incarnate

• shows the special relationship between Jesus and God

street pastors

• Christian organisation

• involving people working

• on city streets

• giving care to those who need it

suffering

• effect of evil

• undergoing pain and hardship

Tearfund

• Christian charity

• that provides emergency and long-term aid

• to the developing world

transubstantiation

• process where

• bread and wine

• in the eucharist

• are physically-transformed

• into the body and blood of Jesus

trinity

• belief that God as One

• includes God being manifested in three Persons

• the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

word

• in the Bible, John 1 describes God creating the world through his eternal Word

• links eternal Word to Jesus in the statement

• “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14)

worship

• showing adoration and reverence

• offering praise to God