Christianity

what do Christians mean by God the creator

• Christians believe God created the world ( in 6 days and rested on the 7th)

• we assume God exsisted before time (transcendent, beyond reality)

what do Christians mean by God the sustainer

• The living world relies on God for its continued existence

• Christians compare Gods role to that of a parents

• keeps things going

what does omnipotent mean

• all powerful

what does omniscient mean

All knowing

what does omnibenevolent mean

All loving

what does omnipresent mean

All present

Describe genesis one

The first chapter of the Bible that details the creation of the world by God in six days and the formation of humanity in His image → tells us how important humans are

Describe genesis two - three

Adam and Eve were created and lived in the Garden of Eden and had the first relationship of humanity, and the first sin to enter the world, which resulted in hardship for the rest of mankind. (hard labour, pain in childbirth, and separation from God.)

what does genesis 1 tell us

Tells us humans were made last → special → rule the world in God’s image

humans have domination over the world but have to keep order

what does genesis 2-3 tell us

• the realtionship between humanity and God

• Introducing the concept of sin, highlighting the consequences for human existence and exploring themes of temptation and disobedience.

• tells us about the position of humanity in the world

what are liberal christians

Christians who believe that the story is symbolic → it may not of happened exactly as it is written in the bible but they believe the meaning of the story is more important

What are literal Christians

Christians who interpret the Bible as a factual and historical account, believing that the events described happened exactly as written.

how does literalist and liberalists interpret genesis 1

• literals: interpret the creation story as a literal event, believing the world was created in 6 24-hour periods as described. However, some believe that this took 10,000 years (old earth creationists)

• liberals: view the account as metaphorical, emphasising the theological messages rather than the factual sequence of events.

how does literalist and liberalists interpret genesis 2-3

• literals: interpret the stories of Adam and Eve as literal historical events, believing in the actual existence of these figures and the consequences of their actions.

• liberals: see these narratives as allegorical representations of human nature and relationships with God, focusing on moral lessons rather than literal events.

What is meant by morality

• The ability to know right from wrong → 10 commandments

• principles and standards that determine actions

what is a soul

• the unseen spiritual part of a person

• Some believe there is a bodily resurrection whilst others believe our soul leaves to be with God

what is our fallen nature

• we are born to carry the sin of Adam and Eve, getting baptised at birth washes us from that sin

• Humans tend to disobey God

what is ex nihilo

from nothing

what is ec materia

from something

What is rationality

• the ability to think logically and make decisions based on reason and evidence.

• God planned and well-ordered the universe in which logical rules were applied

• we share his ability to understand, think and remember

What is free will

• the ability to do whatever we want

• bible repeats this multiple times

what is the image of God

• the theological concept that humans were created in God's likeness, embodying rationality, morality, and creativity.

• the idea that we behave like, not look like

• being made in Gods image means we are different from the rest of creation

describe The Father

• The relationship God had with creation

• Father of everything

• Being Christian makes you a child of God

describe the Son

• Jesus is regarded as God’s son and God as well.

• He was there before he was made human (Genesis)

• showed his godliness through the action of miracles

Describe the holy spirit

• Closely associated with Jesus birth and baptism

• Normally symbolised as a dove (when Jesus was baptised, the bible said the holy spirit was present)

• The holy spirit is what interacts with the world today.

• The holy spirit was given by Jesus to the world.

• shown as a dove

• Nine gifts: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Describe the structure of the holy spirit

• God is the holy spirit, the father, and the son.

• the father is not the holy spirit or the son

• the son is not the father or the holy spirit

• the holy spirit is not the father or the son

what does incarnation mean

‘in flesh’ - Jesus is God

What does messiah mean

Anointed one - leader of Jews, chosen to lead and save the people, often associated with Jesus in Christianity.

• killed for the sins of humanity

• born by a virgin

what does saviour mean

A person who saves others, particularly in a religious context, referring to Jesus Christ as the one who redeems humanity from sin.

what does atonement mean

The death of Jesus heals the rift between God and humanity caused by sin, allowing for reconciliation and forgiveness.

What is the word

• words link humans to each other, Jesus links humans to God

give a brief understanding of Jesus’ birth

• born by a virgin

• Magi visit

• - herod tries to kill

• fulfilled prophecy

• born in Bethlehem

Describe Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1:18-2:12

• Matthew is emphasizing Jesus’ divine nature as the Son of God, his birth is honourable and respectable

• married parents, born in a house, visited by important people who came bearing gifts

• King Herod was jealous of newborn king, so he asked mystics to report to him about it

• Jesus’ gifts were gold (royalty), frankincense (burnt at religious ceremonies for the priesthood) and myrrh (embalm dead bodies)

Describe jesus’ birth in Luke 1.1-20

• joseph and Mary weren’t married

• Joseph and Mary were betrothed but not yet married at the time of Jesus' conception.

• The angel Gabriel announces the birth to Mary, explaining the miraculous nature of her pregnancy.

• The romans were planning a census of the Jewish population

• Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem, as there was no room in the inn.

• Shepards were visited by an angel and told about jess and to spread the word, they followed the north star to jesus’ manger

briefly describe Jesus’ death

• four separate trials

• crucified on a cross

• resurrected on the third day

• fulfilled the atonement for sin

describe Jesus’ death and resurrection

• Judas told people Jesus was the messiah, therefore a threat to the power, resulting in his arrest.

• Jesus faced four trials before his crucifixion (first by Jewish leaders, then Pontius Pilate, then King Herod, then back to Pontius Pilate), where he was sentenced to death. He was crucified on a cross that which he had to carry, died, and was buried. On the third day, he resurrected, demonstrating victory over sin and death, and fulfilling the prophecy of atonement for humanity.