Component 2: Christianity beliefs and essay plans

edquas WJEC GCSE

Omnibenevolent

the state of being all-loving and infinitely good- a characteristic often attributed to God

* ^^forgive not seven times but seventy seven times^^

Omnipotent

the all-powerful, almighty and unlimited nature of God.

* ^^and god said let there be light and there was light^^

Trinity

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

* ^^in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit^^

Incarnation

God becoming human in the form of Jesus

* ^^anyone who has seen me has seen the father^^

Atonement

the belief that Jesus' death on the cross healed the rift between humans and God

* ^^At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split^^

Resurrection

the belief that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, conquering death

* ^^why do you look for the living among the dead^^
* ^^he is not here he has risen^^

Sacraments

an outward sign of an invisible and inward blessing by God. For example; Baptism, Eucharist.

* ^^make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the father and of the son and Holy Spirit^^

Evangelism

preaching of the gospel to others with the intention of converting others to the Christian faith

* ^^therefore go and make disciples of all nations^^

What is God’s nature?

* there is one God (christianity is a monotheistic religion)
* that God is described as being:
* Omnipotent (all powerful)
* Omnipresent (he is everywhere and involved in the world- the Holy Spirit)
* omniscient (all-knowing)
* omnibenevolent (all-loving - sent his only Son to die for our sins)
* transcendent (outside of this world)
* timeless (exists outside of time)
* eternal (forever lasting)
* these beliefs are part of God’s revelation to humans. Revelation is God showing or revealing himself to people
* God’s nature is shown to be limitless and infinite due to him being both transcendent and omnipresent
* immutable (can’t change)
* forgiving
* personal
* merciful
* immanent - present in the world

Proof of God being omnipotent?

* Exodus 7-11 The ten Plagues
* Exodus 14:21 The parting of the Red Sea
* Genesis Creation of the World

Proof of God being omnibenevolent?

* Psalm 86:15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness
* John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
* Romans 8: 37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us

What is the role of The Father in the trinity?

* considered the first person of the Trinity
* the one who people refer to when they say, God
* fully in control and is the creator “maker of all things visible and invisible”
* He forgives and is the one that most Christians direct their prayers to “our father..”

What is the role of The Son in the trinity?

* second person of the trinity
* the saviour
* the belief that God came to earth as man to die for our sins (the incarnation) “my blood poured out for the sins of many”
* the son always does the will of the father and sits at his right hand in heaven
* occasionally people direct their prayers to Jesus
* most christians can identify with him - he is relatable and more in touch with the world than God because he was human

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the trinity?

* the third person of the trinity
* sometimes called the holy ghost
* God’s presence on earth today and guides people (like at pentecost)
* does the will of the father and of the son
* hardest to relate to for most people
* has an active role in the lives of all christians- firstly at baptism, giving them spiritual gifts, helping in worship, making people feel better
* many also pray for the Holy Spirit to answer their prayers

Evidence of the trinity?

* At Jesus’ baptism, all parts of the trinity were present. God said, “This is my son with whom I am well pleased”. The Holy Spirit was there in the form of a dove
* I am and the father are one
* I am the way and the truth of life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my father as well.
* Jesus said that God would send the holy spirt who would “teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”

Why do Christians believe in the trinity?

* because of evidence from the bible
* because of the events that occurred at pentecost

Different depictions of God

* ==Aristotle’s god==
* believed God was perfect immutable
* therefore God would be unable to have emotions as they affect you
* God wouldn’t be able to act at all in the world
* ==Aquinas==
* used analogies
* God should be described with positive terminology.
* understood concerns about anthropomorphising God but believed that analogies should be use to explain rather than describe so that christians can better understand him
* ==Anthromorphism==
* explaining god using human characteristics e.g. Shepard, warrior, king, father, judge
* some people believe that by using these human images/terms they are limiting God and this could be misleading.
* human terms make god more personal and relatable
* using the words as analogies to help understand and make sense of God in a more profound way
* The words are not meant to be seen and interpreted in a literal sense - God does not own a herd of sheep but he guides souls to heaven just as the Shepard guides his sheep home.
* ==Negative terminology==
* we cannot use positive terms as no one knows him or has seen him so we can describe him with negative terms to be less misleading. e.g. he is not unjust, he is not cruel (debatable)

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* God is depicted in human form but christians do not believe that God has a ==physical form==.
* many christians refer to God as he and the father but do not believe that he has a ==gender==.

Why does God allow evil and suffering? (theodicies and solutions to the age-old question)

* @@free will@@- people must make their own choices as god gave us the ability to make our own decisions, if people choose evil actions that is not blood on His hands but rather on our own.
* there is an @@actual force of evil in this world@@, sometimes referred to as the @@devil or satan@@. he is believed to be a fallen angel that disobeyed God. The devil can tempt humans and make them choose evil actions or himself can create evil events. Some christians believe that @@sin entered the world when the first humans@@ @@Adam and Eve@@ disobeyed God and it is not God’s fault (despite his reverse psychology)
* The Ancient Greek philosopher @@Epicurus@@ described God as malevolent and cruel, explaining the contradictions between the nature of God and the presence of evil and suffering: ^^“Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent, is he both able and willing? then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”.^^ concluded that a god that is both omnibenevolent and omnipotent cannot exist.
* Suffering is part of @@God’s ineffable plan@@ and we cannot understand his mysterious workings, humans must respond positively
* Suffering is a @@test of faith: helps us develop a closer relationship with God@@

