Christian Beliefs and Teachings Flashcards
Define the term ‘Catholic’.
A branch of Christianity, based in Rome and led by the Pope.
Define the term ‘Orthodox’.
a branch of Christianity, mainly, but not entirely, practiced in Eastern Europe.
Define the term ‘Protestant’.
A branch of Christianity, originally named through their protest against the Catholic Church.
Define the term ‘denomination’.
A distinct group within the Christian faith, with its own organisation and traditions.
Define ‘God’.
The supreme being.
What type of religion is Christianity?
Monotheistic.
Name the first of the Ten Commandments (which tells Christians to be Monotheistic).
“You shall have no other Gods before me.”
Define the term ‘omnipotent’.
Almighty/ All powerful.
Define the term ‘omniscient’.
All knowing.
Define the term ‘omnibenevolent’.
All loving.
Define the term ‘justice’.
The bringing about of what is right and fair according to the law, or making up for wrong that has been committed.
Give a quote showing God’s omnibenevolence.
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son”.
Define the term ‘trinity’.
The belief that there are three persons in the one God: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit - they are separate but also make up one being.
Define the term ‘Holy spirit’.
The third ‘person’ of the trinity whom Christians believe is inspiring presence of God in the world.
Define the term ‘Son of God’.
A title given to Jesus, the second ‘person’ of the trinity. Denotes the special relationship between Jesus and God - the Father.
What three things does the trinity describe?
> There is only one God
Each ‘person’ is fully God
The persons of the trinity are not the same
If all three parts of the trinity are ‘active’ in the world, what does this mean for humans?
They may interact with all three persons.
Define the term ‘creation’.
The act by which God brought the universe to being.
Define the term ‘the Word’.
Term used at the beginning of John’s Gospel to refer to God the Son.
Define the term ‘Genesis’.
One verse of the creation of life. The account of how the universe, earth and life were created by God in 7days.
Give a quote showing that the Holy Spirit was active in what had become our world.
“And the spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Give a quote showing Jesus’ importance in the creation story.
“In the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God.”
Define the term ‘incarnation’.
The becoming of flesh/ taking human form.
Define the term ‘resurrection’.
> Rising from the dead
Jesus rising from the dead on Easter Day. An event recorded in all four gospels and the central belief in Christianity.
Define the term ‘blasphemy’.
A religious offence which includes claiming to be God.
Why do many question the concept of Virgin Mary?
It is not natural.
Why do Christians believe that Mary was a virgin?
The gospels of Matthew and Luke explain quite clearly that the mother of Jesus did not conceive Him sexually.
What is a fundamental Christian belief about the incarnation?
God showed himself as a human being for around 30years.
Give a quote about the incarnation.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
Give three reasons as to why Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God.
> His unnatural conception
His knowledge - of which others did not possess
His resurrection
Give a quote about Jesus revealing himself as the son of God.
“Again the high priest asked him ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am’, said Jesus.”
Define the term ‘crucifixion’.
> Roman method of execution by which criminals were fixed to a cross
The execution method used on Jesus on Good Friday
Even though Jesus was the son of God, what do Christians believe that he was not spared of?
The pain and horror of his death.
What did Jesus say before he died?
“Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
Give two impacts of the crucifixion on Christians today.
> Gives them confidence that if they accept Jesus’ sacrifice, sin can no longer destroy their lives
Helps them understand that suffering is a part of life
Why do some Christians wear a crucifix?
A reminder of Jesus and his sacrifices. More powerful than a simple wooden cross - graphic and emotional.
Define the term ‘ascension’.
The event 40days after the resurrection, when Jesus returned to God, the Father, in heaven.
Define the term ‘heaven’.
A state of eternal happiness in the presence of God.
Give four reasons for the resurrections importance.
> Shows that good always prevails
Christians believe that by accepting Jesus they will also be resurrected in some way - brings comfort
Reassures Christians that God is forgiving
Ascension shows Jesus is with God; provides comfort and guidance
Why is the resurrection specifically important to Christians?
Jesus made it possible for all people to have life after death. By overcoming death, Jesus restored hope to humans of eternal life that had been lost through original sin.
Define the term ‘Original Sin’.
Something that everyone is born with that urges bad doings and the disobeying of God and his wishes.
Give one way in which Jesus’ final disappearance can be explained.
The idea that his followers moved his body to hide it from being dishonoured/ destroyed.
What do many Christians believe about the resurrection?
It is a reality.
What are two different beliefs about resurrection?
> The soul is resurrected very soon after death
> Some time in the future the soul is resurrected on the Day of Judgement - when Jesus will return
What does the resurrection symbolise?
Death is a consequence of sin in the world but may be overcome by the power of God.
What do Catholics believe about resurrection?
You receive your old body but will be transformed into a youthful sate.
Define the term ‘afterlife’.
What Christians believe follows life on Earth.
Define the term ‘Day of Judgement’.
A time when the world will end and every soul will be judged by God and either rewarded or punished.
What do Christians believe that human beings receive as a gift from God?
Eternal life.
What do Christians believe about the afterlife?
Souls enter a different dimension about which little is known.
Give three things Christians believe are true about the Day of Judgement.
> Jesus is the final judge
Your physical body is resurrected
Each person will get their just rewards
Who are the Sheep and Goats?
Sheep; good people - sit on Jesus’ right
Goats; people who are evil/ deserve to go to hell
What does the parable of the Sheep and Goats refer to?
Whenever a Christian does a good deed for another human it is as if they are doing it for Jesus.
What did Jesus do to the Goats?
He condemned them for not acting in a suitable manner towards other beings.
What does the parable of the Sheep and Goats offer Christians?
Provides ‘guidelines’ and ‘criteria’ God uses on the day of Judgement and shows what you need to do in order to be saved.
Why is the idea of the afterlife encouraging to Christians?
Bible creates horrible images of hell and being apart from God for the rest of eternity - nothing a Christian wishes.
Define the term ‘hell’.
The place of eternal suffering and parting from God.
Define the term ‘purgatory’.
The intermediate state where souls are cleansed in order to enter heaven.
Define the term ‘Satan’.
Name given to the devil - powerful source of evil.
How is heaven described in the Bible/
‘beyond the clouds, God is seen sitting on a huge throne’ ‘angels flying around him’ ‘joy, peace and freedom from pain’ (spiritually and physically).
Give two contrasting Christian beliefs about heaven.
> Only those who believe in Jesus will be with God in heaven
> heaven is reserved for Christians and others that have pleased God
How is hell described in the Bible?
‘the opposite of heaven’ ‘suffering, terror, fire, torture’.
Give one Christian belief about hell.
Reserved for those who did not acknowledge God/ follow his teachings.
Define the term ‘sin’.
> An action or thought that separates humans from God
> Behaviour which goes against God’s laws and wishes/ against the principles of morality
State one belief about original sin.
The souls of humans being ‘stained’ with the wrongdoings committed by the first man and woman in the garden of Eden. Having bodies, senses and desires tainted with sin.
Define the term ‘salvation’.
Saving of the soul, deliverance from sin and admission into heaven brought about by Jesus.
Define the term ‘grace’.
A quality of God which God shows to humans by providing love and support which they do not need to earn.