Christian beliefs

Question 1

Ascension

Answer 1

The event 40 days after the Resurrection, when Jesus returned to God, the Father, in heaven, recorded in Luke 24 and Acts 1.

Question 2

Atonement

Answer 2

Literally ‘at-one-ment’, it refers to the reconciliation between God and humanity that was sealed by the sacrificial death of Jesus.

Question 3

Bible

Answer 3

Sacred book for Christians containing both the Old and New Testaments.

Question 4

Catholic

Answer 4

The tradition within the Christian Church which is led by the Pope.

Question 5

Christ

Answer 5

The leader promised by God to the Jews. Christians believe Jesus to be the Christ.

Question 6

Christian

Answer 6

Someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows the religion based on his teachings.

Question 7

Creation

Answer 7

Christians believe that the world is God’s loving creation.

Question 8

Crucifixion

Answer 8

The execution and death of Jesus on Good Friday

Question 9

Evil

Answer 9

The opposite of good. A force that is seen in many traditions as destructive and against God.

Question 10

The Father (God)

Answer 10

The first Person of the Trinity, the creator and sustainer of the universe.

Question 11

Grace

Answer 11

The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it.

Question 12

Heaven

Answer 12

The state after death of being with and enjoying eternity with God

Question 13

Hell

Answer 13

The place of eternal suffering or the state after death of separation from God for those who want no relationship with him.

Question 14

Holy Spirit

Answer 14

The third person of the Holy Trinity who descended like a dove on Jesus at his baptism. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is present and inspires them.

Question 15

Incarnation

Answer 15

Literally ‘in flesh’, or ‘enfleshed’,when God took the human form as Jesus.

Question 16

Jesus

Answer 16

First century Jewish teacher and holy man, believed by Christians to be the Son of God.

Question 17

Judgement

Answer 17

When God decides whether each person should receive eternal life or eternal punishment.

Question 18

Just

Answer 18

This refers to the nature of God as one who treats each individual human being fairly and equally.

Question 19

Law

Answer 19

This refers to the law of God, revealed in the Bible, which Christians are called to obey. St Paul made it clear, however, that salvation is not earned by obedience to the law but is God’s free gift.

Question 20

Lord’s Prayer

Answer 20

The prayer taught to the disciples by Jesus; also known as the ‘Our Father’.

Question 21

Omnipotent

Answer 21

The belief that God is ‘all powerful’.

Question 22

The Oneness of God

Answer 22

The belief that God is ‘One’.

Question 23

Original Sin

Answer 23

The traditional belief that is still held by some Christians that human nature is basically flawed, and so humans have a tendency to go against God’s will. Christians who think that the Bible is literally true believe that it has been passed down from Adam and Eve.

Question 24

Orthodox

Answer 24

The most popular Christian tradition in some parts of Eastern Europe. There are two main Orthodox Churches – Greek and Russian.

Question 25

Persecution

Answer 25

Throughout the centuries and still in some parts of the world, Christians face punishment and even death for adherence to their faith.

Question 26

Protestant

Answer 26

The Churches that ‘protested’ against and broke away from the Catholic Church during the Reformation. Services are generally based more closely on the Bible than those of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Question 27

Reconciliation

Answer 27

The process of restoring harmony after relationships between people has broken down.

Question 28

Resurrection

Answer 28

The form that many Christians believe the afterlife will take, referring to either physical or spiritual bodies.

Question 29

Salvation

Answer 29

Saving the soul and deliverance from sin and admission to heaven brought about by Jesus.

Question 30

Sin

Answer 30

Behaviour which is against God’s laws and wishes/against principles of morality. A thought, word or action which is wrong, which people know is wrong and which people freely choose.

Question 31

The Son

Answer 31

The second Person of the Trinity. This is Jesus, in whom God became incarnate.

Question 32

The Son of God

Answer 32

A title used for Jesus, the second person in the Trinity; denotes the special relationship between Jesus and God.

Question 33

Sources of Wisdom and Authority

Answer 33

Christians believe that the Bible, religious leaders and statements of belief, eg the Apostles’ Creed, should be respected as conveying deep religious truths.

Question 34

Suffering

Answer 34

When people have to face and live with unpleasant events or conditions.

Question 35

Trinity

Answer 35

The belief that there are three Persons in the One God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are separate, but are also one being.

Question 36

Word

Answer 36

St John’s Gospel 1 describes God creating the world through his Word and links this to Jesus in the statement: ‘The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us’.