\- ^^The Book of Job:^^
* Job is very dedicated to God and a good man
* Satan challenges God saying that Job is only good because he has a happy life.
* God allows satan to put Job’s faith to the test by causing him to suffer
* 1st test: crops fail
* 2nd test: all children and heirs killed
* 3rd test; skin condition
* his wife told him to reject his faith but Job kept it. God came to him and told him that he could not explain his reason for making him suffer. Job was humbled by this encounter and appreciated that God’s unlimited power cannot be fully understood by humans.
* God restored his health, lengthened his life and gave him twice as much property and double his sons.
* For many Christians @@balance is essential@@, evil needs to exist so we can see what good is
* Several theodicies and solutions to the s@@oul-making theodicy@@ suggest that suffering can lead to personal growth and character development.
* God is fair so good people will be rewarded in heaven, even if they suffer during their lives on earth

describe genesis one

* god created the world in six days
* god rests on the seventh day
* humans are the peak of gods creation, made in his image.
* god gives humans a unique status as God’s stewards on the earth and the command be fruitful and multiply
* “god said let there be light”
* “in imago dei” shows women and men are equal
* 1 -2 light and sky, 3 land and plants, 4 sun moon and stars, 5 sea and flying creatures, 6 land animals and human beings
* genesis explains how: god is the only creator, god existed before he created the world, the world was well planned and is sustained by God, god blessed creation which means that all creation is holy.

describe genesis two

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* God made Adam, before all animals, and placed him in the Garden of Eden to live in paradise.
* Adam is formed from the dust of the ground and the breath of God (symbolising the human soul), making him the son of the earth but also a child of God - god breathed life into his nostrils(soul)
* To give Adam a partner and companion, God created Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs- some christians use this to argue that women are inferior to men.
* Both of them were given the task and responsibility to look after the place that God had created for them..
* some christians believe that genesis two is just a more in depth retelling of the sixth day described in genesis one

what is creationism?

the belief that all life was made by God - many evangelicals are creationists as they believe that the Bible is God breathed.

What is Old Earth creationism?

God must have created the world, but creation took place millions of years ago. The seven days of creation refer to periods of time not 24 hours. (apparent age theory)

Young earth creationism?

the belief that the world was created in six days. Roughly 6,000–12,000 years ago

Literal vs non literal Christians

When reading the bible Christians take different approaches.

^^Literal readers^^ read the bible as it is as they believe that it is “God breathed” they believe that all rules stated in the bible still apply to this modern age. ^^Fundamental Christians.^^

%%Non literal readers%% of the bible believe the stories to be simply stories that have a moral. They do not think that the world was created in six days but they do believe that God created the world. They think that God cannot be explained and that the bible stories try to explain him and his ways in a human way. They also think that there are some stories that no longer apply to these times. The authors of the biblical books had limited knowledge of science and the world, so the Genesis account was their way of trying to explain what they believed. %%Catholic Christians.%%

What was the role of the Word and the Spirit in creation?

At the beginning of John’s Gospel there is not a birth story like in Matthew and Luke’s Gospels, but instead a piece of writing called the **Prologue**. This starts with the words “^^In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God”.^^ Many Christians think that the **Word or Logos was Jesus** and, so Jesus was with God at beginning of the world when it was created. The Prologue also teaches that nothing was made that was not made through the Word or Jesus. Therefore, a key role of the Word was bringing creation into existence. 

Other Christians might say that the Word to God’s creative plan for the world, a plan that includes everyone. Furthermore in Genesis 1 God creates by the **spoken word**, for example saying “Let there be light” showing verbal instruction as a source of God’s creative power.

Genesis 1 also talks about the **Spirit** ‘hovering over the water’ at the start of creation and Christians might say this is the Holy Spirit. Thus reflecting the involvement of the Trinity in the divine creative act. 

What is the role and nature of humans as told in Genesis?

==Nature:==

—In the beginning humans were made immortal

“in the image and likeness of God”

“God breathed life into the nostrils of Adam” – soul lives on

— After The Fall humans became mortal as the were removed from the Garden of Eden.

“You were sown a physical body and raised a spiritual one”

“Don't be afraid of people. They can kill you, but they cannot harm your soul. Instead, you should fear God who can destroy both your body and your soul in hell”

Rationality refers to the idea that God made humans as rational beings. This means that humans can use their ability to __**reason**__and make decisions or judgements based on this reason. Unlike other living beings, humans have the ability to think and understand. This helps them weigh up actions and consequences, using their __**conscience**__ and experience to guide them.

> *For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.*

==Roles:==

1\.**Stewardship** – our duty to take care of and look after the planet as requested by God. “He put man in the garden to cultivate and keep it”.

2\. **Reproduction** – our religious obligation to procreate and have children to continue stewardship and pass the faith on too. “Be fruitful and multiply”.

3\. **Worship** – our responsibility to worship God and follow his orders.  “On the seventh day he rested”.

4\.**Marriage/Companionship** – to find a partner to spend life with and begin our own families. “ A man leaves his father and mother to be joined with his wife”

What do Christians mean by Mary as the Immaculate Conception?

Mary, the mother of Christ, is the only human who is exempt from the __**doctrine**__ of original sin. Mary is known as the immaculate conception – in other words, she was born free from original sin. This is unique to Mary and is why she was chosen to carry and give birth to the Son of God.

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Describe the Fall

In the __**Garden of Eden**__, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. God punished Adam and Eve for their actions, and the punishment was to endure suffering in life. This is known as **'the fall'**.

Some Christians believe that all people inherited the tendency to sin from Adam and Eve. This belief is called __**original sin**__. According to this belief, all humans are born with a tendency towards evil and the ability to cause suffering.

In __**Genesis**__ it states:

> *...the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth.*

*Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”* \n *The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”*

*“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”* \n *When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.*

What did Aquinas believe about the nature of humans?

Aquinas believed that human nature is essentially good, and that all humans are oriented towards perfection and good acts. 

