Christian Beliefs

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  • Christian Beliefs
    • Nature of God
      • God is a lot of things, such as omnipotent, just, and all loving.
        • It's hard to know what he is like but Christians can take guesses.
        • 'God so loved the world that He gave His only son'
        • 'Nothing is impossible with God'
      • Influences?
        • All powerful God: Christians may believe in miracles
        • All loving: they may treat others with love from the example God set.
          • They might help out at charitable organisations
        • God will judge them fairly since he is just
    • Trinity
      • 1 God but understood in 3 ways: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit
      • Baptism of Jesus: 'You are my beloved Son'
      • During baptisms: 'in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
      • Influences?
        • Demonstrates the unity between the different persons of God
        • Christians believe they should show similar unity in their lives and be respectful and loving towards others.
    • Incarnation
      • Means 'in flesh'. God becoming human in the form of Jesus
        • 'the Word became flesh and lived among us'
      • Difficult to grasp concept.
      • Issues
        • No one has ever before nor since had a virgin birth. - Makes the story difficult to believe.
        • Jesus communicates with God through prayer - why would he need to if he is God himself? (Trinity)
      • Influences?
        • God's incarnation as Jesus shows that he cares for humanity enough to sacrifice his own son
    • Creation
      • God created the world and universe in 6 days, and rested on the 7th
      • The Bible needs to be viewed in a modern context - science has proven that the Earth is older than what the Bible claims
      • Influence?
        • Explores the idea that humans are made 'in the image of God'
          • As all humans are equal, Christians may work to promote social justice and equality
    • The problem of evil and suffering
      • Moral Evil - Suffering caused by humans. Natural evil - suffering caused by natural disasters
      • If God was all powerful, loving and knowing, then why does he allow suffering?
      • Story of Job - Poor Job goes to heaven whereas the rich man goes to hell for not helping him.
        • Job's suffering suggests suffering is part of his plan.
      • The story of Adam & Eve, disobeying God - suffering may be punishment.
      • Influence?
        • Suffering gives them the opportunity to improve themselves.
        • It is their responsibility to fix the problems in the world, not God's
        • It's a test of faith
    • Sin
      • Original sin from Adam & Eve from eating the forbidden fruit
        • Only way to get rid of this sin is to accept Jesus as savior.
        • 'You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil'
    • Salvation, Grace & Atonement
      • Salvation - saving the soul from sin, often through the sacrifice of Jesus.
        • 'God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son; that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
        • Jesus' death lifted the original sin of all man kind.
      • Influence?
        • They might put others before themselves due to Jesus' sacrifice
    • Afterlife and judgement
      • Parable of Sheep and Goats
      • Parable of the rich man and Lazarus
      • 'Do not judge, and you will not be judged... forgive and you will be forgiven.'
    • Heaven & Hell
      • Heaven is not a physical place, but where Christians can spiritually be with God
      • Some believe that there cannot be a Hell if God is all loving, since a loving God will not send people to eternal punishment for a temporary sin
    • Resurrection
      • Influence?
        • By accepting Jesus, they may also be resurrected one day and so they don't need to fear death.
        • Assures that they will be forgiven for their sins if they follow the teachings.
      • 3 days after his death, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and 40 days later he ascended to heaven.

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