Christianity

Christianity

1. Beliefs

   • God
     • Creator and creation
       • Belief that God created the world and everything in it. 
       • Genesis 1:1 ''In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth''
       • Christians also believe that God continues to be involved in the world. This is what is meant by God as a sustainer. This is the idea that everything in the world is still completely dependent on God for its existence
       • Omnipotence God's omnipotence is revealed in many stories in the Bible. For example, the book of Genesis describes how God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th and how he created man from the dust in the ground and a woman from man's rib. Whilst some Christians do not believe this story, they accept that creation shows God's power
       • Omnibenevolence The idea that God is an all-loving being. It is believed by Christians that God loved humanity so much that he chose to send Jesus to Earth so that people could have eternal life.
       • Omniscience The idea that God is all-knowing. Christians believe this power goes beyond what we can imagine as humans. God knows if someone loses a single hair on their head and knows people's thoughts before they speak them,
       • Omnipresence The belief that God is everywhere. Christians believe that God is present everywhere in the world at all times
       • Story of Creation
         • Genesis 1 According to Christian belief, God created the universe. There are two stories of how God created it which are found at the beginning of the book of Genesis. Some regard these as two separate myths that have a similar meaning, others see them as one continuous story.
         • Day 1 - God creates night and day Day 2 - God creates the sea and sky Day 3 - God creates land and plants Day 4 - God creates the sun, moon and stars Day 5 - God creates fish and the birds Day 6 - God creates living creatures including human beings Day 7 - God rests (This is described in the beginning of Genesis 2)
         • Genesis 2 Some people think this story goes on to give more detail about the creation of humans seen as two individuals, Adam and Eve. Adam was made from the 'dust of the ground' when God breathed life into him. Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs to provide him company and help. They lived in the Garden of Eden and were both given the responsibility to look after the place that God had created for them.
         • There are some contradictions between the two accounts in Genesis 1 and 2. Such as, the order of when animals and humans were created. Genesis 1 - States that animals and finally humans were created on day 6 Genesis 2 - Implies that humans were created before animals Some people think that Genesis 2 is just a more in-depth look at day 6.
         • Literal and non-literal understanding of the Bible Some Christians believe that the Bible stories, including Genesis, should be taken literally and that biblical accounts are to be taken as fact. No scientific or alternative theory is considered. These are known as Literalist Christians. Non-Literalist Christians may see biblical accounts as more mythical stories that represent God's omnipotence rather than be a true story. They often agree with scientific theories such as the Big Bang, but believe God caused these. Often, non-literalist Christians will accept the theory of evolution as the word 'day' meant 'period of time' when the bible was written. This means that God could have created the world over 7 periods of time.
     • Nature of Humanity
       • Soul Christians believe that when the physical body dies, a non-physical part of the person continues to live on. This is known as the soul. Christians believe that the soul is God-given and that it is immortal. Christians believe that only humans have souls and this is what makes people unique and different to all other life forms. The soul is sometimes described as the spiritual element of humans. The soul and body are united together to form one being. However, the difference is that the body is mortal and the soul is immortal. There are divided opinions about what exactly happens to the soul after the death of the human body. Some Christians believe that the body and the soul rise to Heaven together at the final resurrection whilst others believe that only the soul will leave the body and return to be reunited with God.
       • Genesis 2:7 ''Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.''
       • The Bible teaches that humans are made in God's image. This is described in Genesis 2-3
