Belief about deity Flashcards
Nature of God
Christian Beliefs about God
Monotheism-There is only one God
God is holy (special, pure and set apart)
Nature of God
Christian Beliefs about the Trinity
God the Father- God in heaven
God cares for and loves human beings.
God is seen as the image of the father.
Nature of God
Christian Beliefs about the Trinity
God the Son- God in the form of Jesus
Jesus was the son of God.
God showed power over death when Jesus rose from the dead- resurrection
Nature of God
Christian Beliefs about the Trinity
God the Holy Spirit- God at work in the world
God sent the Holy Spirit to guide and support Christians.
jesus went to heaven- the ascension
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
God’s activity
God created the universe, it could not have been created any other way!
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
The Teleological Argument
God designed the world “carefully” - nothing happens by accident
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
William Paley
18th century Christian philosopher, suggested the teleological argument.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
Einstein
Suggested that the design of the world must have had a ‘helping hand’ e.g God.
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
Nicky Cruz
New York ex-gang member, experienced a religious conversion
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
Some Christians
A personal experience of God may have convinced them that God exists.
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
Conscience and guilt
Some christians believe in the idea of the conscience is God telling someone what to do, subconsciously. And that the guilt we feel is God. God knows our actions even if we don’t.
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
Those brought up in a Christian family
Accept/believe in God and his existence because they have always been taught this.
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
The Bible.
The Bible’s teachings and authority may convince people of God’s existence.
Beliefs in God
Why Christian Beliefs in God
Jesus
The life and work of Jesus may be seen by some as the evidence of the existence of God.
Miracles
The concept of miracles
God
Christians believe miracles are evidence of God intervening in the world. This is because God is omnipotent.
Miracles
The concept of miracles
Miracle terms
“Mighty works”
“Signs”
Miracles
The concept of miracles
New Testament miracle stories
New Testament stories show the presence and love of God at work in the world through the actions of Jesus.
Miracles
Miracles of Jesus.
Four main groups in the New Testament
- natural miracles (Mark 4:35-41)
- casting out demons (Mark 7:24-30)
- healing the sick (Mark 10:46-52)
- raising the dead (Mark 5:22-42)
Miracles
Miracles of Jesus.
Jesus’ first miracle
Natural miracle at a wedding.
Miracles
Miracles of Jesus.
Jesus’ final miracle
His resurrection and the appearances he made to his followers after his death.
Miracles
Miracles of Jesus.
How Christian’s view them x3
- Take them literally
- Look for rational explanations
- Do not think they are as important as other aspects of Jesus’ ministry.
Miracles
Miracles of The Holy Spirit
Story
Jesus promised that his followers would receive the power from the holy spirit to guide them. This promise happened on the Day of Pentecost.
Miracles
Miracles of The Holy Spirit
Christian’s beliefs in the Holy Spirit
It still works in the world today
Miracles
Miracles of The Holy Spirit
Churches and their beliefs in the Holy Spirit
Have Charismatic services e.g Pentecostal worship. These services are lively and some members may feel overtaken by the Holy Spirit, faint, fall into a trance, make a prophecy and say they can hear God’s voice or speak in tongues. Healing ca take place.
Miracles
Miracles of The Holy Spirit
Roman Catholic masses and the Holy Spirit
During mass they believe/ are certain that they are in the presence of Jesus, shown by the bread and wine.
Miracles
Miracles of The Holy Spirit
Apostles’ Creed
A statement about the beliefs of Christians about the Holy Spirit.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of the saints…”
Miracles
Miracles in the world today
Christians believe..
They can experience the power of God through prayer and meditation, and may ask God for a miracle in a crisis or thank God when a miraculous event has occurred.
Miracles
Miracle events
Knock, Northern Ireland.
August 1879, image of Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John appeared on the wall of the Catholic Church in the village of Knock, and was seen by a dozen people.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
The Ontological Argument
God is “That than which nothing greater can be conceived.” We cannot think of anything greater than and therefore God exists.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
The Cosmological Argument
The Universe must have come from somewhere - Christians believe it came from God. God is the “First Cause”.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
The Moral Argument
People have a basic understanding of good and bad, right and wrong and this knowledge must have come from God.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
The Big Bang Theory
Scientific theory leading to the creation of the Universe
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
Intelligent design
A theory which says that life is so complex that it must have been designed by a higher intelligent being, and did not evolve by natural selection.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
Natural Selection
Theory that tiny differences and genetic mutations between creatures of the same species can sometimes make one individual slightly better suited by their environment than others. This means that it survives longer and has more offspring who inherit that trait.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
Necessary being
Theory of Thomas Aquinas that God must exist because he cannot not exist.
Beliefs in God
Theories about God
Numinous
A mysterious power that suggests the presence of a spirit or god.
Miracles
Laws of nature
Scientific generalisations arrived at by experimentation and/or observation , which try to explain how nature works, or how scientists expect nature to work.
