RE

• Omnipotence


  The all-powerful, almighty and unlimited nature of God
• Omnibenevolence


  The state of being all-loving and infinitely good-a characteristic often attributed to God
• Omniscience


  The all-knowing nature of God
• Trinity


  The three persons of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
• Holy Spirit


  One of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his crucifixion and resurrection. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is present as the power of God at work in the world
• Incarnation


  The Christian belief that God became man in the person of Jesus, fully human and fully divine
• Messiah


  The one believed to be sent by God to be humanity's saviour. Christians believe this person to be Jesus
• Resurrection


  The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day from when he was crucified, thereby conquering death. It is commemorated annually on Easter Sunday
• Atonement


  The belief that Jesus' death and resurrection healed the rift between humans and God, thereby opening the way for God and people to be 'at one' again
• Divine command


  The belief that something is right because God commands it
• Agapé


  Selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. Christianity holds agapé to be the highest type of love, epitomised by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity and in teachings such as Love your neighbour
• Inter-faith dialogue


  Different faith communities and groups coming together to better understand each other and to serve the wider community with a mutual respect that allows them to live peacefully alongside each other, despite differences in beliefs and ways of life
• Christian beliefs and teachings about Creation

  • Beliefs and teachings on Creation
  • Differing Christian interpretations of the Genesis 1 Creation story
  • Differing Christian interpretations of the Genesis 2 and 3 Creation story
• Creation


  God brought into existence something out of nothing: He did not make something out of what was already there
• Humans


  • Created by God in His image
  • Role as God's stewards, to have dominion (responsibility) for the world and creatures
• All that was created was originally good
• Differing Christian interpretations of the Genesis 1 Creation story

  • Literalist views
  • Old-earth creationist views
  • Liberal views
• Literalist views


  • The main points of the story actually happened the way they are described-literally
  • God's Spirit moved across the waters
  • There were six days of 24 hours in which God created
  • Adam was formed out of the dust of the earth
  • Eve was formed out of Adam's rib
• Old-earth creationist views


  • The main points of the story are essentially true, but they differ in their view of the "days" of Creation
  • There were six clear periods of Creation, much longer than 24-hour days
• Liberal views


  • The detail of the story is not important, but it was a pre-scientific attempt to explain the origins of the universe
  • What is important is that the story demonstrates that God created the universe, every aspect depends on Him for its existence, and humanity is the pinnacle of His Creation
• Differing Christian interpretations of the Genesis 2 and 3 Creation story

  • The creation of the first human beings
  • The temptation of the first human beings to disobey God
  • The fall of human beings from closeness with God
• Literalists


  • Reject the idea of different versions of Creation, and see one continuous story with differing levels of detail
  • Tend to emphasise the sinfulness of human beings since the fall
• Non-Literalists


  • Believe the story of Adam and Eve is not literal
  • Accept the development of species through natural selection and evolution-a process which God started
  • Tend to emphasise the closeness of humans to God, and their capacity to love and do good, rather than their potential for sin
• • God is at the centre of Creation
  • God is the source of all life
  • The created universe and all in it depend on God for continued existence
• Christian beliefs and teachings about Creation

  In this area of study you will consider different Christian views about the nature and role of hamans, and the literal and non-literal interpectations of the Creation story (Genesis 1-3)
• Beliefs and teachings on Creation

  • There are two accounts of the Creation in Genesis
  • God brought into existence something out of nothing He did not make something out of what was already there.
• Literalist views


  • Humans were created by God is Hy
  • The role of humans, as God's dominion (responsibility) for the s creatures
  • All that was created was originally good
• Differing Christian interpretations of the Genesis 1 Creation stery

  • The main points of the story actually happened the way they are described-literally
  • God's Spirit moved across the waters
  • There were six days of 24 hours in which God created.
  • Adam was formed out of the dust of the earth.
  • Eve was formed out of Adam's rib.
  • Believers of this view see a conflict between science and religion and are convinced of the truth of the Bible in a literal and direct sense.
• Old-earth creationist views


  • The main points of the story are essentially true, but they differ in their view of the days of Creation
  • They would say that there were six clear periods of Creation, much longer than 24-hour days.
  • They are sometimes known as 'day-age creationists'
  • People who accept this view see less conflict between scientific theories and religion, and can see how both weave together to give a full picture of life and the earth.
• Liberal views


  • The detail of the story is not important, but it scientific attempt to explain the origins of the universe. What is important is that the story demonstrates the following beliefs: God created the universe, Every aspect depends on Him for its existence, Humanity is the pinnacle of His Creation
  • People who hold this view have no problem accepting the scientific explanations of the world and recognise the biblical accounts as pre-scientific accounts.
• Differing Christian interpretations of the Genesis 2 and 3 Creation story

  • The creation of the first human beings.
  • The temptation of the first human beings to disobey God.
  • The fall of human beings from closeness with God.
• Literalists


  • Reject the idea of different versions of Creation, and see one continuous story with differing levels of detail
  • Tend to emphasise the sinfulness of human beings since the fall. Some would even talk of the impossibility for people not to sin.
• Non-literalists


  • Believe the story of Adam and Eve is not literal
  • Accept the development of species through natural selection and evolution-a process which God started (sometimes this is referred to as 'theistic evolution')
  • Tend to emphasise the closeness of humans to God, and their capacity to love and do good, rather than their potential for sin
• Both views agree that God is at the centre of Creation, God is the source of all life, the created universe and all in it depend on God for continued existence.
• what the wind does when it Mows hard
• can see what it is doing a similar w
• The Holy Spirit seen as the power of God w


  Holy Spirit is active and effective, and that y what he does
• Use of sacred texts


  remember the exact words w what they say and how be
• Christian beliefs and teachings about the Trinity

  In this area of study you will look at the beliefs and teachings about the Trinity-the three aspects of the one God. There are specific Bible references linked to the three aspects of God, and you should be familiar with these and able to refer to them in your exam anwen
• Christians believe there is only one true God and He is One, though He is understood as three persons, experienced in different ways

  • God, as Father
  • God, as the Son Jesusl
  • God, as the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.