Christianity- Beliefs

Beliefs

features of the nature of God

• omnipotent

• omnibenevolent

• omniscient

• creator

• transcendent

• immanent

• ineffable

• eternal

what does omnipotent mean

all powerful

how is God shown to be omnipotent

• God created the world and everything in it, and continues to be involved in the world, sustaining it

• exodus, God spoke to Moses and parted the Red Sea

• Sent the 10 plagues to Egypt to help Moses free the Israelites

what does omnibenevolent mean

all-loving

quotes that show God is omnibenevolent

• “but you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”

• “for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son”

evidence that shows that God is omnibenevolent

• he sent his only son as a sacrifice to make amends for the sins of mankind

• strength of Gods love for humanity; God will ensure that humans will always have his love which cannot be conquered

what does omniscient mean

all-knowing and all-seeing

how is God omniscient

• knows every action that humans take

• knows the future and the past of all time

• Holy Spirit all seeing

• ten commandments given to humans

• all-seeing for judgement in the afterlife

evidence that God is the creator

• made the world

• genesis creation story; created the first humans and heaven and Earth

what does transcendent mean

above and beyond everything

evidence that God is transcendent

Jesus performed miracles and rose from the dead

what does immanent mean

permanently sustaining the world; everywhere and all around us

evidence that God is immanent

the Holy Spirit is around everyone on Earth

ineffable definition

cannot put into words

evidence that God is ineffable

God cannot be described by humans as we cannot fully understand HIm

eternal definition

no beginning or end

evidence that God is eternal

God was there before the creation of the world, always and will always be there in the future

who is Epicurus and what is he famous for

ancient Greek philosopher who created the Problem of Evil

what is the Problem of Evil

• if God is willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent

• if God is able but not willing, then he is malevolent

• if he is both able and willing, then whence cometh evil

• if he is neither able nor willing, then why call him God

if God is omnipotent then what is he able to do about evil

he has the power to rid the world of evil

if God is omnibenevolent then what is he able to do about evil

he wants to rid the world of evil

if God is omniscient then what is he able to do about evil

knows that evil exists

Christian solutions to the problem of evil and suffering

• God gave humans free will, therefore although God exists, he cannot interfere with any suffering humans experience as a result of their own choices

• suffering not Gods fault; sin entered perfect world God created, but Adam and Eve used their free will to turn away from God

• ‘experiencing bad things a part of Gods plan; helps them become better people

• balance essential- humans need evil to appreciate good

• God is fair, so good people rewarded in heaven, even if they suffer during their lives on Earth

how does free will solve the problem of evil and suffering

although God exists, he cannot interfere with any suffering humans experience as a result of their own choices; gift of free will comes with guidance from God but up to individuals to choose

how is experiencing evil and suffering a part of Gods plan

help them become better people

why is balance between good and evil important

humans need evil to appreciate good

two types of suffering

• moral suffering

• natural suffering

what is moral suffering

free will

what is natural suffering

illness, natural disease

two philosophers with problems of evil and suffering

• Epicurus

• JL Mackie

what did JL Mackie create

the inconsistent triad

what is the inconsistent triad

• if God is all-loving, he wants to stop evil

• if God was all-powerful, he can stop evil

• if God is all-knowing, he knows evil exists and knows how to stop it

• if God is all three, evil would not exist

• evil exists so God cannot be all three

what is a story in the Bible that shows why evil and suffering exists

Book of Job

who is Job

a good man who loves God

what did Satan challenge God to

Satan challenges God by saying that Job is only good as he has a happy life; God allows Satan to put Job’s faith to the test by causing him to suffer

what does Satan do to Job to make him suffer

• Job loses his livestock, servants and all his children

• he suffers horrible weeping sores all over his body

• Jobs wife tells him to reject God and to accept that he is dying, but Job refuses

does Job stay loyal to God through this

yes; he is devastated but remains faithful and praises God

what does God to after Job goes through all of this suffering

God appears to Job and asks impossible questions that show Job how little he can understand about God’s ultimate plan; Job humbled by this

what does Job do as a result of Gods questions

Job is humbled at this encounter and at last appreciates that god’s unlimited power cannot be fully understood by humans

does Job ever find out why he suffered

no

what happens to Job after his interaction with God

God restores his health and gives him twice as much property as before, more children and a very long and prosperous life

solutions to suffering

• free will

• evil force in the world

• God shares in our suffering

• suffering a test

• suffering a result of sin

• how we deal with suffering gives us the opportunity to become better people

• incarnation shows God as a human can understand suffering and identify with human suffering

