Beliefs and teachings

• Creation:

  • Day 1/2 Light and sky
  • Day 3 Dry land and plants
  • Day 4 Sun, moon and stars
  • Day 5 Sea, land and flying creatures
  • Day 6 Land animals and human beings
• “God made the world how he wanted it to be” - Genesis 1:31

  Omnipotence
• Creation also highlights God’s transcendence
• Christian’s believe that the world is a gift from God and that he placed humans in a position of stewardship and dominion over his creation
• CCC - “The trinity is one. We do not confess three God’s, but one in three persons”
• The trinity is seen in the baptism of Jesus [ Matthew 3 ]

  • “the spirit descending on him like a dove”
  • ”And a voice from heaven”
  • “You are my son who’m I love”
• “ Let us make mankind in our image “

  The plural highlights God is speaking for more than 1 person
• How the trinity is reflected in worship:

  • All sacraments are performed in the name of the trinity
  • The priest blesses everyone at the end of mass with the trinity
  • Worshippers repeat the nicene creed
• Creation:

  • Humans are made in the image of God “imago dei”
  • ” breathed into his nostrils the breath of life “ - Genesis 2

  Humans are born with an innate dignity to be respected.

  Humans are sacred; only we were given the breath of life

  Humans are the pinnacle of creation: “indeed it was very good” ( everything was just good not very )

  Humans are free - moral conscience
• Omnibenevolent - all loving
• Transcendence - beyond human understanding
• Omnipotence - God is all powerful, all knowing, and all present.
• Stewardship: taking care of something on behalf of another
• Humans are called to look after the planet

  • Creation is a gift from God

  Laudato si; “the world is a gift we received and must share with each other”

  • Looking after creation shows ‘Love of Neighbour‘ commandment [second greatest] how we treat the environment affects others
• The Paschal Mystery: The death and resurrection of Jesus
• The last supper was a meal that Jesus had with his disciples before he was crucified.

  • “This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me” [Luke 22]
  • ”This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” [Matthew 26]
• Incarnation: God took on human flesh in Jesus

  • A sign of God’s love for humanity
• Jesus had both divine and human nature
• Jesus experienced normal human life

  • Compassion (Luke) A widow who lost her son
  • He wept when he heard about the death of Lazarus “Jesus wept” John 11
  • Suffered and died (Mark) The crucifixion

  If Jesus wasn’t human, he wouldn’t have been able to suffer.
• Jesus was called the son of man and the son of God
• Heresies - false teachings
• Jesus was asked if he was the ‘Son of the Blessed One’ as Jews couldn’t say God, and he replied with ‘I am’
• Heaven:

  ”What no eye as seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” - 1 Corinthians 2:9