1.1 -Beliefs And Teachings (christianity)

Question 1

How has God revealed things about himself

Answer 1

Christians believe God is totally different from anything in the universe and beyond human understanding

God has revealed things through nature, the insights of the bible, and personal experience

Question 2

Tell me about God as omnipotent

Answer 2

Means all powerful

Means God can do anything that makes sense for God to do eg he wouldn’t make a square circle

Gods power is immense even Immeasurable
Can be seen in many ways:
Creation of universe itself
The wonders of the universe which owes its existence for his creative and sustaining power
The miracles performed by Jesus and miracles claimed to sometimes occur in the modern world

However many bad things there are - nothing can really defeat God

Question 3

Tell me what the bible says about gods omnipotence

Answer 3

The creation, the flood, the ten plagues

In st marks gospel there is the story of Jesus and his disciples out on lake galilee in a boat, a violent storm blew up when Jesus was sleeping and they woke him and Jesus said to “quiet! Be still!” Immediately the storm ended

Question 4

Tell me the different interpretations of the at marks gospel storm story

Answer 4

Some believe it happened exactly as mark told it

The story can be explained as coincidence

Jesus was speaking to the disciples and it was their panic, not the storm which was causing the problem

It was a story created by the church To show gods power

Question 5

Tell me about God and agape

Answer 5

The New Testament used the word agape which refers to a self giving, self sacrificial love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son” John 3:16 - believed this showed love Becuase the sacrifice of Jesus then allowed human beings to enter the afterlife

Many people find it hard to believe that there is an omnibenevolent God when there’s so much suffering - when some suffer they lose faith as they believe God would have helped them

But some Christians find experiencing suffering leads to feeling closer to God and that God is sharing the pain and giving them strength to cope

Question 6

How is gods all loving nature shown in the bible

Answer 6

Much of Jesus’ teaching is about the love of god which is universal and unconditional

This is why Christians believe even those who do the most evil things are still loved by God and can still come back to God to be forgiven

Question 7

Tell about the parable of the parable of the prodigal son and how it shows gods all loving nature

Answer 7

A man has two sons, one claims his inheritance and leaves to waste it all, he returns to ask for a job on his fathers farm and is welcomed home - his father has forgive him- doesn’t mean he gets another inheritance - everything now belongs to older son - but he does get a fresh start because of his fathers love

Question 8

Tell me what Jesus said in the teaching known as the sermon on the mount

Answer 8

“You have heard that it was said “love your neighbour and hate your enemy”. But I tell you, love your enemies and tosh got those who persecute you, that may be the sons of your father in heaven. …… Be perfect, therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect”

Question 9

Tell me about God as just

Answer 9

Just means to be fair and operate in ways which gives everyone equal value and rights

However doesn’t mean God is always just, many Christians think suffering is a test of faith but many Christians think it doesn’t fit with believing in a loving and just God God

Question 10

What’s the problem of evil

Answer 10

The fact that terrible things happen where there is supposed to be an all loving God is called the problem of evil

It’s made worse by the fact that suffering often seems excessive and pointless

Some argue does is not fair and just since he allows it

Only answer to problem is that it can’t be explained

Question 11

Tell me the Ten Commandments

Answer 11

You shall have no gods before me

Do not make false idols

Do not misuse the name of the Lord

Keep the sabbath holy

Honour your parents

Do not kill

Do not commit adultery

Do not steal

Do not tell lies

Do not covet

Question 12

Why is it important to believe God is just

Answer 12

Many Christians work for justice in society Becuase the bible portrays God as just - expects believers to behave justly as Christians believe in judgement day or the afterlife

Jesus taught that God would judge all people according to how they cared

“In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you’ - Matthew 7:12

Question 13

List some of the characteristics of God

Answer 13

He’s all loving - loves each and every person as a unique individual

All knowing - he knows everything it’s possible to know - omniscience

All powerful - has unimaginable power, nothing is beyond God

Just: God is completely fair and just, so all will be judged fairly and without discrimination

Question 14

What’s moral evil

Answer 14

Is a term given to suffering inflicted by people on each other, for example murder

