RS: Christianity - Beliefs and Teachings + Practices (Key Words)

Catholic

Catholic

a branch of Christianity, based in Rome and led by the pope

Orthodox

a branch of Christianity mainly, but not entirely, practised in Eastern Europe

Protestant

a branch of Christianity, originally Protestants were called by that name because they protested against some of the practices of the Catholic Church; there are many Protestant denominations, but they agree on the central belief that the Bible is only authority for Christians

Denomination

a distinct group within the Christian faith, with its own organisation and traditions

Omnipotent

unlimited power

Benevolent

all-loving

Justice

bring about what’s right and fair

Trinity

Three persons in one God

Holy Spirit

Prescence of God in the world

Son of God

Jesus

Creation

God brought the universe into being

The word

term used at beginning of john’s gospel referring to Jesus

Incarnation

Taking human form

Resurrection

Jesus rising from the dead

Blasphemy

claiming to be God

Crucifixion

Roman method of execution by which criminals are fixed to a cross

Ascension

the event 40 days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to God

Heaven

a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God

Hell

the place of eternal suffering or the state of being without God

Afterlife

what Christian’s believe follows life on earth

Day of Judgment

a time when the world will end, and every soil will be judged by God and rewarded or punished

Purgatory

the intermediate state where souls are cleansed to enter heaven

Satan

Devil, power, and source of evil

Sin

any action or thought that separates humans from God, behaviour against gods’ laws

Original Sin

an Augustine Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born with a built-in urge to do bad things and to disobey God

Salvation

saving the soul, deliverance from sin and admission to heaven brought about by Jesus

Grace

a quality of God which god shows to humans by providing love and support which they do not need to earn

Forgiveness

showing grace and mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong

Atonement

restoring the relationship between people and God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus

Mass

ceremony also called Eucharist in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated through communion

Worship

acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion

Liturgical Worship

a church service that follows a set structure or ritual.

Non-liturgical worship

a service that does not follow a set text or ritual

Informal Worship

a type of non-liturgical worship, sometimes ‘spontaneous’ or ‘charismatic’ in nature

Private worship

when a believer praises or honours god on his or her own

Prayer

Communicating with God, either silently or through words of praise

Set prayers

Prayers that have been said more then once or been written down

Informal prayers

Prayer that is made up by an individual using his or her own words

Nonconformist

an English protestant who does not conform to the doctrines or practices of the established church of England

Sacraments

rites and rituals through which the believer receives a special gift or grace

Baptism

the ritual through which people become members of the church; baptism involves the use of water as a symbol of the washing away sins

Believers’ baptism

initiation into the church, by immersion in water, of people old enough to understand the ceremony

Infant baptism

the ritual through which babies and young children become members of the church

Holy Communion (Eucharist)

a service of thanksgiving in which the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus are celebrated using bread and wine

Pilgrimage

a journey by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons, act of worship and devotion

Festival

a day or period of celebration for religious reasons

Christmas

the day commemorating the incarnation, the birth of Jesus

Easter

the religious season celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead

Church

the holy people of God, body of Christ, a building of worship

Agape

a word used in the bible that describes selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love

Mission

the vocation or calling of a religious organisation or individual to go out into the work and spread their faith

The Great Commission

Jesus’ instruction to his followers that they should speed his teachings to all the nations of the world

Missionary

a person sent on a religious mission especially to promote Christianity in foreign countries through preaching

Evangelism

spreading the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness

Reconciliation

a sacrament in the Catholic Church, also the restoring of harmony after relationships have broken down.

Persecution

hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs