Christianity Beliefs And Teachings Flashcards
1
Q
What is the Nicene creed ?
A
- widely accepted statements of faith among Christian churches
- used for Catholic’s , Anglicans and most Protestant churches
2
Q
Summary of Biblical account of Genesis 2 ( second account of creation )
A
- 7th day of Creation God rested from work (holy)
- No shrub/plant had yet sprung up as there was no rain
- Formed a man from dust from ground l breathed into nostrils
- Planted a garden in the east , Eden - man lived + took care
- Middle of Garden = tree of life + tree of Knowledge
- Man not allowed to eat from a specific tree
- A river watering the Garden flowed from Eden ( separated into 4 headwaters : Pishon , Gihon , Tigris , Euphrates )
- formed wild animals + bird in sky so man not alone
- When Adam slept , God took mans ribs and then closed up place with flesh + made woman
3
Q
Significance of account of creation in Genesis 2
A
- Adam means humanity and Eve means beginning
- Writer shows importance of humanity within Gods creation
- God is portrayed to have human characteristics “ anthropomorphic “ reflects on God’s unique bond with humanity
- “ you must not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil … “ - God to Adam
- First law given by God to humanity, Adam given free choice to make = free will
4
Q
What is the role of the spirit in Creation ?
A
- Agent of God ; Psalm 33:6 refers to Holy Spirit as “ breath of God “ demonstrates creative work of spirit
- Spirit led to the creation of Man therefore is a life giver
5
Q
Summary of biblical account of The Fall ( Genesis 3 )
A
- Serpent tricked the woman into eating the apple by saying that the apple gives knowledge and makes your eyes open
- Woman gave to husband who also ate it , both of their eyes then opened
- Woman and Man heard God coming and tried to hide
- Man said they were afraid to come out because they were naked
- Woman told God she got tricked by serpent
- God told the Serpent that it will crawl on its belly and ear dust , and Woman that she will have a painful labour
- Man must eat from plants which has thorns and thistles
- God banished man from the Garden of Eden to work the ground
6
Q
Significance of the fall and what happens as a result ?
A
- Adam and Eve disobey God by eating the fruit , disobedience = SIN
- eating the fruit meant sin has entered the world for the first time
- original sin = first occasion mankind disobeyed God
- “ The fall “ - broke the perfect relationship that had existed between God and Humanity
- Christians believe every human born after the fall is affected by original sin : born out of relationship with God + need salvation to bring back relationship
- Christians believe in redemption or a person can’t have an eternal life in heaven
7
Q
What do all Christians believe about the Creation story ?
A
- God created the universe
- God acted out of love and goodness and cares for his creation
- Human being made in Gods image but are sinful hence lack his perfection
8
Q
Literal interpretation of the Creation story
A
- Some Christians believe the Genesis 1-3 includes Gods actual words
- provides accurate historical account of the creation of the world and the Fall
- Creationist approach , rejects science that suggest world wasn’t made in 6 cays
- Believe bible in inspired by God and Gods word is infallible
- Human knowledge flawed therefore Gods creation story should be taken as an absolute truth
9
Q
Describe the Christian belief of the creation story as a myth
A
- shouldn’t be taken literally , just convey important truths
- Accounts are mythological proved through different between styles + order of Genesis 1 +2 and scientific evidence
- Reveals important truths about the uniqueness of humans + possibilities of humans having a relationship with God
10
Q
Describe Theistic evolution
A
- Some Christians believe life developed through process of evolution
- Characteristics beneficial to a species passed on from one generation to next
- evolution was a process started by God
11
Q
Describe the Christian belief that creation story is compatible with science
A
- Days mentioned in the Genesis 1 shouldn’t be taken literally
- Gods time not the same as our time
- Each day could represent a longer period of time , maybe even billion of years
- more compatible with evidence provided by science about the age + development of life on earth
12
Q
Describe the two categories of evil
A
Natural evil - suffering created through no direct fault of humans
Moral evil - suffering caused by actions of human beings
13
Q
What is Evil ?
A
- opposite of good
- good gone wrong / complete lack of goodness
- Force that works against everything good , personified as devil / Satan
14
Q
Who is Satan ?
A
- expelled by God when he sinned ( Isaiah 14:12)
- acts to tempt humans and lead them to disobey God
- dangerous enemy to Christians , destroyer and leader of a host of demons
- causes suffering that may test faith in God
15
Q
Problem of Evil
A
- if God is omnibenevolent , he should care enough to stop the suffering cause by evil
- if God is omnipotent , he should stop suffering but he doesn’t
16
Q
Explain the Irenaean theodicy
A
- God allows evil and suffering to exist
- humans would be able to choose and learn what is right and good
- Through suffering we learn and develop spiritually , God wants our soul to develop ( Soul -making theodicy)
- God doesn’t interfere with human decisions as it affects human free will
- Fall was a human learning process
- As Long as humans learn from their actions they can go to heaven
17
Q
Explain the Augustinian theodicy
A
- God made a perfect creation as recorded in Genesis
- no evil in his creation , believes that evil is the absence of goodness
- Adam and Eve made made use of their free will hence causing evil to enter
- Human free will , led evil to come into existence
- result of fall , all humans inherit a sinful nature
- God doesn’t stop them , make use of free will
- instead , provides human opportunity for salvation for their sin
18
Q
Different views in Evil and Suffering
A
- Conservative Christians , suffering is a natural result of sinful nature of humans explains moral evil but doesn’t explain natural evil
- Others , world is a fear , human evil is something humans are responsible for hence should deal with it through Jesus teaching about loving others
- Without natural disasters , no opportunity to show life for others when people in need
- Others , God has a purpose humans don’t understand , suffering has a purpose , share suffering Jesus experiences
19
Q
Gospels
A
- account of Jesus life found in the four gospels in New Testament
- Each gospel has a different perspective of him
- not much detail of him/ life but more on what he said and did , much more than a good man
20
Q
What was Jesus referred to as ?
A
Messiah
Son of God
Lord
Saviour
21
Q
Why is Jesus important ?
A
- Jesus life and examples are important as they give Christians a pattern for their own lives
- death is a sacrifice which means human can be bought back into relationship with God
22
Q
Jesus as the son of God
A
- Jesus was God incarnated = god in human form
- conception wasn’t natural , conceived by Holy Spirit
- Old Testament contains prophecies about Jesus miraculous conception
23
Q
Jesus as the Messiah
A
- means “ anointed one “ , refers to Jesus as King or Lord
- sent by God to be the saviour of humanity
- Jews expected he would help them to fight and destroy the Romans
- Jesus is anointed with oil in Mark 14:3-9
- significant , Messiah for all people
- Kingdom and Eule was not a military one but spiritual