Question 15

What’s suffering

Answer 15

The pain (physical or emotional) which a person goes through for any reason

Nature is responsible for a lot of suffering in the world eg natural disasters like a tsunami

The problem a Christian has is how to reconcile their idea of God with the reality of suffering and evil

They have to be able to make sense of God allowing this evil and suffering to continue to happen

Question 16

How do Christians solve the problem of evil

Answer 16

God can’t be all loving, all knowing, all powerful and just and there still be suffering

Many Christians believe in the existence of an evil force called the devil or Satan - tries to tempt humans into behaving badly and disobeying God. So evil is perpetrated by them is a result of the devils work

However not all believe in devil, many believe as human beings have free will - given to Adam and Eve and abused the free will. So for many Christians, freedom of choice when mixed with greed, selfishness or hatred lead to evil doings

Humans not God are responsible for this kind of evil

Question 17

Tell me how suffering caused by nature doesn’t make sense and how it can be solved

Answer 17

God is all loving, all powerful, all knowing. So he knows about evil and suffering, loves us enough to want us not to suffer, and has the power to deal with anything - so why is there still suffering?

Suffering is a punishment for wrong doing, everyone does this wrong and so everyone might deserve to be punished

Suffering is a test of faith - the reward will be great

Suffering is a form of education, for our souls - by suffering be grow spiritually and learn to take responsibility and help others

Needed as a balance - to appreciate good we have to be able to recognise evil and bad

Question 18

Tell me how the solutions are problematic

Answer 18

A newborn baby born with a painful disability - nothing can explain that

Or a person who has followed gods rules, worshipped him and was genuinely Good was suffering snd died it doesn’t make sense

Final attempt is to say human must accept it as humans Can’t understand God and his purposes

Suffering is a trigger for action, for showing the love of Jesus in their fellow humans

Question 19

What type of faith is Christianity

Answer 19

Monotheistic faith - believe in one God

Question 20

List the parts of the holy trinity

Answer 20

As the loving creator and sustainer of the universe (God the father)

As the saviour who became incarnate (born in human flesh) and lived, died and rose again (God the son)

As the source of strength which Christians find as work in their hearts

Question 21

Tell me about the trinity concept

Answer 21

Attempt to explain what the bible says about the nature of the relationship between the father, the son and the Holy Spirit

One God is a trinity of three persons - God can be known in three ways and each has its own characteristics - they are 3 forms of the same identity

Question 22

Tell me the ways Christians accept the confusing idea of the trinity

Answer 22

God cannot be known - the nature of God is beyond human understanding so it should not be possible to make full sense of it

Belief in God as trinity makes the best sense of what they believe in the bible and experience in their lives

In the bible it says when Jesus was baptised the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and a voice said “you are my son…”

Question 23

List the 3 symbols of the trinity

Answer 23

The earliest and simplest symbol of the trinity was an equilateral triangle - each side represents one side of the trinity

Shamrock - st Patrick said to have used to teach Christian faith in Ireland

The Borromean rings - taken together are inseparable by if one is removed they fall apart, seen as a symbol of strength in unity, circle is a symbol of the unending and eternal nature of God

Ancient Celtic spiral triskelion shape is also used by Christians

Question 24

How is the trinity used in baptisms

Answer 24

Everyone present is asked to say “this is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, father, son and Holy Spirit.”

Vicar says “I baptise you in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit”

Question 25

How is the idea of the trinity challenged

Answer 25

Some Jews, Muslims and other suggest Christianity believes in tritheism - belief in 3 seperate gods

Secular critics such as Richard Dawkins state belief in trinity makes no logical sense - religion is superstitious nonsense based on old fashioned and outdated thinking

Question 26

What’s transcendent

Answer 26

God is believed to be beyond space and time and is controlled by neither

Question 27

Tell me about the trinity before creation

Answer 27

Trinity must have existed before the creation Becuase God did the creation. The trinity is the way the world was created

Question 28

How is God the trinity referred to in the creation

Answer 28

“The spirit of God was hovering over”

“The word become flesh and lived for a while among us”

