Christian beliefs

• nature of God

  God is omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent
• problem of evil 


  If God is all three parts of his nature, how come there is evil in the world
• Theodicy 1 - free will


  we are given the choice to do whatever so some people choose evil

  issue: doesn't explain natural suffering
• Natural suffering


  Suffering caused by nature, e.g. because of earthquakes, volcanoes
• Man-made suffering


  Suffering caused by the actions of humans, e.g. war
• Just suffering


  Suffering that is fair, e.g criminals suffering through imprisonment
• Unjust


  Suffering that seems unfair or not right, e.g. children being abused
• Theodicy


  A justification for the existence of God in the light of evil and suffering
• Free will


  The ability to do what we want
• Soul making


  God allows evil and suffering so that we can develop qualities like compassion
• Trinity


  The belief that there are three persons in the One God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
• Holy Spirit


  The third person of the Trinity whom Christians believe is the inspiring presence of God in the world
• Son of God


  A title used for Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. It is used to show the special relationship between Jesus and God the Father
• Incarnation


  Becoming flesh, taking human form
• Monotheism


  The belief that there is only one God
• Polytheism


  The belief in many gods
• Creation


  The act by which God brought the universe into being
• Symbolic interpretation


  Not literal, but representing something
• Liberal


  A person who does not interpret the Bible in a strict, liberal way
• Fundamentalist


  A person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion
• Literal interpretation


  People who interpret the Bible literally believe that everything in the Bible is literally true
• Ex nihilo


  Out of nothing. Christians believe God created the world out of nothing
• Stewardship


  Looking after something so that it can be passed on
• Virgin birth


  When a baby is not conceived sexually
• Crucifixion


  A Roman method of execution in which criminals were fixed to a cross. It also refers to the execution and death of Jesus on Good Friday
• Atonement


  Restoring the relationship between people and God through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus
• Sin


  Any action or thought which takes human beings away from God or behaviour which is against God's laws
• Original sin


  An Augustinian Christian doctrine that says that everyone is born with the urge to do bad things and to disobey God as a result of Adam and Eve betraying God
• Resurrection


  Rising from the dead. It also refers to Jesus rising from the dead
• Ascension


  The event 40 days after the resurrection when Jesus returned to God the Father in Heaven
• Sin


  Any action or thought which separates humans from God or behaviour which is against God's laws and wishes
• Salvation


  Being saved from sin and going to heaven. This is achieved through Jesus
• Grace


  God's unconditional love that God shows everyone, even if it is not deserved
• Forgiveness


  Showing grace and mercy and pardoning someone for what they have done wrong
• Afterlife


  What Christians believe follows life on Earth
• Day of Judgement


  A time when the world will end and every soul will be judged by God and rewarded or punished
• Heaven


  A state of eternal happiness in the presence of God; the place of eternal peace ruled over by God
• Hell


  The place of eternal suffering or the state of being without God
• Purgatory


  The intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven
• Judgement


  God will judge your actions and decide on your fate