Christianity Beliefs and Teachings

Who are the members of the Trinity?

1. God(the Father)

2. Jesus(the Son)

3. The Holy Spirit

What do Christians believe about the Trinity?

The Trinity is one God manifested through three Persons

Who is God the Father?

God the Father is the omnipotent creator

Who is God the Son?

God the Son is the human incarnation of God who saved humanity from sin

Who is The Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is God's active presence in the world today

What are the beliefs of the Trinity?

1. All three Persons of the Trinity were involved in creation

2. All three Persons of the Trinity are consubstantial with eachother

3. All three Persons of the Trinity are fully God

How does the belief in the Trinity influence Christians today(3 reasons)

1. To read the Bible and learn more about the nature of God. This is because some Christians would not understand the concept of God being manifested through three Persons

2. To attend Church and worship God. This is because the Church is the central place for Trinitarian worship.

3. To live in loving harmony with others. This is because all the three Persons of the Trinity are all consubstantial with eachother

4. To feel God's presence and love through the three Persons of the Trinity. This is because God the Son and The Holy Spirit are immanent(i.e. They are present and active in the world).

What does the term transcendent mean?

1. The belief that God is outside the Universe, and how He is beyond space and time.

2. This belief is attributed to God the Father

What does the term immanent mean?

1. The belief that God is active and present in the world.

2. This belief is attributed to God the Son and The Holy Spirit

What does the term eternal mean?

1. The belief that God has no beginning or end.

2. This belief is attributed to all three Person of the Trinity.

What does the term omnipotent mean?

The idea that God is all powerful

How does God's omnipotence influence Christians today( 2 reasons) ?

1. Motivates Christians to worship God because followers would feel that He is worthy of worship

2. Motivates Christians to pray to God because followers would feel that He is powerful enough to rectify their situations by performing miracles.

What does the term omniscience mean?

The belief that God is all knowing

How does the belief that God is all knowing influence Christians today?

1. Motivates Christians to perform moral, charitable. This is because followers would argue that they will be rewarded by spending eternity in God's presence.

2. Decentivises Christians from committing sin. This is because followers would argue that God is aware of all things that happen on Earth, and how they will be punished on the Day of Judgement.

What does the term omnibenevolent mean?

The belief that God is all loving

How does the belief that God is omnibenevolent influence Christians today?

1. Motivates Christians to express love towards those around them. This is because God demonstrated His love for humanity by creating us.

2. Motivates Christians to forgive those around them. This is because Jesus forgave all those who wanted Him to die through crucifixion.

How does the belief that God is just influence Christians today?

1. Motivates Christians to treat others around them fairly and with respect. This is because God will judge everyone fairly on the Day of Judgement.

2. Motivates Christians to follow God's teachings. This is because Christians believe that God will hold them to account as He is the ultimate Judge.

What does the term "ex-nihilo" mean?

This is the belief that God created the world out of nothing( "ex nihilo").

What are the problems of evil and suffering?

1. If God is omnibenevolent, then how can suffering and evil exist in the world today?

2. If God is omnipotent, then why can't He end all the suffering and evil in the world?

What is a theodicy?

A defence of God

What is the Saint Augustinian Theodicy?

1. This theodicy explains how the evil and suffering in today's world is caused by the original sin committed by Adam and Eve.

2. This took place in the Garden Of Eden, where Adam and Eve disobeyed God's instruction by eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

3. Therefore, it must be acknowledged how Adam and Eve broke God's trust, causing evil and suffering to enter the world. This is known as "The Fall."

What do Catholics believe about original sin?

1. Catholics believe that all humans are born sinful because we inherited the natural act to sin from Adam and Eve.

2. This is because we were present in Adam's "loins" when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

What is a criticism for the Saint Augustinian Theodicy?

It is unjust for all of humanity to be punished because of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

What is John Hick's "The vale of soul-making" theodicy?

1. John Hick argued that this world is not meant to be perfect, it is supposed to be a place where humans are meant to grow spiritually, morally, and physically.

2. The involvement of evil and suffering in this world will help humans to persevere through difficult challenges and grow into God's likeness

What are some criticisms for John Hick's "vale of soul-making" theodicy?