• ineffable

• suffering a part of Gods divine plan

Christians responses to suffering

• prayer

• reading the Bible

• studying the lives and responses of others who have suffered

• through belief in an afterlife as a reward for those who suffer

• believing suffering is part of Gods plan

• through service to others; charity work, working with the less fortunate etc

what is the Apostles Creed

a set prayer in Christianity

what is a creed

a statement of faith

what does the apostles creed teach

• God an all-powerful creator

• Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit

• Jesus crucified, buried and rose from the dead and ascended to heaven

• Day of Judgement when God will judge how each person lived their life

• only one holy and universal church

• God will forgive our sins

• there will be resurrection of the body and an eternal afterlife

what does “one church” link to

ecumenism

why is the Apostles Creed important

it is a statement of faith that outlines the key beliefs of Christianity that make it Christianity

what is the trinity

the three persons of God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

does the Bible state that there is a trinity

no, but there is evidence that it exists

is there multiple Gods in Christianity if there are three parts

no, the three parts make up a whole, and is still monotheistic

do all Christians believe in the Trinity

no

which denominations don’t believe in the trinity

• some liberal protestants

• quakers

• unitarians

what do these denominations belive

that Jesus isn’t God but was still the promised messiah

key features of God the Father

• beyond us and entirely above the universe; transcendent

• Jess taught followers to refer to God as the Father

• omnipotent and omniscient

• creator of the universe

• caring and personal relationship with humans, like father and child

who is God the Son

Jesus

features of God the Son

• God incarnate; God in human flesh

• a real man in history; historical figure

• through becoming Jesus, Christians believe that God revealed something of himself to the world

• moral teacher for Christians; example to live by

• personal and caring relationship with God

who do Christians believe sent the Holy Spirit

• after Jesus’ resurrection, God sent the Holy Spirit or paraclete into world

features of God the Holy Spirit

• guides Christians to live their life the best way

• immanent presence

• spiritual everything and everyone

• spiritual not physical

• omnipresent, especially during worship

• helps to strengthen faith

• gives comfort, courage and inspiration

how is God the Holy Spirit portrayed

as a dove

what do Charismatic Christians believe about the Holy Spirit

it empowers people to speak in tongues

quotes from Bible that support the Trinity

• “I and the Father are one”

• “No one comes to the Father except through me”

• “anyone who has seen me has seen the father”

• “I am the Father and the Father is me”

how is God the Father worshipped today and what do they believe he does

Christians believe the Father cares for the world as creator; pray to him in knowledge that he cares for them and is powerful

how is God the Father reflected in worship today

Lords Prayer

what is the Lords Prayer

set prayer taught by Jesus; recited in some church services

why do some people not believe in the Trinity

• in the Bible Jesus prays to God the Father

• Jesus shows human emotions when on Earth so cannot be God

• not explicitly stated and therefore not fully true

what is worship about God the Son usually like

happy and joyful worship to express their thanks to God for forgiving their sins and to Jesus for the sacrifice he made

why is worship for Jesus usually happy and joyful

as its believed that the Son died to save humanity

do Christians perform animal sacrifice

no because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice so no animal sacrifice is needed

others ways in which Jesus is worshipped

• Eucharist/communion

what is eucharist/communion

re-enactment of The Last Supper; last week of Jesus’ life, him and disciples celebrated Passover, where bread and wine consumed

what does bread represent

Jesus’ body

what does wine represent

Jesus’ blood

what do Christians believe the Holy Spirit does

is their comforter and guide; lives in their hearts and not only enables them to lead good lives and make moral choices, but also helps them praise and worship God

what are charismatic Christians

Christians who emphasise the presence and work of the Holy, Spirit, spiritual gifts and miracles

what churches are speaking in tongues found in

Charismatic and Pentecostal churches

what does the creation story include

• creation of universe

• creation of Earth

• creation of Adam and Eve/humankind

• temptation of A and E

• fall of humankind from grace

quotations about the creation story and the Word

“in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”

what is genesis 1

Biblical account of the creation in Chapter 1 of the Book of Genesis

how does the Book of Genesis begin

“in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth”

what is the order of what was created on each day

1. God created light

2. God created the heavens and the Earth, separating the waters

3. God created lands and plants

4. God created the sun, moon, and stars

5. God created birds and fish

6. God created living creatures, including humans

7. God rested

teaching about how humans were made

imago dei

what is imago dei

“in the image of God”- God created humans in his own image

what is Genesis 2

the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden- paradise

where do Adam and Eve live

in the garden of Eden; paradise

how was Eve created

created from Adams rib

what was the one command that God gave to A and E

do not eat from the tree of knowledge that grows in thee Garden of Eden

quote about not eating the fruit of the GoE

“you must not touch it, or you will die”

how does the Genesis story show that humankind is unique

they are made in Gods image

what is genesis 3

the fall and original sin

what is the nature of humankind

that humans are made in the image of God but are sinful and in need of Gods forgiveness

what is the fall

where A and E are tempted by the devil, in the form of a serpent, to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge against Gods will

what does the devil claim is the only reason God doesn’t want A and E to eat from the tree

as it would make them as knowledgeable as God

do A and E resist the serpent

originally they do, but eventually Eve gives into temptation and eats the fruit and then gives some to Adam

what do A and E do after eating the fruit

they confess to God

what is Gods punishment for A and E

• he sends them out of the Garden of Eden to live somewhere else on Earth

• not allowed to eat from the tree of life

what does not eating from the tree of life mean for humans

death enters the world

why is the fall very significant for Christians

it represents the point when the perfect relationship between humans and God was broken

why do Christians believe in original sin

the Fall

why was Jesus’ death on the cross necessary

his death paid for human sin and restored the broken relationship