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Belief about Deity...
• Beliefs about the nature of God
What is God like?
• Reasons Christians believe in God Arguments for the existence of God
(teleological, cosmological. Ontological,
moral argument)
• Miracles –
Miracles in the Bible
Miracles today
Key texts
Genesis 1:26-27
God made humans in His own image.
Isaiah 66-13a
God as a mother
Matthew 11:27
Jesus is the Son of God
Acts 1:1-11
Jesus’ ascension into heaven
Acts 2:1-11
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
Key People:
St Anselm of Canterbury – put forward
the ontological argument.
St Thomas Aquinas –
Devised several versions of the
cosmological argument
Isaac Newton –
One of the first to put forward the
intelligent design argument
William Paley –
Explained the design argument by using
the example of a watch
Exodus 14:21-22
Moses parted the Red Sea and led the Israelites
out of Egypt.
Bernadette Soubirous –
Saw eighteen apparitions of the Virgin
John 2:1-3, 6-9a
Mary at Lourdes, France.
Jesus turns water into wine
ATHEIST This is someone who does not
believe in God
AUTHORITY This is the power or right to give
orders or make decisions
MIRACLES These are unique events which
defy the laws the nature (how the world
works) e.g. someone coming alive again after
being dead
OMNIBENEVOLENT
This means God is all loving – he shows this
love through his miracles and the fact he
came down as Jesus to open the door to
heaven
OMNISCIENT This means God is all knowing
– he knows what people have done, are
doing and will do
OMNIPOTENT This means God is all powerful
REVELATION This refers to the way in
which God has revealed himself/made
himself and his wishes known to
everyone
SACRED TEXTS/SCRIPTURES
A special writing/book which contains
eternal (everlasting) truths about a
religion
SECULAR This refers to a non-religious
view
THEIST This is someone who believes in a
personal God
TRANSCENDENT This means that God is
beyond this world; he is beyond human
understanding
TRINITY This refers to the different roles
of God: God the Father (Creator); God
the Son (Saviour) and God the Holy Spirit
(the power of God).
Descriptions of God (the nature of God)
• All powerful (omnipotent) because he created the world (Genesis)
• All loving – God sent Jesus to die on the cross so man’s sins could be forgiven
• Judge – God (Jesus) will judge everyone on Judgement Day (teachings in parable of
Sheep and Goats)
• Eternal – God has no beginning and no end
• All-knowing (omniscient) God knows everything, which has happened, is happening and
will happen.
• Trinity – God the Father (Creator of and sustainer of [looks after] the earth); God the
Son: Jesus/Redeemer and God the Holy Spirit (power and courage – shown as a dove). The
Holy Spirit lives in Christians who have faith in Jesus.
• Christians are monotheists – they have a belief in only One God
Symbolic Language No-one has ever seen God and because he is beyond human
knowledge it is difficult to describe him – so Christians use “religious language” to try and
put into words what God is:
• Symbols – example the Cross: this shows the suffering of Jesus (crucifixion) and the
empty Cross shows that Jesus rose from the dead.
• Metaphors – God is described as a “rock” meaning people can trust him.
• Analogy – God is like something. God is called “father” because he is someone who looks
after people.
Problems: by using everyday language we are giving God human qualitiesanthropomorphism
Jesus
Christians believe that Jesus was Fully human and fully God. They use the word incarnation
to describe this.
Jesus is seen as the perfect example of God-like behaviour and attitudes – he is a teacher
and guide.
Many of his teachings are found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and in
parables.
Jesus’ death is particularly important to Christians as through it God reconciles the world
to himself so that God and humans can be made one – this teaching is called the
Atonement.
Jesus has taken away peoples’ sins and so he is seen as a Saviour and Redeemer.
Christians believe that Jesus did not stay dead but rose and returned to his Father for
eternity. This is called the Resurrection and is celebrated at Easter
Trinity
The term Trinity refers to the Christian belief that the one God is made up of
three persons:
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
The three persons of the Trinity have separate roles and should not be
confused:
Father – Creator
Son – Saviour
Holy Spirit – Sustainer/Sanctifier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijtLAiPAxFA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtCvsSTEF50
Belief in God – opposing views
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EONcjSCXD2k
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Reasons for believing in God:
Theist
There are several reasons for
believing in God.
The universe seems to have been
designed by someone – the
designer must be God
Science says that everything has a
cause including the universe
therefore God must exist
Humans cannot be here by
chance – life must have a
meaning and purpose.
So many people in the world
belong to a religion – they can’t
all be wrong.
Cosmological, ontological,
teleological, moral argument and
miracles
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Reasons against believing in God:
Atheist
There are several reasons against
believing in God. These are:
Science explains the world better
than religion and often leads
people to be agnostic or atheist.
Miracles are seen as a problem
because why would God help
some people and not others.
Some people argue that if God
cares for everyone why doesn’t
he answer prayers.
If God is all powerful
(omnipotent) why does he let
people suffer from earthquakes
and other natural disasters that
he could stop?
Reasons for Non-Belief in God
• Unanswered prayers – but God may not answer because there is not
enough faith or what is being asked for is not in God’s plan, or He expects us
to help ourselves and others.
• Scientists believe the world began with the Big Bang
• Feuerbach said God is only in man’s imagination because man needs a
purpose in life so makes up an idea of God to make his life better. Yet just
because you can imagine something this does not mean it does not exist.
• Not everyone understands right and wrong in the same way so how can our
knowledge of it come from the same source – God?
• The problem of evil – why would a loving god create a world with so much
evil and suffering in it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u
NmrIM4Dl3U
Reasons for belief in God
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Ontological Argument
Argument put forward by St Anselm
of Canterbury (1033 – 1109) in his
Prosologian:
God is that which nothing greater can
exists
Something
which exists in reality is
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greater than that which exists only in
the imagination
If God is that which nothing can exist
then God must exist in reality and not
just in the imagination
Therefore God must exist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j
sNdL_ANjAA
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Cosmological Argument
Argument put forward by St Thomas
Aquinas (1225 – 1274):
Something cannot come from
nothing
The universe cannot have come
about by itself
Something else must have brought
about the universe – a ‘first cause’
That something is God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
yyiNbJlqcJo
Reasons for belief in God
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Teleological Argument
Argument put forward by the
Christian philosopher William Paley
(1734 – 1805). Sometimes known as
the argument from design:
If you walked along a path and found
a stone you would assume that it had
always been there
If you walked along a path and found
a watch you could only assume that it
hadn’t come about by chance but
someone had put it together and
designed it
If you look at the world about you,
you will see how intricate it is e.g. the
human eye
There must be a designer
Therefore there must be a God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
foeM6vXZCys
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Argument from experience
Some people argue that they have
personally experienced God. God can
be experienced:
When prayers are answered
When miracles happen
Moral Argument
Put forward by Immanuel Kant
Some people argue that the fact
everyone has a conscience is
evidence of God’s existence:
Everyone has a basic understanding
of right and wrong
This conscience comes from God
God must exist
The R.E.A.S.O.N. people believe in God
Relatives’ influence, e.g. Upbringing
Evidence from the world for a designer
Creation
Right and Wrong
(teleological argument)
Upbringing
Answered prayer
Design
Experience
Seen Miracles
Own and others experience of God e.g. Visions
Need for a designer (cosmological argument)
The Miracles of Jesus There are a number of accounts of miracles performed by Jesus in the
four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Miracles in the New Testament can be divided
into four main groups, as follows: Natural miracles, Casting out demons (exorcism), Healing
the sick
Raising the dead. Christians would also say that the final miracle was the resurrection of
Jesus
Possible explanations for the Miracle Stories
Jesus really was the Son of God. The miracles show that he was who he said he was.
They are literary devices, like metaphors, which the gospel writers used to make some
religious point. The gospel writers were just lying and were out to deceive people.
Miracles Today - Lourdes
In 1858 Bernadette Soubirous the Virgin Mary. The lady told her to dig into the earth and
drink the water there.Today Lourdes has become a major centre for pilgrimage – 5 million
pilgrims every year. There have been a total of 66 miracles which have been authenticated
by the Catholic Church
Miracles Today – Prayer Meetings
Many Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches believe that God is still performing miracles
today.There will be prayer meetings where people are invited to come up to the front to be
prayed over. Many people claim to have been curried of life time illnesses.
