Expressions of Religious Identity

Created by

Tabby Buxton

Cards (28)

What is the significance of Baptism? 
It is the an initiation into the faith of Christianity by dipping or placing sacred water
Many Churches perform infant baptism, such as the Catholic, Anglican and Methodists.
Others only perform believer's baptism, such as the Baptist and the Pentecostal churches.
What is the Biblical background of baptism?
John the Baptist, before Jesus began his ministry, was baptising people in the River Jordan in preparation for the Messiah to come to earth.
Jesus supported John the Baptist and came to be baptised by him. This marked the end of Jesus as a carpenter and the beginning of him as the messiah.
What is the significance of infant baptism in the Catholic Church?
Infant baptism is also known as paedobaptism.
It cleanses the child of original sin and is a symbol of God's grace
Once baptised, the child becomes a member of the Church.
It is the first rite of initiation, opening up to the other holy sacraments.
What is the biblical understanding of original sin and the fall?
The belief is mostly known by St Augustine of Hippo, who said that the fall of Adam and Eve cause original sin to plague humanity, and that the crucifixion of Jesus atoned for our sins.
What did Jesus command about Baptism before he ascended to heaven?
'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' - Matthew 28:19
What is the quote in Baptism in Youcat 194?
'Baptism is the way out of the Kingdom of death into life, the gateway into the Church and the beginning of a lasting communion with God.'
What are the key rituals of Catholic infant baptism?
Signing the forehead with a cross - a sign the child belongs to Christ
Anointing the Child with holy oil - symbol of strength
Blessing with water - so the child can be 'born again'
lighted candle - the child shares life with God
Lords prayer and blessing of Child - a reminder of the meaning of Baptism and the duty of it's parents
What is the significance of baptism in the Baptist Church?
They reject the idea of infant baptism because there is no evidence in the new testament of it, there is no original sin, and that Baptism should be a show of your love and commitment to God.
They perform believers baptism, known as credobaptism.
What are some arguments for infant baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament that is a gift from Gods grace so anyone, including babies can receive it.
Baptism is sacred, and cannot be understood by humans
Baptism removes original sin
The story of Jesus welcoming children supports infant baptism
The new testament talks about whole families being baptised, this would have included children
What is the Biblical quote that shows Jesus welcoming children?
'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.' 'And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.' Mark 10:14-17
What are arguments against infant baptism?
Baptism is an ordinance commanded by Jesus
Baptism is a symbol of a believer's desire to start a new life as a member of the Church
Baptists reject the doctrine of original sin.
Jesus did not baptise children
What is the importance of the Holy Communion?
For Catholics and Anglicans, it is a sacrament
For Protestant Churches, it is an ordinance
Quakers do not perform it
What are the different names for the Holy Communion?
Holy Communion - refers to the sacred nature of the event and the fellowship of the community
The Eucharist - means thanksgiving and sharing a meal
The Mass - the Catholic belief, meaning they are fortified in faith with the blood and body of Christ
The Lords Supper - the celebration of the last supper
How is the Holy Communion (Mass) celebrated in the Catholic Church?
In the Eucharistic prayer, bread and wine are consecrated by a priest.
After the Lords Prayer, people then share the peace by shaking hands, and then recieve the communion from the priest.
The priest will eat any left over communion, and will not throw it away.
It is ended with a blessing
What biblical quote shows Jesus beginning the tradition of Mass?
'This is my body, which is for you.' and 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' - 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
What is the importance of Mass to Catholics?
They believe in transubstantiation, meaning they believe that the substance of the bread and wine become the literal Body and Blood of Christ.
It is a sacrament, meaning they receive Christ into their bodies and unites them with Christ and one another.
There are there aspects to any sacrament, and in Mass there is the Form (ritual actions), Matter (bread and wine), intention (the intention of the priest.)
The mass is a re-enactment of the sacrifice of Christ
What is the practice of the Holy Communion in the Baptist Church?
They read from the Bible and read a sermon
The holy table is prepared with bread and wine
the minister reads a passage from Corinthians 1
people pass around bread and wine
What is the importance of Holy Communion in the Baptist Church?
It is an ordinance, as jesus said 'Do this in remembrance of me.'
It is memorial of the last supper
it does not affect anyone spiritually
It's main value is to bring the community together
Where in the Bible did the last supper occur?
Luke 22:17-20
What is the significance of repeating Jesus' words and actions from the Last Supper in the Holy Communion?
The catholic church view it as highly symbolic
Jesus' death is important as it reconciled humans with God
What is the mission of the Church? 
To spread the good news of God in teaching and healing
What are three aspects of the mission?
Evangelism, mission to the Christian community, mission to the poor and disadvantaged
What was evangelism like in the early church?
Less than 30 years after Jesus' death, his life, death and resurrection was taken throughout the Mediterranean world.
Evangelism was taken out by Jesus' disciples, e.g., Thomas founded the Church in India.
What was evangelism like in the 19th century?
As European nations colonised empires in Asia, Africa and the Americas, evangelism continued.
Many missionaries from Britain were sent to convert those in the colonised countries.
What is evangelism like in the modern day?
It is common for churches to support missionary families financially and in prayer.
The focus is less on conversion and more on supporting other smaller Christian communities around the world
The Alpha course was founded in 1977 which invited non-churchgoers to have meals with Christians followed by talks on faith.
Fresh expressions provides alternative forms of Church by going to people instead of getting people to come to them, e.g., in pubs, cafes and skateparks.
What is the history of the mission to the poor and disadvantaged?
In the early centuries, the early church cared for those in need. for example, famine broke out in Jerusalem and Christians of Antioch in Syria sent money.
Mission of helping the poor and disadvantaged
1. The Church of England Children's Society were formed in the early 19th century to provide homes for homeless children
2. In the 1980s, the Church Urban Fund was created to help local communities, address hate and prejudice and set up financial services to address poverty
3. The Society of St Vincent de Paul is a Catholic organisation operating in Churches, schools and universities to fulfil the parable of the sheep and the goats. They provided donated furniture, gave advice with debt, taught and provided holidays for disadvantaged families
What is the Mission to the Christian Community? 
The industrial revolution led to people moving to cities, meaning there was a focus on building more Churches and clergys. However there was a decline in Church attendance, and so they had to find new ways to bring the community together. They hired people for jobs, they set up holiday camps for children. There was an emphasis on ecunemism, which is a drive to promote unity between different churches