Question 29

What’s Genesis / what are the different interpretations

Answer 29

Describes gods creation of the universe over 6 days with a seventh day of rest

Some fundamentalist Christians believe in story literally and believe the authors of writings in the bible were directly inspired by God

Many Christians think the story is a myth - fictional story with a profound message delivered through symbolism - message or symbolism is important rather than what happened

Question 30

What’s the message of Genesis

Answer 30

God is the sole and omnipotent Crestor

God is source of everything in the universe and sustains it

God created a universe that was ordered and not chaotic

Every aspect of gods creation was good - that it’s fulfilled his purposes for it

Humans are created in gods image and reflect gods capacity for creativity and relationship

Human beings are given authority over the rest of the created world

Question 31

What’s the importance of beliefs about Genesis 1 for Christians

Answer 31

The message is true and that they live in an ordered world, created by a sustained God - universe is not by change and human lives have meaning and purpose

Even when things go wrong they return positivity and not to ignore issues but Rather think through and then act on their beliefs

Therefore they have a responsibility to treat everyone equally and show all created beings. Human and non human love and respect

The power humans have been given has responsibility not privilege - stewardship not dominion

Question 32

What are Christian teachings about death

Answer 32

It’s not an end, it seperates life on Earth from life with God. Death is not something to be feared - many believe they will be reunited with loved ones who have already died which helps them with the awful pain of bereavement

Question 33

What’s the afterlife expressed as in a quote

Answer 33

In revelation “he [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” - revelation 21:4

Question 34

Why is resurrection important for Christians

Answer 34

If death was really an end - Christianity is nothing more than the worship of a martyr (Jesus)

Belief in resurrection treats the physical body as an integral and valuable part of what it means to be human

The body is “a temple if the Holy Spirit” and should be treated with respect - some believe it will be restored to life; for them the concept of resurrection is of a physical resurrection. Others believe it’s spiritual and not physical

Question 35

What is meant by resurrection

Answer 35

They believe God will raise them back to life before judgment day

“When the dead rise, they will neither marry not be given in marriage” - Jesus (mark 12:25)

Question 36

Tell me about purgatory

Answer 36

Roman Catholics believe in it, an intermediate state of existence between death and the afterlife

After the death of the body, soul goes to purgatory if it’s destined for heaven - a place of purification for the soul so it can become pure and holy enough to enter heaven

Not a physical place

Question 37

Tell me some questions about the afterlife

Answer 37

Where is the place they go? How will we recognise eachother? Will the body we died in be damaged?

Question 38

What’s the difference between a humanist funeral and a Christian funeral

Answer 38

Humanist funerals take place at the cemetery or crematorium where disposal of body will take place, focus on persons achievements in life

Christian funerals have references to the afterlife and redirection and preserve the body

Question 39

Tell me the Christian beliefs about judgement

Answer 39

There will be a judgement day at the end of time and all will be judged by Jesus according to how they behaved

“Will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead” - nicene creed

Question 40

Tell me the 2 stages of judgement believe by the catechism of the Catholic Church

Answer 40

Particular judgement occurs immediately after the death of a person

General/final judgment takes place as the second coming which is believed to be when Jesus will return in glory to earth, bringing the age of time and space to an end, he will judge those still alive and those who are dead and will be assigned to heaven or hell

Question 41

What do most Christians believe what will happen after they die

Answer 41

Their souls will wait for judgement day - from there they will be rewarded with heaven or punished in hell

Some Christians reject the idea of the second coming and final judgment - think Jesus was trying to express something human beings cannot fully understand, but in a way they could make some sense of.

