1
Q
What are the three main attributes that Christians believe about God?
A
- Omnipotent
- Omnibenevolent
- Omniscient
2
Q
Why do Christians believe God is omnipotent?
A
- God is all powerful, there is nothing he cannot do
- God created the world from nothing
3
Q
Why do Christians believe God is omnibenevolent?
A
- God is all-loving, full of mercy and compassion
- God so loved the world that he sent his only son so that people could have eternal life
4
Q
Who is the Trinity?
A
- God the Father
- God the Son
- God the Holy Spirit
5
Q
What do Christians believe about the Trinity?
A
- There is only one God (monotheism)
- God exists as three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Each of these three are distinct from one and other, but each is wholly God.
- There are NOT three Gods.
6
Q
Why do Christians believe in the Trinity?
A
- The way the Trinity works is supposed to be a mystery, but it helps with the understanding of Gods qualities.
- It is how God makes himself known in the world.
- It is called ‘the doctrine of the Trinity’
- It is a fundamental belief for all Christians.
7
Q
Why is the Trinity important for Christians?
A
Without the Trinity it is not possible to believe that Jesus is God. - This is one of the most important Christians beliefs.
8
Q
What do Christians believe about the oneness of God?
A
- They believe in monotheism
- God is one
- The oneness of God is seen in the Creeds, the decisions of Church Councils and the writings of Church leaders
9
Q
What does the Nicene Creed say about the Trinity?
A
The Trinity works as one - yet each of the three persons has a special role.
a. God the Father created heaven and earth,
b. God the Son, Jesus, is the saviour of the world.
c. God the Holy Spirit guides, helps and inspires human beings.
10
Q
What are different understandings of the Trinity within Christianity?
A
- Mormons - believe that they are not one substance, instead they are three different beings united in will and purpose
- Jehovah’s witnesses - Jehovah is the one true God. Jesus is God’s Son. The Holy Spirit is God’s power in the world and so is not a person
- Unitarians - There is only one God. Jesus was a man whose teachings give him moral authority but not divinity. There is no difference between God and the Holy Spirit.
11
Q
How do Christians show their belief in the Trinity through worship?
A
- They say the Nicene Creed
- They use the Sign of the Cross
- Priests begin their sermons with the Sign of the Cross
- Baptisms and Marriages are performed in the name of the Trinity
- Priests bless a congregation at the end of services with the words ‘May the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you now and for evermore’
12
Q
What do Non-Literalist Christians believe about Creation?
A
- Nothing existed before God created the world - Creation Ex Nihilo
- Only God creates because he is omnipotent
- This belief can be found in the Bible in Genesis.
- They believe it is a symbolic story.
- The world was NOT created in 6 days exactly as it says.
13
Q
Which Catholic scholar talks about Creation ex nihilo?
A
St. Augustine
14
Q
What happens in Genesis 1?
A
God creates the world in 6 days and rests on the 7th. He looks at all he has made and sees that it is good. He creates humans on the 6th day.
15
Q
What happens in Genesis 2?
A
Adam names all the animals in the world but is still lonely. God creates Eve from Adams rib.
16
Q
What do Literalist Christians (Creationists or Fundamentalists) believe about the creation story?
A
- They believe that the Bible account is accurate and is exactly how the world was created.
- The world was created in 6 calendar days.
- They believe this because the Bible is the word of God and is never mistaken.
17
Q
What do Non-Literalist Christians believe about the Big Bang?
A
- They believe in the Big Bang.
- The theory supports their believe of creation out of nothing.
- The Big Bang theory was put forward by a Catholic Priest.
- ‘Let there be light’ could be reference to the explosion.
- Science explains HOW the universe came about and Genesis explains WHY.
18
Q
Is there a problem between science and religion?
A
- No - for Catholics there is no conflict.
- Yes - for people who take the Bible literally (Creationists) there is a conflict.
19
Q
What does Creation Ex Nihilo mean?
A
Creation out of nothing.
20
Q
What does Genesis 1 teach us about God and his qualities?
A
- God is transcendent - he exists outside of space and time (God created the heavens and the earth)
- Eternal - God already existed and has no beginning.
- Omnipotent - God can speak the world into creation and God creates from nothing - only God can do this.
21
Q
What does Genesis 2 tell us about God’s qualities?
A
- Omnibenevolent - God loved humans so much that he created a world that had everything on it that they needed to survive.
- Omnibenevolent - God doesn’t want man to be alone so he creates Eve.
- Omnipresent - God is involved in creation and he creates everything.
22
Q
What do the Genesis creation stories tell us about human beings?
A
- Sanctity of Life - We are created last and are the high point of God’s creation.
- Humans were created in the image of God
- We were made Male and Female to have children.
- God gave us free-will.
- We were made stewards of creation.
23
Q
What do Christians think about stewardship?
A
- We should all be stewards of creation.
- Christians believe God made humans superior to other animals by giving them reason and free will and this is why they should look after the world.
- Every individual has a duty to care for their neighbours around the world.
