christianity practises

• Heaven


  The state or place of eternal happiness and peace in the presence of God
• Hell


  The place of eternal suffering or the state of being without God
• What happens after God's judgement?


  1. Christians believe they will either experience eternal happiness in the presence of God (heaven), or be unable to experience God's presence (hell)

  2. Catholics believe some people might enter an intermediate state, called purgatory, before they enter heaven
• Knowledge of these states is limited and linked to imagery from the past
• Heaven


  • It is thought to be either a physical place or spiritual state of peace, joy, freedom from pain and a chance to be with loved ones
  • Traditional images of heaven often show God on a throne with Jesus next to him and angels all around him, or a garden paradise
• Who is allowed into heaven


  • Only Christians (believers in Jesus)
  • Christians and other religious people who have pleased God by living good lives
  • Baptised Christians, regardless of how they lived their lives
• Many Christians believe heaven is a reward for both faith and actions-not just one of these-as the parable of the Sheep and the Goats seems to show
• Purgatory


  An intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven
• Hell


  A state of existence without God, often pictured as a place of eternal torment in a fiery pit ruled by Satan
• Sin is any thought or action that separates humans from God
• Original sin


  The in-built tendency to do wrong and disobey God, which Catholics believe all people are born with
• Ways Christians can be saved from sin to gain salvation


  • Following God's law
  • Receiving God's grace
  • Being guided by the Holy Spirit
• • Some sins, like murder or assault, are illegal
  • Other sins, like adultery, are not illegal but are against the laws of God
• Christians believe that all humans commit sins
• Original sin


  The idea comes from Adam and Eve's disobedience of God, when they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which was forbidden by God
• The result of their sin was separation from God, and the introduction of death into the world
• Free will


  God gave people free will, but they should use their freedom to make choices God would approve of otherwise they will separate themselves from God
• Salvation


  To be saved from sin and its consequences, and to be granted eternal life with God
• Salvation repairs the damage caused by sin, which has separated people from God
• Two main Christian ideas about how salvation can come about

  • Through doing good works
  • Through grace
• Christians believe it is the Holy Spirit who gives grace to Christians and continues to guide them in their lives, to help them achieve salvation
• Christians believe that salvation is offered through the life and teaching of Jesus
• Jesus' resurrection shows that God accepted Jesus' sacrifice as atonement
• Through the sacrifice of his death, Jesus restored the relationship between God and humanity that was broken when Adam and Eve sinned
• Atonement


  Removes the effects of sin and allows people to restore their relationship with God
• This sacrifice makes it possible for all who follow Jesus' teachings to receive eternal life with God
• Sacraments are holy rituals through which believers receive a special gift of grace
• Sacraments recognised by different Christian denominations


  • Baptism
  • Confirmation
  • Holy Communion
  • Marriage
  • Holy Orders
  • Reconciliation
  • Anointing of the sick
• Some churches that practise believers baptism consider it to be important but not a sacrament
• Some churches, like the Quakers or Salvation Army, do not see any ritual or ceremony as being a sacrament
• What happens in baptism


  1. The person imitates Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist

  2. The person becomes a member of the Christian Church

  3. The person enters new life with Christ in the Christian community
• What baptism does for a person

  • Becomes a child of God
  • Is cleansed of sin
• Who practises infant baptism and believers' baptism


  • Infant baptism: Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed Christians
  • Believers' baptism: Baptists, Pentecostalists
• Reasons for infant baptism and believers' baptism


  • Infant baptism: Receives God's saving grace and the Holy Spirit, Removes original sin (Catholic and Orthodox belief), Allows the child to be welcomed into the Church as soon as possible, The parents can thank God for their new baby and celebrate with family and friends
  • Believers' baptism: People should be old enough to consciously make a mature decision about their faith, The decision to live a life dedicated to Jesus is what saves a person, rather than the baptism itself
• What happens in infant baptism and believers' baptism


  1. Infant baptism: The priest or minister pours blessed water over the baby's head and says "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", Godparents and parents promise to bring up the child as a Christian, The child is welcomed into the Christian community

  2. Believers' baptism: The person is fully immersed in a pool of water which symbolises cleansing from sin and rising to new life in Christ, When asked whether they are willing to change their lives, the person gives a brief testimony of their faith in Jesus, The person is baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
• Holy Communion (Eucharist)


  The sacrament that uses bread and wine to celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection
• Holy Communion recalls the Last Supper of Jesus, using his words and actions
• How Christians interpret the meaning of Holy Communion


  • Catholics, Orthodox Christians and some Anglicans believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, which is called Transubstantiation, meaning Jesus is fully present
  • Protestant Christians celebrate Holy Communion as a reminder of the Last Supper, with the bread and wine remaining symbols of Jesus' sacrifice
• The impact of Holy Communion


  • Individuals: Christians receive God's grace by joining in the sacrifice of Jesus, This helps to strengthen their faith, They become closer to God
  • Communities: Holy Communion brings the community of believers together in unity by sharing the bread and wine, This can provide support and encouragement for those going through a difficult time
  • Wider society: Holy Communion acts as a call to love others in practical ways, It encourages Christians to work for equality and justice for all, Many churches collect money during the service to help support those in need, such as the poor or homeless
• A pilgrimage is a journey made by a believer to a holy site for religious reasons