christian practices

Question 1

what is worship?

Answer 1

Christians showing their love and respect to God. They recognise the worth of God, and his importance and value.

Question 2

what is the difference between liturgical, non-liturgical and private worship?

Answer 2

liturgical: church worship which follows a set pattern or ritual (Catholic)
- creates a sense of belonging and tradition
- helps the worship become a repeated ritual with a clear place in people’s lives

non-liturgical: a service which includes the same parts as liturgical worship, but the order constantly changes (Methodist)
- can be particular to a person/event
- liturgical worship could prevent genuine worship

private: when a believer praises or honours God on their own, in their own way (Quaker)
- gives people a chance to spend time alone with God

Question 3

describe how Quakers worship:

Answer 3

• private worship (doesn’t follow a program)
• down to the individual, either silent or a sharing of thoughts
• quakers sit in silence, listening for God, and may express a message they receive in many different ways. they focus on being a community, and on kindness.
• they do this to build a strong relationship with God, by waiting and listening for him.

Question 4

what is a prayer?

Answer 4

an attempt to communicate with God. silently, through words or praise, or requests for guidance.

Question 5

what is the difference between set prayer and informal prayer?

Answer 5

set prayer: prayers that have been written down and said more than once by more than one person
- sense of tradition, of community

informal prayer: prayer that is made up by an individual using their own words
- allows them to reflect on their relationship with God in a more personal and private way.

Question 6

why do Christians pray?

Answer 6

• to connect with God
• ask for peace, healing, help (or in times of crisis)
• to develop and increase devotion to God, and to build a better relationship with him

Question 7

what did Jesus do that has caused Christians to pray?

Answer 7

christians pray because Jesus told his disciples that he was distressed, so he entered a room and had a private conversation with God. now, Christians do the same, in the form of prayer.

Question 8

how are Christians taught to pray?

Answer 8

• do not pray in public. go to your room, close the door, and pray in private
• do not lengthen your prayer. keep it short and to the point
• pray using the Lord’s Prayer

Christians also pray by kneeling down, putting their hands together, and using rosary beads.

Question 9

what is a sacrament?

Answer 9

a physical thing we do that shows something invisible that’s happening to you.

e.g. baptisms. pouring the water on your head doesn’t actually do anything, it simply represents the holy spirit filling you, which is an invisible action.

Question 10

what is the difference between infant baptism and believers baptism?

Answer 10

infant baptism: babies and young children become members of the Church. promises are taken on their behalf by adults. they’re freed from original sin and introduced to the Christian community.

believers baptism: (offered by Baptist and Pentacostalist Churches) adult initiation into the Church, by immersion in water. the person is old enough to understand the ceremony, and is willing to live a Christian life.

Question 11

what is meant by a Holy Mystery? (Orthodox)

Answer 11

the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. this isn’t explained by the church or called a sacrament.

Question 12

what is divine liturgy? (orthodox)

Answer 12

when Heaven comes to Earth in the body and blood of Jesus. this is symbolised by the priest consecrating (making holy) the elements behind an iconostasis (screen) representing the divide between Heaven and Earth.

Question 13

what happens in the Orthodox Liturgy of the Word?

Answer 13

• prayers, hymns, readings
• priest chants gospel (says words of Jesus behind and enters through Royal Door)

Question 14

what happens to the bread in the Orthodox Church?

Answer 14

divided into four - three quarters are consecrated (have the Holy Mystery). final quarter is left for people to take home.

Question 15

what is the difference between the Anglican and the Catholic church?

Answer 15

• hand shaking is done at different times
• they believe that the bread and wine is only symbolic, and only represents what Jesus said
• believe that communion is to gather the community together, to share their religion

Question 16

what is transubstantiation in the Catholic church?

Answer 16

bread and wine physically become the body and blood of Jesus. the priest blesses this, asking God to fill it with the Holy Spirit - now Catholics can act as Jesus in the world today (Body of Christ)

Question 17

what happens in the Catholic Liturgy of the Word?

Answer 17

• sundays, Bible readings and passages
• prayers said for the church, world, local community, sick and the dead.

Question 18

what is the bread that is served at Catholic Eucharist?

