RS Christianity Flashcards
(A) question
Outlining 3 facts
Characteristics of God the Son
Expresses the love of God through his death on the cross
Characteristics of God the Holy Spirit
• Presence of God everywhere in the world
• Strengthens and empowers Christians
• Acts as a comforter and guide
Incarnate definition
God in bodily form
What are the 2 interpretations of the Bible
Liberal and literal
Literal interpretation of the Bible’s creation account
• Creationists believe that the creation account is literally true
• The Bible is the sacred Word of God and should be interpreted how it is
• Any scientific explanations are rejected
Metaphorical interpretation of the Bible’s creation account
• The creation account is a metaphor and not literally true
• It’s a story that helps people understand that God is the creator of all things
Stewardship meaning
Taking care of God’s creation
Dominion
Having authority over God’s creation
John 1:1 (Oneness of God)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God
John 1:14 (incarnation)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us
Importance of the incarnation
• Jesus reconciled humanity to God
• Shows that God loves the world
• Shows that Jesus can identify with our sufferings after experiencing life on earth
Last Days of Jesus’ Life
• Palm Sunday
• Last Supper
• Betrayal
• Arrest
• Trial
• Crucifixion
• Resurrection
• Ascension
Salvation meaning
Being saved from sin and it’s consequences
Grace meaning
God’s gift which gives the strength to be good and holy
Atonement
bringing humans back together with God
Original Sin
Sin inherited from Adam and Eve
Personal sin meaning
Sin done through your own actions
Romans 5:8 (omnibenevolence)
God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Immortality of the soul meaning
The idea that a soul lives on after the death of the body
Purgatory definition
a waiting room Catholics believe souls after death will go to be purified
Agnostic meaning
Someone who is unsure as to whether God exists
Mass/Eucharist definition
Celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection in which the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Features of the Trinity
• One God in the form of 3 persons
• Each person is fully God
• Each person is distinct and separate
Beliefs about the incarnation
• Jesus was God incarnate living among the people
• Jesus being God incarnate taught people what God was like
• Jesus’ purpose was to restore our relationship with God through his death and resurrection
Significance of Jesus’ death on the cross
• Proves of his humanity and was God incarnate
• Restored relationship between humanity and God (atonement)
• Shows how God loves us (Romans 5:8)
Significance of the resurrection
• Shows that life after death is possible
• Death can be overcome and Christians are able to have an eternal relationship with God
• (John 3:16)
• Allows our sins to be forgiven (salvation)
• Jesus has reconciled humanity with God (atonement)
• (Acts 16:31)
Divergent Christian views on heaven
Some Christians believe it is a physical place and only those who believe in Jesus will be saved whereas others believe it is a spiritual state and and is open to everyone through Jesus’ death
Eschatology definition
Study of life after death
Divergent Christian views on purgatory
• Catholics believe souls will be purified in purgatory before entering heaven
• Protestants believe purgatory is invented and has no biblical basis
Moral evil
Suffering caused by humans
eg murder and theft
Natural evil
Suffering caused by natural events eg earthquakes and diseases
Biblical solutions to the problem of evil and suffering
• Suffering is a part of life (Job’s faith is tested)
• Christians should put their trust in God (Proverbs 3:5)
• Christians can pray to God for comfort
• All suffering will come to an end (Revelation 21:4)
Revelation 21:4
(Biblical solution to suffering)
‘There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…’
Who is Job?
A godly man who suffered great hardship after being challenged by Satan with his faith in God
Theoretical solutions to the problem of evil and suffering
• Suffering is the result of free will
• The world is a vale of soul making
• Suffering can help people develop a better character
Source of authority for theoretical solutions to suffering
In Genesis 2-3, Adam and Eve brought evil and suffering into the world after disobeying God with their free will
Vale of soul making definition
The belief that God created this world to develop our souls
Practical responses to suffering
• Christians have a duty to help reduce suffering • Intercession • Compassion • Charity Work
Intercession meaning
Praying for God to help those suffering
Source of Authority for practical responses to suffering
• New Testament teaches Christians that Jesus regarded suffering as something to be fought
• He did this by healing the sick and feeding the hungry
Key reference points in the Bible
John 1:1, John 1:14, John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Romans 5:8, Revelation 21:4
Beliefs about salvation
• Jesus’ death and resurrection brought atonement
• Everyone has sinned against God
• Christians are able to enter heaven after: repenting and having faith in Jesus
• (Acts 16:31)
Beliefs about the Trinity in the Nicene Creed
• There is only one God
• The Holy Spirit is the giver of life
• Jesus is God incarnate
• Jesus is the Son of God
Marriage meaning
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The legal union of two people in a relationship
SOA for marriage in Christianity
A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Mark 10 : 7- 8
Cohabitation
A couple living together in a sexual relationship without marriage
Importance of marriage in society
• Provides a secure environment for children to grow up in • Provides legal protection for the family • Encourages a stable relationship • Viewed as a civil ceremony
Christian beliefs about marriage
• Sanctity of marriage (Marriage is special because it’s a holy gift from God)
• Catholics believe it’s a sacrament
• Requires faithfulness and is a life long relationship
• A covenant before God
• The Church believes it’s ‘central to the stability and health of human society’
• Jesus believed in monogamy
Promiscuity meaning
Having multiple sexual relationships
Extramarital sex meaning
Having an affair outside your marriage
Premarital sex meaning
Sex before marriage
Homosexuality meaning
Sexual attraction to people of the same sex
Why are some Christians against cohabitation?
