AQA GCSE Religious Studies A - Christian beliefs and teachings

what are the three main Christian traditions

Catholic - based in Rome, led by Pope

Orthodox - split from Catholic Christianity

Protestant - split from Catholic Christianity and branched out into different denominations

what do Christians believe about God

there is only one God - "We believe in one God." - The Nicene Creed

- God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists

- God works throughout history and inspires people to do God's will

- people can have a relationship with God through prayer

- God is a spirit (neither male or female)

- God is HOLY

- Jesus is God's son - representation of God on earth

what does Christianity being a "monotheistic" religion mean

Christians believe in one Supreme Being, God

what are the qualities of God

- Omnipotent (all powerful) (unlimited authority)

- Benevolent (uses his power for good, showed his love by sending God's Son, Jesus, to earth)

- Just (never support injustice etc.)

how does evil and suffering challenge belief in the qualities of God

- benevolent: why does God allow people to suffer, and to hurt others?

- omnipotent: why does God not prevent evil and suffering, such as the suffering caused by natural disasters?

- just: why does God allow injustice to take place?

why do Christians trust God even when things seem to go wrong

Christians believe a just God treats people fairly

what is "The Trinity"

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

- there are three persons in the one God

- God is understood by Christians as a relationship of love between the three persons

- each person of the Trinity is FULLY God

- the persons of the Trinity are NOT the SAME

how does the Apostles Creed and/or Nicene Creed (statements of belief) relate to the Trinity

"the Father Almighty"

"the Son"

"the Holy Spirit"

describe God the Father

- creator of all life, acts as a good father towards his children

- all-powerful (omnipotent), all-loving (omnibenevolent), all knowing (omniscient), present everywhere (omnipresent)

describe God the Holy Spirit

UNSEEN power of God at work in the world, who influences, guides and sustains life on earth

describe God the Son

- became the incarnate through the Jesus who was both fully human while on earth and fully God (divine) at all times

- Jesus is called the Son of God to show his special relationship to God the Father

- personal and understands human suffering

all-powerful is also known as (God the Father)...

omnipotent

all-loving is also known as (God the Father)...

omnibenevolent

all-knowing is also known as (God the Father)...

omniscient

present everywhere is also known as (God the Father)...

omnipresent

what is the creation story of Genesis 1:1-3

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light." - Genesis 1:1-3

what do Christians believe about the story of creation: Genesis

- many believe that the story, while not scientifically accurate, contains religious truth

- some believe that God made the world in literally six days

- God created everything out of choice and created everything "good"

- believe that God continues to create new life today

- although God the Father is referred to as the creator, the Holy Spirit WAS ACTIVE in the creation

what is the creation story of John 1:1-3

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." - John 1:1-3

what do Christians believe about the story of creation: John

- in John's gospel, everything was created through the Word, who was both with God and was God

- the Word refers to the Son of God who entered history as Jesus

- they believe that the Son of God (the Word of God), was involved in the creation

what shows that the Trinity existed from the beginning

Genesis - Holy Spirit was active

John - The Word (God the Son or Jesus) was active

explain the "incarnation"

Christians believe Jesus was God in human form. Mary was a virgin, and Joseph can't have been the natural father, instead, Jesus' conception was through the Holy Spirit, so God. becoming flesh, taking a human form

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

"The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." - Luke 1:35

scripture related to the incarnation

"This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 1:18

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

describe the Son of God, Messiah, Christ

- Jesus was fully God and fully human, helps to explain his miracles and resurrection

- Christians believe that Jesus is messiah, but a spiritual rather than a political one

- Jesus warned his disciples not to use the term Christ (as his opponents would have him arrested for blasphemy)

why do Jesus' words, deeds and promises have great authority

because they are the word of God

what happened during Jesus' crucifixion

Jesus was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate (fixed to a cross) - "crucify him" Mark 15:13

- he suffered pain and horror because he was not only fully God, but also fully human

- a Roman centurion acknowledged Jesus was innocent, and said he was the Son of God

- the Roman guards made sure Jesus was dead

- Joseph of Arimathea was permitted to bury Jesus in a cave-like tomb, rolling a large stone to block the entrace

- Jesus' burial was rushed because the Sabbath was about to begin

what were Jesus' last words before dying

"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." - Luke 23:46

why is Jesus' crucifixion important

- his sacrifice on the cross gives Christian's hope that their sins will be forgiven if they sincerely repent

- Christians believe that God understands human suffering because Jesus, who is God, experienced it

- Christians accept that suffering is a part of life, just as it was a part of Jesus' life

what happened during the resurrection of Jesus

- on Sunday morning, some of Jesus' female followers, including Mary, visited the tomb to anoint Jesus' body

- Jesus' body wasn't there

- either a man or two men, who could have been angels, told the women to spread the news that Jesus had risen from the dead

- over the next few days, Jesus appeared to several people including Mary and his disciples. told them he had risen from the dead

what scripture shows that Christianity would not exist without the resurrection

"And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead... For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." - 1 Corinthians 15:14, 20, 22

what is the significance of the resurrection

- shows the power of good over evil and life over death

- means Christians' sins will be forgiven if they follow God's laws

- means Christians will be resurrected if they accept Jesus, so there is no need to fear death

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

what happened during the ascension of Jesus

after meeting with his disciples and asking them to carry on his work, Jesus left them for the last time (40 days after his resurrection), returning to the Father in heaven