       • Morality As all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, Christians believe that humans therefore have a duty to act and live moral lives. This refers to the idea of having a sense of right and wrong. It is, again, only humans who have these morals and this is what separates people from other creatures. Christians believe that God made the universe morally good from the beginning. As Christians share in God's image, they believe that they should live according to God's plan and design. This will include care of the Earth as well as their own lives and bodies. They should live in a way that glorifies what God has created
       • Free will Free will refers to the ability to choose between different possible courses of action. Christians believe that all humans have free will and this free will is God-given, ie God gave humans the ability and the free will to make their own decisions and choices. Without free will, humans could not be described as moral beings, as they will not have made the conscious choice to live and act in a moral way. An example can be seen in Genesis where Eve is tempted by the serpent and, as a result of her free will, is accountable for her actions.  The Bible makes it clear that humans not only have the ability to choose but they also have the responsibility to choose wisely.
       • Rationality Refers to the idea that God made humans as rational beings. Means that humans can use their ability to reason and make decisions or judgements based on this reason. Unlike other living beings, humans have the ability to think and understand. This helps them weigh up actions and consequences, using their conscience and experience to guide them.
       • Creative One of the main purposes of humans is to be creative, as can be seen in Genesis 1:28. God created humans to be fruitful and multiply and to populate the Earth. This is the nature, and one of the main purposes of humans. This refers to the idea that God created humans with the ability of creativity, meaning that they have the ability to use this creativity to help them and others in this world. An example of this would be the way that humans have used plants for so many different purposes, such as food, clothing, furniture and construction.
     • The Fall
       • The Bible teaches that Adam and Eve disobeyed God - this is called 'The Fall of Humanity'
       • The term 'Fallen' is related to the original sin, which is the idea that all humans are born with a tendency to sin. Christians have traditionally believe that original sin is the result of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God when they ate the fruit from the Garden of Eden. Christians believe that when they disobeyed God, they 'fell' from perfection and brought evil into a perfect world. In doing so, they separate humans from God.
       • Genesis 2:15-17 ''The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, ''You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.''
     • The Trinity
       • The Trinity refers to the idea that God is one, but exists in three different Persons. The world 'trinity' comes from the word 'tri' meaning 'three' and the 'unity' meaning 'one'. Christians believe that there are 3 distinct Persons to this one God and that these 3 Persons form a unity. This belief is called the doctrine of the Trinity.
       • God the Father The creator and sustainer of all things. Christians refer to God as the Father. This means that he was the creator of the world and everything in it. He is the father of the universe. God is viewed as a loving father. This means that he cares and loves humanity, as a father loves his son. This is shown in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:11-32). In this parable, despite the son having squandered his early inheritance, the father still welcomes him home with open arms and a celebration. In the same way, God welcomes back those who have sinned and now seek to be reconciled with him. God is also known as the father of Jesus Christ, as Jesus claimed to have a special relationship with God.
       • God the Son This refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. For Christians, this is Jesus as God in human form, who was sent to save humanity. He was sacrificed for the sins of humankind, which allows them to be reunited with God after death. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God on Earth - The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14) Christians believe that the Son was present at the creation of the universe, but wasn't in his human form at this stage. God chose to reveal himself as a human being in order to spread his teaching, to show how life should be lived and to represent humanity for their salvation.
