Christianity Flashcards
“God created humankind in his image”
Humans are made with the qualities of God
Humans are made special as they are made in God’s image and likeness
“Thou shalt not kill”
That life is holy (Sanctity of Life) and should be protected
Humans should not take life so Christians will be against murder and death penalty
Christians may be pacifist (against violence) as war involves taking life
“Whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did to me”
When a Christian helps someone else (the ‘least’) they are helping Jesus (‘you did it to me’)
The ‘sheep’ helped the needy by giving drink to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothes to the needy etc while the ‘goats’ ignored the needy
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of god”
Jesus calls Christians to have an attitude of peace
Peace is one of the signs of God’s kingdom (God’s world to come)
“Be fruitful and multiply”
That humans are called to reproduce
The purpose of sex within marriage is procreation
Humans have a creative nature like God and so humans are made in God’s image and likeness
“You have heard it said an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…”
“… but i say if anyone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other cheek also”
Jesus quotes the Old Testament, the Old Law, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ which shows that retaliation should be equal and not extreme
Christians are told by Jesus to show forgiveness, rather than retaliating – to ‘turn the other cheek’
“The lord is our god, the lord alone”
Christians believe there is only one God
Christians are not permitted to worship other Gods
“Love your neighbour”
Christians should show love to others
This may mean giving to charity, helping others, giving drink to the thirsty/food to the hungry
“Love your enemies”
Christians should love their enemies
This is also shown in the Parable of the Good Samaritan:
Samaritans and Jews are enemies, but the Good Samaritan helps the beaten Jew despite their differences, and goes the extra mile to care for them by taking them to an inn and paying for their care.
“The two shall become one flesh”
In marriage the purpose of sex is to unite the male and female
For a marriage to be valid it must be consummated and the husband and wife are united as one
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
That God (‘the word’) is in the beginning. God creates the world “In the Beginning” Genesis 1
The Word and God co-exist and are co-eternal
‘The Word’ and God are the same
“The Word became flesh”
That God (‘the word’) becomes ‘flesh’ as Jesus
Jesus is God incarnate, (God in-the-flesh) in human nature
“Consubstantial with the Father”
Jesus and the Father are both God
Jesus is of same substance as the father
Consubstantial- with same substance
Con= with substantial= substance
“For this is my body…Do this in memory of me”
They are the words of Jesus at the Last Supper
Jesus commands Christians to do the Eucharist to remember the sacrifice, to ‘do this in memory of me’
It reminds Christians of the sacrifice on the cross, the bread and the wine are the Body and Blood of Jesus, just as on the cross Jesus gave his body
“God is love”
The nature of God is love
God is omnibenevolent- all loving (omni=all, benevolent=loving)
Grace is God’s love
St Augustine said God’s love can be seen in the Trinity- the father is the lover, the Son is the beloved and the Holy Spirit is the love that binds
Catherine LaCugna said God’s love can be seen in the Son sent as the Incarnation and Spirit who helps believers in the world
God’s love can be seen in the world (Sacramental Nature of Reality)