"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven." - Luke 24:51

what is the significance of the ascension

- shows Jesus is with God in heaven

- paves way for God to send the Holy Spirit to provide comfort and guidance

what different views about resurrection do Christians have

- some Christians believe a person's soul is resurrected SOON after death

- other Christians believe the dead will be resurrected at some time in the FUTURE, when Jesus will return to judge everyone who has ever lived

- Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe in bodily resurrection. means resurrection is BOTH spiritual and physical: physical body lost at death is restored and transformed into a new, spiritual body

- some other Christians believe resurrection will JUST be spiritual, not physical as well

scripture relating to resurrection and life after death

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 - explains some of the differences between a living body and a resurrected body

what does the belief in resurrection do to a Christian

- means life after death is real

- gives hope of a future life with Jesus

- gives confidence in the face of death

- shows Christians how much God loves them

- inspires Christians to live life in the way God wants them to, so they can remain in his presence in this life and the next

what do many Christians believe about life after death (the afterlife)

- they'll be resurrected and receive eternal life after they die

- this is a GIFT from God, and dependant on faith in God

- they will be JUDGED by God at some point after they die, and either rewarded by being sent to heaven or punished by being sent to hell

- the judgement will happen either very soon after death or ON the Day of Judgement (the world will end and Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead)

where are beliefs about the afterlife found and what is the scripture

the Apostles' Creed

"He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in... the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting." - The Apostles' Creed

what are beliefs about judgement (Day of Judgement)

- after a person dies, God will judge them on their behaviour and actions during their lifetime, as well as their faith in Jesus as God's son

- Jesus' parable of the Sheep and the Goats describes how God will judge people. it teaches Christians that in serving others, they are serving Jesus, so is a way they should live their lives

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." - Matthew 25:35-36

what did Jesus tell his disciples before he died

before he died, he told them that he would prepare a place for them in heaven with God. he made it clear that having faith in him and following his teachings was essential for being able to enter heaven when he said:

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

what happens after God's judgement

- Christians believe they will either experience eternal happiness in the presence of God (heaven), or be unable to experience God's presence (hell)

- Catholics believe some people might enter an intermediate state, called PURGATORY, before they enter heaven

- knowledge of these states is limited and linked to imagery from the past

describe heaven

- thought to be either a physical place or a spiritual state of peace, joy, freedom from pain and a change to be with loved ones

Christians have different views about who is allowed into heaven:

- only Christians

- Christians and other religious people who have pleased God by living good lives

- baptised Christians, regardless of how they lived their lives

many Christians believe heaven is a reward for both FAITH and ACTIONS (Sheep and the Goats shows this)

what is purgatory

an intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven. a CATHOLIC belief

describe hell

- the opposite of heaven, state of existence WITHOUT God

- many people question whether a loving God would condemn people to eternal torment and pain in hell (with Satan)

- Christians who believe God wouldn't do this see hell as an eternal state of mind of being cut off from the possibility of God

- it awaits someone who did not acknowledge God or follow his teachings during their life

what is meant by "sin"

any thought or action that seperates humans from God (sinful thoughts such as anger can lead to sinful actions such as murder)

Christians believe all people commit sins

Catholics particulary also believe humands are born with an in-built tendency to sin, called original sin

what do Christians believe about "free will"

God gave people free will, but they should use their freedom to make choices God would approve of, otherwise they will seperate themselves from God

God provides people with the guidance to make good choices in his law:

- the Ten Commandments

- the Beatitudes

- other Christian teachings

what does "salvation" mean

to be saved from sin and its consequences, and to be granted eternal life with God. it repairs the damage caused by sin, which has seperated people from God

what are some ways salvation can come about

- through doing good works (following God's law)

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." - James 2:17

- through grace, salvation is given freely by God through faith in Jesus. NOT deserved or earned, but is a free gift of God's love

"For it is by grace you have been saved..." - Ephesians 2:8

- they also believe it is the HOLY SPIRIT who gives grace to Christians and continues to guide them in their daily lives, to help them achieve salvation

what role does Jesus have in salvation

- Jesus' crucifixion made up for the original sin of Adam and Eve

- death of Jesus was necessary to restore the relationship between God and believers, to bring them salvation

- Jesus' resurrection shows the goodness of Jesus defeated the evil of sin. proof that God had accepted Jesus' sacrifice on behalf of humankind. means humans can now receive forgiveness for their sins

- Jesus' death and resurrection made it possible for all who follow his teachings to gain eternal life

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23 - shows belief that death came into the world as a punishment for sin, salvation is offered through the life and teaching of Jesus

what is meant by "atonement"

atonement removes the effects of sin and allows people to restore their relationship with God. they believe that through the sacrifices of his death, Jesus took the sins of all humanity on himself and paid the debt for them all. he ATONED for the sins of humanity

- this sacrifice makes it possible for all who follow Jesus' teachings to receive eternal life with God

"...If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." - 1 John 2:1-2

how can God be all-loving while evil exists

- God gave humans free will, so is up to choices of people following God

- could be a test of faith, e.g. Job is tested on many occasions

- God is beyond human understanding, but is fair so good will be rewarded in heaven

- need evil to appreciate good

explain what happens in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

the sheep represent all who have helped those in need or have given back to the world in some way. the goats represent those who have acted in an unkind or selfish way

GOOD SHEEP are allowed a place in Heaven because they have been helpful and kind

BAD GOATS are people who, during their lives, did not show a caring side and ignored those in need. they are told they must go to Hell

what does God expect Christians to do if they sin

"turn to God in repentance" - Acts 20:21

despite sinning, humans will try to make amends and ask for forgiveness by agreeing that God exists

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