Christian Beliefs

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infoWhy this? We have already studied Crime and Punishment and analysed specifically the Christian teachings in relation to this. Now we will be moving to a more insightful understanding of the various Christian teachings, to gain an excellent foundation to use the unit as a lens to view particular situations and issues from.

scheduleWhy now? This unit will allow students to attain a deeper understanding of the various groups within Christianity, and issues within Biblical texts. Overall, this unit will allow students to develop evaluation and critical skills, to further use consistently within assessments.

Christianity is one of several religious traditions in Great Britain today, and Christianity remains the main religious tradition in Great Britain.
Christians believe that God is omnipotent, which means God is all-powerful.
Christians believe that God is loving, shown in teachings such as `John 3:16`, where God gives his Son for the salvation of the world.
Christians believe that God is just, so God judges human actions fairly and holds people morally accountable.
The problem of evil and suffering is the challenge of explaining why an omnipotent, loving and just God allows evil and suffering to exist.
Christians believe in one God, but that this one God is revealed in the Trinity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The three Persons of the Trinity are distinct but not separate gods, because Christianity teaches the oneness of God.
`Genesis 1:1-3` teaches that God created the world and that the Spirit of God was active at creation.
`John 1:1-3` teaches that the Word was with God and was God, and that all things were made through him, so many Christians link creation with Christ.
Some Christians read the creation accounts literally, while others read them non-literally and believe the accounts express theological truth about God as creator rather than a scientific sequence.
Christians believe in the incarnation, which means that God took on human form in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Christians believe that Jesus’ crucifixion was his death on the cross, where he willingly suffered and died.
Christians believe that the resurrection means Jesus rose bodily from the dead on the third day, showing victory over sin and death.
Christians believe that the ascension means Jesus returned to the Father in heaven after the resurrection.
Christians believe that sin is acting against God’s will, and many teach original sin, meaning that human nature is affected by the Fall and has an inherited tendency towards sin.
Christians believe that salvation is the process of being saved from sin and reconciled with God through Jesus Christ.
Christian teaching about salvation includes law, which shows God’s will, grace, which is God’s free and undeserved gift, and Spirit, meaning the Holy Spirit helps believers live holy lives.
Many Christians believe that Jesus brings salvation through atonement, meaning that his death and resurrection repair the broken relationship between humanity and God.
Christians believe in resurrection and life after death, and that after death people face judgement by God.
Many Christians believe that heaven is eternal life with God, hell is separation from God, and beliefs about the afterlife influence moral choices, hope and worship in this life.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

Explain Christian beliefs about the nature of God by linking divine qualities such as omnipotence, love and justice to relevant teachings or scripture.
Analyse the problem of evil and suffering by showing how it creates a challenge to belief in an omnipotent, loving and just God.
Interpret `Genesis 1:1-3` and `John 1:1-3` to identify the roles of God, the Spirit and the Word in creation.
Compare Christian interpretations of creation, making clear the difference between literal and non-literal readings and the beliefs each view supports.
Describe the Trinity accurately by referring to one God in three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Explain the significance of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension for Christian beliefs about Jesus and salvation.
Apply the concepts of sin, original sin, law, grace and Spirit to explain how Christians believe salvation is possible.
Evaluate Christian beliefs about the afterlife by referring to resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell and showing how these beliefs influence believers’ lives.
Construct a supported comparison of Christian viewpoints, including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant perspectives where relevant, using precise religious vocabulary and evidence from scripture or sacred texts.

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