Monotheism
Belief in one God
Omnipotence
The quality of God having great power
Omnibenevolence
The quality of God being perfectly good and all-loving
Agape
Deep and profound sacrificial love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance
Justice
The quality of being guided by truth, reason and fairness
Triune
Three in one
The Father
The creator, upholder and transcendent
The Son
The immanent, both fully divine and fully divine, messiah
The Holy Spirit
A source of strength, courage and wisdom still present in the world today
Genesis 1
God created the Earth over six days (and one day of rest) before leaving stewardship to humans
Genesis 2
Similar to Genesis 1 but man was created before animals and woman was created from man’s rib before man was commanded to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge
Genesis 3
Woman was tempted by a serpent to eat fruit from the Tree, sharing with man, before they realise their nakedness and are cast out from the Garden of Eden
Fundamentalism
Strict belief in the literal interpretation of the Bible as it is the direct word of God, which is never mistaken
Conservatism
The Bible was not written by God but the writers of the Bible were inspired by God's actions, thus Genesis 1 is interpreted as fact but each day was millions or billions of years
Liberalism
The Bible is interpreted metaphorically and will have contradictions within it as it was written by humans and so is imperfect
Incarnation
The doctrine that the Son assumed human form in the person of Jesus Christ and is completely both God and man
Crucifixion
The death of Jesus upon the Cross
Resurrection
The rising of Christ after His death and burial
Ascension
The bodily ascending of Christ from earth to heaven
Sin
Transgression of divine law
Salvation
Deliverance from the power and penalty of sin
Law
A commandment or a revelation from God
Works
The deeds of a person, especially virtuous or moral deeds performed as religious acts
Grace and spirit
The influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them, achieved through faith
Monism
The doctrine that denies the existence of a distinction between body and soul
Dualism
The doctrine that a human being embodies two parts - body and soul
Resurrection of the body
The Rising of the Dead on Judgement Day
Immortality of the soul
The soul is an immaterial substance and thus is not subject to the decomposition of material things; hence, it is immortal - most dualists agree that the soul is identical to the mind (the faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge’s power or ability), yet different from the brain (the part of the central nervous system that controls and coordinates mental and physical actions)
Purgatory
A place in which the souls of those dying penitent are purified from venial sins, or undergo the temporal punishment that, after the guilt of mortal sin has been remitted, remains to be endured by the sinner
Heaven
The abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death
Hell
The abode of evil and condemned spirits
Exclusivism
The doctrine that only one particular religion is true
Inclusivism
The doctrine that there is beauty in the variety of different schools of thoughts and that they can live together in harmony
Pluralism
The doctrine that the desire for God and salvation is not restricted to any one religion
Liturgical worship
A particular, set arrangement of services
Non-liturgical worship
Informal, less-structured services
Adoration
The act of paying honour to God
Confession
Acknowledgment or disclosure of sin or sinfulness
Thanksgiving
The act of giving grateful acknowledgement of benefits or favours to God
Supplication
An act or instance of a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, to God
Intercession
A prayer to God on behalf of another
Set prayer
Prayers that follow a certain format and are repeated
Informal prayer
Prayers that do not follow a set script and are instead expressed in a way that feels personal to the individual
Sacrament
A visible sign of an inward grace
Baptism
A ceremonial immersion in or application of water, as an initiatory rite of the Christian church, purifying thought and character
Eucharist
The commemoration of the Last Supper (the supper of Jesus and His disciples on the eve of His Crucifixion)
Transubstantiation
The changing of the elements of the bread and wine, when they are dedicated to the service of the Eucharist, into the body and blood of Christ (Roman Catholic Church)
Pilgrimage
A journey made to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion
Ecumenical
A movement aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organisations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern
Miracle
An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers, therefore is unexplainable by science, and is ascribed to a supernatural cause
Christmas
The annual Christian festival in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ
Easter
The annual Christian festival in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Church
The whole body of Christian believers
Persecution
A campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate people based on their membership in a religious, ethnic, social, or racial group
Reconciliation
An act of becoming amicable, as when former enemies agree to a peaceable truce
Mission
A series of special religious services for increasing religious devotion and converting unbelievers via negotiations, establishing relations, providing scientific and technical assistance, etc.
Evangelism
The preaching or promulgation of the gospel by an itinerant or special preacher
Convert
One who has adopted a different religion or beliefs
Disciple
One who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another