Christianity Beliefs and Teachings

• When analysing markets, a range of assumptions are made about the rationality of economic agents involved in the transactions
• The Wealth of Nations was written


  1776
• Rational


  (in classical economic theory) economic agents are able to consider the outcome of their choices and recognise the net benefits of each one
• Rational agents will select the choice which presents the highest benefits
• Consumers act rationally by

  Maximising their utility
• Producers act rationally by


  Selling goods/services in a way that maximises their profits
• Workers act rationally by


  Balancing welfare at work with consideration of both pay and benefits
• Governments act rationally by


  Placing the interests of the people they serve first in order to maximise their welfare
• Rationality in classical economic theory is a flawed assumption as people usually don't act rationally
• Marginal utility

  The additional utility (satisfaction) gained from the consumption of an additional product
• If you add up marginal utility for each unit you get total utility
• 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
• Free Will defense


  Moral evil is caused by humans, not God, because God has given us free will
• Original sin


  Evil and suffering are caused by Adam and Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden
• Soul-making theodicy


  Evil and suffering are part of God's plan, as they are needed for us to learn and grow in order to be perfected and enter Heaven
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that suffering is the result of original sin
• Christianity is a monotheistic religion with the belief 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, making up the one God
• Importance of the Trinity in Christianity


  • It is the central belief that underpins every other Christian belief
  • It gives Christians a clear identity and understanding of the complex nature of God
  • It shows that Jesus is the Incarnation of God, the Son of God
  • It teaches that God is present in the world today through the Holy Spirit
  • It is a model for relationships on Earth, showing unity in diversity
  • It affirms the importance of faith, as God is ultimately a mystery
• The Apostles' Creed is an important statement of belief about the Trinity
• Jesus: 'I and the Father are one'
• Jesus: 'The Father will send the Holy Spirit in my name, who will teach you all things'
• Key Christian belief

  Belief in God the Father Almighty, Jesus Christ his only son our Lord, and the Holy Spirit
• The Trinity


  • God the Father as powerful Creator
  • Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son
  • The Holy Spirit as the Giver of Life and 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 complete Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - were all present and involved in creation
• The seven days of creation

  • Day 1: Light created
  • Day 2: Sky created
  • Day 3: Dry land, sea, plants, and trees created
  • Day 4: Sun, moon, and stars created
  • Day 5: Creatures of the sea and sky created
  • Day 6: Land animals and humans created
  • Day 7: God rested
• God

  • Omnipotent
  • Able to speak the universe into existence
• Humans


  • Created in the image of God
• Two schools of thought on interpreting the creation account

  • Fundamentalists/Literalists: Believe the Genesis account is literally true
  • Liberals/Modernists: Believe Genesis is a metaphorical myth with a moral message, and science explains how God created the world
• Resurrection


  The foundational event of Christianity, where Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death