RS Christianity BELIEFS AND TEACHINGS

omnipotent

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

example and quote of god being omnipotent

Omnibenevolent

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

example and quote of god being omnibenevolent

Psalm 86:15

"but you lord area compassionate and gracious god, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness"

-shows god as merciful an is rich in love

What is the evidence of immense suffering the world?

holocaust

war

starvation

What are gods reasons for suffering?

-sin (original sin) causes suffering- Adam and eve

-god shares in our suffering

-life is one big test

-have to trust gods wisdom

-there is a force of evil in the world (Satan/devil) who was a fallen angel

What did Epicurus say about god?

"is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? then he is not omnipotent. is not willing? then he is malevolent. is he able and willing? then whence cometh evil? is he neither able nor willing? then why call him god?"

What is the book of job story?

-a man called job lives in Uz with large family and flocks

-described as blameless and uptight man, who careful to avoid doing evil

-Satan gets permission from god to test Job's loyalty by punishing him for nothing

-Jobs flock, servants and 10 children all die

-Job still blesses God

-Satan punishes him more

-his friends challenge his good views on god

-he stays loyal and faithful

What does the story of Job show?

-Job shows that though gods ways are beyond human understanding he still has faith and understand his place in the world.

-that you have to trust god and not question him

A quote from the story of job?

Job 13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him"

Trinity

the 3 persons of god; god the father, the son and the holy spirit

Beliefs about god the father

-all powerful, all knowing part of god who created the world

-Christians believe that it shows the caring relationship between god and humans

Beliefs about Jesus Christ

-son of god; god in human form (incarnation)

-when becoming human God revealed a part of himself to us

Beliefs about the Holy Spirit

-after Jesuses resurrection he rose to heaven

-God sent the holy spirit into world

-guides Christians on how to live their lives and interpret the bible

Quote on the trinity

John 10:30

"I and the father are one"

shows unity and oneness of the trinity and how Jesus shares the same divine nature as god

Day 1 of Genesis

God created the night and day (called light=day and dark=night)

Day 2 of Genesis

God created the sky, separated waters below from the waters above

Day 3 of Genesis

God created sea and land (plants and trees grew)

Day 4 of Genesis

God created sun, moon and stars to give light

Day 5 of Genesis

God created sea creatures and birds to fill water and sky

Day 6 of Genesis

God created land animals, humans

Day 7 of Genesis

God rested

How is Eve formed?

-Adam lives in paradise in the Garden of Eden

-God creates a companion for him from his rib and names her Eve

Quote on Eves formed

Genesis 2:22

"Then the lord god made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man"

What command did god give Adam and eve?

to not eat from the tree of knowledge and the tree of good and evil that grows in the garden

Quote on Gods command

"You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden"

What happens at the fall of humanity?

-Adam and eve are tempted by the devil to eat the fruit from the tree

-the serpent tells them they will be as knowledgeable as god if they eat from it

-they give in temptation

-they confess to god he punishes by sending them to earth

Why is the fall of humanity significant?

represents the relationship between god and humanity being broken

-they now believe all Christians are born with original sin

-shows humankind as unique among gods creation as humans were created in gods image

What is the role of Word and Spirit in creation?

'Word' refers to Jesus, the second part of the trinity and the belief that the 'Word' is Jesus, are central to the belief that Jesus in God and was present at creation

Quote on the role of Word and Spirit in creation

John 1:1-5

"In the beginning was the word and the word was with God, and the word as God"

Incarnation

God becoming human in the form of Jesus

What was told to Mary?

-She was told my angel she would give birth to a child called Jesus

-She was a virgin when she gave birth to him

Quote on what happened to Mary

Luke 1:28:33

"The angel went to her and said "greetings, you are highly favoured! the lord is with you""

What did the 3 kings do?

followed a star from east baring 3 gifts (gold, frankincense, myrrh)

What did king Herod do?

ordered a census to kill all innocent boys under 1 so Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem

Where was Jesus born?

born in a stable "There is no room at the inn"

lowly birth

Quote on Jesus' incarnation

John 1:14

"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"

Resurrection

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

Day 3 of resurrection (Easter Sunday)

-Jesus rose from the dead

-Mary Magdalene and other woman go to anoint his body in the early morning they find the stone rolled and Jesus body not inside

What did the angel say to Mary Magdalene?

Luke 24:5-6

"Why do you seek the living amongst the dead? He is not here, but has risen"

What did Jesus do after his resurrection?

Appeared to 11 of his disciples, Paul an apostle and too many others over 40 days

Quote on Jesus 40 days after his resurrection

Corinthians 15:3-8

"After he appeared to more than 5 hundred of his brothers and sisters at the same time"

What is the importance of Jesus resurrection?

-seen as the greatest miracle

-without resurrection no Christianity

-gives the reassurance (hope) there is life after death

Thursday evening of the Crucifixion (1)

The last supper Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples

Late Thursday night of the Crucifixion (2)

Garden of Gethsemane asks his disciples to stay awake and pray with him

Midnight of Crucifixion (3)

Arrest Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus, leading to his arrest by the temple guards

Early Friday morning of Crucifixion (4)

Trial before the Sanhedrin he's falsely accused and condemned

Dawn Friday of Crucifixion (5)

Trial before Pilate finds no fault in him but still allows him to be crucified

Early morning Friday of Crucifixion (6)

Scourging and mocking, brutally beaten and mocked by soldiers and crown of thorns placed on his head

Mid morning Friday of Crucifixion (7)

Nailed to the cross

12-3 Friday of Crucifixion (8)

Darkness over the land

3pm Friday of Crucifixion (9)

Death of Jesus he cries out and dies

Sunset Friday of Crucifixion (10)

Burial, Jesus laid out in a sealed tomb

Quote on Crucifixion

-Matthew 27:45:46

"From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land"

Atonement

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

Atonement in relation to Adam and Eve

when they ate the forbidden fruit they destroyed the relationship with God and introduced sin into the world

Why do Christians believe God sent Jesus?

to repair the relationship and through his death Jesus paid the price 'atoned' for human sin

Quotes on salvation and atonement

Leviticus 16:20-22

"and when he has made an end of atoning"

meaning he was the end of sacrifice as he atoned for sins of humanity before Jews would sacrifice animals

Ascension

action of rising to an important position or a higher level

How does Jesus ascend?

he blesses his disciples then he leaves and goes up to heaven on the 14th day after resurrection

What is the literal interpretation of Jesus' ascension?

he physically ascends

What is the liberal interpretation of Jesus' ascension?

symbolically represents his end of time on earth

Quote showing Jesus' ascension?

Luke 24:50-53

"he lifted up his hands and blessed them. while he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven"

What do some Christians believe about the 'word of god'?

that all Bible content should be taken as literally true because it is a divine revelation and that every story actually happened

What is the most important source of authority for some Christians?

the bible they will favour over science eg genesis over the creation story

Inspiration

refers to the Bible as being inspired by God

How is the bible special to other books?

as it was not written by humans and instead is gods word can be translated as 'god-breathed'

revelation

the idea that the bible is one of the ways which god revealed himself to humans

What are different ways of interpreting Biblical writing?

1)word of god

2)requires interpretation (needs to be adapted to fit modern society)

3)liberal view that it is full of symbolic stories that show us how to live (don't believe every story happened)

What are other sources of authority?

-sacred texts

-religious leaders

-family

-conscience

-community

-media

salvation

the chance to live with god for eternity after death

What do Christians believe about salvation with Jesus?

-that Jesus was a sacrifice to pay for human sin last ever sacrifice to God

-Jesus paid the ransom for human sin this then released humans from captivity and allowing them to be saved

How do Catholics and Protestants achieve salvation?

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

-Catholics also believe that baptism washes them of sin and by confessing they are freed

-protestants believe they must have faith in Jesus to repent sin

What do Christians believe about the Holy spirit?

they believe God sent the holy spirit to bring grace

When did the holy spirit appear to the disciple?

after Jesus ascension to heaven the holy spirit came in there houses and enables them to speak in tongues so they can understand each other

A quote showing how the holy spirit enabled the disciples?

Act 2:1-6

"All of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them"

Evangelism

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

What is evangelical worship?

a form of worship where there encouraged to be moved by the spirit

What do evangelical worshippers believe about the spirit?

they believe the spirit is present and influences them in their prayers will often shout and praise God think they are moved to speak in tongues

Eschatological

belief about the 'last things', death, judgement, heaven and hell

Quote on the apostle Paul and his letter to the Corinthians

Corinthians 1:15-17

"If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are are still in your sins"

What do Christians believe about life after death?

they believe in it as it is fundamental to Christianity that Jesus rose 3 days after being crucified

What do Christian believe about judgement?

that there will be a judgement day when people will die and they will be judged by god for the quality of their lives

What do Christians believe will happen on judgment day?

that Jesus will return to earth in a 'second coming'

What does Matthew describe about how Jesus will separate people?

he will separate them into those going to heaven and those going to hell

Quote on Matthew and judgement day

"he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats"

What do Christians believe about people resurrecting?

that when they die there soul is able to join god in heaven but that there will also be a physical resurrection at the end of time like how Jesus was

Quote on humans resurrecting like Jesus did

Corinthians 15:42-53

"If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body"

What do Christians believe about Heaven?

-place in the afterlife you go if you have the right

-where god and angels are located

-some believe its a physical place

-in the sky

-a spiritual dimension

-heaven is a reward

What do Christians believe about Hell?

-place of immense suffering

-physical place where people burn eternally

-or a spiritual dimension

-torment of being away from God

-below ground

- hell is a punishment