Beliefs

Question 1

What evidence is there for God’s omnipotence?

Answer 1

Book of Exodus:
- Sent series of plagues
- Parted Red Sea, “The waters were divided”
Creation story in Genesis

Question 2

What evidence is there for God being omnibenevolent?

Answer 2

Psalm 86, King David:
- “abounding in love and faithfulness”
Gospel of John:
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son”

Question 3

Responses to the problem of evil, 5

Answer 3

• Free will (St Augustine)
• Satan’s influence
• God shares in suffering, eg Jesus
• Test of Faith
• Soul-shaping (St Iraneus, John Hick)

Question 4

Story of Job

Answer 4

• “blameless and upright”
• Satan punishes Job, 10 children die
• Doesn’t curse God
• “you shall answer me”, recalls God’s teaching, humans don’t understand God’s ways

Question 5

Why Christians believe in the Holy Trinity? (2)

Answer 5

Gospel of John:
- “I and the Father are one”
Sign of the cross:
- “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Question 6

Beliefs about the Holy Spirit (5)

Answer 6

• ‘Paraclete’ was sent after Jesus’ ascension
• Gives comfort, guidance and inspiration
• Helps understand and interpret the Bible
• Present in Baptism and marriage
• Charismatic, such as Pentecostals, believe in glossolalia

Question 7

What does Genesis teach?

Answer 7

1) God created the universe in 6 days:
- Made night and day first
- Humans on day 6
- Rested on day 7
2) Eve made from Adam’s rib, don’t eat fruit
3) The Fall: banished after admitting, original sin, created rift between God and humans

Question 8

Literal vs liberal interpretations of Genesis

Answer 8

Literal:
- 7 actual days, a few thousand years ago
- Reject evolution
Liberal:
- Hebrew for days, is a period of time ie millions of years
- Accept evolution

Both accept God as divine creator

Question 9

Evidence of Incarnation

Answer 9

Gospel of John:
“The Word became flesh”
- Miracle of virgin birth
- fulfilled Biblical prophecies of Messiah
- Voice of God heard at his baptism
- Miracles including Resurrection

Question 9

Role of the Word and the Spirit in creation

Answer 9

• Gospel of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
• Some believe word is God’s self-expression and design
• All understand it as a reference to Jesus, therefore present during creation

Question 10

Main points of Crucifixion

Answer 10

• Sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate
• Mocked by soldiers and crowd, crown of thorns
• Carried his cross to Golgotha
• Next to two criminals, forgave one
• Prays for forgiveness on the cross
• At death the curtain hanging in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and earth shook

Question 11

Salvation and atonement key points

Answer 11

• ‘atoned’ for human sin
• Reconciled God and people after The Fall
• Meant humans could be forgiven by God
• Permanent sacrifice (instead of animals) or paid ransom for human sin
• Last Supper, “this is my body, this is my blood”
• Predicted by prophet Isaiah in Old testament

Question 12

Resurrection and ascension

Answer 12

• Greatest miracle
• God is beyond death
• “on the third day be raised again”
• Marks end of Jesus time on earth
• Ministers of Church still bless people, following Jesus’ example

Question 13

3 different views on the Bible

Answer 13

Literal: ‘Word of God’ and ‘God-breathed’, therefore most important source of authority
Others: Requires interpretation, from a different culture
Liberal: symbolic stories

All believe it is a book of revelation

Question 14

Eschatological belief

Answer 14

• Soul lives on beyond death (resurrection story)

Question 15

Judgement

Answer 15

Parable of the Sheep and the Goats:
- Separates those who go to heaven and hell
- Parousia, resurrection of Jesus and Humans on the Day of Judgements
Lazarus and the Rich man
- Heaven is achieved by faith and good actions
- Jesus earned salvation and people receive it as a gift from faith in him