Also believe creeds Should be understood in the same way. They don’t deny that humans will be called to account for their lives, but they disagree about context and the way in which its to be interpreted

Question 42

Tell me his judgement is referred to in Jesus’ teaching

Answer 42

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 19:1-31) warns that ignoring needs of others may have eternal consequences

Parable of sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46) message that on judgement day some will be rewarded for helping others and go to heaven and other will be sent to hell Becuase they did not

Question 43

Tell me the Christian interpretations of heaven

Answer 43

Use earthly images to explain their understanding of heaven - teaches heaven is a state of being and not a physical place

Question 44

Tell me the Christian interpretations of hell

Answer 44

The bible depicts hell as a place of unquenchable Fire

Teach hell is eternal separation from God - results from deliberate rejection of any relationship with him. It’s not what God decides for people it is down to human free choice

“God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a wilful turning away from God … Is necessary and persistence in it until the end” (catechism of the Catholic Church)

Question 45

What does incarnation literally made

Answer 45

Means embodiment and refers to the belief that God took on human form as Jesus God the sun

Question 46

Tell me the quotation showing the incarnation of Jesus the son

Answer 46

“The word became fresh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only [son], who came from the father, full of grace and truth”

Question 47

Tell me about the incarnation of Jesus

Answer 47

Christians believe that Jesus was both fully divine (pre-existent word of God) and fully human (conceived by and born of Mary)

In the New Testament, those who wrote it struggled with idea Jesus was divine and human - “if anyone acknowledge that Jesus is the son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we Know and rely on the love God has for us” (John 4:15-16)

Question 48

Tell me the different views on the birth of Jesus

Answer 48

Both gospels of Matthew and Luke state Mary was a Virgin

Luke said Mary was told that she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit - taken up by nicenes creeds statement that Jesus was “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”

Some think the virgin birth actually happened but some think it’s a myth, believing that a metaphor was being used to show that Jesus was not simply a human but was in a unique sense the son of God - he was fully divine and fully human.

Question 49

What’s one problem with with understanding I. Jesus as both fully God and fully human

Answer 49

How to understand the knowledge of Jesus

Many occasions in bible where appears his knowledge was limited - eg when the people of his home town rejected him so he couldn’t perform miracles

When speaking about the end of the world, he said to disciples no one knew what would happen but if he was really divine (God) how could he not do or know these things

• one solution is that God was properly human and gave up his knowledge. Jesus was still fully God in his relationship with and understanding of God, but he made this act of supreme self giving

Question 50

What’s the importance in the belief in the incarnation for Christian lifestyle

Answer 50

Helps understand the extent of gods love for his humanity - shows how they should live

His son was sent as an atonement sacrifice for our sins

Question 51

What was the crucifixion

Answer 51

Jesus was arrested, tried and convicted of blasphemy by the Jewish religious authorities - a crime punishable by death

Handed him over to Roman governor Pilate and Jesus was found guilty so they were allowed to kill him

Crucifixion was agonising in a cross left to die

Question 52

Tell me the account of the crucifixion Mark 15:21-39

Answer 52

Jesus was slipped of his clothes, nailed through his edits and hoisted up - it took6 hours for him to do and Mark recorded the final 3

Question 53

Why did the son of God die

Answer 53

Jesus was born in Palestine when Romans controlled the country as a part of their empire. The religious leaders of the Jews made up the SANHEDRIN - the ruling council and Jesus came into conflict with them as he helped people on the sabbath - some considered that and other thins blasphemy

At the time there were other groups eg zealots which were a problem for Romans but Pilate put down rebellions but each time made them more likely to recur instead of solving it and, he wanted to release Jesus but if he did he would be hated by Caesar - so he was forced to sentence him to death

Jesus had to die to fulfils gods commands for him, without his death, human beings could not be reunited with God and could not enter heaven - humans had strayed from gods ways, separating themselves from him - death would atone for separation

Question 54

How do Christians see Jesus

Answer 54

See his death as an atonement
Main approaches are:
On the cross Jesus bore the consequences and penalty of human sin

This was God taking the initiative in reconciling humanity to God

It inspires human beings to take the moral lead in reconciliation in the world today

Question 55

What’s the salvation

Answer 55

Christians believe that the death of Jesus was central to gods plan of salvation

Question 56

How was Jesus death was an act of atonement and reconciliation

Answer 56

Human beings create a Barrier between themselves and God by thinking only of themselves, Jesus death was a necessary atonement, Becuase human beings could not deal with this problem of selfishness themselves

Christians believe relationship was so damaged that drastic action was needed and so he could reunite with him it heaven
Believe Jesus when willingly into this as it was only way for reconciliation to happen