24
Q
What is the incarnation?
A
- This means ‘made flesh’
- The Christian belief that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine.
25
What does it say in John 1:1 about Jesus as 'the word'?
* *'In the beginning there was the word...and the word became flesh and dwelled among us'*
* Jesus was there at creation and he became human. It is clear that 'the word' or Jesus is a separate person from God.
26
What does John 1:1 mean about Jesus as 'the word'?
* In the beginning there was the word - Jesus was there before the world began
* The word was with God - Jesus was with God
* And the word was God - Jesus was God
* He was with God in the beginning - Both Jesus and God were there at the start
* Through him all things were made - Through Jesus all things were made
* Without him nothing was made that has been made - Without Jesus nothing was made that has been made
27
What happened at the Last Supper?
* The 12 and Jesus were all together eating.
* Jesus took the bread and wine and blessed them. He broke the bread and said ‘*This is my body.*’ He took the cup and said *This is my blood which is poured for many*
* Jesus later revealed that He knew one of them would betray him and that Peter would deny knowing him in the next few hours
28
What can we learn from the Last Supper?
* 'Poured *out for many*' - this means that Jesus' sacrifice would restore the covenant between God and his people.
* His blood would be shed for many.
29
What happened when Jesus was praying in Gethsemane?
* Jesus took Peter, James and John to pray
* Jesus prayed to God to change his plan and asked for God to remove the cup away from him (The cup of suffering)
* Jesus asked the disciples to stay awake with him, but none could and they left Jesus alone with his troubles
* Jesus was betrayed by Judas' kiss.
* He was abandoned by his disciples in his time of need.
30
What can we learn from Jesus praying in the garden?
* It emphasises the solitary path Jesus endured as the Messiah
* Jesus was alone
* His disciples abandoned him
31
Why was Jesus arrested?
* The Sadducees wanted him dead as they saw his attack on the temple as a threat to their religious authority and wealth
* Supporters of Roman rule saw his popularity as a potential political threat
* The Pharisees were religiously conservative - Jesus breaking the Jewish law would've been seen as an offence to God
32
What happened at the trial of Jesus before the high priests?
* Jesus was tried at the High Priest's house.
* The high priest asked if he was the Messiah - Jesus said he was
* The council thought this was blasphemous and condemned him to death and sent him to the Romans.
Jesus said *'I am'* when asks - Jesus claims equality with God as God used this phrase when talking to Moses at the burning bush (I am who I am)
33
What happened at the trial of Jesus before Pontias Pilate?
* Blasphemy was not a criminal offence, but treason was.
* Pilate was told that Jesus said he was a king - so a threat to Caesar
* Mark's gospel suggests that Pilate did not believe this and he tried to get Jesus released under an old tradition
* The crowd instead chose Barabbas to be released instead
34
Why is it interesting that Jesus admits he is the Messiah during his trial before the High Priest?
* Mark's Gospel is the only Gospel where this happens
* In the other 3 he gives a more vague answer - he says *'you have said so'*
35
What is 'The Passion'?
* In Christianity 'passion' means suffering
* It describes the final suffering of Jesus as he was taken to Golgotha, crucified, and died, then rose from the dead.
36
What happened at Jesus' crucifixion?
* Jesus was crucified at Golgotha (The place of the skull) between two criminals
* The accusation against him said 'the king of the Jews'
* Crucifixion was a painful and shameful method of execution
37
What happened in the moment that Jesus died on the cross?
* '*The curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom'*
* The centurion in charge of Jesus said 'Truly this man was the Son of God'
* The female followers of Jesus and Joseph or Arimathea arranged for his body to be taken down and buried
38
What is the significance of the curtain tearing in two upon Jesus' death?
* The curtain sealed the 'Holy of Holies' from all but the high priest
* The tearing of the curtain is an open invitation to all to enter God's presence - something which was previously reserved for the high priest.
39
What happened at Jesus resurrection?
* On Sunday morning Mary Magdalene, Mary (James' mother) and Salome went to anoint Jesus' body.
* The stone had been rolled away
* Two young men were standing there who said Jesus had risen from the dead (an angel)
* They flee from the tomb and tell the disciples
* Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus
* They return to the 11 disciples and tell them, Jesus then appears and how them his hands and feet
40
What differences are there between Mark's gospel and other stories of the ressurection?
* There is one angel not two
* In other gospels the women go and tell the disciples
* In Luke and John a disciple goes to the tomb
41
What is the ascension?
When Jesus was taken up to heaven 40 days after his resurrection.
42
Why is the ascension important to Catholics?
* Jesus' mission on the earth was complete
* He had completed everything God the Father wanted him to.
* Jesus returns to heaven to prepare a place for his followers.
* Jesus' ascension prepared the way for the Holy Spirit to come.
43
What is the meaning of salvation for Catholics?
* Catholics believe Salvation is part of God's plan.
* Original Sin brought the need for salvation to repair our broken relationship with God.
* Jesus offers salvation and we were saved by his life on earth, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
* 'Dying he destroyed our death, in rising he restored out life'
* 'lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world'
44
What do Christians believe about Salvation?
* Humans rejected God by their sins; humans are so important to God that God sent Jesus to free humans from the effects of sinfulness.
* Their relationship with God depends on Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Without it, they cannot be close to God or obtain forgiveness for their sins.
* They need to repent of their sins, asking God for forgiveness, and accept Jesus Christ as Son of God and saviour of the world.
45
What is the role of grace in redemption/salvation?
* Grace is the love and mercy shown by God because God wants people to have it, not because they have done anything to earn or deserve it, because he WANTS to give it.
* Christians believe they do not deserve it but they are given it freely and they must freely accept it from God.
46
What does Jesus teach us about what God is like and how to live?
* God is a loving Father
* Love is at the heart of the gospels
* God has a special place for the poor and needy
* Jesus showed God's care by healing the sick
* Jesus spent his whole life with the poor and needy.
47
What do Chistians believe about life after death?
* Jesus rose from the dead and there will be life after death.
* They believe in eternal life.
* They will have a spiritual resurrection body given by God.
48
What do Christians believe about the survival of the soul?
* It is a non-physical thing which lives on after death.
* **Most** Christians believe in the immortality of the soul. They believe that when the body dies, the soul leaves the body to live with God.
* **Other** Christians say the body and soul are one and cannot be separated. After death the soul is temporarily apart from the body, but then the body and soul will be reunited on Judgement day.
49
What are the parables of judgement?
* The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
* The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
* The Parable of the Sheep and the goats.
50
What do Christians believe about Judgement?
* When a person dies, God passes judgement on their soul.
* Each person is responsible for their own actions.
* There will be a final judgement 'judgement day' when the whole of creation will be judged.
51
What do Christians believe about heaven?
* A person who has lived a holy life will be rewarded with eternal happiness in heaven.
* Heaven is described in the Bible as a 'banquet' or 'feast'
* The Bible teaches there is no sadness, suffering or pain in heaven.
* Christians believe it is a holy, happy and peaceful place to be with God.
* It is beyond human experience.
52
What do Christians believe about Hell?
* It is a place where unrepentant sinners go after death.
* It is often thought of a place where eternal fire burns and you suffer.
* It is a place of eternal separation from God.
53
What do Catholics believe about purgatory?
* The world to come will be different from now - so we need to prepare for that change.
* We need to transfer from sinful to pure.
* This happens in purgatory - it means to cleanse and get rid of sin.
* Purgatory is a place where we prepare for heaven
Catholics believe you can help souls in purgatory by praying for them.
54
What do Christians believe about bodily resurrection?
* St Paul says our heavenly bodies will be unlike our earthly bodies.
* Heavenly bodies will be glorious
55
What does St Paul believe about the soul?
* Our soul gives us our identity.
* As our earthly bodies are body and soul, so are our heavenly bodies.
56
Why do Christians believe in resurrection?
* Jesus rose from the dead
* It cannot be proven or disproven that Jesus rose from the dead.
57
What is moral evil?
Evil that is result of human actions.
## Footnote
E.G Murder.
58
What is natural evil?
Evil that is naturally occuring in the world and cause suffering.
## Footnote
E.G Earthquakes and Diseases.
59
What is the problem of evil?
* If God is all-loving, all-powerful and created a good world, why does evil and suffering occur?
* If God was omnipotent - he would have the power to remove suffering from the world
* If God was omniscient - he would know that evil was happening and want to stop it
* If God was omnibenevolent - he would love humanity enough to stop evil
* Evil does exist
* Does God exist or is he not who we think he is?
60
How would Christians respond to the problem of evil?
1. Free Will
2. Original Sin
61
How does free will help Christians respond to the problem of evil?
1. Free-will is a gift from God
2. Humans can choose between good and evil.
3. When we choose evil, it causes suffering.
4. Humans are to blame as they abuse their free will.
Problem with this - it doesn't give a reason for natural evil.
62
How does Original Sin help Christians respond to the problem of evil?
1. As a result of Original Sin pain and suffering and natural suffering were introduced into a perfect world.
2. Since Adam and Eve all humans have original sin and the tendency to go against God.
3. Original Sin reminds us we all share a responsibility for the evil and suffering in the world.
63
Who came up with the idea of the Inconsistent Triad?
David Hume and Mackie
64
What arguments would Christians usually put forward for the reason evil exists in the world?
1. Evil is necessary as an opposite of good
2. Evil helps us to be better people
3. Evil is a consequence of free will
65
What do Hick and St Iranaeus think about why evil exists in the world?
1. Humans were made in the image of God, but are not perfect.
2. they need to grow to become spiritually perfect. They do this through suffering- as a way to develop.
3. Through free will we can make the right choices.
4. This is called soul making and explains why God allows natural evil, it helps people grow and become better people.
66
What are the Biblical responses to the problem of evil and suffering?
* Job suffers in the Bible
* Job realises that God is so great he should not question God.
* We cannot know God's plan
