Revision - Philosophy/R.E

What is God like?

• Omnipresent - everywhere
• Omnipotent - all powerful
• Omniscient - all knowing
• Omnibenevolent - all loving

Where is God?

• Immanent - in the world
• Transcendent - outside the world

How many Gods are there?

• Monotheism - idea of one God (Although Christinity is monotheistic, there is a belief that God is actually three in one - The Holy Trinity.)
• Polytheism - more than one God

Why do people believe?

• Upbringing
• Search for Meaning
• The 'Design' Arguement
• The 'First Cause'
• Miracles

Miracles?

• Something extraordinary
• Jesus performs miracles - to show Gods power? - demonstrate importance of faith
• God appears in a dream before you - Noah
• Jesus walking on water would be described as a miracle

Sunday Worship Takes Many Forms

• Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican Churches - structured and liturgical - follow a pattern laid down, with set prayers and readings
• Methodist, Non-Conformist Churches - structed but non-liturgical
• Roman Catholic, Orthodox - always include Mass/Holy Communion
• Pentecostals, House Churches - spontaneous, charasmatic worship
• Worship at home - simple, grace, every day

Inside the Church

• Alter - table for Communion - at east end of Church
• East Window - Stained glass - behind Altar
• Pulpit - raised box minister gives sermon from
• Sanctuary - raised platform where most impotant parts of service occur
• Lecturn - stand for Bible - often an Eagle
• Font - holds water for baptism
• Nave - where the congregation sits
• Aisle - often used for processions - e.g. weddings

Religious Architecture is often Symbolic

• Cathedrals - emormus, centre of the community to represent God's kingship, focus is always towards the altar
• Orthodox Churches - cross shaped, large dome represents Christ's presence, eternity, nearness to heaven, decorated
• Free Churches (baptists) - simple halls, pulpit focus of attention represent preaching

Icons, Statues and Stained Glass Windows

• Icons - paintings often found in Orthodox Churches, represent saints, and means to pray
• Murals, Frescoes, Stained Glass - depict Bible stories
• Cross - Jesus' crucifixion
• Fish - 'Icthys', sign used by early Christians being persecuted

Music

• Praise, Hymns, Importance of Choir, Musical Instruments e.g. Organ 

Putting people in touch with God

• Prayer - mentally or vocally communicate with God, many different forms
• Some prayers have set dimensions e.g The Lords Prayer

Prayer is Powerful

• Asking for things from God and recieving them - answered prayer
• Unanswered Prayer - not recieveing what you asked for
• God answers prayers in his own way in his own time
• Roman Catholics - pray to saints, to ask her help with God

Private Prayer draws a Believer Closer to God

• The 'Quiet Time' - time alone with God
• Meditation - believer clears mind of distractions, concentrates on God's nature/work
• Comtemplation - intimate wordless prayer, believer senses God's presence

Food - Important

• Expression through food - festivals
• Food comes from the creator - God
• Fasting - atonement or focus on spiritual matters

Fasting - Not Vital in Christianity

• Fasting draws you closer to God - no compulsory fasts, special foods they must avoid
• Roman Catholics - no meat on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, and fast one hour before Mass
• Lent - 40 days leading up to Easter, Jesus fasting in the wilderness after baptism, now give up certain luxuries
• Festival Food - Hot Cross Bun, Xmas Pudding - cultural 
• Mass/Holy Communion - Bread and Wine, represents body and blood of Jesus

Life After Death

• Cease to exist after death?
• Body die and decay but soul lives on
• Soul - rewarded or punished for actions in previous life
• Reincarnation

Heaven and Hell

• Soul lives on after death - body will be resurected on Judgement Day
• God will judge you - then heaven or hell
• Heaven - like a paradise
• Hell - place of torment and pain
• Roman Catholics - Purgatory, sins are punished before going to heaven - like a clensing process

'I am the ressurection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die' John 11:25-26

A way to say Goodbye

• Burial or Cremation
• A chance to say goodbye, and to remember and celebrate their life
• Mourning - deep sorrow for someone who has died, period of mourning after funeral, say prayers and remember their life.

Sad with a Note of Hope

• Coffin carried into Church, Hymns, Bible readings, prayers, a short ssermon about person who has died/poem
• Prayers for bereaved, members of congregation express sympathy for family/friends
• Black often worn
• Doesn't matter if buried or cremated - Ressurection, have new 'spiritual bodies'

Support Bereaved

• Hope of eternal life, encouraged to belive will be reunited with deceased