C2 - Christian Beliefs and Sacred Writings

Question 1

What is the liberal interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 1

• The two creation accounts are myth and allow people to reflect upon the truth about God being the creator.
• The message is the most important part.
• God made everything and everything is good.
• Humans are the high point of God’s creation.

Question 2

What is the scientific influence on liberal views?

Answer 2

• Science and religion are compatible
• Scientific studies can be looked at with a biblical understanding

Question 3

What is the fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 3

• The Bible is the Word of God so it must be accurate in all respects
• Since God loves us, he will not mislead us by giving us incorrect information
• They believe in the order of creation, but that a day may be longer than 24 hours

Question 4

What is the literalist interpretation of the Bible?

Answer 4

Everything said in the Bible is true.
The world is only a few thousand years old.
Young earth creationists.

Question 5

How would liberalists define inspiration?

Answer 5

The messages and meaning of scripture come from God, but the words written down are influenced by the author’s time, cultural context, etc.

Question 6

How would fundamentalists and literalists view inspiration?

Answer 6

The inspiration is God giving the words to the author directly and they record what God tells them.

Question 7

Where can we find instances of History literature in the Bible?

Answer 7

Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, etc.

Question 8

What does History literature in the Bible contain?

Answer 8

• A collection of stories about the Israelites spanning nearly a millennium, from their conquest of Canaan to Zion.
• They talk about the formation of the Nation of Israel.
• Sometimes the purpose of the books was not what we think of as History. They often had specific purposes such as teaching the readers to love good lives or noting how or why the actions of a king needed to be taken etc.

Question 9

Where is myth found in the Bible?

Answer 9

Genesis

Question 10

What is myth?

Answer 10

• Stories not meant to be taken as history or literial accounts
• can teach Christians about the nature of God and his creation
• some christians reject myth

Question 11

What is psalms?

Answer 11

• a collection of poetry
• created to show the entire biblical story

Question 12

What are songs?

Answer 12

• very complex layered poetry

Question 13

What is prophecy?

Answer 13

• divided into major and minor
• usually attibuted to a specific author
• pass on messages to the people from God

Question 14

What are the letters/epistles?

Answer 14

21
some to specific christian communities or individuals
to guide christians in their faith

Question 15

What is the significance of the OT?

Answer 15

• history of the jews and the world
• covenant with abraham and moses
• basis of jewish and christian identity
• has psalms which praise God
• gives context and background for the NT

Question 16

What is the significance of the NT?

Answer 16

contains the life, etc of Jesus
revelation gives christians a hope for a new heaven and a new earth
guide us on how to live like christ (letters)
early church

Question 17

Why are the 10 commandments important?

Answer 17

extension of the covenant with abraham
God’s word and teaching
teaches us how to honor God and keep our side of the covenant

Question 18

Why might the 10 commandments be seen as less important to Christians?

Answer 18

jesus established a new law and a new covenant so we dont have to follow the old law

Question 19

What is the greatest commandment?

Answer 19

love God and love your neighbor