Key beliefs Beliefs & teachings: Christianity The problem of Christianity is a monotheistic religion – they believe in ONE God. Reasons for believing in God evil Christians believe God is: Evil exists Omnipotent (all powerful) The Design Argument Omniscient (all knowing) Our world is too The Cosmological Omnipresent (everywhere) complicated and full of The Moral Argument Christian upbringing Benevolent (loving) intricate working Argument God is God is We all have a sense of Many people are systems, to have just benevolent omnipotent Transcendent (beyond understanding) We live in a world of Christians because they happened by chance. If right and wrong, and Immanent (personal) ‘cause and effect’. were brought up to be we came across a watch, feel feelings of guilt Eternal (no beginning and no end) Something must have a Christian. Having Moral evil = suffering caused we would assume it has when we do bad things. Forgiving (he will forgive sins) ‘caused’ our world to spent so much time by humans been ‘designed’ due to Christians believe this have come into existence. moral conscience around other Natural evil = suffering Father its complexity. Like the The only being powerful comes from God and Christians, a belief in caused by nature watch, some assume our enough to do this is God – supports their belief God would come very world had a designer. the ‘uncaused cause’. that He is real. naturally to them. The Holy Responses: Holy Spirit Trinity Son (Jesus) 1. Suffering is a necessary part of life Life after death Soul HEAVEN 2. Suffering is temporary HELL 3. Suffering is a punishment Creation PURGATORY Our souls are: • Immortal for sin Heaven is traditionally Roman Catholics • God-given 4. Suffering is caused by Science tells us that our seen as a physical place believe there is a place Hell can be an Genesis 1 &2 says that • Eternal universe is approx. 14bn where God is. Jesus before heaven, where actual place of humanity’s free will God created the world in • Make us distinct years old, and our planet is called it “paradise” or people go to have their torment and 5. Suffering is a part of God’s 6 days, and on the 7th He from the rest of approx. 4bn years old. “my Father’s house”. A sins cleansed. People suffering OR it can plan rested. Some Christians creation An explosion (The Big more modern view is be when man is take this LITERALLY and say prayers for souls • Return to God when 6. Suffering is a test of faith Bang) led to the creation of that heaven is simply separated from read this story as fact ‘with God’. to be released from we die all space, time and matter. Purgatory. God. Christians believe they will be Humans have evolved over (fundamentalist). judged on their actions in this time, through a process of Others see the Genesis life on judgement day – natural selection. This is story as a symbolic story “Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with Parousia. called ‘evolution’. (Liberal) different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith” The suffering of Christ Beliefs & teachings: Christianity Parables One of the most detailed stories we have from the ‘Jesus’ A story used to teach a whole of Jesus’ life is the account of how he died. lesson or a moral He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Jesus’ resurrection & ascension The Good Samaritan Roman Governor, and his death was to be by “Love your neighbour” crucifixion. Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 6:1; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9 Even though Christians believe that Jesus was the According to the accounts of Jesus’ burial in the NT, he was placed in a tomb late Friday son of God, it does not mean that he was somehow afternoon (Good Friday). How long he remained there is unclear, but we know that some of spared the pain and horror of his crucifixion. Jesus’ female followers went to the tomb to anoint the body. Though details of the story vary There are several ways in which the crucifixion between the 4 gospel accounts, they all make it clear that Jesus was nowhere to be found. The sheep & the goats affects Christians today: The belief that Jesus rose from the dead is known as the resurrection and is a key teaching in “Whatever you did for the • It gives them confidence that if they accept Jesus’ the Christian faith. For Christians, it is significant evidence of the divine nature of Jesus. least of these brothers of sacrifice, sin can no longer destroy their loves mine, you did for me” because God forgives those who faithfully ask for Only Mark and Luke’s gospels finish off their story by telling their readers that, after meeting his forgiveness disciples and asking them to carry on his good work, Jesus left them for the last time and • They believe that suffering is a part of life, just as ascended, body and soul, into