> *Whatever man desires, he desires it under the aspect of good.***Summa Theologica**

Humans do not have a natural tendency to commit evil or sinful acts. Instead, any wrong or sinful acts that may be carried out are due to mistaking a wrong act for a right act. When the wrong act is chosen it is due to a fault in the reasoning of the individual. Just because an action may seem like the right one doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. Any action that jeopardises humans' relationship with God is a wrong action.

Beliefs and teachings about Jesus’ incarnation: John 1:14, Luke1:28-33

* John 1:14 states that "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." This verse affirms the belief that Jesus, who is referred to as "the Word," became a human being and lived among people.
* Luke 1:28-33 describes the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she will give birth to a son who will be called Jesus. The passage states that Jesus will be great, called the Son of the Most High, and will be given the throne of his father David. This passage emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and his role as a king.
* Jesus came to Earth to teach the word of God and atone for our sins

Crucifixion: Matthew 27:28-50

Matthew 27:28-50 describes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It includes details such as the soldiers mocking him, the crown of thorns placed on his head, and his eventual death on the cross. This event is significant in Christianity as it represents the sacrifice Jesus made for the forgiveness of sins.

• Nailed to a cross on Calvary

• Crown of thorns

• Hung between two thieves and promised one that he would join him in Paradise

• Given vinegar on a sponge

• Sign placed above him saying 'Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews'

• Soldiers gambled for his clothes

• Asked God to forgive those who sentenced him

• Roman soldier pierced his side - blood and water flow out

• His mother and other disciples gathered at the foot of the cross

• Jesus died saying 'It is finished'

• Darkness over the land

• Earthquake

• Temple curtain was torn in two

• Jesus' body was taken down and buried in a tomb

Mark's gospel reports that after Jesus was betrayed by his disciple and friend, **Judas Iscariot**, Jesus was arrested in the __**Garden of Gethsemane**__. He was put on trial by the high priests and found guilty of __**blasphemy**__.

He was taken to see **Pontius Pilate**, the Roman governor who was responsible for deciding who could be put to death. Pilate wanted to release Jesus and presented him to the crowd in the hope that they would want him to be freed. 

However, they chanted **crucify him** **(Mark 15:13)** because they were heavily influenced by the religious leaders who wanted Jesus to be executed. Pilate was therefore pressured into sentencing Jesus to be crucified.

Jesus was __**flogged**__ and crucified at the site of Golgotha on the day that Christians know as Good Friday.

Jesus suffered on the cross for over six hours and called out **My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?** **(Mark 15:34)**.

Salvation and Atonement : Matthew 26:26-29, Leviticus 16:20-22, Isaiah 53:3-9.

Matthew 26:26-29 describes Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples, where he institutes the sacrament of communion.

Leviticus 16:20-22 outlines the Day of Atonement, a Jewish holiday where sins were confessed and atoned for through sacrifice.  This shows that in the Jewish tradition animal sacrifice was necessary for the atoning of sins and appeasing God. Often in the temple before Passover a lamb would be sacrificed to remove their iniquities. At the crucifixion Jesus becomes the last **‘sacrificial lamb’** set to die to remove the sins of all humanity and atone for us. 

 

 Thus not need any longer for animal sacrifice as he **paid the price for human sins** once and for all.

Isaiah 53:3-9 prophesies about a suffering servant who would bear the sins of others and bring salvation.

 Christians believe God sent Jesus to Earth to repair the broken relationship and that through his death Jesus paid the price, ‘atoned’, for human sin. 

 This offers humankind salvation, which means they can live on for eternity with God in heaven after death. 

 Before Jesus, the Jews often used animal sacrifices to ‘atone’ or make up for the sins they had committed.

 For Christians, they had nothing of value to pay the price to fix the broken relationship, so Jesus being ‘perfect’ made the ultimate sacrifice on our and God’s behalf. 

Why is atonement needed for humans?

 For Christians, Jesus death on the cross is an act of **atonement** beginning the reparation of the human relationship with God. 

 The Fall, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, destroyed the perfect relationship between humans and God and introduced **sin** into the world.

 Some Christians believe that because of this event all people are born with sin, which they call **‘original sin’.**

 The sins which people commit in their daily lives take them further away from God. 

The significance of the Last supper

This is the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his death.

 Jesus is celebrating is celebrating the Jewish feast of Passover (freedom from Egyptian slavery) with his disciples.

 However, he gives the shared meal a new significance. He tells the disciples that the bread represents his body and the wine represents his blood. 

 He predicts his death on the cross and says that by sacrificing his body and blood, human sins will be forgiven. 

 This forms the basis of the Eucharist, in which Christians share bread and wine in worship today. 

1\.The Last Supper is important to Christians as it is the meal that **establishes the Eucharist** and our way of connecting with God today “This is my body….this is my blood”

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2\. The Last Supper gives Christians our **new greatest commandment** from Jesus of love “Love one another as I have loved you”

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3\. Jesus **washes the disciples** feet showing how the Christian relationship is now about serving people and equality from Jesus down e.g. he washed the disciples feet (master to servant).

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4\.At this meal **Jesus reflects his omniscience** by recognising it was time for his death, saying he would be betrayed and also knowing the his death was the forgiveness of sins to save all “my blood is shed for the sins of many, for the forgiveness of sins”

Describe the resurrection

After his death, Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and placed into a rock tomb with a heavy stone covering its entrance. Jesus’ death teaches Christians that God is with humans even when they die.

When his female followers, including __**Mary Magdalene**__, visited the tomb the Sunday after his crucifixion, they saw that the stone had been rolled away from its entrance. Inside, Jesus’ body was missing.

In the garden surrounding the tomb, there appeared a man dressed in white. The women pled with him to return Jesus’ body, but the man explained that he was Jesus. Mary Magdalene returned to the disciples to tell them the news that Jesus had risen from the dead. Christians call these events the resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus visited the disciples and proved to them who he was by showing them the holes from the nails in his hand and feet - surprisingly none of the disciples passed out that sounds quite gruesome

Why is the resurrection important?

