beliefs on the trinity Flashcards
what do catholics believe about god? (4)
- only one God
- God exists as three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Each of these three persons is fully God
4 But there are not three Gods
what is the trinity?
Each of these three persons is distinct from the other two
why do catholics believe in one god?
made himself known to the world (revelation) as three separate persons
what is the doctrine of the trinity considered as?
fundamental belief for all Catholics
why is the trinity a mystery in terms of how it works?
Catholics can never fully understand this idea because it is only fully known by God
how does the trinity help catholics?
to understand the different qualities of God
where is the doctrine of the trinity set out in?
the Nicene Creed
doctrine
belief
what is the Nicene Creed?
a statement of Catholic beliefs that date back to 325AD
what do catholics do when they attend mass?
say the creed weekly
why do catholics believe that each person of the trinity performs a special function?
- God the Father created heaven and earth
- God the Son, Jesus, passed on God’s message and died as a sacrifice
- God the Holy Spirit is an invisible spiritual power which guides, helps and inspires human beings.
what is the source of authority from the nicene creed?
“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty.. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God…We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.’
why is the concept of the trinity important?
Without a belief in the Trinity, it would not be possible for Catholics to believe that Jesus is God
what is the most important christian belief?
belief that Jesus is God
how is the importance of trinity demonstrated?
shows its central role within religious practice.