Christianity

• Benevolent - loving

  Omniscient - all knowing

  Omnipotent - all powerful

  Eternal - no beginning or end

  Transcendent - Outside of space and time, not involved in the world

  Immanent - active and involved in world
• Some Christians place more emphasis as God as a loving, forgiving, personal God.

  • Jesus taught that God had sent his only son to save the world due to love; that he wanted a rs with humans and would forgive them when they went astray and repented, taught his disciples to pray and connect with God.

  Some place more emphasis as powerful judge

  • God gave jewish people commandments to follow and Jesus taught he would judge people at end of time.
• God as loving, forgiving and personal

  It can be comforting for Christians to believe God is personal, forgiving and loving. He cares about them and they don't need to be afraid of him.

  • "For God so loved the world, he sent his only son so that everyone believed him may not perish, but have eternal life."
• Creation

  Genesis records the creation of the universe and of life. There are 2 different accounts.

  1. God creates universe and its inhabitants in 6 days, rests a day. God created plants and animals before humans.
  2. After God created Earth, he creates man. He then creates plants, animals, men, women out of mens ribs.

  Women is tempted by a serpent, they eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God casts them out of paradise.
• Apostles Creed - affirms that God made heavens and Earth
• Role of God, son, spirit

  • God is creator of world
  • In Genesis, God creates the universe and life by speaking. He creates humans in his image.

  "So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them"

  • Genesis says Spirit of God was present at creation
• Creation

  "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was with God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not 1 thing came into being"

  • John 1 says the Word was present at creation and everything was created though him.
  • John 1 claims, Jesus is the Word of God, implying he existed before creation, assisted in creation and is more than an ordinary human.
• Evil and suffering may be a test - the book of Job shows the suffering tests character (Job continues to be good) and tests faith. (Job keeps his rs with God strong by praying.
• Problems for Christians

  If God is benevolent and omnipotent, righteous, if does not make sense for him to allow evil and suffering.

  • If he is loving, he would not let people suffer, and if he is righteous, he will not let the good people suffer.
  • If he is omnipotent, he could stop evil and suffering.
• Evil

  St Augustine suggested - when couple disobeyed God, they fell form Gods grace.

  • If humans can disobey God, they have free will which means hey can choose to be evil.
  • Doctrine fo fall - associated work original sin. Some C believe og is a kind of imperfection and separating God will, its inherited at birth, that the couples corruption is passed through sexual reproduction.

  'when you eat of it your eyes will be open, and you ill be like God, knowing good and evil' genesis 3:5

  Many C believe humans have capability to be good and follow Gods will.
• Points from the Sermon on the Mount

  • Jesus told crowd a no. of group of people were blessed(knows as Beatitudes)
  • DO NOT: Break religious laws, commit adultery, get divorced, judge others, profane the holy, take oaths and retaliate
  • DO: reconcile with others, give charity, treat others who you want to be treated, pray and fast in secret, put Gods word into action.

  "In everything to do others as you would have then do to you for this is the law and prophets" Matthew 7:12
• Jesus life example and teachings

  • Jesus healed a leper (Matthew 8:1-3)
  • Healed haemorrhaging women and dead girl (Mark 5:21 - 42)
  • In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught people to help their neighbour, no matter who they are. In 2 Great commandants, he teaches people to love God and their neighbour.

  His actions and teaching provided a model for C to be loving.
• Significance and relevance

  • Jews expecting a poltitcla messiah and saviour. Jesus came to save humanity spiritually instead, but still fulfilled prophecy and Gods plan.
  • Some C believe term - "Son of God" indicates he was a special man chosen by God, with a special rs with God.
  • Some early believers feel the was a divine being and not equivalent to God but that has changes today.
  • God referred to as Lord in OT, showing J high status, by giving him same title as God.
• Some beliefs

  • The Temple Curtain tearing top to bottom is though to symbolise that humans are no longer seated form God and Jesus care as God incarnate so humans and god could be reconciled and have a rs.

  'And the curtain of temple was torn in 2 from top to bottom'

  • Gospels show resurrection and crucifixion fulfilled OT prophecy, and the purpose of Js life was to achieve Gods long - term plan for humanity.
  • J die as sacrifice saving humanity - he told disciples forgiveness of sin is capable because of him, then died to pay price of human sin, resurrected - defeated death; punishment of sin
• Incarnation, Crucification, Resurrection, Ascension

  • As J ascended to Heaven after death, he is believed to be alive and help C I their daily lives
  • His resurrection ad ascension show his divinity (that he is God incarnate) reassuring Christians - of power/authority.
  • Many believe J came down to reunite God with the gentiles, Jews, meaning anyone can come to God through Jesus. This because of his crucifixion and resurrection.
• • Jesus saved them from sin by death and resurrection - Salvation. He restored the rs between God and humans.
  • Some Christians (Methodist) believe they are forgiven by God if they repent using their free will and accept Jesus sacrifice.

  Ephesians 2:8 say people are saved through having faith.

  • St Paul taught that all have sinned and need salvation (Romans 3:23)
• "they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ" - Romans 3:24

  Law: Jews try to achieve salvation by following Jewish law.

  Christians believe they no longer need to follow all of this, as they receive salvation through following Jesus instead.
• Atonement - Jesus saved them by dying on cross and atoning/making up for their sin and reconciled God and humanity.

