Paper 2, Topic 2 - Celebration and pilgrimage

Question 1

Easter - what is it

Answer 1

The Christian festival which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus

Question 2

Easter - significance

Answer 2

-It celebrates the resurrection of Christ or Jesus, proves that Jesus is both man and God; the two natures of Jesus
“He has risen”

-Easter proves to Christian that death can be overcome. You can go to heaven if you follow in the way and teachings of Jesus. There is life after death - gives Christians purpose in life.
“He is now at the right hand of almighty God”

-It is the final part of Jesus’ works in his life. Throughout Jesus’ life, he has been trying to bring people close to God, so they can be granted eternal life and entrance into heaven. Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection assure God’s forgiveness of sin and that people can be restored and reconciled with God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son”

Question 3

Easter - celebrations

Answer 3

Catholic - Bible readings relating and focusing on Jesus’ life, resurrection and the prophecies made before his life. Highlights Jesus’ role as the Messiah.

COE, Anglican - Easter candle passed around in the congregation, Easter candle represents the touch of Jesus and Christ, candle symbolises hope and the dispelling of darkness.

Orthodox - Orthodox Christians paint Easter Eggs red together, red marks the blood and sacrifice Jesus made to free us from sin. Eggs symbolise a new life and the resurrection of Jesus.

Question 4

Christmas - significance

Answer 4

-Celebration of the incarnation of Jesus. When Christians believe God became Jesus (man) and came down to the Earth: The Holy Trinity.
“The word became flesh, and he made his dwelling among us”

-Unites Christians under a day of celebration and a common purpose where ethnicity, race, gender do not matter.
“God shows no favouritism”

-Celebration of reconciliation with God, Christians believe before the incarnation, humans could only have a partial relationship with God due to the effect of sin. The incarnation has enabled Christians to have a complete relationship with God and the effects of sin are nullified.

Question 5

Christmas - celebration

Answer 5

• In the four weeks approaching Christmas, Christians commit to a fast called advent, this aims to prepare Christians for the Christmas celebration and allows Christians to contemplate the real meanings of Christmas
• Many Christians will also attend a midnight mass before Christmas morning, where hymns and songs are sung about Jesus. An act of reverence and thanksgiving to Jesus.
• Many Christians also go to Church on Christmas morning, to exchange gifts with other Christians. These gifts represent the gifts the 3 wise men gave to Jesus when he was born.

Homes and trees are decorated with lights - symbolic of the coming of Jesus - a light amid the darkness

Question 6

Pilgrimage

Answer 6

• A journey to a location or place with religious significance.
• Christian examples: Jerusalem, Canterbury, Bethlehem.

Question 7

Pilgrimage - significance

Answer 7

-Helps Christians in their search of God, makes them feel more attached to God as places of pilgrimage often have a special, significant connection to God.

-Jesus and his parents would often journey to Jerusalem every year
“Every year, Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of passive”
“After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”

-Takes time, effort and planning, focusing their priorities in life on religious matters which shows and allows one to be more devoted to God.

Question 8

Pilgrimage - objections

Answer 8

• Worshipping relics such as the crown of thorns in France would be seen as breaking one of the ten commandments: “You shalt not worship fake idols” Commandments are rules that all Christians have to follow.
• It is expensive and only those who can afford it can go which opposes some egalitarian principles of Christianity such as that God sees us all as equal.
  “For God shows no partiality”

-Protestant Christians would disagree as Martin Luther King, a prominent Protestant Christian said “Pilgrimage should be stopped” as it emphasised the wrong aspects of the religion.

Question 9

Jerusalem - significance

Answer 9

• Christians believe that Jesus annually visited Jerusalem at passover and he spent the final week of his life (holy week) there. Pilgrims may visit.
• The Garden of Gethsemane - where Jesus prayed before being arrested
• The Church of the holy sepulchre - the apparent crucifixion site
• The via Dolorosa - Jesus’ route to his crucifixion
• The church of the ascension - a site where the ascension was believed to have taken place

Question 10

Bethlehem - significance

Answer 10

Bethlehem

• Jesus birthplace
• Christians travel to Bethlehem particularly at Christmas time, to attend church services
• Inside the Church of the Nativity, is a grotto in which a 14 pointed star is believed to indicate the birthplace of Jesus. Some pilgrims kiss the star to show their devotion