Christianity Flashcards
What is the nature of God?
Omnibenevolent - All loving
Omnipotent - All powerful
Omniscient - All knowing
Eternal - Has no beginning or end
A judge - Evaluates people’s behaviour
Transcendent - Outside of time and space, not involved in the world
Immanent - Involved in the world, knowable, perceivable, active
Personal - Christians can know and have a relationship with him
Forgiving - He understands that people make mistakes and will not punish them
What is the nature of the three persons of the Trinity?
God the Father - Transcendent
God the Holy Spirit - Immanent
God the Son - Knowable
What is the problem of evil?
There are two different types of evil in the world:
natural evil and moral evil
If god is benevolent and omnipotent and righteous, then it doesn’t make sense for him to allow suffering. If this wasn’t the case and he isn’t benevolent and omnipotent, then that undermines Christianity, which relies on a loving God.
What happened during the fall?
Adam and Eve were told by God not to eat a fruit from a tree, but a serpent persuaded them to eat it as it said that when you eat it you will be like God, knowing good from evil. After Eve ate it, they fell from God’s grace, breaking the perfect relationship which humans have with God.
If humans can disobey God, this means they have free will.
If humans have free will, they can choose to be evil
Some Christians believe original sin is inherited at birth, because of the fall
What is salvation?
The belief that Jesus saved humans from sin and death through his crucifixion and resurrection, it is believed that he also restored the broken relationship between humans and God.
What is atonement?
Christians believe that Jesus saved them by dying on the cross and somehow atoning for their sin.
What is grace?
Grace is a gift from God, of his love, which can save them. Jesus coming to save humanity was an example of God’s grace.
What are the purposes of worship?
To spend time with God
To praise and thank God
To ask God for forgiveness
To ask God for help for oneself or others
To be taught about God, religion, or how to live life
To receive God’s grace through sacraments and the Bible
What are the different forms of worship?
Liturgical - follows a structure
Private and public - Christians can worship God wherever and whenever they want
Charismatic - More relaxed, less structure
What are sacraments?
Important practices which help Christians worship God, most Christian denominations observe baptism and the eucharist as sacraments.
What is baptism?
Baptism is being anointed with or immersed in water to symbolise committing one’s life to God.
Infant baptism - Parents choose to have their child baptised
Believer’s baptism - Only adults can get baptised once they have been brought up in the Christian faith.
What is the impact of pilgrimages on Christians?
Christians may feel that their faith has been strengthened by visiting a special place. Some communities are able to go on pilgrimages together and are able to strengthen their faith as a group.
What are the main pilgrimages for Christians?
Lourdes - Saint Marie-Bernard Soubirous had a vision of Mary here and people go in order to be healed.
Jerusalem - Jesus taught, died and rose here, people go to walk where Jesus walked.
Rome - Peter and Paul preached here, people may go to visit important Christian buildings or to visit the Pope
Walsingham - A woman called Lady Richeldis had a vision of Mary here and there are shrines dedicated to her there.
What are some Christian organisations?
Christian Aid - fights injustice, responds to humanitarian change
Tearfund - Responds to disasters and conflicts
CAFOD - Try to end poverty and injustice
What are missionaries?
Missionaries are people who try to evangelise, while also helping with practical considerations, because as well as the mission to convert, the Church also has other missions such as the mission for peace.
