Christianity beliefs

• Importance of the word and Holy Spirit


  Provides guidance and comfort, gives us faith and hope to get through life's challenges, strengthens our relationship with god
• Importance of the Holy Spirit


  Immanent part of god, presence of god in humans, guides us towards being good Christian (SALVATION)
• Importance of the Trinity


  All work together to represent the oneness of god, have different characteristics
• Importance of the Father


  Transcendent part of god, created the earth
• Transcendent


  He's beyond this world and doesn't depend on it to exist
• Salvation


  Believing that Jesus is our saviour and died for our sins, believing in him in order to get to heaven and be saved from sin, we can be saved from hell by seeking forgiveness by him
• What law, grace and spirit mean


  • Law is gods commandments and living a righteous life
  • Grace is gods mercy and being loved and forgiven by him
  • Spirit is the Holy Spirit who empowers us and gives us the spiritual gifts (faith, knowledge, wisdom)
• Immanent


  God present in the world, takes an active role in humanity
• Omniscient


  All knowing
• Different beliefs for the idea of the afterlife


  • Some believe they're real places
  • Some believe they're states of mind and being separated from god or with god (because god wouldn't punish us for all eternity)
• Purgatory


  Believed by Roman Catholics
• Benefits of private worship


  Can take place anywhere, more freedom on how to worship (meditation, rosary), more personal, better connection with god
• Opinions on the 7 sacraments


  • Catholics believe in all 7 as each one has a significance
  • Protestants only believe in 2 as they're the only ones authorised and used by Jesus
  • Quakers deny them all as they're seen as a distraction from the true religion
• Importance of the Holy Communion/Eucharist


  Commemorates Jesus last supper with his disciples, a way to remember his sacrifice
• Significance of Lourdes


  Located in France, place of pilgrimage, special healing water, place of forgiveness and unity within Christians, deepens faith
• Importance of the Great Commission


  Jesus instructed his followers to spread his teachings and the word of god - it's their responsibility
• Christian Aid


  Humanitarian charity which aligns with the teachings of Jesus
• Importance of the Son


  Model for Christians, source of guidance, immanent part of god, pathway to salvation
• Different opinions on evil and suffering


  • Test from god which brings us closer to him
  • God isn't actually benevolent or omnipotent as he allows it to happen
  • God doesn't interfere with free will
• Moral evil


  Cruel actions of humans who chose to act evil (murder, rape, torture)
• Importance of the Crucifixion


  Represents gods love and forgiveness, Jesus is a saviour and willingness to suffer on behalf of mankind, provides a path to salvation (and reconciliation with god aka ATONEMENT)
• Atonement


  Reconciliation with God
• Importance of Resurrection


  Shows that there's life after death which encourages Christian's to live a good life, proves that Jesus is the son of god, omnipotent god
• Importance of Ascension


  Shows there's a place in heaven for humans with god, influence and authority Jesus has as he's able to go back to heaven
• Non-liturgical worship


  Follows a structure but service leader has free choice within that structure, they can choose a prevalent theme relevant at that time
• Types of informal worship


  • Quakers have no structure or leader and practice individual prayer
  • Evangelical churches practice charismatic worship
• Charismatic worship


  Worship inspired by the spirit to "speak tongues" which they believe comes from the heart
• Importance of worship


  Feel closer to god, a way of praising god, external expression of faith, sense of togetherness within the community
• Reasons for infant baptism


  Enables them to receive the other sacraments, receives the gifts from the Holy Spirit
• Importance of Iona


  Located in Scotland, place of spiritual retreat/reset/reflection, used more for forgiveness
• Benefit of liturgical worship


  The familiarity of the service makes them feel secure and they can join in with ease, sense of the Christian community and unity
• Significance of John "the word"


  Highlights how Jesus was there from the start (links to creation), emphasis his divine power and authority
• Two interpretations of the creation story


  • Liberalists - metaphorical to help us understand gods nature (eternal/omnipotent)
  • Creationists - take it literally and believe they descended from Adam and Eve
• Personal judgement


  Believed by Roman Catholics, they believe a person is judged and sent straight to heaven or hell after they die
• Atonement


  Process of reconciliation with god, making amends for wrongdoing and sin
• Importance of the original sin


  Humans inherit a sinful nature, humans are prone to sin and need salvation, Jesus sacrifice is the only way to save humanity from the effect of the original sin, baptism
• What's involved in the Lord's Prayer


  • Praise/thanksgiving
  • Confession
  • Intercessional (praying for others)
  • Praying for oneself
• Importance of the 7 sacraments


  God's fists of grace offered to Christian's at appropriate points of their life, essential to their spiritual lives
• Two interpretations of the Eucharist


  • Catholics - transubstantiation, represents the ultimate sacrifice
  • Protestants - symbolic, way to express gratitude of Jesus sacrifice, strengthens faith
• Importance of Christmas


  Celebrate Jesus birth and how he brought salvation to humanity, inspires charity/kindness/generosity, time of community and family