Answer 18

round, circular hosts containing the Holy Spirit. links Catholics with God every time as they feel they’re taking a small part of him.

Question 19

what occurs during holy communion in non-conformist churches?

Answer 19

• everyone is welcome to receive communion
• ordinary bread, non-alcoholic grape juice served in small cups
• usually served as an ‘open table’ for everyone, but sometimes elders serve it to people in their seats
• communion ends with a prayer of private thanks, a blessing, and an encouragement to go out and serve God

Question 20

what do the different denominations call holy communion?

Answer 20

catholic: sunday mass
anglican: sunday service
orthodox: sunday holy mystery
non-conformist: holy communion

Question 21

describe Lourde’s:

Answer 21

• in France, famous because of St Bernadette.
• she had 18 visions of Mary in the same place, and no one believed her. one day, Mary told her about an imaginary stream, which no one else saw, until it mysteriously appeared a few days later.
• after her death, her body became ‘incorruptible’, joining other saints’ bodies that have never decayed.
• it’s believed that the water has miraculous healing properties
• place of Catholic worship (Mary is incredibly important to them), place to worship God and hope for healing

Question 22

describe Iona:

Answer 22

• a small island off the coast of Scotland.
• in 568 AD, St Columba brought Christianity from Ireland to Scotland, and he set up a monastery, and taught Christianity.
• the island is named a ‘thin place’ as it seems as if the veil between Earth and Heaven is being lifted.
• Christians go to ‘walk in the presence of God’, have a numinous experience, and meet others that share their faith

Question 23

what is the importance of Christmas for Christians?

Answer 23

• celebration of the incarnation, when God took human form in Jesus
• through the incarnation, Jesus bridged the gap between us and God, therefore allowing Christians to strengthen their relationship with God
• Christmas acts as a fresh start for Christians, a chance to begin again in faith

Question 24

how do Christians celebrate Christmas?

Answer 24

• advent candles are lit to symbolise Jesus being the light of the world
• midnight mass (between Christmas Eve and day) celebrate the birth as a community
• the nativity occurs to recreate Jesus’s story
• gifts are given to symbolise those given by the wise men

Question 25

why is Easter celebrated by Christians?

Answer 25

• time of Jesus’s resurrection
• proof of God’s omnipotence
• proof he’s the son of God
• evidence of good beating evil

Question 26

how do Churches remember Jesus’s last week of life? (holy week)

Answer 26

• church is removed of all flowers and colours
• some Christians don’t even sing hymns at this time
• church is kept as quiet as possible

Question 27

what are two ways that churches celebrate Easter sunday?

Answer 27

• catholics: begin mass in the dark. light Paschal candle to symbolise beginning of religious year. sing special hymns, fill the church with flowers.
• some churches have breakfast together to symbolise a new dawn and beginning. the priest will announce ‘he is risen!’

Question 28

what pieces of scripture inspire people and the Church to get involved with projects in the community?

Answer 28

the Church has always been a major social service, providing schools, orphanages, and organising campaigns.

• ‘Love thy neighbour’
• Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
• Golden Rule (‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’)
• ‘You are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it’. Each member of the Church has a skill that makes up part of Christ.

Question 29

what is the Trussell Trust?

Answer 29

• founded in 1997. provides food, help and support to people in crisis in the UK
• aims to bring people together (religious and non-religious) to tackle poverty, due to redundancy, family breakdown, rising prices, etc.
• non-perishable items are donated by businesses and schools. care professionals identify people and crisis and issue food vouchers.

Question 30

what is the Oasis Project?

Answer 30

• community hub (internet café, job club, training opportunities, prayer guidance, mother + toddler group)
• local businesses take in volunteers looking for work experience. the methodist church supports and funds them.
• helps addicts in recovery, the unemployed, struggling new mums.

Question 31

what are Street Pastors?

Answer 31

• aren’t there to preach about Christianity - they want to help people in need, relieve the pressure on the NHS
• started by the Ascension Trust, originally targeted knife crime. also target drunken-ness, bullying, drug abuse.
• in the Bible, it says, ‘Faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.’

