Christianity practices

• The Church of England

  The established religion in the UK
• Christianity has direct links with festivals (Easter as a bank holiday) and traditions (Sabbath as holy - shops have shorter hours). Other laws do not reflect the all Christian views (same sex marriage and abortion)
• Agape


  Unconditional love for God and mankind
• Atonement


  Doctrine of how humans are forgiven, redeemed and reconciled through the death of Christ
• Baptism


  Christian sacrament representing entrance into the Christian faith
• Church


  The Holy people of God, the body of Christ or a building where Christians worship
• Ecumenism


  Inter-denominational dialogue; different denominations trying to find common group and unity
• Eucharist


  Christian sacrament that uses bread and wine to re-enact the Last supper and commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus
• Worship


  An expression or adoration and praise for God. May involve prayer, listening to sermons, or playing music
• Liturgical worship


  • Follows a set structure and established rituals, the same every time. E.g. The Eucharist
• Non-liturgical worship


  • Does not follow a set text/ritual. No set prayers, people take turns to preach. Seen as modern and appeals to young people
• Informal worship


  • Type of non-liturgical; spontaneous. Focuses on importance of the Holy Spirit. Resembles worship practiced by Christians in the first decades. Christians can gather anywhere, not just at Church
• Private Worship


  • Takes place individually, forms a personal relationship with God. Become popular in modern times as more freedom
• Prayer


  Centre of Jesus' lifestyle and an essential part of faith. Traditionally kneeling and hands pressed together. Catholics use rosary beads, and Orthodox use icons
• Focus of Prayer


  • Adoration – Love and respect for God
  • Confessional – Statement of faith through prayer
  • Penitential – Saying sorry
  • Supplication – Asking for something
• Set Prayers


  • Written down and said more than once, allows collective nature. E.g. The Lord's Prayer
• Informal Prayers


  • Use day-to-day language, often private and focus on reflection or meditation. E.g. Quakers focus on God's presence and stillness. Pentecostal Church are moved by the Holy Spirit so speak in tongues
• Pilgrimage


  A journey to a special or sacred place, an act of religious devotion, faith in action. It has always been a practice in the Christian religion, many travelled to the Holy Land to walk in Jesus' footsteps
• Our Lady of Lourdes


  • In 1858 visions of Mary were seen, people visited and incidents of healing were reported. Many pilgrims pray and recite the rosary and bath in the water there. 67 miracles and 600 cures claim to have happened
• Iona Abbey


  • A holy site on an island off the West coast of Scotland, symbolic centre of Scottish Christianity, as focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland. Believed it is the closest place to heaven on earth, can feel God's presences. Hold daily services and workshops
• Sacraments


  There are 7; Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage and Holy Orders. Protestants only recognise Baptism and the Eucharist as they are in the Gospels and practiced by Jesus. Quakers and the Salvation Army don't believe in these two, they believe they are an inward spiritual experience
• Evangelism


  Spreading the Christian message through preaching the Christian Gospels
• Gospels


  An account of the life of Jesus Christ, meaning 'good news'
• Inter-faith Dialogue


  Different religions coming together to discuss matters
• Mission


  A calling where an individual or group go out and spread the word of God
• Persecution


  Hostility or ill-treatment, because of race or religious or political beliefs
• Pilgrimage


  A special religious journey to a holy site. Also an act of worship
• Poverty


  When people live without having basic human rights such as having enough food, water or shelter
• Baptism


  Believers are washed with water to remove sin and become part of the church community
• Infant's Baptism


  • Promises made on child's behalf by godparents and parents. Welcomes them into the church and washes away original sin. Cross is drawn on their head with oil, the child is dressed in white and a Paschal candle is lit
• Believers Baptism


  • An adult has chosen for themselves to follow Christianity and they are fully immersed into water to represent cleansing sin and rising u to a new life with Christ. Baptists only practice this form of baptism as children are too young to understand the meaning
• Eucharist (Mass or Holy Communion)


  Re-enactment of the Last Supper, the priest blesses bread and wine to represent Jesus giving his body and blood for humanities salvation - Liturgical worship
• Transubstantiation


  • Catholics believe the Holy Spirit transforms bread and wine into Jesus' body and blood
• Consubstantiation


  • The Lutherans idea of 'sacramental union'; body and blood of Jesus are somehow present
• Memorialism


  • Baptists see it is an act of remembrance
• Spiritually Present


  • Presbyterians view that Christ is not literally present, just spiritually
• Christmas


  Celebration of the birth of Jesus, where God became human, with a period of time called advent that begins 4 Sundays before. Seen as a time of peace + goodwill
• Christian celebrations of Christmas

  • Nativities, Christingle services to show Jesus as the light of the world, carol concerts, exchanging cards, decorating houses, family meals and exchanging gifts
• Non-religious celebrations of Christmas


  • Concerts, and cards show fun or winter scenes
• Easter


  Lent: Starts on Ash Wednesday, black ash cross on forehead, give up things. Day before, Shrove Tuesday, use up foods. 40 days (Jesus fasted in the desert and devil tempted him). Holy Week: Palm Sunday - arrival in Jerusalem, palm leaf crosses exchanged. Maundy Thursday - Last meal with disciples and washed their feet, some priests do this now. Good Friday - death on the cross, mourning. Easter Sunday: Day of Jesus' resurrection, remembrance and celebration services, cards and Easter eggs are given