Christianity Unit 1 Flashcards
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Omnipotence
The all-powerful, almighty and unlimited nature of God.
Omnibenevolence
The state of being all-loving and infinitely good- a characteristic often attributed to God.
Trinity
The three persons of God; God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Incarnation
“made flesh” - the Christian belief that God became man in the person of Jesus, fully human and fully divine. God becoming human in the form of Jesus.
Atonement
The belief that Jesus’ death and resurrection healed the rift between humans and God, thereby opening the way for God and people to be ‘at one’ again.
Divine Command
Theory
The belief that something is right because God commands it, e.g. “Do not Kill” is one of the Ten Commandments.
Agape
Selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. Christianity holds agape to be the highest types of love, epitomised by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for the salvation of humanity and in teachings such as ‘Love your neighbour’.
Inter-faith dialogue
Different religious communities talking to each other e.g. Corrymeela in Northern Ireland. This allows them to live peacefully alongside each other and to respect each other, in spite of their differences in belief and ways of life.
Omniscience
Having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; Christians believe that God is an omniscient being. God is all-knowing.
Holy Spirit
The invisible part of God at work in the world today. One of the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his Crucifixion and Resurrection. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is present as the power of God at work in the world.
Resurrection
The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day from when he was crucified, thereby conquering death. This is commemorated annually on Easter Sunday.
Messiah
A title for Jesus which means ‘anointed one’ or Christ. The Messiah is the one believed to be sent by God to be humanity’s saviour. Christians believe this person to be Jesus.
