Christianity: Beliefs Flashcards
What does ‘omnipotent’ mean?
All-powerful: a word used to describe God
What does ‘omniscient’ mean?
All-knowing: a word used to describe God
What does ‘omnibenevolent’ mean?
All-loving: a word used to describe God
What type of unconditional love is God associated with in Christianity?
Agape
What is the Problem of Evil?
The question of how it is possible for an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God to exist in a world full of suffering.
How do Christians respond to the problem of evil?
Blame human free will for suffering, or say that suffering serves a greater purpose beyond our understanding
Which sacred source explains the Oneness of God and the three parts of the Trinity?
The Nicene Creed
What are the three parts of the Trinity?
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
What qualities are associated with the Father in the Trinity?
The creator of all things in Heaven and Earth; abides in Heaven
What qualities are associated with the Son in the Trinity?
God revealed himself through Jesus Christ; was there from the creation as the Word; offers salvation
What qualities are associated with the Holy Spirit in the Trinity?
Active presence of God in the world; inspires holy people; often represented by a dove
What is a denomination?
A branch of Christianity, for example Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, or the various Orthodox churches.
What is Catholicism?
The tradition within the Christian Church which is led by the Pope; also called the Roman Catholic Church.
What are Protestants?
Christians/denominations in which authority is generally based on the Bible, rather than Church tradition/teaching. (eg Anglican, Methodist, Baptist).
What is the Incarnation?
‘God becoming flesh’, for Christians this refers to the birth of Jesus as the incarnation of God, being both fully divine and fully human.
What is the first book of the Bible, in which the creation story is found?
Genesis
What does Genesis say about creation?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
How is God portrayed in Genesis?
As a spirit hovering over waters
Which Latin term meaning ‘creation from nothing’ describes the way God creates the world in Genesis?
Creatio ex nihilo
What is said in the Book of John about creation?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Who does the Word represent in the Book of John?
Jesus
What is creationism?
The belief that God created the world according to the accounts in Genesis. Creationists believe the Earth was created in 6 days.
What is ‘allegorical’?
A means of reading the Bible in a non-literal way, not as absolute fact but for deeper meaning. E.g. assuming the ‘days’ in Genesis represent hundreds of years
What is literalism?
A way of reading the Bible as the exact words of God, rather than symbolically as a more representative of analogical text.
What is found in the Gospels?
The stories of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection
Where in the Bible are the Gospels found?
New Testament
Why is the word ‘Immanuel’ sometimes used to refer to Jesus?
It means ‘God with us’; it explains that Jesus was God
What does the word ‘Jesus’ mean?
‘God saves’ - it tells us what Jesus did
Why is the word ‘Messiah’ used to describe Jesus?
‘Anointed one’, like a king would be anointed; it shows that Jesus was the Messiah prophesised in the Old Testament
Why is Jesus referred to as the ‘Son of God’?
To show that he was divine and lived in the image of God
Why is Jesus referred to as the ‘Son of Man’?
To show that he was fully human despite being the Son of God
Why did Jesus travel to Jerusalem in Holy Week?
To celebrate the Jewish Passover
Who were the Pharisees?
A group of Jewish leaders who were opposed to Jesus
In what ways did Jesus upset the Pharisees?
- Challenged their authority/called them hypocrites
- Broke the laws of the sabbath by working (healing the sick)
- Mixed with people considered unclean (prostitutes/tax collectors)
- Claimed to be the Messiah, which was seen as an act of blasphemy
Why did the Pharisees hand Jesus over to the Romans?
They had found him guilty but were not allowed to execute him themselves
Explain three things that happen during the resurrection
- Jesus is mocked by passersby: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself”
- Jesus promises one of the robbers being crucified next to him that he will be saved: “today you will be with me in Paradise”
- Darkness comes over the land and the sun stops shining; the curtain of the temple is torn in two and a Roman centurion says “Surely this was a righteous man”
Why did Jesus allow the crucifixion to take place?
To set an example to others, and to provide atonement for sin (he took on the sins of the world, allowing humans to rebuild their relationship with God)
What happens during the resurrection story? Give at least three events
- The Romans and Pharisees ensure the tomb is guarded
- The body of Jesus is missing from the tomb
- The stone is rolled away
- Angels appear and announced that Jesus is risen
- Jesus appears to his disciples
Why do most Christians believe the Gospel accounts are historically accurate?
- All four accounts overlap with each other
- They were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
Why do some critics believe the Gospel accounts are historically inaccurate?
- They are heavily biased and may have distorted events
- They were not actually written by the disciples themselves
How many days after the Resurrection did the Ascension take place?
40
What happens in the Ascension, according to the Gospel of Luke?
Jesus blesses his disciples and is “taken up into heaven”
Why is the Crucifixion important to Christians?
It shows how much God loved humankind
Why is the Resurrection important to Christians?
It shows that there is hope for eternal life/redemption
Why is the Ascension important to Christians?
It shows that Jesus remains the highest authority in heaven and earth, and is planning to return to the world one day in the future
What is Christology?
The study of the identity of Jesus Christ, and his status as divine, human, the Messiah, and/or the Son of God for Christians.
What is a Gospel?
An account of the life of Jesus Christ, meaning ‘good news’. There are four Gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
What is a Messiah?
Literally this means ‘anointed one’, referring to the idea of the Messiah being a king. For Christians, this refers to Jesus.
What is atonement?
Making amends or payment for a wrong. The belief that reconciliation between God and humanity that was brought about by the death of Jesus as a sacrifice.
What is Sin?
Any behaviour which is against God’s laws and wishes. Sin creates a distance between God and human beings and is a direct result of God’s gift of free will being abused by human beings
Catholic Christians distinguish between two types of sin. What are these?
- Mortal (severe sins which break our relationship with God)
- Venial (lesser sins which damage our relationship with God but don’t break it)
What are Adam and Eve told not to do in Genesis 3?
Eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge
Why does Eve eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge?
She is tempted by the serpent
Why does Adam eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge?
He is tempted by Eve
What is Original Sin?
Belief that human nature is flawed, and that we all have the tendency to sin; traditional belief held by some Christians (e.g. Catholics) that this came from Adam & Eve’s eating of the forbidden fruit as recorded in Genesis 3.
What is a literal interpretation of Genesis 3’s teachings about Original Sin?
All human beings possess original sin which has been passed down from Adam and Eve, through the body and soul, through our ancestors
What is an allegorical interpretation of Genesis 3’s teachings about Original Sin?
Adam and Eve may not have literally existed; the story is a way of describing our tendency to sin/the darkness in human nature
What is meant by ‘judgment’ in Christianity?
The belief that Jesus will return at the End of Days to judge human beings and decide whether they go to Heaven or Hell. Heaven will involve eternal life with God and Hell will involve eternal suffering and damnation
Which parable explains the idea of judgment in Christianity?
The Parable of the Sheep and Goats (Book of Matthew, New Testament Gospels)
Who do the sheep represent in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, and what have they done?
The saved, who are going to heaven; they have helped those in need: “whatever you did for the least of one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
Who do the goats represent in the Parable of the Sheep and Goats, and what have they done?
The damned, who are going to hell; they failed to help others; by ignoring others they were also turning against God
What three ways can sin be avoided in Christianity?
Law (following the laws set down in the Bible, e.g. Ten Commandments)
Grace (accepting the unconditional love of God)
Spirit (allowing the Holy Spirit to perform its work in the world through them)
What is Salvation?
Being saved; the belief that through God’s grace, Jesus’ death and resurrection brought about salvation for humanity
What is Grace?
The unconditional and generous love that God shows to people who do not deserve it
