CHRISTIANITY- IN THE BEGINNING (THE BIBLE, GOD, CREATION)

Question 1

Denomination

Answer 1

A branch of the Christian church.

Question 2

Non-literal view

Answer 2

View that the words of the Bible are metaphors that communicate religious, not historical, truths.

Question 3

Inspiration?

Answer 3

The view that the authors of the Bible were influenced by God.

Question 4

What are denominations?

Answer 4

A branch of the Christian Church with its own religious beliefs and practices, and leadership structure.

Question 5

Catholic Christians:

Answer 5

The largest Christian group in the world. It is led by the Pope and sees itself as the original Church founded by Jesus.

Question 6

Orthodox Christians:

Answer 6

The second largest Christian group globally. It is the largest form of Christianity in many central and Eastern European countries, e.g. Greece, Russia.

Question 7

Evangelical Protestant Christians:

Answer 7

A family of Christian groups which favour a literal reading of the Bible and tend to have conservative views about moral issues. E.g. Pentecostal Christians.

Question 8

Liberal Protestant Christians:

Answer 8

A family of Christian groups which favour non-literal reading of the Bible and tend to have more “modern” views about moral issues. E.g. The Society of Friends (Quakers).

Question 9

Main-stream Protestant Christians:

Answer 9

These tend to take an intermediate position between Evangelical and Liberal Protestants on moral issues and the interpretation of the Bible. For example, The Church of England (Anglican Christianity), which is the largest Christian group in Britain today.

Question 10

conscience?

Answer 10

A person’s inner sense of right and wrong.

Question 11

infallible?

Answer 11

never wrong

Question 12

sola scriptura

Answer 12

Latin for “by scripture alone.”

Question 13

salvation?

Answer 13

Being saved from sin and death, and entering heaven.

Question 14

source of authority?

Answer 14

Anything a religious person might refer to for guidance on religious or moral questions, e.g. scripture.

Question 15

What are the two parts of the Bible?

Answer 15

The Old Testament: tells the story of God’s relationship with the ancient people of Israel.
The New Testament: tells the story of Jesus and the early Christian church.

Question 16

Why is the Bible important for Christians?

Answer 16

• Plays a central role in Christian worship. E.g. readings from the Bible.
• Christian rituals e.g. the Eucharist reflect events recorded in the Bible.
• Source of moral law for Christians, containing the rules they should live their lives by, e.g. not killing.
• Evangelical Christians, see the Bible as the “Word of God”. It’s authors were guided by divine inspiration, so the Bible is infallible.

Question 17

What are sources of authority for Christians?

Answer 17

• Some Protestants: Bible only source of authority as it contains everything needed for salvation – sola scriptura.
• Catholic and other Protestants: accept the Bible, Church teachings, reason and the conscience.

Question 18

What are the three different ways of interpreting the Bible?

Answer 18

• Evangelical Christians: Bible’s meaning is clear. No interpretation required.
• Mainstream Protestants and Catholics: The Bible requires some interpretation. We should be guided by way that the Bible has been interpreted by the Church in the past.
• Liberal Christians: Take a non-literal view. Bible had human authors so is not infallible. Some Biblical stories are metaphors that tell us something about God and the way God wants us to live.

Question 19

*omnipotent

Answer 19

all-powerful

Question 20

omnibenevolent?

Answer 20

all-loving

Question 21

omniscient?

Answer 21

all-knowing

Question 22

creed

Answer 22

A formal statement of Christian beliefs.

Question 23

divine attributes

Answer 23

God’s unique qualities, e.g. omnipotence, omnibenevolence.

Question 24

omnipotent (NATURE OF GOD)

Answer 24

God is believed to be all-powerful.
* Shown through the creation of the world.

Question 25

omnibenevolent (NATURE OF GOD)

Answer 25

God is believed to be all-loving. * Shown through sending Jesus to die to save humanity from sin.

Question 26

omniscient (NATURE OF GOD)

Answer 26

God is believed to be all-knowing. * Jesus said “even the hairs of your head are all counted.”

Question 27

Just (NATURE OF GOD)

Answer 27

God is believed to be just, rewarding the good and punishing the bad. * shown through rescuing the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Question 28

Monotheism:

Answer 28

Christians believe there is only one God. * However, Christians see God as a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Question 29

problem of evil (NATURE OF GOD)

Answer 29

If God is all-loving and all-powerful, then why do evil and suffering exist?

Question 30

Why are beliefs about the nature of God important?

Answer 30

* Is seen by many as a core belief. E.g. it is at the start of the Apostle’s creed. * Omniscience reassures Christians that God knows when they are experiencing problems and knows what is best. * Omnipotence means God can help anyone, however bad their situation. * God’s just nature reminds Christians of the importance of living morally.

Question 31

creation story?

Answer 31

A religious story that explains how the world and human life began.

Question 32

image of God?

Answer 32

The belief that humans are made with unique abilities, which reflect something of God’s nature.

Question 33

original sin?

Answer 33

The human tendency towards evil, caused by Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God.

Question 34

salvation history?

Answer 34

God’s plan to save humanity from the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin.

Question 35

What did God create on the Six Days of Creation? (Genesis 1)

Answer 35

1st Day: Light, making night and day. 2nd Day: The sky. 3rd Day: Dry land and plants. 4th Day: The sun, moon, stars and planets. 5th Day: Life in the sea and in the air. 6th Day: Land animals and humans (who are made “in the image of God”).

Question 36

What is the story of Adam and Eve? (Genesis 2-3)

Answer 36

* God makes Adam from dust and asks him to take care of the Garden of Eden. * God tells Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge, or he will die. * God makes Adam a companion: Eve. * Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit. * God expels them from the Garden of Eden. * Adam is made to work. Eve is punished by being ruled over by Adam. Both will now die.

Question 37

Augustine’s views on the Fall

Answer 37

* The Fall corrupted God’s perfect creation, leading to natural evil. * Adam and Eve’s sin left a mark on human nature – original sin.

Question 39

literal and non-literal interpretations of the creation story?

Answer 39

Literal: Everything happened as described in Genesis. Non-literal: The creation stories are a metaphor that tells us about God’s power and human nature.