Question 57

What’s atonement

Answer 57

Making amends, idea that 2 people can put their differences aside

Question 58

What’s reconciliation

Answer 58

Restoration of friendship or relationships

Question 59

How do Christians take the initiative in reconciliation

Answer 59

Christians should offer them selves to the service of god, try to carry out their wishes eg work as a volunteer with homeless or train as a nurse to help others - all there are following Jesus example of showing love for others

Take initiative and trying to repair the world, not leaving it to someone else

Question 60

Tell me what happened in the resurrection

Answer 60

Jesus was buried in a rock tomb but a man couldn’t take care of his body because the sabbath was about to start - no work could be done

A huge boulder rolled across the entrance - the women returned as soon as it was light on Sunday and found stone rolled to one side and the body was gone and the women were told Jesus had risen

Question 61

How are the accounts of the resurrection different

Answer 61

Matthew, Luke, John and John

In Mark, a young man in white told them Jesus has risen and should return to galilee to meet him

According to John, person revealed himself to Mary Magdalene as Jesus come back to life. John says she returned to the disciples and told them she had seen him

Question 62

What is the ascension

Answer 62

The fortieth day after the resurrection

In one account, Jesus is described taking his disciples to a place called Bethany and blessing them. Then he is taken up to heaven

Most Christians think story was intended not to be taken literally as if Jesus was lifted up and taken to heaven by gods power, rather, the writer uses imagery to stress the finality of this appearance

Some fundamentalists take event literally that Jesus was hidden by a cloud and disappeared into another dimension

Question 63

Why is the resurrection important to Christians

Answer 63

His resurrection from the dead is proof that he is the son of God, showing gods triumph over evil and death, a symbol is the Passover lamb carrying a banner of victory

Question 64

Tell me some ways that shows Jesus did not rise from the dead and replies to the points

Answer 64

The women went to the wrong tomb and when the man said he’s not here - he was redirecting them - women knew where he was buried as they accompanied Joseph when taking body to the tomb

Jesus was not actually dead when taken off the cross and got himself out of the tomb - would not have been able to get himself out, if someone got him out someone would have seen him and could not live hidden forever

The disciples were deluded - the appearances of Jesus were just wishful thinking - Jesu resurrection was the last thing expected, they were hiding for fear of being arrested

The story was made up by disciples to gain prestige - but they wouldn’t have they were persecuted from the start and began to talk about Jesus and most became martyrs for their beliefs

Question 65

What’s the story of original sin

Answer 65

Found in Genesis 3, in the story of Adam and Eve disobey gods conmand not to eat fruit from the tree of good and evil - serpent tempted them to think gods command arose out of his concern for himself and not from what was best for them - said they would become like God himself and they gave in and are their fruit - first and original sin. As a result, God gave certain punishments and Adam and Eve were thrown out of Eden

Question 66

How do Christians take the story of the original sin

Answer 66

Took story literally that we are all descendants of Adam and Eve so we are all seperates from God and in danger of recieving eternal punishment, meant they could not put it right, only God was able to deal with barrier caused by sin - God did this through incarnation and death of Jesus

God In Christ offered salvation that cancelled Out original sin and offered promise to eternal life

Most Christians don’t take story literally but think it conveys a religious truth that humans seem to have a natural inclination to do what they are not told to which damages relationship with God

Question 67

How is salvation shown through law

Answer 67

“Salvation through works” - a relationship must be earnt with God, some agree it can be done with obedience and law which others show we must use our actions and love for others is more important

Question 68

What is salvation

Answer 68

Means being accepted by God and being assured of eternal life

Question 69

What’s meant by grace

Answer 69

Refers to the unconditional love that God shows to everyone, even when seemed undeserved

Question 70

What’s salvation through grace and spirit

Answer 70

Claim that the sacrifice of Jesus made jt missive to reconcile with God

Christians believe they continue to receive his grace through presence in hold spirit

Question 71

Tell me the meaning of the hymn amazing grace

Answer 71

Expressed a mans belief that God had saved him