* it shows Jesus is the messiah
* The resurrection and ascension of Jesus prove to Christians that he is the Son of God. His __**sacrifice**__ overcame sin and offers humans hope of eternal life. 

Jesus’ resurrection shows Christians the power of God but also teaches them not to be afraid of dying.

Describe the Ascension

Jesus greeted and blessed his disciples 40 days after his resurrection. He then __**ascended**__ to Heaven.

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

How do Christians achieve Salvation?

In death Jesus has paid the ransom for our sin, giving us the chance to receive salvation.

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**Roman Catholics** believe that taking part in the sacraments that they will be able to achieve salvation and go to heaven.

Baptism – washes them of sin (purity) and welcomes them into Christ’s family.

Reconciliation – opportunity to declare daily sins to God through priest & be absolved

Many **Protestants** believe that faith in Jesus is of utmost importance in order to reach salvation. Without **faith** you cannot share in Jesus sacrifice (crucifixion) and one must **repent** for their sins in order to achieve salvation.

Describe Pentecost

Pentecost is the event of when the Holy Spirit came to disciples giving them courage to proclaim Jesus word.

The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them.

It sounded like a very strong wind, and it looked like tongues of fire.

The apostles then found themselves speaking in foreign languages, inspired by the Holy Spirit. people from different countries stopped in shock because they understood them.

People passing by at first thought that they must be drunk, but the apostle Peter told the crowd that the apostles were full of the Holy Spirit.

Christians believe that in order to live a good life, God sent the Holy Spirit to bring grace. 

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The supernatural gift of grace means Christians are able to pray for help from God to turn away from sin and live good lives.

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All Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in the world today. 

Which denominations is the Holy Spirit the most important to?

==**Evangelicals**== hold the Holy Spirit as particularly important in worship. They use a form of worship where worshippers are encouraged to be **moved by the Spirit** like the disciples during Pentecost. 

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This movement means the Holy Spirit is present and influencing them in their prayers. Some **often shout out** and praise God during worship. 

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Some Christians feel they are moved to **speak in tongues (glossaria)** like at Pentecost and claim acts of **‘faith healing’** physical/spiritual during the service as the HS works in miraculous ways. 

•==**Roman Catholics** ==too have a strong connection to the Holy Spirit. They believe that at **baptism** the child enters into the triune god. 

•At the **sacrament of Confirmation** the Holy Spirit comes down upon the child and bestows the fruits of the Spirit upon them. This is to enable them to avoid sin and live a dutiful Christian life. 

•During the **sacrament of the Eucharist** the priest will call on the Holy spirit to bless the bread and wine. 

What is redemption?

__**Redemption**__ is a key Christian belief in the idea that humanity can be saved from sin - redeemed - through the actions of Jesus. Jesus is often described as the Example, the Restorer or the Victor:

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What do Christians believe about Life after Death?

Christians believe that, following physical death of the body, the soul lives on. This is known as the __**immortality of the soul**__.

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

Christians believe in the __**resurrection**__ of the body at a Day of Judgement, when God will judge everyone individually and they will be sent to **Heaven** or **Hell**. 

What is the belief in purgatory and who holds this belief?

Catholics believe in a place called __**Purgatory**__, where sins are punished and where a person’s soul undergoes purification before it can go to Heaven.

Do all Christians believe that Heaven and Hell are physical places?

Some Christians do not believe that Heaven and Hell are necessarily physical places, instead believing that they could be states of mind. For example, Heaven could be a place of unending happiness.

On the other hand, Hell will be a horrible place that is without God. In Christianity, Hell is often shown as a place full of fire.

> *Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.***Matthew 25:46**

Pope John Paul II said that Hell is a metaphor for how people who have rejected God will feel.

> *This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God … is called ‘hell’.*

describe heaven and hell

==Heaven==

Many Christians think of Heaven as a place where they will be happy and surrounded by their favourite things. They will know God on a more personal level and will be aware of his physical presence and his all-loving and forgiving nature.

==Hell==

In contrast, the Bible depicts Hell as a terrible place where God is completely absent.

Many Christians reject literal interpretations of Hell. Some acknowledge that in the past, the idea of Hell was used to frighten people and make them obey the rules of the Church. Many also argue that the existence of Hell would contradict God’s __**omnibenevolent**__ nature.

These Christians do not think that God would punish people for __**eternity**__. Instead, they believe people will be offered an opportunity to pay back for their sin. Some Christians believe that everyone will eventually __**repent**__ and be forgiven.

John 14:2-7

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."

Judgement: Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 16:19-31

**Matthew 25:31-46** describes the final judgement where Jesus separates the righteous from the unrighteous based on their actions towards others. The righteous are rewarded with eternal life while the unrighteous are punished with eternal punishment.

**Luke 16:19-31** is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man is punished in the afterlife for ignoring the needs of the poor man Lazarus during his lifetime.

EXAM QUESTIONS

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Explain the role of the Holy Spirit in Christianity.

* the holy spirit is the third person of the trinity and is often the most difficult to explain and understand for many christians.
* For most christians the Holy Spirit played its most important role in creation. In the gospel prologue of John it states, in the beginning was the word and the word was with God”, the word or spirit is described as hovering over creation and being the power of the trinity that creates things at God’s command.
* The Holy Spirit additionally for many christians is the active will of God in the present day. many christians pray to the Holy Spirit believing that it answers prayers and performs miracles and is God being omnipresent in this world.
* the Holy Spirit is usually symbolised as a dove as shown at Jesus’ baptism this symbol is often also a symbol of peace. the Holy Spirit is meant to help guide christians to a better world and to creating a kinder humanity.
* the Holy Spirit is said to be present as sacraments such as baptism (Roman Catholic view)
* the Holy Spirit can provide spiritual gifts such as at pentecost when it enabled the disciples to speak in different tongues and spread the word of God.
* For evangelicals the holy spirit is very important - they perform masses when people feel inspired by it - similarly quakers construct their worship like this.

