Key Terms - Christianity

Question 1

Agape

Answer 1

Greek for ‘unconditional love’, the basis for the Golden Rule and Jesus’ sacrificial crusifixion

Question 2

Allegorical

Answer 2

A means of reading the Bible in a non-literal way, or in other words that the Bible is not to be taken as absolutely factual, but rather that Christians should read the Bible for the deeper meaning hidden within its texts and stories

Question 3

Anglican

Answer 3

A member of the Anglican Church, or the adjective used to describe Anglican practices or beliefs. The Church of England is one part of the Anglican Communion

Question 4

Atonement

Answer 4

Making amends for sin, usually referring to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross which Christians believe was the ultimate act of atonement, to remove all of humanity’s sin

Question 5

Baptism

Answer 5

The rite of initiation for Christians, in which water is used to symbolise the washing away of sin and to welcome the person into the Christian church. For some Christians (such as Roman Catholics), this is usually paedobaptism, which is the baptising of a baby or child usually by pouring a small amount of water over their head, at a font, three times in the name of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Other Christians (such as Baptists) prefer adult baptism, or believer’s baptism, which usually involves full immersion of the person into a baptistery or pool

Question 6

Bible

Answer 6

The holy book for Christianity, made up of the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament is found in Judaism and Islam in various formats, whereas the New Testament focuses on the life and works of Jesus, and various letters (or Epistles) written by early Christians about the new Christian faith

Question 7

Bishop

Answer 7

The most senior order of ordination (above deacons and priests), who are a focal point of unity for their diocese, and are able to perform confirmations and ordinations

Question 8

Calvinism

Answer 8

The doctrine of Christianity which follows the teachings of Calvin, including predestination and sola scriptura

Question 9

Celibacy

Answer 9

Refraining from sexual intercourse or other sexual acts, for example to fulfil a vow made as a religious monk or nun

Question 10

Confession

Answer 10

One of the seven sacraments for Roman Catholics, where a Christian will tell a priest their sins and will recieve advice

Question 11

Creationism

Answer 11

The belief that God created the world according to the accounts in Genesis

Question 12

Eucharist

Answer 12

Another word for Holy Communion, the central practice of most Christian worship, involving the eating of bread and the drinking of wine

Question 13

Fundamentalism

Answer 13

The belief that the Bible is inerrant and contains the exact truth of God

Question 14

Gospel

Answer 14

An account of the life of Jesus Christ, notably John, Mattwe, Mark and Luke

Question 15

Immanent

Answer 15

The belief that god intervenes and is active in the world, for example performing miricles

Question 16

Incarnation

Answer 16

‘God becoming flesh’, for Christians this refers to the birth of Jesus as the incarnation of God, being both fully divine and fully human

Question 17

Literalism

Answer 17

A way of reading the Bible as the exact words of God, rather than symbolically as a more representative or analogical text

Question 18

Liturgy

Answer 18

The form in which Christians worship, usually in a Church, and which can follow a set structure and wording

Question 19

Messiah

Answer 19

Meaning the ‘anointed one’, referring to the idea of the Messiah being a kind

Question 20

Minister

Answer 20

The title given to leaders of some Protestant denominations who tend to be less liturgical in their worship

Question 21

Omnibenevolent

Answer 21

All living

Question 22

Omnipotent

Answer 22

All powerful

Question 23

Omnipresent

Answer 23

All present

Question 24

Omniscient

Answer 24

All knowing/seeing

Question 25

Prayer

Answer 25

A means by which Christians attempt to interact with God, either in silence or aloud, and either alone or in a group

Question 26

Revelation

Answer 26

Something that God reveals to humans. Special revelation is direct, whereas general revelation is indirect

Question 27

Salvation

Answer 27

Being saved and therefore being able to enter heaven. Christians believe that Jesus is the source of salvation

Question 28

Sin

Answer 28

An action that goes against the laws of God, for example by not following the Golden Rule of the 10 Commandments

Question 29

Soul

Answer 29

The metaphysical aspect of a person, according to Christianity; some Christians believe that the soul lives on after death even though the body dies

Question 30

Stewardship

Answer 30

The opposite of dominion, the belief that the world was created by God and Christians are the caretakers, who have a duty to look after it

Question 31

Theodicy

Answer 31

An argument that attempts to defend God against the Problem of Evil and Suffering

Question 32

Transubstantiation

Answer 32

The belief that during the Liturgy, when Holy Communion is being celebrated, the bread and wine take on the real presence of Jesus

Question 33

Trinity

Answer 33

The three persons of the one God in Christianity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit