christian beliefs and teachings

• Monotheistic


  There is one God
• Attributes of the Christian God

  • Omnipotent (all powerful)
  • Omniscient (all knowing)
  • Omnipresent (everywhere)
  • Omnibenevolent (all loving)
• Transcendent


  Existing outside of time and space and above all created things
• Immanent

  Personally involved with all living things and creation
• God is seen as perfectly good, holy, and just. He will judge fairly and righteously. He is loving and forgiving to those who seek his forgiveness.
• Creation Story (Genesis)

  1. Day 1: Let there be light

  2. Day 3: Separated sky and sea

  3. Day 3: Vegetation on the land

  4. Day 4: Sun, moon, stars

  5. Day 5: Birds and fish

  6. Day 6: Animals and humans (let us make mankind in our image)

  7. Day 7: God rested and saw that it was good
• The Fall


  Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were punished, leading to a broken relationship between humanity and God
• Trinity


  The Christian concept of God as one distinct God with three different persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit
• Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet there is still only one God.
• Perspectives on the Creation Story

  • Literalist/Creationist view: The story is 100% literally true and the Earth is only 6000 years old
  • Symbolic view: The story is meant to be seen symbolically, showing that God is the creator and explaining how humans' free will led to a broken relationship with God
• Theistic evolution


  The view that God guided evolution to its current forms
• Problem of Evil


  How can an all-powerful, all-loving God allow evil and suffering to exist in his creation?
• Types of evil

  • Moral evil (committed by human beings)
  • Natural evil (not caused by humans)
• Jesus Christ

  Christians believe he is God incarnate, the second person of the Holy Trinity, and the promised Messiah
• Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary through the power of the Holy Spirit, and therefore was born without original sin.
• Christians believe Jesus was sent by the Father to take the punishment for human sin and restore the broken relationship between God and humanity.
• Jesus' example and teachings are central to Christian beliefs, and Christians should try to imitate him.
• Theodicies (ways to defend the Christian God from the problem of evil)

  • Irenaean Theodicy: God allows evil to exist so that humans can exercise free will and learn what is right and good
  • Augustinian Theodicy: Evil is not a substance, but the lack of good, and was introduced through human free will in the Fall
• Jesus' Teachings in the Sermon on the Mount


  1. The Beatitudes

  2. Teachings on the Law

  3. Revenge and love for enemies

  4. True Discipleship

  5. True Righteousness

  6. Judging others

  7. The narrow gateway

  8. Building on solid foundations
• Christians believe Jesus' death was an atonement sacrifice, like the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament, to make it possible for people to be forgiven even though they still sin and are imperfect.
• When Jesus died, the curtain in the Temple separating the holy of holies was torn in two, signifying that the relationship between humans and God was no longer broken.
• Christians believe Jesus was resurrected on the third day, proving he was both God and man and showing his power over death.
• Eschatology

  The study of the end times, the end of the world, and what comes after
• Christian beliefs about the afterlife

  • Heaven (eternal happiness in God's presence)
  • Hell (a place of punishment, either literal or as separation from God)
  • Purgatory (a place of cleansing before entering Heaven, believed by Catholics)
• Christians believe all humans have a soul that will be resurrected and face judgement by God, determining whether they go to Heaven or Hell (or Purgatory for Catholics).
• What is the problem of evil in Christian theology?

  It questions how evil exists if God is good.
• What are the two main solutions to the problem of evil in Christianity?


  • Irenaean Theodicy
  • Augustinian Theodicy
• Who do Christians believe Jesus Christ is?

  God incarnate in human form.
• What is Jesus' relationship to the Holy Trinity?

  He is God the Son, equal to the Father.
• Who was Jesus born to?

  The Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit.
• Why do Christians believe Jesus was born without original sin?

  He had no human father.
• What do Christians believe Jesus was sent to Earth to do?

  Take punishment for human sin.
• How do Christians view Jesus' teachings?

  As central to their beliefs and practices.
• What is the significance of the Sermon on the Mount in Christianity?

  • Contains key teachings of Jesus
  • Addresses moral and ethical living
  • Emphasizes love and true discipleship
• What chapters of Matthew contain the Sermon on the Mount?

  Chapters 5-7.
• What are the Beatitudes?

  Teachings that bless certain virtues.
• What does Jesus teach about the Law in the Sermon on the Mount?

  Inner thoughts are as important as actions.
• What does Jesus say about revenge and love for enemies?

  Encourages love and turning the other cheek.
• What is true discipleship according to Jesus?

  Living a good Christian life through actions.
• What does Jesus teach about true righteousness?

  You cannot worship both God and money.