Christian Beliefs

The Trinity

The Father

The Son

The Holy Spirit

The Trinity in worship

The Father

• Pray to him - cares for all of creation

• Formal worship

The Son

• Saviour, friend, role model

• Joyful and formal worship - gratitude

The Holy Spirit

• Comforter and guide in decisions and worship

• Informal worship - Charismatic Churches ask for spiritual gifts

Genesis 1

Created by speaking The Word, Holy Spirit was there

Day 1: light and dark, Heavens and earth

Day 2: sky and sea

Day 3: land and plants

Day 4: sun, moon and stars

Day 5: fish and birds

Day 6: land animals and humans

Day 7: rest

Genesis 2 and 3

Focus on Adam and Eve

Placed in the Garden of Eden, told not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, made Eve, they ate the apple, banishment

Views of creation

Metaphorical: helps us understand God made the world

Creationists: it is literal, don’t accept scientific views, Young Earth creationists believe the earth was made about 10,000 years ago

Stewardship

Humans were made in God’s image and given free will

Told to work the ground and given stewardship

Duty to care for the planet and animals - leave the world better than we found it

Incarnation

Jesus Christ - fully human and fully divine - can identify with humanity’s suffering

Showed God loves the world and repaired the relationship

The Last Supper

Jesus had a meal with his disciples for Passover

Said that one of them would betray him and that the Holy Spirit would keep his teachings alive

They had bread and wine (Eucharist) which Jesus said was his body and blood

Arrest and trial

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas identified Jesus to an armed crowd and Jesus was arrested

Jewish High Council found him guilty of blasphemy

Pontius Pilate thought he was innocent but sentenced him to death

Crucifixion

Crucified between two others

Sky went dark from 12-3pm until he died

Proved Jesus’ humanity and sacrifice

Relationship is restored and forgiveness is now possible

Resurrection

On the third day, followers went to find him but he was gone

Proves he was really God

If you follow God’s teachings, you can have eternal life

Ascension

Taught his disciples for 40 days and said the Holy Spirit would help spread the word of God

Taken back to Heaven

Salvation

Jesus saved people from sin and reunited them with God - eternal life is possible, moral duty to live as Jesus did

Avoiding sin is not enough, must repent and accept righteousness is not possible without Jesus’ grace - must have faith and welcome the Holy Spirit

Divergent beliefs on eschatology

Universalism - some believe everyone goes to heaven

Purgatory - Catholics believe your soul is cleansed

Some believer non-believers cease to exist after death

Different times for the Day of Judgement

Heaven and hell

Everlasting peace and joy vs punishment and separation from God

God will give you the afterlife you deserve - fair / just / merciful

Resurrection of Jesus made sure there is an afterlife

Problem of evil

Inconsistent triad - Evil exists, Omnibenevolence, Omnipotence

Does God exist?

If God is not all powerful or all loving, how can you worship him / is he a God you want to believe in?

Biblical solutions to the problem of evil

Satan causes suffering

Being tested (Job) - must have faith

One day God will end all evil

Suffering is part of life, must pray to God to get help

Theoretical solutions to the problem of evil

Result of human free will

Needed for human development - opportunity to do good and evil

Practical solutions to the problem of evil

Suffering is a part of life, must live with it and help people

Develop positive qualities

Improve life for current and future generations

Charity work

Pray to God for encouragement / intercession