       • The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the power of God at work on the Earth. In the scriptures it is often depicted as wind, fire or in the form of a dove. It is through the power and workings of the Holy Spirit that God is known today, and how Christians can know what God wants them to do. It is also through the Holy Spirit that Christians receive grace and gifts from God, such as faithfulness and self control: ''...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control'' - Galatians 5:22-23 The Holy Spirit is connected with life and the soul. When Adam was created, God breathed life into him. Christians also believe that it was through the Holy Spirit that Mary became pregnant with Jesus.
   • Jesus as incarnate
     • God the son
     • The Messiah
       • This is a title given to the person believed to be the savior, who has been chosen to bring salvation to humankind. The term 'anointed one' is used in both Christianity and Judaism. Christians believe that the Messiah was sent by God to save humanity. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus' resurrection and miracles he performed is evidence that he is the chosen one. The Messiah sent to save humanity and this salvation came about through his death and resurrection. ''Simon Peter answered, ''You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God'' - Matthew 16:13-17
       • Through Christ's death on the cross, Christians are saved from eternal damnation and are given the hope of salvation.
     • The birth, death and resurrection
       • Birth Jesus' birth was announced to Mary by the Angel Gabriel, who agreed to God's plan and to carry the Son of God. Mary was specifically chosen. Catholics believe that, unlike the rest of humanity, she was born sinless, known as the Immaculate Conception. The gospels state that Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem due to a census where each was to return to their hometown. Due to the census, Bethlehem was full and Mary gave birth to the son of God and laid him in a manger (a feeding trough for animals) Both Matthew and Luke's gospels tell of visitors to the newborn. In Matthew's gospel, the Magi come to visit the new baby and bring him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh after following a star to find the child. These gifts are a sign of holiness and royalty - they are a sign that the baby is a king. In Luke's gospel, the shepherds come to worship and praise the newborn child. The poor and humble shepherds and the foreign Magi show that Jesus came to serve and save all people from all races and backgrounds.
       • The death Jesus' crucifixion is a culmination of a series of events including: His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey; the Last Supper; the betrayal of Judas and two trials. After Jesus was sent to Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman governor of Judea at the time, Pilate offered the choice of who to condemn to death to the crowd, as was tradition. The crowd chose to free Barabbas, a well-known criminal, thereby condemning Christ to death. Once he had been condemned, he was whipped, stripped of his clothes and given a crown of thorns and a robe to wear as the crowds mocked him. He was given his cross to carry to Golgotha where he was to be crucified. He fell three times on the path, and a man called Simon from Cyrene was forced to help him carry the cross. At Golgotha, his clothing was split amongst the guards and he was crucified between two criminals with a sign reading 'The king of the Jews' placed above his head. At noon the sky went dark and 3 hours later, Jesus cried out ''My God, my God, why did you abandon me?'' (Matthew 27:46) He was offered wine, but he took his final breath and died. At that moment the veil in the temple tore in two and the Earth shook.
       • The resurrection Jesus' resurrection fulfills the prophecy that the Son of Man would rise again. On the Sunday morning (two days after Jesus' death) Luke's Gospel states that some of the women went to visit the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body. When they arrived they found the stone covering the tomb rolled away and two men in bright shining clothes appeared to them. They asked the women: ''Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised.'' (Luke 24:5) The women went to tell the apostles who did not believe them, so Peter ran to the tomb and found it empty, just as the women had said. He returned amazed at what he had witnessed.  After his resurrection, he spent time with the apostles and told them that God would send down the Holy Spirit to them just as he had promised. He sent them out to tell people about him and his teaching. He led them out to Bethany, outside of the city and blessed them before ascending to heaven.