• Christianity teaches that sex outside of marriage is wrong (Sex must happen exclusively within marriage - Catholic Church)
• Cohabitation can encourage a casual attitude to marriage
• Increases the likelihood of breaking up
Purposes of sex
• Unitive (brings a couple together) • Marital (Marriage is consummated by sex) • Procreative (to be open to produce children) • God ask Christians to ‘go forth and multiply’ in Genesis
Christian beliefs regarding sex
• It should be between a man and woman (Mark 10:7-8)
• Conservatives believe sex first requires the commitment of marriage
• Adultery is wrong and is forbidden by the Ten Commandments
• Adultery breaks the covenant before God
Conservative Christian views towards homosexuality
Catholics believe:
• Sex should be between a man and woman
• Homosexuality is not a sin but homosexual sexual relationships are sinful
Evangelical Protestants believe:
• Homosexuality is a sin
• However the salvation of Christ can remove all sins, including homosexuality
How has attitudes to marriage and family changed over the years?
More people are likely to:
• Have premarital sex
• Be promiscuous
• Cohabit
• Use contraception
• Not be in a nuclear family
• This could be due to economic pressures or society becoming more accepting of autonomy (Independence) - of people to choose their partner)
• Single parent families have increased as divorces have increased
Contraception meaning
Method that prevents conception during sex
Christian views against contraception
• Catholics believe birth control is not God’s intention and it goes against the procreative purpose of sex
• (Sex should have the possibility of creating new life - Humanae Vitae)
• Some contraceptives have abortifacient effects which are against Church teachings and can be considered blasphemous
Catholic views towards divorce
• They do not allow a divorce unless the marriage is annulled, not consummated or if the partner has died
• Catholics who remarry may be refused communion
• Covenant before God and lifelong relationship shouldn’t be broken by earthly power
• Jesus taught divorce and remarriage is adultery and therefore is a sin
• Alternatives like counselling and therapy should be considered
Non - Catholic views towards divorce
• Divorce is allowed
• Christians are allowed forgiveness and a new chance at marriage if they’re repentant
Atheist and humanist attitudes towards divorce (& Situation Ethics)
• They believe couples should have the right to divorce and also remarry
• It ensures that children are well provided for
• Brings domestic peace
• Ends a child’s exposure to potential parental conflict
• Gives a chance for a fresh start and new relationships
Nuclear family
A mother, father and their children
Disadvantages of divorce
• Expensive process • Can hurt children as they’re forced to choose between their parents
Divorce meaning
Legal ending of a marriage
Annulment
A declaration by the Church that a marriage wasn’t a true marriage
SOAs for men and women in the family
• Genesis 1 says that men and women are created in the image of God (and therefore are equal)
• Ephesians 5 says a wife should submit to their husband and a husband should love his wife (so they have different roles)
• Genesis 2 says man was created first with the woman being created as a helper (so men are superior)
Christian views on gender roles in the family
Conservative Christians (eg Catholics & Evangelical Protestants) teach that it’s the mother’s role to look after the children while the father’s role is work • Liberal Christians (eg Liberal Protestants) accept that men and women are equal therefore it’s not necessary to have a head of family
Why is the family important to Christians?
• Jesus loves children
(Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them - Matthew 19:14)
• Children are a gift from God and should be brought up in a loving environment
• Children are introduced to the faith through baptism and Sunday school
(bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord - Ephesians 6:4)
• Children have a duty to look after parents and to honour them (10 commandments)
Sacrament meaning
An outward sign of an inward blessing
Monogamy
Marriage to one person at a time