Heaven. it was a part of Jesus’ life and that, having experienced it, God understands what the sufferer is going through. Salvation Miracles Salvation means ‘to be saved from a bad situation’. In Christianity, this bad situation is sin, An act which seems to and the consequences of sin. break the laws of Incarnation Sin has separated humans from God, and salvation enables humans to get close to God Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is God again. nature in human form, or God ‘incarnate’. Christians believe that Jesus’ death makes up for the original sin committed by Adam & Eve Calming the storm “The word became flesh and made his dwelling and so can bring people back to god. This is a miracle over among us” Jesus knew his death was necessary to restore the relationship between god and the • Jesus gave humanity an example to follow. believers and make the opportunity for salvation available to all people. NATURE • Even though Jesus is God in human form, he Jesus (as the Son of God) could have easily avoided being crucified. His crucifixion was the valued everyone equally: “For you are all one in result of human evil against an innocent man. It needed to happen, in order to atone for the Water into wine Christ”. sins of humanity. This was Jesus’ first miracle • God sacrificed himself on the cross to take away the sins of human beings: “For God so loved the Healing a paralysed man world that He gave His only Son” “Mutual respect for and tolerance of those with This is a HEALING miracle • Jesus is both immanent and personal different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith” Worship Practices: Christianity The Church in the local community Liturgical – Follows a set routine e.g. RC Sacraments The Church ahs always been involved Non-liturgical - Does not follow a set Pilgrimage A sacrament = an outward and visible sign of an inward and in caring for others. For example, in routine A pilgrimage is a visit to a place spiritual grace the Middle Ages the monasteries Charismatic – informal; spirit-inspired regarded as holy for the believer. provided education, hospitality for Rosary – a string of beads with a crucifix Protestant Churches = only 2 sacraments: Baptism and Often, the journey is also special. travellers and treatment for the sick. attached Eucharist. th Pilgrimage has always played an In the 20 century, a London church Meditation – thoughtfulness, focused important role in the history of RC & Orthodox Churches = 7 sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, set up the first Samaritans phone on a religious truth Christianity, thought it is not a Confirmation, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing service for those feeling suicidal. Quaker meetings – Completely informal, compulsory duty and many today of the Sick. In the Parable of the Sheep & the with no leader or structure see no need to go on pilgrimage. Baptism Goats, Jesus told his disciples that The Bible – regardless of the type of Jesus was baptised by John and, during the baptism, Jesus whatever they did or failed to do for worship, it will always have a focus on Some examples of Christian places experienced the Holy Spirit entering his life and heard God’s someone, however insignificant the the Bible of pilgrimage are: Lourdes, Iona, assurance that he was the Son of God. deed or situation, they did/or failed Private – worshipping alone the Holy Land (Israel) and to do, for Jesus. Prayer – Communicating with God Just before his ascension, Jesus told his disciples to: “Go and Canterbury. make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the One way in which Christians out their Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. Baptism was a rite of initiation faith into action is through food into the community right from the start and there are many banks and street pastors. Why is worship important? Prayer references to baptism throughout the NT. Jesus spoke about prayer on a Eucharist Key organisations (research these!) number of occasions. Some The Eucharist is celebrated by nearly all Christian • It brings a sense of togetherness • Corrymeela – reconciliation & Christians follow set prayer (such denominations and has many names, such as Holy Communion. as a community ecumenism as the Lord’s prayer (which Jesus The central features are the same: the connection with Jesus’ • It makes a person feel closer to • Open Doors – Supports taught his disciples), whereas Last Supper, the giving of thanks for the bread and wine God persecuted Christians others make them more (consecration) and using Jesus’ words at the last supper. • It is peaceful – allowing for prayer • Spring Harvest – Mission & personal. RC Christians believe in transubstantiation – the bread & wine and meditation evangelism literally turns into the body & blood of Christ.