1. If God is omnipotent, surely he can create other methods that allow humans to develop other than extreme events such as the Holocaust.

2. Why should some people die from diseases and plagues, such as cancer, while others get to live luxurious lives. If the world is meant to be filled with pain and suffering for humans to grow, everyone should experience it.

What does the term creation mean?

1. Bringing the world into existence

2. The world is God's loving creation

List everything that was created from day 1 to day 7

1. Light

2. Sky

3. Dry land, sea, plants, and trees

4. The Sun, Moon, and Stars

5. Fish and birds

6. Land animals and humans

7. God rested

Explain some criticisms to the order of creation

1. How can plants and trees be created before the Sun, if these organisms require sunlight for photosynthesis to produce food for survival.

2. How do we know what was created from days 1-5 if humans were not created yet

3. How can the sky be created before the Sun, Moon, and Stars

What is the significance of the term "imago dei?"

1. "Imago dei" means "in the image of God."

2. This means that humans were created in the image of God and should, therefore, should live moral, charitable lives to respect God's love and dedication to creation.

What are the two Christian beliefs of creation?

1. Literal

2. Non-literal

What do literalists believe about the story of creation?

1. They believe that the account of creation from Genesis is completely accurate

2. They believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God

3. They believe that God created the Universe in literally six twenty four hour days followed by a day of rest

4. They reject scientific explanations for creation- such as the Big Bang and evolution.

What do non-literalists believe about the story of creation?

1. They do not accept the literal accounts of creation from Genesis, but see it as a spiritual and moral truth explaining why God created life

2. They still accept that God is the creator of all life, but how He used the Big Bang and evolution in His process of creating life that is good and purposeful

3. They see no conflict between faith and science

Explain two ways the belief in creation influences Christians today

1. Motivates Christians to go to Church to worship and pray God. This is because they would acknowledge God as an omnipotent being who created the Universe from nothing, meaning that he is worthy of worship.

2. Incentivises Christians to protect and conserve the natural environment. This is because they would acknowledge God's loving devotion to humanity for creating them and the Earth and would, therefore, desire to protect his creation out of respect

What does resurrection mean?

1. Rising from the dead.

2. Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God incarnate, rose from the dead.

3. Followers believe that they can also be resurrected if they have a strong belief in Jesus

What does judgement mean?

1. Christians believe that there will be a judgement day where God will judge the souls of all of humanity

2. Based on this, God will reward moral souls with eternal life with Him, or punish sinful souls with eternal suffering.

What is Heaven?

1. A place of happiness and divinity, a reward for moral and charitable souls.

2. Heaven is also a place where souls will experience eternal life in the presence of God

What is Hell?

1. A place of torment and suffering; a punishment for sinful souls.

2. Hell is also an eternal life of separation from God's presence

When do Christians believe Jesus was resurrected?

Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected on Easter Sunday, three days after he was crucified.

How does the belief in the resurrection influence Christians today?

1. Motivates Christians to worship Jesus Christ. This is because a strong,reinforced belief in Jesus will allow them to be resurrected as well.

2. Allows followers to remove their fear of death and acknowledge how there is life after death. This is because the resurrection is the foundation of Christian faith and belief, and how it proves Jesus is the Son of God.

Provide reasons to support Jesus' resurrection

1. Mary Magdalene, a female follower of Jesus, went to Jesus' tomb to anoint Him, however, she found two Angels who proclaimed that Jesus had resurrected.

2. Days after His resurrection, Jesus began to present Himself to His followers, before ascending back to Heaven.

Explain how the Parable of the Sheep(taught by Jesus) and the Goats relate to God's judgement

1. This Parable dictates how God will judge the souls of humanity.

2. The Parable highlights how God rewards those( i.e. the "Sheep) who have dedicated their lives to help the poor and sick, who required physical and mental aid through the need of food, water, and clothing. God emphasises how aiding the vulnerable equates to serving Him.

3. The Parable also dictates how God punishes those( i.e the "Goats) who have chosen not to help the poor and the sick but, instead, have only fulfilled their selfish desires. God, therefore, states how not helping the vulnerable equates to not serving Him.

