Study of Religions: Beliefs and Teachings Flashcards
Nature of God
“I am the lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other Gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3
- God is universal
- God is believed is believed to work through history, guiding and inspiring people to do God’s will for the good of the people.
- All denominations don’t see God as male
- Power, strength, caring, gentle and loving
- Holy
Denominations of Christianity
- Catholic = led by Pope
- Orthodox = practiced in eastern europe, not entirely christianity
- Protestant = Name for a group of smaller branches of christianity, belief the bible is the only authority for christians
Monotheistic
A religion that believes in only one God
Omnipotent
“Nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37
Almighty, having unlimited power (quality of God)
- nothing God cannot do or achieve
- Gods omnipotence can be seen as benevolent
Benevolent
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, for whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16
All-loving, all-good (quality of God)
- God wants the best for humans, wanted to bestow his love on us
- encourages christians to love, respect and care for everyone in their everday lives
Justice
Bringing out what is right and fair (according to law)
- God is perfect giver of justice
- perfect judge, right and wrong
- Christians should do all they can to stop injustice, ill-treatment, prejudice and oppression
Problem of Evil
- the issue*
- solutions*
Why would a loving God allow people to suffer, rather than prevent evil actions from happening.
Solutions:
- We have free will
- Have to trust God that it will work out ok, there is a purpose
- Moral evil = devil tempts people (links with free will)
- Natural evil = suffering is aloud as punishment for wrong doing
Trinity
“Our Father in Heaven…” Lords Prayer
There are 3 persons which are fully God but all one God, but persons are all different… helps christians gain understanding of God making the bible make more scense.
- God the Father
- creator of Earth and all living things
- Omnipotent (all powerful), Omnibenevolent (all loving), Omniscent (all knowing)
- God the Son
- Jesus
- Incarnate on Earth
- When on earth, was fully human and fully God at the same time
- God the Holy Spirit
- presence of God in world today
- When Jesus was left, this was sent to influence, guide and sustain earth
- Unseen
Creation
- “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3
- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:1-3
Genesis 1:1-3
- Not scientifically accurate, religious truth, Liberal
- Created in 6 days, 7th rested, conservative
- Holy Spirit and God mentioned
John 1:1-3
- The word = Jesus
- All 3 of trinity mentioned
- All existed from the beggining, all exist along side eachother
Incarnation
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, for whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16
“The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” John 1:14
- importance
Becoming flesh, taking human form…
- Jesus is fully God and human
- Belief that Jesus was God in human for is more important than the details of his birth
- Mary didn’t concieve Jesus naturally, virign conception
- gives evidence he is incarnate
- Human for 30 years
Importance…
- help christians understand the extent of God’s love for humanity
- Shows how christians should live
- selfless love
Son of God
“The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” John 1:14
“Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”, “I am,”said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:61b-62
More interested in the meaning of him becoming incarnate, and not of his conception of birth…
- Baptised… Voice from heaven said “you are my son” Mark 1:11
- Accused of blasphemy - by Jews
- Being incarnate makes it easier to understand the miracles he did and his resurrection
Blasphemy
Claiming to be god, religious offence
The Crucifixtion
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” Luke 23:46
- facts*
- impacts*
- Death by Pontious Pilate, Roman governor
- On the cross
- Waited for death, by asphyxiation
- 6 hours on cross before death
- Just because son of God, it doesn’t mean that he is speared from pain and horror of world and crucifixtion
- Fully God, Fully Human (felt same feelings as anyone else)
- Jesus Forgave Guards
Impact
- For his sacrifice, sin can no longer destroy our lives => God forgave those whose ask forgiveness
- Suffering is a part of life
- God understands what the sufferer is going through
Resurrection
- Definition*
- What happened to Jesus*
It means rising from dead
- Body couldn’t be found on easter sunday
- Next few weeks, Jesus appeared to many people
- Mary Magdalene
- Disciples
Ascension
“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven” Luke 24:50-51
- Definition
- What happened to Jesus
Jesus returing to God in heaven, leaving earth
- 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus left the earth physically and returned to God in heaven
