buddhism and christianty exam

Question 1

describe god as omnipotent

Answer 1

omnipotent= all powerful
Can do anything because of this power but not the impossible like move mountains
Evidence includes:
- Genesis (world creation)
-miracles performed by Jesus like calming a storm on the sea
-The resurrection of Jesus (power over death)

Question 2

Describe God as loving

Answer 2

all loving= omnibenevolent
God loves all with no prejudice and even bad people are loved by God
People can be redeemed and reconciled to God
- Sacrificing his own son to atone for sins
- Parable of the Prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)
- Jesus’ teachings (love thy neighbour)

Question 3

describe god as just

Answer 3

god gives everyone equal values and equal rights without prejudice and favour

• Important because Christians believe they will be judged after death
• Parable of the sheep and the goats (Mathew 25:31-46)
• God is fair and just (Book of Job - Psalm 25:8)

Question 4

What is the problem of evil?

Answer 4

If God exists and his nature is omnibenevolence, omnipotence and omniscient and absolute, then why is there suffering in the world especially for the innocent and seemingly good. He has the power to prevent it so why does God allow the evils that cause suffering.

Question 5

How is suffering caused?

Answer 5

Moral evil is caused by humans deliberate and accidental

Natural evil - suffering is a part of the world we live in

Question 6

What are the solutions or excuses to the problem of evil and suffering?

Answer 6

Moral evil is caused because the devil tempts people like adam and eve and humans have free will which they abuse to hurt others

Natural evil is allowed as a punishment of sin
test of faith
appreciate good (story of job)
balance
education
need to learn to help others and our world

Humans can’t understand God and his purposes so we need to learn to accept suffering as at the end of the day it is mostly how we respond to suffering that counts

Question 7

define incarnation

Answer 7

a person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit, or quality.

Question 8

What was the incarnation of jesus ?

Answer 8

the belief that god took on human form as jesus
john 1:14 - the world became flesh and lived amongst us

if Christians acknowledge jesus as the son of god, god lives among them

it helps Christians understand the true extent of gods love for humanity
shows Christians how to live - god loves us so we should love one another (1 john)
act of selfless love like mother theresa

Question 9

describe the knowledge of jesus?

Answer 9

Jesus didn’t know everything because he had to give up some of his divine knowledge to become fully human - a great sacrificial act

But he was still in a full relationship with god

Question 10

How did Mary conceive Jesus

Answer 10

through the power of the holy spirit

others think its a metaphor to show jesus was human and divine

Question 11

what do Christians believe about judgement

Answer 11

God’s love and mercy are unconditional and jesus will judge everyone on the day of judgement at the end of time
Judgement teachings - parable of sheep and goats / the rich man / lazarus
Jesus will judge both living and the dead

others reject the idea of a second coming Christ and say jesus was expressing something that humans cannot understand and will account for their actions but no one knows when or how

Question 12

discuss heaven and hell

Answer 12

heaven = earthly images
state of being rather than physical place
with god outside time and space
see heaven as what they need in present life so for poor its milk, honey and plenty

hell = unquenchable fire
frighten people into obeying church rules (historically)
now it is seen as eternal separation from god
humans choose it by turning away from god

Question 13

what is universalism

Answer 13

that everyone will eventually respond to gods love and be repented and forgiven

Question 14

discuss the role of the church in the local community and teachings

Answer 14

support young and old, charities and generally society
Parable of the sheep and goats teaches them that if people fail to help then they fail to help jesus himself

1John - if anyone has material possession and ignores his brother in need, how can he love god?

jesus helped those in need (the sick, outcasts, poverty)
“its not the well that need a doctor its the sick”

love thy neighbour

Christians use their faith as a basis for action

Question 15

describe food banks

Answer 15

food banks collect and distribute food
2004 - launch of uk wide network with aim to end poverty, hunger and give practical help and compassion
centred in church halls
people in need given voucher to exchange for food parcel

Question 16

describe street pastors

Answer 16

Christians who go out of streets at night to care for the physical and spiritual needs of youths affected by drugs, drinking, fighting
Care for, listen and help regardless of behaviour
following training they ask for gods blessing on this difficult type of ministry

over 270 towns have street pastors
governing body is accession trust

Question 17

define and describe eucharist

Answer 17

the Christian service, ceremony, or sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

jesus took the bread and broke it (this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me)
jesus took wine (this is my blood do this in remembrance of me )

a new agreement (covenant) as established by jesus death between god and his believers

eucharist - taste of heaven and unites the worshipper with Christ

Question 18

what is liturgical worship?

Answer 18

the services follow a set pattern
established order of prayers and readings with congregations repeating key phrases
Hymns are varied but sung at set times and a sermon is given
ordered nature makes worshippers feel comfortable/part of process/ in control/ explore everything in depth

But you don’t receive other people’s opinions

Question 19

what is non-liturgical worship

Answer 19

informal way of worship that is free flowing and lacks structure
it follow a pattern but the elements are tailored top each service
prayers are often in the leaders own words
the sermon has a topical theme with corresponding bible readings

without set words it comes more from the heart
develop a wide knowledge

Become confusing and won’t go over everything in as much depth

Question 20

What is charismatic worship?

Answer 20

informal and evangelical worship is often in this style
has recognisable features such as hymns, readings and sermons but is free flowing and spirit inspired
people often speak in tounges or feel the holy spirit within them

spontaneous prayers or sharing of thoughts / people speak when they feel gods spirit meaning they can go at their own pace

Question 21

what is private worship ?

