Christianity Flashcards
Importance of the afterlife for Christians
Gives comfort in times of bereavement, helps some make sense of the world and injustice as there’s a reward after death, gives life meaning structure and guidance.
Heaven
No universal understanding, knowledge is limited and based on images and biblical references. For baptists is a literal place, for catholics is state.
Heaven influences
May offer comfort to the bereaved, help make sense of world and injustice.
Heaven teachings
Dwelling place of god “lord looks down from heaven and sees all of us humans” where he performs role as judge. Reward given by god.
Hell
Opposite of heaven, eternal separation from god. Evangelicals see it as literal place others see as state. Minority have belief universalism so reject Hellas god will triumph over evil.
Hell influences
Encourage to engage in worship, encourage to engage in positive action.
Hell teachings
Place of punishment “the unfaithful, detestable and sinners were thrown into the fiery lakes of hell”.
Judgement
Justification by work, by faith. God is the ultimate judge “he is ready to judge the living and the dead”, based on actions and work.
Resurrection
Protestants Immorality of the soul believes individuals are resurrected very soon after death. Catholics Parousia believe in the future Jesus will return to judge the dead and they will be raised.
Resurrection influences and teachings
Give hope, gives Jesus authority. “Christ by his resurrection has given proof of his divine authority”. Repairs broke relationship between god and humanity from original sin.
Resurrection challenged by
Humanists believe we only live once and life after death doesn’t make sense. Atheist Richard Dawkins believes it’s “magical thinking” to bring comfort.
Incarnation definition
The doctrine that god took the human form as Jesus.
Incarnation influences and teachings
Encourages to celebrate an event in the liturgical calendar, encourages to follow Jesus. Highlights Jesus divinity, helps them understand different aspects of god.
Incarnation challenged by
Atheist Richard Dawkins says scripture is not legitimate authority and based on illfound logic, goes against knowledge of what can happen. Some C think Jesus was a human man. Does not adhere to strict monotheism.
Jesus as son of god influences and teachings
Encourages them to follow Jesus, understand gods nature. Should follow his example.
Jesus as son of god support arguments
Belief of incarnation, Jesus was baptised voice came from heaven “you are my son the beloved” , claimed it himself he was “Son of the Blessed One”.
Jesus as son of god rejection arguments
Some Unitarian’s suggest he was just “unequivocally human”, atheists think claims made in Bible are ill founded, goes against everyday experience and is very unlikely.
Crucifixion definition
Roman method of execution by which criminals were fixed to a cross. The execution and death of Jesus on Good Friday.
Crucifixion influences
Encourages forgiveness for sins, encourages people to accept suffering and know god will support and guide them.
Crucifixion teachings
Highlights Jesus’ divinity and nature as the son of god “father into your hands I commit my spirit…surely this man was the son of god”, act of atonement “he died for your sins”.
Challenging crucifixion beliefs
Muslims believe he was raised to heaven without being put on the cross, atheist Dawkins rejects scripture as a legitimate authority.
Resurrection definition
The event celebrated on Easter Day of Jesus rising from the dead, recorded in all four gospels and central belief of Christianity.
Resurrection influences
Gives people hope, encourages people to celebrate an event in the liturgical calendar.
Resurrection teachings
Highlights Jesus’ authority “Christ by his resurrection has given proof of his divine authority”, repairs broken relationship between god and humanity “by his death Christ liberates us from sin”.
Ascension definition
The event 40 days after the Resurrection when Jesus returned to god.
Ascension influence
Encourages people to follow Jesus, gives hope.
Ascension teachings
When Jesus ascended he returned to god in heaven “Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of god”, should give hope “live in he hope of one day being with him forever”.
Why is the incarnation important?
Jesus needed to be born for all other events to take place, highlights the divinity of Jesus being born to a virgin, affords Christian’s an opportunity to come together.
Why is the crucifixion importan?
Needed for salvation and atonement, teaches forgiveness, encourages people to be faithful.
Why is the resurrection important?
Highlights divinity of Jesus, gives hope for life after death, the basis of Christian faith.
Why is the ascension important?
Highlights divinity of Jesus, gives hope for life after death, promises the return of Jesus to earth so gives hope.
Original sin definition
Traditional belief that human nature is flawed so humans have a tendency to go against gods will due to Adam and Eve defying god.
Sin influences
Encourage people to do good, encourages specific practice eg confession.
Sin teachings
Act which breaks gods law “whoever sins is guilty of breaking gods law”, sins should be confessed “you will never succeed in life if you try and hide your sins. Confess them and give them up.”
Original sin influences
Helps answer an ultimate question surrounding evil, encourages specific practice of baptism that Roman Catholic Church teach is a way to help be saved from original evil.
Original sin teachings
Result of human disobedience “you shall not eat the fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden” so original sin is down to acts of Adam and Eve (humankind), resulted in punishment “because you have done this, cursed are you” so suffering in world now is consequence of the act.
Challenging original sin
God is benevolent so why would he want us to suffer? Jesus saving humanity from sin is “deeply unpleasant” why would he need to be tortured?
Salvation
Saving the soul and freedom from sin and admission to heaven brought about by Jesus. Sin separates humans from god and salvation allows closeness again. Received through work, law and good moral conduct or through faith.
Grace definition
The unconditional and generous love that god shows to people who don’t deserve it.
Law definition
The law of god, which Christian’s are supposed to obey. It’s gods free gift through grace.
Salvation influences
Encourages good moral conduct, encourages exclusivists to evangelise.
Salvation teachings
Given through gods grace “you have been saved through faith…it is the gift of god”, achieved through following the law of god “ a man is justified by works and not by faith alone”.
Challenging salvation
Moral commands given by god can be deemed immoral or incompatible with the modern day eg homophobia, racism etc.
Atonement definition
Refers to the reconciliation between god and humanity that was sealed by the sacrificial death of Jesus.
Atonement influences
Encourages people to celebrate an event in the liturgical calendar Easter Sunday, encourages people to follow Jesus.
Atonement teachings
Allows Christian’s eternal life with god “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”, possible because of Jesus.
Challenging atonement
Atheist Dawkins’s think it’s “deeply unpleasant” idea that god tortured his son to forgive humanity’s sins.
God is…
Omnipotent, omnibenevolent, just, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal.
