christianity beliefs & practices

• 'for god so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' - john 3:16
• 'i am the good shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep.' - john 10:11
• 'the lord is my shepherd' - psalm 23
• 'i am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.' - jesus (john 14:6)
• 'but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of jesus cleans us from all sin.' - 1 john 1:7
• 'the lord is my shepherd; i shall not want.' - psalm 23:1
• 'blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.' - matthew 5:4
• 'and this is love: to follow his commandments. This is the commandment- just as you heard it from the beginning- that you must walk in it.' - 2 john 6
• 'the lord your god will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers. It is to him you must listen,' - deuteronomy 18:15
• 'love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.' - matthew 5:44
• 'do to others as you would have them do to you.' - luke 6:31
• 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' - matthew 7:12
• 'and this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment just as he commanded us: 'whoever loves God must also love their brother.'" - 2 john 5-6
• 'love your enemies! do good to those who hate you!' - luke 6:27
• 'and this is love: that we walk according to his commandments. This is the commandment just as he commanded us: 'whoever loves god must also love their brother.'" - 2 john 5-6
• 'for god so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.' - john 3:16
• Christians have found a way of reconciling their beliefs about the nature of God with the existence of evil and suffering
• Theodicy


  A defense of God
• Paul writes to the Romans that when Adam sinned, sin entered the world and death spread to everyone
• Paul also writes to the Romans that suffering produces perseverance
• Saint Augustine said that a runaway horse is better than a stone
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that suffering is the result of original sin
• Free Will defense


  • Moral evil is caused by humans, not God
  • God has lovingly given humanity free will, knowing some would misuse it
  • A runaway horse is better than a stone
• Original sin


  • Evil and suffering are caused by Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden
  • All people are born sinful, inheriting this from Adam and Eve
  • The world is in a state of disarray and disharmony due to the fall between Heaven and Earth
• Soul-making theodicy


  • Evil and suffering are part of God's plan
  • They are needed for humans to learn, grow, and develop the moral virtues required to enter Heaven
  • This world is a 'veil of soul-making' where we are perfected
• Christians believe in the Trinity - God as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• Trinity


  The three parts of God - the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit
• The Trinity is represented as a triangle, with the three parts in perfect harmony as one God
• Apostles' Creed


  An important statement of belief about the Trinity, setting out belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• Jesus: 'I and the Father are one'
• Jesus: 'The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you'
• God the Father Almighty


  Powerful Creator
• Jesus Christ


  God's only son, important because of his incarnation and act of atonement on the cross
• Holy Spirit


  Invisible power, The Giver of Life, source of inspiration
• Genesis 1:1: 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth'
• John 10:30: 'I and the Father are one'
• John 14:26: 'The Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you'
• Matthew 28: 'Jesus gives the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'
• Creation ex nihilo


  The belief that God created everything out of nothing due to his omnipotence
• The spirit of God was hovering over the waters at creation