“God cannot be described”

God can be described

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God cannot be described

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“It is more important to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection than to remember his birth”

Explain why the Bible is an important sacred text for Christians.

Explain how the Bible can be an important source in the life of a Christian. 

Explain how Tearfund puts Christian beliefs into practise

“Heaven can be reached by everyone”

Explain the importance of the resurrection for Christians.

“The main duty of Christian is evangelisation”

“The Bible as no relevance for society today”

“Evil and suffering proves God does not exist”

“Christianity is not a monotheistic religion”

Explain why the Last Supper is important for Christians.

“The crucifixion confirms Jesus was only human”

“Christian beliefs about hell are out of date” Evaluate

Explain why Christian believe the Resurrection of Jesus is important.

“Someone doesn’t have to go to Church to be a Christian”

“Jesus is human not divine” Discuss

“The crucifixion is the most important event in Christianity” Discuss

“Salvation is only possible because of Jesus’ death” Discuss

“The resurrection did not happen” Discuss

PRACTICES

Worship and Prayer



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Worship is an expression of adoration and praise for god.



The Ten Commandments say to keep holy the sabbath day



* Liturgical public



Eucharistic services RCC

Services of the word COE

Focused on the act of the holy communion

Does not include the act of holy communion but instead features a much longer sermon

Readings from the bible

The preacher explains in depth a biblical text and its relevance for our lives today

The breaking of the bread and pouring of the wine to be shared out in the name of Jesus

Do this in memory of me

This is my body, this is my blood, shed out for the sins of many

Have prayers and readings and hymns and is located in a holy building - both of them.



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* Individual private



Many Christians may also worship at home on their own in private or with their family. 

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There are __various ways of worshipping at home__ such as:



Ø Reading and reflecting on a Bible passage



Ø Praying to God formally (Our Father) or informally (chatting with God)



Ø Saying the Rosary (RCC)



Ø Meditate – emptying the mind and listening to spiritual feelings



Ø Lighting candles



Ø Grace before meals “Bless us O God as we sit together, bless the food we eat today, bless the hands that made the food, bless us O God Amen”.



 Serving others 



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Evangelical/ charismatic worship



Is another form of Christian worship and can be found across all denominations.



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People try to open themselves to the Holy Spirit and want to be inspired by it. 



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__Charismatic practice can include:__ 



o Clapping 



oRaising hands 



o Informal leading of prayers



o Speaking in tongues (links to Pentecost)



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Quakers or religious society of friends



This denomination is completely different from any other tradition, in that silence and informality is key to their worship. 



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They sit in a circle/square in silence for an hour until they feel moved by the HS to speak. 



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There are no set rules, structure or leader involved.



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Quakers do a liturgy because they believe worship happens when 2/3 come together – nothing more needed



“Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them” Jesus said in Matthew’s gospel. 



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Worship in the home- use of the rosary



The rosary is one of the commonest forms of prayer, particularly in Roman Catholic Church.



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It was developed by St Dominic in the 13th century.



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It consists of a string of string of beads and a crucifix. 



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It helps Catholics concentrate when praying and can be described as a form of meditation. 



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“Go to your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in Heaven. (Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”. )



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The Eucharist



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For many christians the Eucharist is the most important form of worship. The word eucharist comes from the greek word meaning thanksgiving



The eucharist remembers Jesus’ last supper as recorded in the gospels.



Passover



The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, be broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me’. In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’. 



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(1 Corinthians 11:23-25)



He washed the disciples feet to show that he was equal and as a sign of purity.



The Last Supper is an event used by Jesus to give a Jesus meal a new meaning.



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At Passover Jews remember how Moses liberated the Israelites from slavery. Lambs blood was put on the door posts to mark their homes from the Angel of Death. 



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At the Last Supper (The Eucharist today) Jesus gives this Jewish meal (Passover) a new tradition/meaning. His death will become ‘the last sacrificial lamb’ to liberate humans from original sin to go to heaven “my blood poured out for the sins of many”. 



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*Explain why the Last Supper is so important to Christians.*



  *(8 marks)*



1\.Gave us a way to remember and honour Jesus sacrifice. (Memorialism) 



2\.Established the Eucharist as a way to connect with/receive Jesus today (Transubstantiation)



3\.Washing of disciples feet showed equality and how we should serve people (Washing of feet)



4\. Confirmed Jesus omniscience as knew Judas was going to betray him “The one who dips his bread into the bowl with me”



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Transubstantiation



Bread and wine changes to body and blood of Jesus



Roman Catholics believe the eucharist is a re enactment of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. The priest in persona christi blesses the bread which becomes Jesus’ body and then the wine which becomes Jesus’ blood.



They hold this belief as Jesus said this is my body and this is my blood given up for you.



From this Jesus is physically present in the eucharist so we can physically receive Jesus in our lives, connect with him and he can help us live out the Christian message.



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Consubstantiation



__*JESUS IS SOMEHOW PRESENT BUT NOT PHYSICALLY*__



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Anglicans believe that in the Eucharist Jesus’ body and blood are somehow present through the forms of the bread and wine. Both are united but retain their distinctiveness. 



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They hold this belief as Jesus said “Where two or three gather in my name I am there”.



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Many believe that Jesus is spiritually present rather than literally. 



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Memorialism



__*DONE TO HONOUR JESUS SACRIFICE & REMEMBER HIM*__



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Baptists practise Memorialism in performing the Eucharist. They believe Christ is not present in the bread and wine but the ritual is simply an act of remembrance of what Jesus performed at the Last Supper. 



