christianity - beliefs, teachings + practises

• Christianity


  A monotheistic religion that began around 2,000 years ago with the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
• 4 key concepts in Christianity

  • Sin
  • Salvation
  • Monotheism
  • Eternal life
• Christianity


  • Centered around Jesus Christ
  • Underpinned by 4 key concepts: sin, salvation, monotheism, eternal life
• Topics covered in the video

  • Nature of God
  • Problem of evil and suffering
  • Oneness of God and Trinity
  • Creation
  • Afterlife
  • Incarnation
  • Events of Easter
  • Sin and salvation
  • Worship
  • Prayer
  • Sacraments
  • Pilgrimage
  • Celebrations
  • Role of church
  • Mission and evangelism
  • Worldwide church
  • Christian charities
• Monotheism


  Belief in one God
• Omnipotent


  All powerful
• Omni benevolent


  All loving
• Just


  Fair and righteous
• Existence of evil and suffering

  Raises problems for Christian beliefs about God's omnipotence and omni benevolence
• Theodicy


  A defense of God, a way to reconcile belief in an all-loving, all-powerful God with the existence of evil and suffering
• 3 Christian responses to the problem of evil and suffering


  • Free will defense
  • Soul-making theodicy
  • Greater good theodicy
• Free will defense


  Moral evil is caused by human beings, not God, because God has given us free will
• The free will defense does not account for natural evil (suffering not caused by human actions)
• Soul-making theodicy


  Suffering and evil are necessary for spiritual growth and the development of moral character
• Greater good theodicy


  Suffering and evil are permitted by God because they ultimately lead to a greater good
• The greater good theodicy is the most successful Christian response to the problem of evil and suffering
• Free Will defense


  Moral evil is not caused by God, it is caused by human beings who God has lovingly given free will. God is not to blame for moral evil.
• The Free Will defense does not account for natural evil and suffering
• Original sin defense


  Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge, bringing sin and evil into the world. Humans inherit original sin from them.
• According to Augustine, suffering exists in the world because of Adam and Eve's original sin
• Soul making theodicy


  Evil and suffering are part of God's plan, as they help us grow and develop our character to become worthy of entering Heaven.
• The three defenses seek to defend God from the challenge of evil and suffering
• Three Christian responses to the problem of evil

  • Free Will defense
  • Original sin defense
  • Soul making theodicy
• Trinity


  The three parts of God: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit
• The Trinity is the central belief that distinguishes Christianity from other religions
• The Trinity is a complex belief that reflects the mystery of God
• The Trinity is supported by biblical passages like the Great Commission and the Apostles' Creed
• Creation ex nihilo


  God created the world out of nothing, demonstrating his omnipotence
• The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all present and involved in the creation of the world
• The seven days of creation

  • Day 1: Light created
  • Day 2: Sky created
  • Day 3: Dry land, sea, plants created
  • Day 4: Sun, moon, stars created
  • Day 5: Sea creatures and birds created
  • Day 6: Land animals and humans created
  • Day 7: God rested
• God saw that his creation was very good
• Two ways Christians understand the creation account

  • Fundamentalist/Literalist view: Genesis is literally true, rejecting science
  • Liberal/Metaphorical view: Genesis contains spiritual truths but is not literally true, accepting science
• Some people interpret the Bible as literally true, while others see it as metaphorically true, containing spiritual and moral truths but not meant to be taken literally
• Fundamentalists believe the Genesis creation account is literally true, while liberals believe it is metaphorically true
• Liberals believe science explains how God created the world, e.g. through the Big Bang and evolution, while scripture contains important truths about why God created the universe and humanity's role
• Eschatological


  Concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind
• Resurrection


  The event on Easter Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead
• Christians believe Jesus's resurrection gives them hope that they too can rise from the dead and have eternal life
• Judgment


  The belief that God will judge people after their death based on how they have lived their lives
• Possible destinations after judgment

  • Heaven
  • Hell