2. Practices

   • Morality
     • Divine Command Theory
       • The belief that things are right because God commands them to be. In other words, it means that things which are considered wrong or unethical are wrong because they are forbidden by God. It is an absolutist theory. This means that there is no debate or discussion over whether an action is right or wrong. The divine command theory defines an act or action as good or bad, depending on whether it supports God's commands or not. Any act that goes against what God has commanded is classed as wrong, no matter the situation or circumstance. An absolutist approach means that the decision and outcome will always be the same. God is omniscient, therefore they believe humans do not have the authority to question God's will
     • Teachings and Parables
       • Teachings of Jesus The Golden Rule One of the main Christian teachings about morality and how others should be treated comes from Jesus' teaching of the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule tells Christians to treat other people as they would like to be treated. ''So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. If you, then...know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!.'' - Matthew 7:11-12
       • Life after Death Jesus taught his followers that those who live good lives and follow his teachings will be rewarded with eternal life in God's kingdom. Jesus also taught that those who commit sins and turn their back on God will receive eternal punishment in Hell. Jesus also teaches that the path to eternity with God is not an easy one. The path to Hell, however, is an easier one and so many more people follow it.
       • The Parable of the Sheep and Goats In many of his parables, Jesus teaches about what will happen at the end of time. All of humanity should be judged on the way they have lived and how they have acted. The parable of the Sheep and Goats gives a picture of how humans will be divided at the end of time at the Final Judgement. Matthew 25:31 ''When the Son of Man comes as King... he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the righteous people at his right and the others at his left.
       • The Parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus used this parable as an example of loving those who may not be our friends.Matthew 5:43-47''You have heard that is was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you''Matthew 22:39''Love your neighbor as yourself''
       • The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus In this parable, the rich man does nothing while alive to help Lazarus, a poor beggar, and when he dies the rich man goes to Hell whilst Lazarus goes to Heaven. While in Hell, the rich man asks Abraham for some relief and he is declined, in the same way that he did nothing to help Lazarus. He also asks Abraham if he can go and warn his brothers, but once again is declined as his brothers have the prophets to listen to.
     • Agape - Love
       • The Greeks have 4 different terms to define love, one for each type of love. Eros - love felt when you're in love with someone Philia - the love felt towards close friends Storge - natural love or fondness felt between family members. Agape - selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love In the scriptures, the love that Jesus talks about and refers to is agape love. Christians believe this is the highest type of love and it is the love that Jesus has for humans. Agape involves feeling so much love for someone that you put them before yourself. The most famous teaching of Christ on this is from the Last Supper in John's Gospel. Jesus gives his final commandments to his apostles to love one another.  John 13:34-35 ''And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.''
     • Forgiveness
       • Forgiveness is an important part of Christianity. It does not mean that Christians let others get away with things, but more that they make a conscious effort to forgive and let go of feelings that come with bearing a grudge against a person. These feelings of anger and hatred can cause harm to the person feeling them, so Jesus taught people to try and let them go. Forgiveness also involves the person who has done wrong showing remorse. This could be done by praying to God to ask for forgiveness.
     • POSSIBLE 15 MARKER TOPIC
     • Treasures on Earth and in Heaven
       • In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus specifies the difference between treasures on Earth and in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 ''Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.'' The message of this teaching is that worldly goods can be stolen, or even perish, but good deeds are more spiritual and their spiritual value will be revealed after death. This quote defines the difference between the two riches: - Treasures on Earth are temporary, materialistic and limited - Treasures in Heaven are eternal
       • Wealth on Earth cannot compare to the treasures of Heaven. In order to gain heavenly treasure, an individual has to forgo temptations on Earth, and if they are wealthy then their riches should be given away and used to help those in need and not stored up. Christians believe that it is important to carry out good deeds during their time on Earth, as this will be rewarded in the afterlife. These good deeds must be things which are motivated by love, and benefit others.
   • Church
     • Diversity of Church
       • Churches and Chapels have diverse features and worshipping practices, but all value the importance of prayer - both private and communal.
       • Catholic Church The Catholic Church is led by the Pope with around half of all Christians belonging to this denomination. Catholics believe that the Pope has a unique authority which has come directly from Jesus. Catholics tend to hold on to more traditional views, eg the Catholic leaders, known as priests, can only be male and are forbidden from marrying,
     • Church Buildings
     • Role of the Church
     • Features of the Church
     • Persecution of Christians
     • Social Justice

3. Key Terms

   • Omnipotence
     • God's nature - all-powerful
       • Shown by the book of Genesis, describing how God created the world in 6 days
   • Omnibenevolence
     • all-loving nature, unconditional love
   • Trinity
     • God's nature as three-parts-in-one. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
   • Incarnation
     • God becoming flesh in the form of Jesus Christ
   • Resurrection
     • Jesus returning from the dead after he was crucified
   • Messiah
     • The one believed to be sent by God to be humanities saviour
   • Agape
     • Selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. Jesus' sacrifice for the sins of Humanity
   • Omniscience
     • The all-knowing nature of God
   • Atonement
     • Making things better after sinning, asking for forgiveness from God
   • Interfaith Dialogue
     • Different faiths/communities coming together to understand one another
   • Holy Spirit
     • Part of the Trinity. God's presence and power on Earth
   • Divine Command
     • The belief that something is right because God commands it