Religion Revision 3B — The Church

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, historical events, figures, councils, and creeds from the Church revision notes.

Body of Christ

A term for the Church where Christ is the Head and Christians are its members, who continue Christ's mission in the world through baptism.

One (Mark of the Church)

The mark indicating that the Church is united under Christ and that the Holy Spirit works to unite its members.

Holy (Mark of the Church)

The mark indicating that the Church comes from God and is guided by the Holy Spirit towards holiness.

Catholic (Mark of the Church)

Meaning universal, indicating that the Church is for all people and has spread throughout the world.

Apostolic (Mark of the Church)

The mark indicating that the Church continues the teaching and mission of the Apostles sent by Jesus.

Apostles' Creed

An early statement of the Church's basic beliefs dating from the time of the Apostles, structured into 12 distinct statements.

Arius

A priest from Egypt who taught that Jesus was created by God and was not equal to God, leading to the Arian Heresy.

Arian Heresy

The belief taught by Arius that Jesus was created by God and therefore was not equal to God.

Council of Nicaea (325 AD)

The First Ecumenical Council called by Emperor Constantine in 325 AD to resolve the controversy surrounding Arius and adopt the Nicene Creed.

Nicene Creed

A creed adopted at Nicaea affirming that Jesus is true God and true man, and is one in being with the Father.

St Paul

A key missionary responsible for spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire to both Jews and Gentiles, whose letters guided early Christian communities.

Septimius Severus (193–211 AD)

Roman Emperor who required the persecution of people who would not worship Roman gods.

Trajan Decius (249–251 AD)

Roman Emperor who harshly persecuted suspected Christians unless they worshipped pagan gods, leading to many being tortured and killed.

Diocletian (303 AD)

Roman Emperor who initiated the last and most severe persecution of Christians throughout the Empire, specifically targeting bishops, priests, and deacons.

Battle of the Milvian Bridge (312 AD)

The battle in 312 AD where Constantine defeated Maxentius and attributed his victory to the Christian God after having a vision of a cross.

Edict of Milan (313 AD)

A decree issued in 313 AD that gave religious freedom to Christians and ended official Roman persecution.

East-West Schism of 1054

The division of Christianity into the Western Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church over papal authority and the Filioque.

Filioque

The phrase regarding the procession of the Holy Spirit in the Creed, which was a major cause of disagreement in the East-West Schism.

Franciscans

A religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi that embraced poverty, rejected material wealth, preached the Gospel, and served others.

Poor Clares

A contemplative order founded in 1212 by St Clare of Assisi that lived the Franciscan ideal of poverty focused on prayer and work without preaching.

Dominicans

A religious order founded in 1215 by St Dominic de Guzman in southern France focused on teaching, preaching the Gospel, and living in poverty.

Cistercians

A religious order founded in the early twelfth century that followed a spirit of poverty, rejected material wealth, and engaged in preaching.

Martin Luther

A Catholic reformer whose challenge to Church practices initiated Lutheranism, which spread throughout Germany and Scandinavia.

John Calvin

A French Protestant who established a Church in Switzerland in 1541 that rejected teachings not explicitly found in the Bible.

Henry VIII

King of England who broke with Rome in 1534 after Pope Clement VII refused his annulment, establishing and heading the Church of England.

Council of Trent

A Catholic reform council called by Pope Paul III in Trent, northern Italy, to address corruption, clarify priest/bishop roles, and renew beliefs and sacraments.

Second Vatican Council (Vatican II)

A council called by Pope John XXIII from 1962–1965 to renew the Church, engage with the modern world, and allow Mass in the vernacular.

Ecumenism

The movement towards Christian unity involving different Christian Churches working together to overcome divisions.