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Jesus said “Do this in memory of me”.



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They believe that by re-enacting this meal they call to mind Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for our sins and salvation and honour his order to keep his memory alive by performing Eucharist one of the sacraments. 



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Jesus said I am the bread of life



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EXCEPTION QUAKERS



Quakers don’t celebrate the eucharist or any of the sacraments in the Christian faith.



They don’t regard some activities as more scared than others



They don’t believe that any particular ritual is needed to get in touch with God as he is omnipresent



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BAPTISM AND THE SACRAMENTS



Describe an infant baptism



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Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that infant baptism removes the original sin for a baby and aids them on their journey to heaven.



At an infant baptism, the child is welcomed into the Church and is brought into the Christian family. Godparents and parents promise to bring up the child in a Christian faith



__Symbols used in an infant baptism__:



1)Water – cleanses of original sin



2)Making the sign of a cross on the baby’s forehead being anointed with oil – bless the child and gives them strength and god’s grace



3)Dressing the child in white – shows purity



4)Giving the parents a candle lit from the Paschal candle – shows shares in Jesus as the light of the world & resurrection



5)God Parents – spiritual advisors to help raise in the faith



Catholics and Orthodox Christians practice infant baptism to  wash away the child's original sin and to welcome them into Christianity family to grow in faith “Go make disciples of all nations”



“I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’”



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describe a believer’s baptism



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Some Christians such as Baptists and Strict Evangelicals think that a baby is too young to understand the meaning of baptism, so people should wait and be baptised when they are old enough to come to a mature decision about their faith and give their consent. They believe that baptism does not itself save a person; it is someone's conversion to living a life dedicated to Jesus that is important. Perform believer’s baptism as Jesus was an adult when he was baptised in the River Jordan



Believers baptism involves full immersion in a pool of water, symbolising the cleansing from sin and the rising up to new life with Christ (resurrection).



Rites vary but usually the minister talks about the importance of baptism and asks if the candidates are willing to change their lives and witness the faith.



Each person may read a Bible passage and give a brief testimony of their faith in Jesus as their personal saviour.



“I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’”



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Sacraments are holy rituals that outwardly express an inner, spiritual experience. They make visible for believers a special gift of grace, Catholic and Orthodox Christians expect seven sacraments which they believe to have been initiated by Jesus:



* Baptism
* Confirmation
* Holy Communion
* Marriage
* Holy Orders
* Reconciliation
* Anointing of the sick



Many Protestant Churches hold two sacraments baptism and Holy Communion as important rituals because they believe Jesus instructed them to undertake these.



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* Why is baptism important?



1\. It is a rite of passage that allows people to become members of the Christian Church (“make disciples of all nations”)



2\.Many Christians believe original sin is removed through the actions of baptism making salvation possible (water purifying “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit”)



3\.It follows the personal example of Jesus who was baptised by John the Baptist (following in Jesus’ footsteps)



4\.Believers’ baptism gives the individual an opportunity to publically proclaim their personal faith



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can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”



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“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”



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 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 



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Festivals- Christmas and easter



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Christians use religious festivals to remember or mark important events in the life of Jesus Christ or the history of the church.



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CHRISTMAS \n Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus (Incarnation – God in the flesh).



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As Jesus’ birth is so important to Christians, they have a period of preparation time leading up to Christmas known as Advent.



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Christians need time to prepare in order to fully get ready for Jesus entering the world and understand what this means for them as a Christian. 



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Advent begins 4 Sundays before Christmas day 25th December when Jesus enters the world. During Advent many Christians practise fasting particularly in the Orthodox Church while the tradition is no longer continued in the Western Church (RCC & Protestant). 



During Advent Christians prepare for the birth of Jesus:



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1\.Advent wreaths: a candle is lit each of the 4 Sundays in Church to count down to and prepare Christians for Christmas day – the birth of Jesus 



●



2\. Nativity: cribs set up & acted out in schools to remember the biblical story in Mt & Lk.



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3\. Attend Church on  Christmas Eve/Day to celebrate Jesus birth as a spiritual family.         Sing hymns, listen to readings and gather as a community.



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4\. Exchange Christmas gifts in honour of the tradition of the three wise men to Jesus



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Also Christians will engage in non-religious activities to celebrate e.g. send Christmas 



cards, decorate the house and visit family during this period. 



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EASTER



Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. This is due to the fact that it remembers the death and resurrection of Jesus, which if did not happen there would be no Christianity, as Jesus was not the Messiah. 



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LENT



Easter has a period of preparation in the lead up to Easter Sunday like Christmas has Advent. 



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Lent lasts for 40 days (6 weeks) commemorating the time Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying. While there he was tested three times by the devil to turn his back on God but Jesus resisted each time. (human nature/faith being tested)



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Lent begins with Ash Wednesday where Catholics receive the sign of the cross on their forehead to remember Jesus fighting temptation and the fragility of human nature. The priest says two things: “ Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” and     “ Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel”



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Traditionally on Ash Wednesday Christians fast to commemorate Jesus fasting in the desert and often either give something up/take something on to face temptation like Jesus did and come out stronger in faith. 



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Pancake day or Shrove Tuesday as it’s known was seen as an opportunity to use up foods that Christians would be giving up during Lent. 



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HOLY WEEK:



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PALM SUNDAY



* The day Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem by crowds waving palm branches and shouting hosanna
* He was hailed as king as he rode in on a humble donkey
* In some christian traditions such as Anglicans crosses made of palm leaves are received at mass- the palm branches often have holy water sprinkled on them



MAUNDY THURSDAY



* This the Thursday before Easter where Jesus has his last meal with the disciples where the Eucharist is established but practised differently in Christian tradition dependent on interpretation of what Jesus said. Here Jesus also washed the disciples feet to remind them that ‘no master is greater than his servant’.