  Diff theorises

  • Jesus sin was a sacrifice which which redeemed humans by praying the price required for sin - death
  • Jesus death overcame the forces of evil
  • Atonement is a divine mystery
• "In my fathers houses, there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

  • Many christians believe good people will go to heaven, Jesus told his disciples he would prepare a place for them". Some christians believe only Christians will got to hell as Jesus says he was the "way" to God.
  • Catholic Church teaches many go to purgatory , a realm where they must do penance for their sins before they go to heaven.
• Belief about life after death

  • Some believe about both resurrection and immortality of the soul; people will live on immediately after death but will be ruined with their bodies and judged at the end of times.
  • Some believe in resurrection of body; the dead will be raised in in their bodies at the end of time. Jesus taught that dead would be raised from graves (John 5:28 - 29).
  • Belief in this affirmed by St Paul, Apostles and nicene creed.
  • Some belief in immorality of soul - heaven/hell/purgatory immediately after death. Jesus told their he would go heaven that day (lUKE)
• Structure of worship

  • Calls to worship and blessing
  • Hymns
  • Sermon
  • Sacraments e.g - eucharistic
  • Creeds
• Liturgical worship - worship the follows a structure.

  Many churches follow the same liturgical worship every week, but use different hymns and prayers. It allows different aspects of worship to be incorporated and helps Christians focus on God by following a familiar structure.
• Private and public worship

  'For where 2 or 3 are gathered in my nae, I am there among them"

  • May worship with others to make sure they set aside time to worship; to let others help strengthen their faith.and help to strengthen others faiths.
  • May also like to focus on particular areas of their rs with God on their own, and choose which worship praises to use.
• SOA

  • The Catholic Church emphasise the authority of the Pope, bishops and other clergy to help Christians worship and have a relationship with god. Priests leading sacraments and liturgy play a large role in Catholic teaching.
• Sacraments - Eucharist

  • Catholic Church believe in transubstantiation that the bread and wine became the body and blood of Jesus for Christians to reeve. Catholics must first have a special communion service before receiving the Eucharist.
  • Also known as mass, holy communion and the lords prayer, the eucharist is eating bread and drinking wine. This follows Jesus command at the last supper to remember in this wayand to remember his body (bread) and blood (wine) were sacrificed for the forgiveness of our sins.
• Sacraments - Baptism

  Baptism is being anointed with or immersed in water to symbolise committing ones life to god. Jesus commanded his disciples to baptise followers and was baptised himself before beginning his ministry.

  • Some churches (Angelic) - infant. A young child is anointed with water from a font, and the parents and godparents make promises ti raise child in faith.
  • Baptist church - adults. This is known as believers baptism. Christians max
• • Some churches (Angelic) - infant. A young child is anointed with water from a font, and the parents and godparents make promises ti raise child in faith.
  • Baptist church - adults. This is known as believers baptism. Christians make promises to commit their life to God and are fully immersed in water. This is a personal commitment of someones life to serving Jesus.
• Types of prayers

  • Confession - tell God when they have sinned, because they nat to ask for forgiveness
  • Adorations - praise God because they want to let him know what he means to them
  • Intercessions - To help other people because Christians believe this will make a difference.
  • Grace - before eating to thank God

  Many catholic pray using a rosary, a necklace to help focus on certain prayers such as Hail Mary and on God.
• Pilgrimages

  • Jerusulam - where Jesus taught, died and rose here. Christians go to walk where he walked. Jesus himself went pilgrimage here.
  • Walsingham- important because a vision of Mary was seen here and there are shrines to her. Christians can pay homage with others.
• Pilgrimages

  • Rome - Paul and Peter preached here. People may go to visit important christian buildings or see the pope. As the pope is the leader of the Catholic Church, visiting the Vatican City and Rome may be more important for catholics.
  • Lourdes - important because a vision of Mary was seen here, and people go in the hopes of being healed. Catholics place particular importance on visions of Mary.
• Easter

  "But the angel said to the man, do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen. Suddenly, Jesus met them and said 'greeings'. And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him."
• Easter

  • On Good Friday Jesus is celebrated for being crucified to atone for christians sins, and on Easter Sunday they celebrate him being resurrected from dead. Catholics tend to emphasise the events of good Friday, Jesus paying the price of sin. Protestants - Sunday - overcome death.
  • Lent - period before easter. Christians traditionally repent for their sins. Holy Week - week before Easter, focuses Christians even more on Christians passion and resurrection. These celebrations are imp as through death and resurrection, Jesus bought them salvation and reconciliation with God.
• Christams

  "to you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord" Luke 2:11
• Christmas - celebration of Jesus birth

  • Advent helps christians prepare for Christmas. It is important as It helps to focus on his their belief that God had sent to his Son who may be believed to be God incarnate, to reconcile and and save them with God.
  • Christmas important as it was when Jesus came into the world to live with and and teach humans, without his birth he wouldn't been able to die and rise to save humanity. It can help christians deepen their faith with God.
• Christians rites of passage in a church help to mark and strengthen a christian faith and link their life to christian community who aim to support them.
• • Baptism and Confirmation - christian rituals which mark rites of passage and show someones commitment to the Christian faith
  • or (in infant baptism) commitment to someones parent to raising baby in faith. Important in creating a community with baptised believers who have all affirmed the same beliefs.
• • Marriage is an important Christian ritual which marks a rite of passage from being single to sharing ones life with another. It is seen as a commitment to God as well s to ones partner. Its also a sacrament in Catholicism.
  • Exchanging rings ad making vows can be seen to strengthen communities - providing a stable foundation for families.
• • Many denominations are flexible about funeral practices, though the Catholic Church has structured funeral rites including a vigil.
  • Traditionally, Christians were all buried, awaiting the resurrection of the dead; however, now many are cremated. Catholic church prefer burial.
• The Church teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman. This teaching comes from the Bible where we read "Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one flesh." Genesis 2:24
• Evangelism

  "And he said to them, go out in to all the world and proclaim the good news to the creation" (Mark 16:15)