Question 32

describe Parish Nursing:

Answer 32

• retired NHS workers provide professional medical advice to people
• volunteers/paid by church. relieved stress on NHS, there are more churches in the UK than hospitals
• reassures and supports patients - explain medical jargon, provide medical advice

Question 33

what is the difference between a mission and evangelism?

Answer 33

mission: going abroad to help people in poverty, and spread your religion. e.g. going to Africa to build schools, churches

evangelism: preaching religion in their home country

• mormon boys have the choice between these two once they turn 18

Question 34

how is Christianity spreading?

Answer 34

• Christian church is growing at a strong rate in South America, Africa, Asia
• Christian church is declining in USA, Europe, and Middle East
• worldwide 80,000 people become christian each day, and there are 500 churches built each day

Question 35

what is the disagreement that’s occurring in Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants?

Answer 35

protestants want to be British, Catholics don’t want to - this results in conflicts and riots. now, a sense of peace has been reached, as the different denominations attend different schools, live in different neighbourhoods, and ultimately have nothing to do with each other. now, people are attempting to integrate catholics and protestants in primary schools, and taking down the dividing walls between the two sections at certain times during the day.

Question 36

why were early Christians prosecuted, and how?

Answer 36

• refused to worship Roman Gods (they made up practically every element of everyday life back then).
• romans sacrificed animals for their Gods, but Christians didn’t want to worship anyone other than God, and disagreed with making living sacrifices.
• had stones thrown at them, were crucified upside down, were eaten alive by tigers, were skinned alive.

Question 37

how are Christians prosecuted today?

Answer 37

• 80% of all religious discrimination today is aimed at Christians
• forced to pay extra tax, banned from good jobs, not allowed to build churches, Christian girls have been kidnapped, raped, and sold as slaves

Question 38

how do Christians respond to their persecution?

Answer 38

• Jesus told everyone to expect persecution. if he could, his followers could
• gives Christians a chance to show love and forgiveness to others, even those who commit sins
• not all persecution has a negative effect, it can help to develop faith
• Christians accept persecution, as Jesus promises them eternal life in Heaven as a response to the unfair treatment (Beatitudes)

Question 39

how did Brother Andrew help to fight Christian persecution?

Answer 39

during the communist persecutions of Christians in Eastern Europe, he and his comrades smuggles Bibles into Russia to help give strength to Christians there.

Question 40

how does the Barnabus Fund help fight Christian persecution?

Answer 40

• sends financial support to Christians suffering discrimination, oppression and persecution.
• provides material and spiritual support, raises awareness for their suffering.

Question 41

how does CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) help fight Christian persecution?

Answer 41

• human rights organisation fighting for religious freedom
• raises awareness for suffering, tries to influence governments
• offers training on human rights and helps the oppressed to speak up

Question 42

how does CAFOD help to prevent poverty in the world?

Answer 42

CAFOD = Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

• promote long-term development plans. teach small communities how to farm, irrigate the land, sell their crops, meaning they can support themselves in the future
• have a disaster fund. in the case of a disaster, they’re able to send financial and material support to the poor.

Question 43

how does Christian Aid help to prevent poverty in the world?

Answer 43

• stand for justice, equality, human rights; campaigns for climate justice, gender equality
• work around with the world with local communities and charities
• over £9 million raised each year from schools and businesses
• provides emergency aid, rebuilds buildings after disasters

Question 44

how does Tearfund help to prevent poverty in the world?

Answer 44

• tries to help education about sanitation and the cause of illnesses in third world countries
• teaches women how to install toilets and how to maintain them. gives women a responsibility that they may not previously have had

Question 45

why do Christians try to end world poverty?

Answer 45

• Jesus helped people in poverty in the New Testament
• Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (go out of your way to help others)
• Treat others as you would like to be treated (Golden Rule)
• To get to Heaven and avoid Hell

Question 46

what are the 7 sacraments recognised by the Roman Catholic Church?

Answer 46

• baptism
• holy communion
• anointing of the sick (priest prays for someone ill, dying, etc.)
• reconciliation
• holy orders (men are ordained as priests)
• marriage
• confirmation (confers gifts of the Holy Spirit, e.g. wisdom, knowledge, understanding, upon a recipient)