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Today Christians for example Roman Catholics on Maundy Thursday will gather and have Holy Communion (Eucharist) to commemorate this. The priest will also wash volunteer’s feet from the congregation to remember Jesus’ message of service and love to one another. 



* Washing of disciples feet
* Eucharist



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GOOD FRIDAY \n - On Good Friday Christians remember Jesus’ death on the cross.



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For Christians it is a day of mourning as Jesus has been crucified by the authorities and is now dead. 



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Services will be held across all Christian traditions however Holy Communion/Eucharist will not be celebrated as Jesus is dead at this time. 



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Orthodox Christians will fast on Good Friday as a mark of respect for Jesus’ sacrifice. 



Catholics will walk the stations of the cross in Church to walk Jesus’ last journey with him to Golgotha and venerate (kiss) the cross as a sign of respect. 



1\. Walk the stations of the cross



2\.Attend mass and listen to Jesus’ trials



3\. Venerate the cross



4\. No Eucharist/flowers \n



EASTER SUNDAY



Easter Sunday marks the day of Jesus resurrection, when the women who went to the tomb found it empty.



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To celebrate this very important day Christians will attend special services and often new flowers will be in the Church as a sign of new life (Jesus rose).



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During the period of Lent Christians prepare to __celebrate this day in a variety of ways:__



◦ Exchange Easter eggs (egg new life)



◦Attend Church services throughout the 40 days to understand the importance of Jesus sacrifice for us (all denoms)



◦ Visit cemeteries to leave flowers for deceased family and friends



◦Go to confession to start the new Church year sin free like Jesus did in the desert with Satan (Catholics)



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* Go to church
* Exchange eggs
* Visit cemeteries



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CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE



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A pilgrimage is a religious journey to a sacred place, usually as an act of religious devotion. An example of a place of pilgrimage for Christians would be Taize in France. 



Pilgrimage has is not a new concept the Christian faith but has been a practice spanning across many generations.



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Christians see life ultimately as a journey towards God and a pilgrimage is faith in action. It represents the journey that all Christians make from Earth to Heaven. 



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Christians still make pilgrimages today and have travelled to the Holy Land ‘to walk in Jesus’ footsteps’. 



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Reasons for going on a pilgrimage



An act of penance to make up for things done wrong. 



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 A way to connect with God and deepen 



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Following in footsteps of Jesus (Holy Land/Via Delarosa)



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Being in a community and learn about your beliefs (Taize)



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Renew peoples faith and spiritual energy 



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To have a miracle performed (Lourdes) 



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WALSINGHAM- BRITAIN



* Norfolk
* Has been a holy site since 1061
* Richeldis de Faverches had a dream in which the Virgin Mary asked her to build a replica of the house in Nazareth where the Annunciation of Jesus birth. 



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From this dream/encounter with Mary, she built a small monastic church on the site in 1150. 



People from around the word come to visit this shrine and is an important place of pilgrimage because our journey begins at birth and this special place marks where  the announcement of Jesus birth took place. 



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TAIZE- FRANCE



* 1940, burgundy



It has been declared a holy site because Roger Schultz founded the monastic site for ecumenism. Monks from many different countries and denominations come to live a life together of communal prayer. 



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Reconciliation and resolution of conflict are at the heart of the Taize community. By bringing people together they from different Christian denominations such as Catholic & Protestant traditions the community promotes understanding and cooperation between them. Thus helping ecumenism (the unity of all baptised Christians). 



__Reasons people go to Taize:__



• Act of atonement



• Act of religious devotion 



• Act of supplication to as God for something



• Attempt to walk in the footsteps of people of faith 



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THE CHANGING RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE IN 21ST-CENTURY BRITAIN



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Christianity 2012- 59.3%



Christianity 59.3% population (33.2 million)



Islam 4.8% population (2.7 million)



Atheist 25% population (14.1 million)



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__The trends between 2001 – 2011 - 2021__



´Christianity decreased from 71.7% to 59.3% to 46.2%



´Atheism rose 14.8% to 25.1% to 37.2%



´Islam rose 3% to 4.8% to 6.5%



´



London was the most diverse nation with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity being identified with.



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North East and West highest proportion of Christians while Wales highest proportion of atheism. 



The Romans introduced Christianity to the UK 2000 years ago. This means that Christianity is embedded in many areas of British life including: traditions, laws and festivals. 



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The Church of England is the established religion of England meaning it has ties with the government (26 bishops sit in House of Lords) and judiciary system. 



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The monarch (Queen Elizabeth)  today is Head of State as well as being  Supreme Governor of the Church of England. This is due to King Henry the VIII rejecting the authority of the Pope in the 16th Century. 



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Many British customs and ways of life have come from a christian foundation



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Laws



The UK parliament is the body that makes all UK laws. 



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It is made up of two houses: Commons and Lords. In the house of the Lords there are 26 of the most senior Church of England bishops. 



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For laws to be approved the bill must pass both houses meaning the COE has a direct role in shaping UK law. Some of these laws hinge on the Ten Commandments ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Do not steal’. 



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Meetings of both houses of parliament open with Christian prayers. 



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Festivals



The Christian calendar influences UK public holidays. 



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This can be seen with Christmas and Easter being widely celebrated across the country. Often school holidays fall at these times and businesses may also close. 



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While for some these festivals have religious significance, for others they are more of a secular festival. 



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Throughout the year other religions celebrate their festivals such as Diwali in Leicester and Eid al –Fitr in Birmingham reminding us what a multi-faith country Britain is. 



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Secular festivals are also celebrated such as Guy Fawkes night and Notting Hill Carnival with no religious meaning other than to celebrate history and diversity. 



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Humanists recognise World Humanist Day (June). 