Answer 21

Can be liturgical
roman Catholics may say the angelus (meditation performed three times a day) or a simple prayer in a time of need

allows the person to feel close to god, build a relationship and say things from the heart

people may use a rosary (beads with a crucifix) while saying prayers
meditation is silent thinking about a passage or religious truth
sense of peace and calm

Question 22

describe prayer

Answer 22

talking and listening to God
to be open to guidance from the holy spirit
include praise, confession, thanks, prayers for self and others Jesus said honesty, humility are essential for god to respond
the response to prayer may be unexpected

Question 23

what is the difference between worship and prayer ?

Answer 23

worship - act of devotion, low and reverence for god

prayer - praise, confession, thanks and seeking of advice

Question 24

why is worship important?

Answer 24

it brings a sense of togetherness with god to a community or individual and is an expression of internal faith eternally
deeper understanding of god and religion
purifies the worshipper

Question 25

why are pilgrimages important

Answer 25

allow focus on faith and a renewed energy to cope with the demands of life and allows spiritual growth
some pilgramiges include living simple and being closer to they way jesus led his life
strengthen faith
jesus went on pilgrimage himself

however the money could be spent on helping others
effects of pilgrimage wear off upon return home
spiritual development can be achieved more easily at home

Question 26

what are the four types of prayer

Answer 26

adoration- praising god for his greatness and admitting dependency on him
confession - owning up to sin and asking for forgiveness
thanksgiving- thanking god for his many blessings
intercession - asking god to help others who need it

Question 27

explain about siddharta’s life of luxury?

Answer 27

He was born in a special way from a dream and Brahmin priests said he would be a holy child who would achieve perfect wisdom
A holy man told the king that siddharta would be either a great king or holy man and his father wanted him to rule so shaped his life around luxury and protect him from death and suffering to prevent him from becoming concerned about the meaning of life

Question 28

explain about the four sights

Answer 28

he grew curious about the world outside the palace as told by the Jakata tales and he left and saw
an old man
a sick man
a dead man
a holy man
this saddened him and distracted him from his life of wealth and he became inspired to give up the material life to find the truth and a solution to suffering

death shows the impermanence of the material world as no money can prevent this

Question 29

explain how Buddha retreated to an ascetic lifestyle?

Answer 29

He saw that suffering was unavoidable (four sights) and left his life of luxury.
He learnt meditation techniques from Hindu masters
aimed to gain insight into problem of suffering
he then starved himself but still didn’t find the solution
then he heard someone talking about stringing an instrument: too hard they will snap to too loosely they wont play
Buddha realised that he needed to be in between the extreme austerity and luxury
he washed and ate for the first time and was deserted by his companions

this created the middle way
reflected on the four sights and meditation
which became his central part of life

Question 30

discuss Buddha’s enlightenment ?

Answer 30

Meditated beneath a Bodhi tree for forty nights and forty days
demon mara tried to stop him through distraction and fright but Buddha called upon the earth goddess Vasundhara to act as witness that he was fit for enlightenment and mara left
1) he recalled all his past lives showing readiness for enlightenment
2)understood how all living things come to exist (paticca samuppada) and impermanence
3) realised suffering came from desire and craving
4) attained nibbana and overcame the three poisons (greed, hatred and ignorance)

Question 31

describe dukkha

Answer 31

suffering or dissatisfaction in the world

dukkha dukkha - ordinary pain or suffering mental and physical
viparinama dukkha - suffering from sorrow
Samkhara dukkha - suffering from change

Question 32

teachings about nibbana?

Answer 32

It takes many lifetimes to achieve
doubts must be ignored and pushed away
enlightenment comes from the power of the human mind
follow the eightfold path the get there
the three marks of existence
Buddhism is for everyone
you have to see the lotus flower ready to burst open in the sun and achieve enlightenment not its muddy roots

Question 33

what is annata

Answer 33

No fixed self

Buddha taught that we’re made up of : 
• form (our bodies) 
• sensation (our feelings) 
• perception 
• mental formations 
• consciousness

Question 34

what is the therevada death ritual?

Answer 34

sutras recited
coffin surrounded by incense and candles (purity and hope)
scripture
giving of alms to aid rebirth (matakabhatta)
watching death shows impermenance and no fixed self
coffin set alight to remind of temple offerings

Question 35

what is the japaneese death ritual

Answer 35

lasts several days
procession to temples items placed in front of coffins and mouners give money for hope of rebirth in heaven
remid fo impermenacner as preist kneels before coffin and reads sutras
body burned during family meal
ashes and bones placed in box using bamboo chopsticks representing the brif=dge between this world and the nect

Question 36

describe Tibetan death rituals

Answer 36

book of the dead read in prep for bardo ( a state of existence between death and rebirth, varying in length according to a person’s conduct in life and manner of, or age at, death.)
in bardo for up to 49 days beginning with glimpose of enlightenment and then karma pulls them to rebirth
sky burials - give body to birds empohasised non attachment and aid starbing animlas to get good karma and act of final dana

Question 37

discuss shrines

Answer 37

a sacred place dedicated to Buddha 
centred around Buddha rupa statue 
candles for light and hope
insence for purity 
flowers to show annica 

place for reflection and to follow eightfold path
good place for private worship
pay tribute
meditate there

Question 38

chanting

Answer 38

demonstration of devotion
aid to meditation
must be single minded and sincere
can be done alopud or silently and privately or with others with prayer beads or music

Question 39

mantra recitation

Answer 39

repletion of a set phrase to bring about consciousness
mantras personal to yourself in Tibetan
Om Mani Padme Hum is the syllables representing the six perfections
chanting to call the Buddha
devotion but merit making