Human experience - early church

How many martyrs in 20th century?

more than all previous centuries combined. over 35 to 40 million Christians

Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall?

• Victims of the Columbine high school massacre, April 20th 1999

• Rachel Scott was the first victim, Cassie was asked if she believed in God and was shot when she said yes

Kasanga massacre?

Feb 12 2025, ADF militants abducted at least 70 Christians, took them to a church, and beheaded them with machetes

West Nickel Mines school shooting?

At an Amish school 12 October 2006, Charles Carl Roberts took hostages and shot 10 girls, killing 6, before committing suicide.

Jews in WWII?

The holocaust resulted in the murders of 6 million Jews, 1 million of whom were killed in gas chambers in Auswitz

Christchurch mosque shootings?

• mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand 2019, causing death of 51

Somalia?

Sharia law - only islam is allowed and the government comply with islamic military forces

What laws make it difficult for christians to practice their faith and why?

• changes in law on abortion/euthanasia

• changes in same sex marriage issues

• Society is becoming more secular and catered towards those without religious belief. Changes in law mean that christians may find it difficult to comply with both religious teaching and government rules

ashers baking company?

was fined £500 after refusing to bake a ‘support gay marriage’ cake, saying they could not make a cake that supported something they found offensive to their religious belief

What is open doors?

A non-denominational mission supporting persecuted christians around the world

raise awareness of global persecution, mobilising prayer, support and action among christians from around the world

Barnabas aid?

international, interdenominational christian aid agency that supports christians who face discrimination or persecution as a consequence of their faith

How does the existence of these organisations suggest persecution is still happening?

they wouldn’t need to exist if persecution didnt exist

examples of countries who severely persecute christians?

North Korea and Somalia - consistently on the top of the Open Doors World Watch List

Manchester synagogue attack?

Judaism - during Yom Kippur, man drove a car into pedestrians before stabbing worshippers, 3 people died. 2 october 2025

Hainan Island?

Muslim population of 10,000, hijab banned in schools and ban on traditional dress

importance of religious conversion - John Wesley

May 24th 1738. At a Moravian society meeting, he felt his ‘heart strangely warmed and became a tireless preacher travelling over 250,00 miles to spread scriptural holiness

Chris Killen?

former drug addict from Lisburn saw how wicked he was and asked for God’s mercy, converted to Christianity. Since conversion, he reached other teens trapped in drugs and spread the christian message to them

Chuck Colson.

After facing intense scrutiny over watergate scandal and 7 months in prison for obstruction of justice, he realised he needed Jesus and became a respected Christian leader

example of a church that makes society question religious conversion?

Westboro baptist church- aggressive protests and behaviour clash with widespread religious values such as compassion and tolerance, making society doubt they are ‘truly christian’

group that society views with deep suspicion?

Toronto blessing- behaviours such as uncontrollable laughter, shaking, altered states of consciousness can appear irrational and performative as they challenge conventional ideas of religion - may view them as temporary psychological influence rather than genuine conversion

Why might people find it difficult to accept different types of conversion?

some grow up in christians homes whereas others experience visions or encounters which can make it difficult to define a true conversion

Examples of groups that claim to be religious but the way they treat others makes people question motives?

• ISIS and the Taliban- association with violence, coercion, and extremist ideology leads to questioning individuals faith as the quaran claims to preach peace

• Mother and baby homes, peadophiles in the church (Father brendan Smyth) - why is this accepted when it contradicts scriptures?

Examples of individuals who devote lives to religious practice as a result of conversion?

• Mother Theresa - helping sick and gave ‘wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor’

• Maud Kells - spent 5 decades of her life providing maternity care to congolese women and building a hospital in a rainforest village

Who is William Wilberforce?

Parliamentary spokesperson for the abolition movement in the 1780s to 1800s

How did William Wilberforce use his faith?

due to deeply held evangelical christian beliefs, which fuelled a moral conviction that owning other human beings was sinful, he helped abolish slavery

Who is Lord Shaftsbury?

British politician and social reformer. in early 1800s.

What did Lord Shaftsbury do?

His Christian faith inspired him to press for a number of social changed - God called him to labour among the poor and he felt comforted by his faith

Martin Luther King Jr?

Christian minister, and his religious faith directly shaped his political activism in the US Civil Rights Movement. His belief in equality and non-violence (inspired by Christian teaching) helped drive campaigns against segregation and racial injustice.

Spanish Inquisition?

This is often cited as an example of religion being linked to oppressive political power. It involved state-supported religious courts that punished heresy harshly, including torture and executions. Here, religious authority was used to enforce political and social control, leading to fear and persecution rather than tolerance.

Taliban rule in afghanistan?

The Taliban’s governance (especially in the 1990s and again after 2021) is an example of religion being closely tied to political authority in a restrictive way. Their interpretation of religious law has been used to justify strict limits on education, freedom of expression, and women’s rights.

What is infant baptism?

A Christian ritual where a baby is baptised with water, often marking entry into the Church.

why might infant baptism be important in a belivers’s life?

• Shows belonging to the Christian community from birth

• Represents cleansing from original sin (in some denominations)

• Strengthens family faith tradition

Why might infant baptism not be important in a believer’s life?

• The baby doesn’t understand or choose it

• Some Christians think faith should be a personal decision later in life

• Can feel like a tradition rather than real belief

What is believer’s baptism?

A Christian baptism for older people who choose to be baptised after believing.

Why might believer’s baptism be important in a believer’s life?

• Shows personal commitment to faith

• Symbolises a conscious decision to follow Jesus

• Often seen as a “real” step of discipleship

why might believers baptism not be important in a believer’s life?

• Only symbolic, doesn’t change beliefs automatically

• Some argue faith matters more than rituals

• Pressure from community may influence decision

What is confirmation?

A Christian rite where a person confirms their faith, often as a teenager.

Why could confirmation be important?

• Strengthens commitment to God and church

• Often involves receiving the Holy Spirit

• Marks spiritual maturity in many churches

Why might confirmation not be important?

• Some do it due to family/school pressure

• Can be seen as just a tradition or ceremony

• Not always followed by stronger religious practice

what is first communion?

A Catholic ceremony where a child receives the Eucharist for the first time.

why might first communion be important?

• Considered receiving the body of Christ

• Deepens connection with Jesus

• Major milestone in Catholic life

Why might first communion not be important?

• Children may not fully understand its meaning

• Often more about celebration than belief

• Some may not continue regular church practice

what is bar/bat mitzvah?

A Jewish coming-of-age ceremony at 13 (boys) or 12 (girls).

Why are bar/mat mitzvahs important?

• Marks responsibility for following Jewish law

• Shows becoming an adult in the faith community

• Involves reading from the Torah, showing religious knowledge

Why might bar/bat mitzvahs not be important?

• Some attend mainly for cultural/family reasons

• Not all continue strong religious practice afterwards

• Can become more social event than religious commitment

what is the Adhan in a newborn’s ear

In Islam, the Adhan (call to prayer) is whispered into a baby’s right ear soon after birth, often by the father.

why might adhan be important?

• The first words a baby hears are about Allah, showing they belong to God from the start

• Helps “imprint” Islamic faith at the beginning of life

• Symbolises welcoming the child into the Muslim community (Ummah)

• Encourages lifelong connection to prayer and faith

why might adhan not be important?

• The baby has no understanding of what is happening

• It is symbolic rather than something the child chooses

• Some may see it as cultural tradition rather than real religious commitment

• Doesn’t guarantee the child will follow Islam later in life