Beliefs and Teachings

Beliefs and Teachings

1. Christian denominations

   • Roman Catholic
     • Found worldwide
   • Orthodox Church
     • Russian, Greek orthodox
   • Protestant Church
     • Groups: Church of England
     • Non-Conformist: Salvation Army, Methodist

2. The Nature of God

   • God as Just/ Fair
   • Omnipotent
     • All powerful
   • Omniscient
     • Is all knowing
   • Omnibenevolent
     • All Loving
   • Agape
     • Gods love.
   • Incarnation
     • God in human force (Jesus)
   • Sermon on the Mount
     • Famous teaching of Jesus = "Love your neighbour"
   • Monotheism
     • One God
   • Immanent
     • He is in the world, active and present
   • Transcendent
     • God is above us

3. Ten commandments

   • 1) You shall have no God`s before me
     • 2) Do not make false idols
       • 3) Do not misuse the name of the Lord
         • 4) Keep your Sabbath holy
           • 5) Honour your parents
             • 6) Do not kill
               • 7) Do not commit adultery
                 • 8) Do not steal
                   • 9) Do not tell lies
                     • 10) Do not convert

4. The problem of evil

   • Moral Evil: Evil that people inflict on each other.
   • Natural Evil: The suffering caused by nature such as earthquakes
   • Natural suffering:
     • Its a punishment for wrong doing
     • A test of faith
     • Form of education
     • Balance to help us appreciate goodness

5. The Trinity

   • Symbols
     • Shamrock: Each petal represent Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
       • Borromean Rings: A symbol of unity. It represents God is eternal
         • Triskelion: Ancient Celtic spiral shape.
   • How does it influence Christians today?
     • Humans have been created in the image of God. So the between the three Persons, Christians will show the love and respect.
   • The Father: The creator and loving sustainer of the universe
     • The Son: As Jesus the saviour who became incarnate and lived, died and rose again
       • The Holy Spirit: God working in the world and in peoples hearts as a source of strength

6. Creation Story

   • Day 1: God made the light and called it "Day". The darkness He called "Night"
     • Day 2: God made the sky which separated the water on the earth from the water above it.
       • Day 3: God gathered the water into seas and called the dry ground "Land". Then God blessed the land it produced vegetation.
         • Day 4: God made two great lights. The sun to govern the day and the moon to govern the night. He also made stars.
           • Day 5: God filled the seas with living creatures and the skies with birds.
             • Day 6: God blessed the land and it produced living creatures of all kinds. Tame, wild and crawling. Then God created man and woman in His own image
               • Day 7: God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. And He rested from all His work of creating
   • Interpretations of the story
     • Many Christians may take it literal and say that this was exactly how the world was made.
     • Many Christians may think that it is a myth, with a message delivered through symbolism.
   • How might it influence the lives of Christians today?
     • Christians may think that if God created the world, them as stewards to help the environment (re-using, recycling and re-planting) and helping other people. They should care for the world
   • Message of the story:
     • God is the creator and the source of everything
       • God created a world that is not chaotic
         • Humans are created in Gods image

7. Afterlife

   • Why is it important?
     • Christians believe that through Jesus` resurrection they too will gain eternal life.
       • The human body is seen as a 'temple of the Holy Spirit' and should be treated with respect
         • If Jesus was not resurrected then Christianity is not the worship of the Son of God but the worship of a martyr who's life ended in failure.
   • Many believe that you would be reunited with loved ones who have already died, which helps them with the awful pain of their life.
     • 'You die, your soul leaves your body, goes to be judged in heaven or hell, depending on whether you have been good or bad'

8. Resurrection

   • Why is Jesus` resurrection important
     • If death was the end for Jesus then his life would have ended in failure.
     • Resurrection was the ultimate proof that Jesus was the Son of God.
     • Against these beliefs: People said that Jesus wasn't dead on the cross, he had simply fainted. Others said that the disciples were deluded and others said that the story was made up to gain prestige for his followers.
   • Some Christians believe that our current bodies will be restored so are against cremations. Roman Catholics believe in purgatory. So if they are destined for Heaven, then they will go to the place (purgatory) and there soul would be purified. You can use the example of the butterfly to show this concept.
   • Different views: Science/ non religious views: Many people are materialist and believe when you die that is it. Many believe that there soul lives on not there physical body.

9. Judgement

   • Jesus taught that Gods love and mercy are unconditional, though may parables speak of Gods judgement.
     • The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. The message is that on Judgement Day,some will be rewarded with heaven for helping and others will go to hell
       • The Parable of the Rich Young man and Lazarus warns that ignoring the needs of others may have eternal consequences.
   • Christianity teaches that there will be a Judgement Day:
     • The Nicene Creed states that 'Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead'
       • Many Christians believe absolutely that when they die their souls will wait for that day. Then they will either be rewarded or punished.

10. Heaven and Hell

    • Hell is a place of fire. This metaphor is a simple way to scare and focus the beliefs of others. Other interpretations are that it is a place where you are separate from God, due to not believing
    • Heaven in Christianity is taught to be a state of being. You are with God. Other people say that this place is a paradise.
    • Some Christians reject any idea of hell because they think its existence would mean that Gods love would not triumph over evil. They believe when its the end Gods love will respond to us and be saved = universalism or universal salvation.

11. Incarnation

    • When God is in human form - Jesus.

12. Crucifixion

    • This was an inhumane method of execution that led to a slow and agonising death
    • When Jesus was arrested, and convicted of Blasphemy by the Jewish religious authorities. However, they gave this crime to the Roman Governor Pilate as they were not allowed to carry it out.

13. Why did Jesus have to die?

    • His new interpretation of the religious laws of the Torah brought him into direct conflict with the Jewish religious leaders. Some of the things he said and did, it was considered as blasphemy (punishable by death.)
      • At the time of Jesus, there were many resistence groups that were trying to cause an uprising against the Romans. E.G. the Zealots. Pilate wanted to free Jesus but was told he would not to be seen as a friend of Caesar as he was going to set a rebel free.
        • There was another reason that he had to die to fulfil God`s command and pay the ransom for Sin. Jesus is seen as the ultimate sacrifice that unites God and humanity.

14. Salvation

    • Through the Law
      • In Jesus' time many Jews believed the way to get closer to God was to follow his laws (like the Ten Commandments). Today, many Christians have moved away from this belief as they believe showing love to other human beings is more important than following set laws.
    • Grace and the Spirit
      • Grace = unconditional love God has for everyone. This is shown in the parable Prodigal Son
      • Gods Salvation is seen as a 'free gift' to all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God
    • Salvation = being accepted by God and so being assured of eternal life.

15. Atonement

    • Means making up for, making amends.

16. Reconciliation

    • Restoration of a friendship or relationship.
    • Many Christians dedicate their work by volunteering to help the homeless or to do pastoral work and visit sick members of the church organisation

17. The Ascension

    • 40th day after the resurrection = the belief that Jesus was 'taken up' to heaven.
    • Some Christians do believe that this is literal. However, some Fundamentalist Christians do take the event literal, in terms of Jesus being hidden by a cloud and disappearing into another dimension

18. Sin

    • Original sin is the belief that Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command in the Garden of Eden to not eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.