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