What are some criticisms for the Parable of the Sheep and Goats?

1. Would it not be too extreme for one to be punished, by eternal suffering and torment in Hell, if they have not visited prisons? This is because based on modern regulations it would not be applicable for one to go to a prison to offer support to workers.

2. Why should someone be kind and charitable to strangers? This raises concerns for their own safety because they cannot invite strangers to their households.

Explain whether faith without tangible work is enough to be rewarded with eternal life with God

1. Based on the teachings from Jesus in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, He emphasises how a life without service to the vulnerable will result in eternal suffering and torment in Hell.

2. This contrasts with His previous statement-"Whoever believes in Me will live even though they die."

What is the Catholic belief in purgatory?

1. Catholics believe that the souls of people who committed sins but still have chance and ability for moral goodness will go to purgatory

2. Purgatory is a place where the souls of these people will be clensed before entering Heaven.

What are two Christian beliefs in Heaven?

1. A physical place

2. A spiritual state

Why might some Christians believe Heaven is a physical place?

1. Some Christians may believe that Heaven is a physical place, where their Earthly bodies will be resurrected, allowing them to experience the state of God in their human form.

2. This is becuase Jesus stated, "My Father's house has many rooms." The noun of "house" provides connotations to a physical strucutre, while also implying how Heaven is a comforting place.

Why might some Christians believe Heaven is a spiritual place?

1. Some Christians may believe Heaven is a spiritual place, where their souls will be resurrcted instead of their human forms, allowing them to experience the presenc of God in this spiritual form.

2. This is because the Bible teaches," Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God," implying how our bodily forms will not enter Heaven, but rather our soul.

How might Christians be influenced from the belief of Heaven?

1. Motivates Christians to live good, charitable lives. This is because God is omniscient and will acknowledge these positve actions, granting them an eternity in His presence.

2. Worship and pray to God. This is because Jesus claims how faith alone is enough to be granted a place in Heaven

3. Follow God's commandments( 10 commandments). This is because following these commandments are enough to be granted a place in Heaven.

4. Feel comforted, warm, and safe. This is because Christians can remove their fear of death as they will acknowledge how God will grant them a place in Heaven, a state of happiness and joy, if they live good and charitable lives.

List two Christian beliefs about Hell

1. Hell is a physical place

2. Hell is a state of being separated from God's presence

Explain why some Christians may interpret Hell as a physical place

1. Some Christians would argue that Hell is a physical place as the immoral and sinful souls that are sent to this tormentful place should experience physical suffering because of their wrongful actions on Earth.

2. The Bible teaches how Hell is a," fiery lake of burning sulphur."

Explain why some Christians may intepret Hell as a separation from God

1. Some Christians may believe that Hell is not a place of physical suffering but a separation from God's presence.

2. This is because God is omnibenevolant and would not want his creation to experience torment and suffering.

3. The Catholic Church describes Hell as the "State of exclusion from God."

What does incarnation mean?

1. Incarnation means "in flesh" or "enfleshed"

2. This is the belief that God took human form through ther person of Jesus Christ

Explain the story of the incarnation

1. The incarnation is where God took human form through the person of Jesus Christ

2. Jesus' Earthly mother and father were the Virgin Mary and Joseph of Nazareth. The Angel Gabriel visited Mary and Joseph on several occasions to inform them that they were going to miracuously give birth to God's Son- without sexual intercourse.

3. Jesus was born on the 25th of December- Christmas Day.

Suggest why the incarnation is important and how this influences Christians today

1. Christians can acknowledge how God understands human suffering. This is because Jesus was fully human and fully God when he was being crucified- a painful experience.

2. This emphasises God's immanence and omnibenevolance. This is because God was ready to let his own Son die to save humanity from its sins, but also how God was present in the world through Jesus.

3. The religion of Christianity was able to form. This is because Jesus' incarnation was preached by His followers(i.e the Apostles) after His death.

4. This allowed Jesus to perform miracles that aided society at the time. This is because Jesus was made famous for raising Lazarus( a begger) from death.