Christian beliefs and teachings Flashcards
(30 cards)
Catholic Christianity
- based in Rome and led by the Pope
Orthodox Christianity
split from Catholic Christianity, practised in Eastern Europe
Main Christian beliefs about God (x 9)
- There is only one God
- God is the creator and sustainer of all things
- People can have a relationship with God → This is prohibited/made more difficult by sin
- God is neither male or female but instead has qualities of both
- God is holy (set apart for special purpose and worthy of worship)
- God is omnipotent
- God is omniscient
- God is omnibenevolent
- God is just
The problem of evil and suffering / the inconsistent triangle explanations
- Suffering allows happiness to be appreciated
- Suffering causes growth and development of a person’s soul
- God is transcendent : there may be a greater plan that humans cannot understand
- God allowed humans to have free will : God does not control what humans choose to do with this
- It is a test to see who remains loyal to God and who is strong in their belief even in times of hardship
God as the Father
- Omnibenevolent
- omnipotent
- omniscient
- Omnipresent
- He acts as a good and loving parent figure to his children
- He sent Jesus for human salvation
- The one who answers prayers
God as the Son
- Became incarnate through Jesus (fully human fully divine)
- Acted as a saviour to humanity
- Sinless, the perfect model of holiness on Earth
God as the Holy Spirit
- Provides guidance and direction to believers
- Inspired the word of the Bible
- Unseen power of God on Earth
Fundamentalist Christian beliefs about the Bible story of creation
They take the word of the Bible literally : They believe that the Genesis story of creation is entirely accurate and any scientific theories that clash with this are incorrect
Liberal Christian beliefs about the Bible story of creation
They believe that the Genesis story of creation is not a literal truth, but a moral guidance
Genesis account of creation
The world was created by God in 7 days:
Day 1: Let there be light
Day 2: God created the sky and separated the waters above from the waters below
Day 3: God created land and vegetation
Day 4: God created the sun / moon / stars
Day 5: God created sea and sky creatures (sea animals and birds)
Day 6: God created land animals and created humans in his image
Day 7: God rested
Ways belief in Genesis story of creation affects Christians today
- They will look after the Earth → they respect the creation in order to get closer to the creation
- Encourages respect for all people → God created humans in his image
- Promotes protection of Life → God’s creations can only be taken away by God himself
Jesus’ incarnation
- On separate occasions, an angel appeared to Mary and Joseph and told them that the baby was not an ordinary conception and after the birth the child would not be an ordinary child
- Jesus incarnated through the Virgin Mary
- Jesus was on Earth in human form for roughly 30 years
Jesus / Christ / Son of God / Messiag
- Jesus was fully human and fully God simultaneously
- Jesus performed miracles on Earth : e.g. feeding of the 5000, turning water into wine, healing the blind/injured etc.
- Jesus’ words are the words of God
- Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah
How does belief in Jesus’ incarnation affect Christians today
- Gives them hope: God has felt human suffering and so truly understands what they are going through
- Jesus was fully human and so not only reassures Christians that a holy and sinless life is achievable but also provides a perfect example for them to aspire to
Jesus’ crucifixion
- Jesus was crucified by Roman guards
Jesus was buried in a cave-like tomb and a large boulder was rolled across the entrance
Jesus’ death allowed humans to have a relationship with God after original sin since he atoned for all of humanity’s sin
How does belief in Jesus’ crucifixion affect Christians today?
- Gives them hope: God has felt human suffering (On the cross) and so truly understands what they are going through
- It allows Christians to have a relationship with God
- Christians hope for forgiveness if they severely repent for their sins
- Christians are comforted in the knowledge that suffering is a part of any human life - even Jesus’
- Jesus said he committed his spirit to God, so Christians are inspired to do the same
Jesus’ resurrection
- Some of Jesus’ female followers (inc. Mary Magdalene) visited the tomb to anoint his body but his body was not there
- A man or two men who may have been angels, told the women to spread the news that Jesus had risen from the dead
- Over the next days, Jesus appeared to several people (inc. Mary Magdalene and his disciples) and told them he had risen from the dead
Jesus’ ascension
After meeting with his disciples and asking them to carry on his work, Jesus rose into heaven and returned to the Father
How does belief in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension affect Christians today?
Confirms Jesus’ divinity : it is not humanly possible to rise from the dead
Ascension → confirms their belief in life after death with God in heaven
Different beliefs about resurrection after death
- Some christians believe that the soul is resurrected soon after death HOWEVER others believe that everyone who has ever lived will all be resurrected in the future for judgement day
- Some Christians believe that resurrection is purely spiritual, not physical HOWEVER Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe in both bodily and physical resurrection → they believe that the physical body lost at death is restored and transformed into a new,spiritual body
Beliefs on judgement and the afterlife
- Many Christians believe there is a resurrection and eternal life after death
- The gift of eternal life, however, is dependent on their faith in God
- They will be judged by God either soon after death or on judgement day and either be rewarded by being sent to heaven or punished by being sent to hell
- Christians believe they are judged by God on both their actions and their faith
How does belief in resurrection and life after death affect Christians today
Inspires Christians to live a good life (kind to others, not committing sin, repenting for sin, following God’s will etc.)
Brings hope for life after death
Comfort when thinking about loved ones that have passed
Heaven and hell
- Heaven: eternal happiness in the presence of God, either a physical or spiritual place of peace, joy and freedom from pain and suffering
- Hell: unable to experience God’s presence → often seen as a place of eternal torment ruled by Satan
- People who do not believe an all-loving God could send people to a fiery hell of eternal torment believe that hell is simply a place cut off from God
purgatory
Catholics believe in purgatory : an intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven
