Christian beliefs Flashcards
Words to describe God
And the name of the picture they make
God of classical Theism
Omnipotent
Omniscient
Omnipresent
Omnibenevolent
Omnibenevolent
Immanent (in us)
Transcendent (above us)
Quote for omnipotent
Luke 1:37
“For with God nothing shall be impossible”
“I am the Lord, the God of mankind, nothing is too hard for me”
Jeremiah 32:27
“Let there be light”
Genesis 1
Quote for Omnibenevolent
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”
Quote for omniscient
“For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens”
Job 28:24
Quote from God transcendent
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways my ways”
“As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thought than your thoughts”
Quote for omnipresent
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere keeping watch on the wicked and the good”
Quote for God is immanent
“The spirit of God he made me; the breath of Almighty gives me life”
Quote for God is Just
“Then they will go to eternal punishment but the righteous to eternal life”
Parable of sheep and goats Matthew 25:46
Christianity basic religion facts
Approx 2000yrs old
Largest religion in world
3 main branches/denominations (orthodox, catholic and Protestant)
What’s the trinity
Trinity is the believe that god is 3 in one (father, son and Holy Spirit) each person of trinity is fully God
Trinity in the Bible evidence or facts
The father- “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”
The son- “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”
The Holy Spirit- “Because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death”
Trinity was present at Jesus baptism
(Gospel of Matthew)
FATHER- voice from heaven “This is my beloved son and with him I am well please”
SON- Jesus being baptized
HOLY SPIRIT- dove hovering above Jesus head
What is evil and different types
Evil is anything that causes suffering
And evil is the absence of good.
Evil 2 types-
moral evil- wars, slave trade, holocaust, murder, terrorism
natural evil- earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, cancer, tsunami
What is suffering
State of acute pain, misery or distress
Problem of evil origins
Inconsistent triad, developed by philosopher JL Makie to present problem but Epicurus first presented it
Problem of evil summary
God can’t be…
Omnibenevolent
Omnipotent
Evil exists
The free will defense..
God could have created perfect robots (worship non freely)
Far better to have risk of free will but have misused to create evil
Adam and Eve first misused and natural evil became consequence
2 creeds and differences and what creeds do
Creed creates sense of unity, and affirm common beliefs
Nicene creed and apostles creed
-Nicene states as a collective ‘we believe’ whereas Apostles ‘I believe’
-Apostles creed shorter and less emphasis on Trinity and god being one with spirit and son
-council of Nicea wanted to teach consistent core beliefs
What does trinity show and how Christians influences because of Trinity actions and practice
Trinity shows equality and unity in relationships
Influences:
-worship and pray to all 3 persons and follow examples set by Jesus
-start and end prayer by saying in the name of Father, son and Holy Spirit
-baptize new babies in name of father, son and Holy Spirit
Fundamentalist Christians:
-believe bible is word of god and can’t be changed
-reject scientific explanations of creation
-believe in creation 6 days and sabbath as god omnipotent
Liberalist Christian’s:
-Believe bible inspired by God but written by man so subject to interpretation
-science and religion helps understand how world created
-metaphorical 6 stages
-big bang theory shows took millions of years
What is incarnation
Incarnation - the belief that Jesus was God in human form (becoming flesh, taking a human form) yet fully trinity.
-Jesus’s incarnation means he was able to understand and suffer like humans, “Jesus became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, suffered death” (Nicene CREED) meaning he could understand human sufferings pain and
Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah (saviour)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John 1:14
Sin and quote
Sin – any thought or action that goes against Gods laws and separates humans from God
Jesus death made up for sin:
“The son of man came… to serve and give his life as ransom for many” Matthew 20:28
Salvation and 2 ways and 1 Christian belief abt it
Salvation – saving the soul from sin and be granted eternal life with god enables humans to get close to god again
Christian’s believe we cannot receive salvation if sinful
Salvation through good works
- can be achieved by doing good and following God’s laws
-“Faith…without action is dead”
Salvation through grace
-salvation is given by God to show his love, does not have to be earnt “For it is by grace you have been saved”
How beliefs about Gods nature influence Christian’s today (omnipotent)
God had power to do good so they should do the same
How beliefs about Gods nature influence Christian’s today (omnibenevolent)
Christian’s accept suffering as brings them closer to God and follow Jesus teachings because Gods benevolence gave him to earth
How beliefs about Gods nature influence Christian’s today (Just)
God is just so Christian’s try to prevent injustice, ill treatment prejudice and oppression
The trinity God the Father role
-Believed to be creator or earth and living things
-acts as a father would and believed to be all the omni…
The trinity God the son role
Became incarnate on earth as Jesus
-Christian’s believe Jesus was both fully human whilst on earth and fully god at all times
The trinity God the Holy Spirit role
Once Jesus left earth God sent the Holy Spirit to influence, guide and sustain the earth.
-believed to be unseen power of God at work
Would a loving God allow people to suffer (NO)
-Christian’s believe God is all loving so would want to stop suffering and omnipotent so can stop it so why does it exist
- Applies to life after death omnibenevolent God would not allow people to suffer after death (eg Hell is mentioned in parable of sheep and goats)
-Natural disasters and not caused by humans/animals so God should take control of disasters
-God created humans so why let us suffer, humans who allow others to suffer are denounced for it. God is supposed to be omnibenevolent so no acceptable reason for suffering of innocent people eg children
Judgment for -Would a loving God allow people to suffer (NO)
Weak
-Weak argument…
as if there’s purpose to suffering it could be achieved with other ways less misery (so much suffering as part of evolutionary process shows creator doesn’t care)
-even if god does not cause he should be able to stop as omnipotent, as Christian’s claim this and he’s not he may not be omnibenevolent either
-why does he allow the extent of suffering (rape, murder etc)
Would a loving God allow people to suffer (YES)
-despite being all powerful he suffered on cross, suffering brings us closer to God
-By suffering on cross Jesus atoned our sins to release humans from suffering/sin “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so all..” John 3.16
- Humans limited by finite mind and can’t understand the mystery
-Love does not exclude suffering eg parent and child discipline or doctors inflict pain on patient
-Learn through suffering and spiritual growth
-Suffering test of faith reward of eternal life
-Balance teach us to look after world also shows our response to suffering eg Jesus on cross
“Forgive them, for they know not what they do” -Luke 23:34
Would a loving God allow people to suffer (YES ) JUDGEMENTS
VALID
-Suffering is punishment for original sin and God is JUST so humans must be punished for sins
-humans responsible for suffering they cause (free will from Adam and Eve) which God cannot mess with.
Free will means humanity can reject moral rules and cause suffering
Crucifixion story
Jesus’s ministry of teaching and healing lasted 3 years before arrested for blasphemy by Jewish authorities. Pontius Pilate sentenced and carried cross to Jerusalem between 2 criminals
Importance of crucifixion and Qouote
Crowd turning against Jesus and demanding execution shows Jesus dies innocent and fulfills prophecy he will die willingly, from prophet Isaiah in Old Testament: “He was bruised for our transgressions”
When he dies experiences same suffering as humanity. According to gospels the veil in temple tore in 2 showing his sacrifice and Gods way (eternal life heaven) was open to all
“Nobody comes to the father except through me”
Influence of crucifixion
-Christian’s will follow bible and accept it as Gods word, follow teachings as prophecy fulfilled
-Those suffering will be able to find strength in Jesus suffering and pray in times of suffering
-Jesus forgave his guards “Father forgive them” so Christian’s forgive others
Resurrection key facts and quote
Coming back to life after death
-3days after Jesus crucifixion his disciples found tomb empty and he re appeared over the next 40 days to them several times before he ascending bodily into heaven
“He is not here he is risen” Matthew 28:6
Importance of resurrection and quote
Fulfills prophecy that he will defeat evil and shows Jesus is God incarnate
-appearing to follows proves he is Messiah
-it’s the basis for development of Christianity
“And if Christ is not been raised our faith is useless” Corinthians 15:14
Influence of resurrection and quote
-by believing in resurrection means Christian’s souls will go to heaven “No one comes to the father except through me”
-Christian’s don’t need to fear death
-gives hope they too can defeat death and come back to life like Jesus
-inspires Christian’s to live a good life so when judgement day comes they will be rewarded with a place in heaven
Ascension key facts and quote
Jesus went up to be reunited with his father
-believed happened 40 days after resurrection in Bethany
-believe the last thing Jesus did before ascension was bless his disciples
“While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven”
Luke 24:51
Importance of ascension
Shows Jesus is with god in heaven
Paves the way for god to send the Holy Spirit to come and provide comfort and guidance
Influence of ascension and quotes
-Christian’s follow Jesus final teaching: “Go and make disciples of all nations”
-Jesus has gone to heaven to prep a place for them so no need to fear death
“I go to prepare a place for you so that where I am, you may also be”
John 14:3
What causes humans to sin (original sin)
Catholic Christian’s believe humans are sinful because of original sin (built in urge to do bad and disobey)
-originates with Adam and Eve disobeying god and brings evil and suffering (genesis)
What causes humans to sin (satan) and accounts of it
-humans sin because of satan tempts people (tempt eve to eat apple)
-also tried to tempt Jesus to sin when he was in desert
“All this will I give you if you bow down and worship me”
(He can tempt people in same way with promises of power)
How does belief in salvation influence Christians today
-Christian’s will follow 10 commandments
-have faith in Jesus and his resurrection
-confess sins and repent
-obey teachings of church and follow practices because believe church can help get salvation
A loving God would not send people to Hell (YES) and JUDGEMENT
-just so punish unfaithful
“Then they will go to eternal punishment but the righteous to eternal life” -parable of sheep and goats
-makes sense god doesn’t choose to send people to hell as god is loving and people misusing free will to reject gift of salvation
A loving God would not send people to Hell (NO) and JUDGEMENT
-contradict omnibenevolent nature
-God gives free will so the choice is for people to make and god has to accept choice to reject
