CHRISTIANITY

• BELIEFS

  Trinity - God exists in 3 parts

  • ' God the father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit '
  • Importance- helps Christians understand God's nature, Jesus is a role model
• BELIEFS

  Creation - God created the world in 6 days, rested on day 7

  • ' Let there be light '
  • Importance- teaches God created everything so humans should be Stewards, God created humans in his image so we feel special and loved
• BELIEFS

  Incarnation- God becomes flesh as Jesus

  • ' The word became flesh '
  • Evidence- born by virgin Mary, multiplied fish+bread (5000)
  • Importance- God showed compassion by spending time with humans so we feel loved, allowed for salvation when Jesus atones for sin
• BELIEFS

  Last days of Jesus

  • Last Supper- Jesus predicts his death, asking his disciples to ' do this in remembrance of me ' (eat bread, drink wine)

  Importance- proved trinity because Jesus was omniscient by predicting his death, Eucharist performed where sins forgiven

  • Arrest and trial- Jesus is put on trial for crucifixion

  Importance- Jesus feels scared proving he's human

  • Crucifixion/Resurrection- He dies on the cross and resurrects

  Importance- he atoned for sin allowing humans to go to heaven, proves trinity because he had omnipotence by resurrecting
• BELIEFS

  Salvation- to save the soul from sin Achieved by:

  • receiving God's grace - the belief in him and Jesus
  • working for salvation - doing good works like donating to charity
• BELIEFS

  Eschatology- the afterlife

  • ' I am not dying, I am entering life '
  • Protestants - No purgatory, they believe in levels of Heaven
  • Catholics - They believe that there is purgatory where some sinners go to be cleansed

  Importance- idea of an afterlife is comforting, encourages people to do good works to go to heaven
• BELIEFS

  Evil

  • natural - suffering caused by the world, it is not human's fault
  • moral - suffering caused by humans

  Causes the rejection of God

  • If God = all knowing, he knows we suffer
  • If God = all loving, he doesn't want us to suffer
  • If God = all powerful, he can stop suffering but doesn't

  God is either: not aware of suffering, doesn't love us, or too weak to act
• BELIEFS

  Solutions to the problem of evil

  • Biblical - God's reason for suffering is beyond human understanding
  • Theoretical - evil is not a form of God so we should avoid evil.
  • Practical - suffering is a result of misused free will
• PRACTICES

  Forms of Worship- Liturgical and Non liturgical

  • Liturgical - formal, follows a set pattern (e.g. choir, Eucharist)
  • Non liturgical - informal, has no set pattern (e.g. dancing, singing)
• PRACTICES

  Baptism- converts people to Christianity, removes original sin

  ' Baptise in the name of the father, the son, the holy spirit '

  • Infant- makes the child also part of God's family

  A cross is drawn on forehead in oil but Orthodox immerse baby fully

  • Believers- only for adults, religion is a choice, Jesus baptised as an adult

  Done in full immersion, person walks into a pool and walks out to their 'new life'
• PRACTICES

  Mass/Eucharist/Holy communion - Bread is eaten, wine is drank.

  • ' Do this in remembrance of me '

  Importance- remembers the Last Supper where Jesus predicts death

  • Protestants view the bread and wine as purely symbolic
  • Orthodox believe Jesus is present in the bread and wine .
• PRACTICES

  Prayer - how Christians communicate to God, he listens

  • showing Adoration (love to God)
  • Confessing (admitting to sins)

  Lords Prayer - the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples

  • Set prayer - structured, formal, set pattern (e.g. choir)
  • Informal - personalised, builds connection to God
• PRACTICES

  The role of the local church

  ' faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead '

  • Food Banks - Christians represent their faith and donate food for the poor, shows they ' love thy neighbour '
  • Street pastors - volunteered. They provide a reassuring presence by responding to drunkenness and antisocial behaviour.
• PRACTICES

  Worldwide church

  ' For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat '

  • Reconciliation - restoring the relationship with God and people (made possible after Jesus atoned for sin)
  • Persecution - ill treatment due to race or religion (1/7 persecution is Christians).
  • Christian Aid - works globally to help the poor . They aim to change government policy to allow the poor to suffer less.
• PRACTICES

  Mission and Evangelism

  ' faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead '

  • Evangelism- Spreading the Christian message with the intent to convert atheists
  • Mission- the duty to evangelise
• PRACTICES

  Pilgrimages- a religious journey

  • Lourdes- ( France ). A young local said she saw Mary, her friend said the water had healing powers . Pilgrims take the water home .

  MORE commercialised and overcrowded

  • Iona- ( Scotland ). Christians study the Bible, pray for spiritual growth. Christians face challenges differently

  LESS commercialised and overcrowded
• PRACTICES

  Celebrations

  • Christmas- the celebration of Jesus' birth . Gift giving represents the gift God gave ( Jesus )

  Advent (time for prayer and reflection)

  • Easter- The Sunday of Jesus' resurrection which celebrates Jesus' victory over death

  Lent (Jesus gave up food, Christians give something up)