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THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY



Church- religious



´Mass – ‘Do this in memory of me’



´Weddings -  ‘What God joins together’



´Baptisms -  ‘Go make disciples of all nations’ 



´Funerals 



´Confessions 



Confirmation 



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Hall- not religious 



´Coffee mornings for elderly – ‘treat one another as you’d like to be treated’



´Refreshments after mass



´Weekly meal for homeless – The Sheep & the Goats



´Crèche facilities 



´Emergency shelters 



´Community centres 



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Outreach by the church in the community



Quakers visit people in prison (Sheep & the Goats/Elizabeth Fry)



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Catholic Church open SVP charity shop to raise funds for those living in poverty (The Rich Man)



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 Baptist Churches hold food banks for families struggling (Golden Rule)



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THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH



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Evangelism- the preaching of the gospel to others with the intention of converting others to the christian faith



Persecution- is the persistent cruel treatment, often of others due to religion or belief 



Christian persecution has always taken place from the crucifixion of Jesus and to the martyrdom of the disciples for the beliefs. St Peter was crucified upside down, St Paul was beheaded and many Christians were fed to lions in the Colosseum.  Jesus said remember “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first”. 



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This persecution and unjust treatment continues in societies todays such as Syria with Islamic State where Christians are forced to leave homes and face violent attacks. 



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Evangelical Christians organisations such as Open Doors seek to help persecuted Christians. They provide practical help, Bibles and work for persecuted Christians human rights. 



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Evangelism is the way the gospel is spread with the aim of teaching people about Jesus, with the hope of conversion. Christians are said to be evangelists as they witness the faith in their lives today rather than preaching. 



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From this old tradition/duty, Christian missionaries such as the Catholic Church were set up to go spread the faith to other countries. Jesus said “go make disciples of all nations”. These missionaries while having the important role of converting people, they also brought education and medical supplies to these disadvantaged countries. 



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However, today as we live in a pluralist society where evangelism can be controversial. People should be respectful of other faiths/beliefs rather than trying to change them. 



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CHURCH GROWTH



While COE and RCC church attendance numbers have been dropping, they have now reached their lowest of under 1 million a week. 



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However the Evangelical churches in Britain are thriving, with people leaving traditional churches to join more animated/charismatic ones. From this new trend, Church planting is now an established process for Evangelical Churches. This is where an established group will split off from the Church they were with and start a new else where – Icthus Fellowship. 



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To tackle this COE (Church of England) have started the Fresh Expressions, where congregations meet in less traditional settings such as café, beach or gym to talk about their faith.



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One should remember Christianity is a worldwide religion and is successfully spreading in other parts of the world. The Pew Research estimates that by 2050 4/10 Christians will live in Sub-Saharan Africa. 



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DESCRIBE THE WORK OF TEARFUND



Tearfund is a Christian charity who aims to put Jesus teaching of ‘love thy neighbour’ into action, thus reflecting agape. The charity works through Church groups to help the poor. 



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__What do Tearfund do:__



Provide emergency aid in natural disasters



Carry out long term projects to support local communities



In Columbia set up sports groups for children to avoid gangs



In Columbia offer mentoring to equip them with life skills



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__Why is Tearfund important:__



 raising public awareness on social issues such as poverty (Adulterous Woman)



gives practical help in order to act out teachings of Jesus to help others (Parable of the Sheep & the Goats)



encourages self-help for both individuals and communities 



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OPEN DOORS



__What is Open Doors:__



A Christian organisation established by Brother Roger to smuggle Bibles to persecuted Christians in the Soviet Union.



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__What it does today:__



Distributes Bible to those who may not have access to them 



Provides training to Christians and Church leaders to deal with trauma they are suffering whilst keeping faith



Provides support for Christians who have been victims of disasters



Lobby MP’s in government on behalf of persecuted Christians to raise awareness of their situation and gather support for them



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EXAMPLES OF PERSECUTION AND WHY TO EXPECT IT



*Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. The harassment of Christians was the highest in the Middle East and North Africa where they are in a minority group. Research published in August 2011 by Pew Research Centre revealed that Christians were harassed in 130 countries by either governments, organisations, and social groups and individuals.* 



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*In 2016, a French priest was stabbed to death for being Christian during a morning mass.*



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*In 2017, on Palm Sunday the start of the Holy Week, two Egyptian Coptic churches became a target for terrorists. At least 27 people were killed in one explosion and in another 17 people were killed. A few hours after the attacks, Daesh [Islamic State] claimed responsibility for the unleashed terror in Egypt*



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*In North Korea, Christians are* sent to labour camps as political prisoners where the conditions are atrocious, or killed on the spot – and their families will share their fate as well. Out of fear it is *i*mpossible for believers to gather or meet to worship.



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*Jesus says in Matthew 10 that Christians should expect and be prepared for persecution due their beliefs but to hold steadfast as they will be rewarded*



*“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first”.*



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WORKING FOR RECONCILIATION



Reconciliation is the idea of making up after an argument and moving on. 



Within Christianity there are many denominations which at times are in conflict causing tension. Today as we live in a pluralist society many Christians believe it is important that they work together. 



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There are two groups that work for this reconciliation/unity of Christians. Working for this desired unity of all Christians is called Ecumenism. 



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The Ecumenical Movement and the World Council of Churches. 



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__The Ecumenical Movement__



This movement of uniting all Christians began in 1910 at the Edinburgh Conference. From this much progress was made in reconciling the Christian groups with some sharing a common building and joint ecumenical services. 



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__The World Council of Churches:__



 A week of special prayers are held for Christian unity. Unfortunately the RCC are not a member of this but it brings together denominations and Church fellowships from 110 countries. 



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From this global initiative a local one called ‘Churches together in England’ was established to focus locally on fellowship of those who share the Christian faith.



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