Some Televangelists have been criticised for preying on people’s gullibility and making
money. ( Derren Brown says it is cold reading and illusions )
Key quotes
MONOTHEISM
"The Lord is one."Deuteronomy
TRINITY
The three parts appear at Jesus' baptism
GOD THE FATHER
"Our father who art in heaven."Lord's Prayer
GOD THE SON
"this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleasedGod at Jesus' baptism "the word
became flesh and dwelt amongst us"John
GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
"the counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I [Jesus Christ] have said to you"John
In the Pentecost it shows the Holy Spirit acts as God in the world, performing miracles,
inspiring worship and giving the disciples strength to carry on against adversity
CREATOR
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."Genesis
JUDGE
"Jesus, who will judge the living and dead"Peter
OMNISCIENT
"God you know all things"John
OMNIPOTENT
"With God all things are possible."Matthew
OMNI-BENEVOLENT
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died
for us."Romans
PERFECT
"Every word of God is flawless."Proverbs
PRAYERS
"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.“ Jeremiah
MIRACLES
"In the power of signs and wonders, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.“ Romans
MORALITY & CONSCIENCE
"Behold, the man has become like one of us knowing good and evil.“ Genesis
Good and Evil...
• Beliefs about Good and Evil
Concepts of God and the Devil/Satan
• The problem of EvilNatural and moral evil
The conscience and reasons for
moral behaviour
• Why is there evil and suffering in the world?
The Fall, Original Sin and Redemption
Augustinian and Iranaen Theodicies
• Coping with suffering
Atheist
Someone who is not being sure whether God exists
or not.
Someone who does not believe in God.
Conscience
A sense of right and wrong.
Golden rule
The teaching that says ‘love your neighbour as
yourself’.
The state of never dying.
Key terms
Agnostic
Immorality
Job
A good man from the Old Testament that was tested
through suffering and remained faithful to God.
Moral evil
Suffering caused by actions done by humans.
Natural evil
Suffering caused by natural causes such as disease
or natural disasters such as tsunamis.
Omnibenevolent
God is all-loving.
Omnipotent
God is all-powerful.
Omniscient
Omnipresent
Original sin
Redemption
Sacrifice
The
Devil/Satan
The Fall
Theist
God is all-knowing.
God is everywhere.
The idea that after the Fall, all humans
were born in a state of sinfulness, which
need God’s help to overcome.
To be forgiven for your sins if you are sorry.
Something that is offered up or given up; It
often means something that is offered to
God.
The force of evil, seen as a figure tempting
people to do wrong.
Adam & Eve’s breaking of God’s
commandments and being expelled from
the Garden of Eden.
Someone who believes in God.
Key texts
Key People:
Genesis 1:31a
everything that God made was good.
Adam and Eve – the first man and woman who
introduced original sin into the world
Luke 10:18 and Revelation 12:7-9, 17
references to the Devil
Iranaeus – (Iranaen Theodicy)
Christian saint who said that people needed to
suffer otherwise they would be like obedient
robots
Matthew 5-7
The Sermon on the Mount
1 Corinthians 15:22
how Jesus saved humanity from the
consequences of sin
Job
the story of a man whose faith is tested
Genesis 2-3
the introduction of original sin into the world
Exodus 20:1-17
the Ten Commandments
St Augustine – (Augustinian Theodicy)
Christian saint who believed that evil was a
lack of good
Jesus Christ –
saved humanity from the consequences of sin
Paul –
one of the letter writers of the early church
Adversary –
the person who makes Job suffer, sometimes
translated as Satan
God is the creator
of all things. He is
loving,
compassionate,
forgiving and
faithful
The traditional
image of the Devil
is a red creature
with horns, a tail
and a pitchfork
Different
beliefs about
God and the
Devil
The Bible describes
the Devil as an
angel thrown out of
God’s presence for
trying to be equal
to God.
Revision Task:
write a paragraph based on this diagram
• include each point and explain it clearly
• support it with biblical references
some blame the
Devil for using his
power and
influence to create
suffering in the
world
some believe the
Devil to be a
symbolic way of
showing the inner
temptation to do
wrong
Adam and Eve,
Jesus and Job are
examples of
people tempted by
the Devil in the
Bible
THE DEVIL
The story of the Devil as a fallen angel is not found in the Bible, but in the Jewish and
Christian writings of the Apocrypha.
There are few references to the Devil in the Bible.
The Devil appears as a serpent in Genesis 3 where he convinces Eve to eat from the
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil – thereby disobeying God.
In the story of Job where he suggests to God that Job is only obedient to him because
he is protected so well by God. God therefore allows the Devil to bring all kinds of
suffering upon Job to demonstrate that Job will remain faithful to God, which he does.
The Devil appears to tempt Jesus in the wilderness offering food and wealth + power,
but Jesus remains faithful.
Quotations
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
“Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1
Peter 5:8
THE FALL, ORIGINAL SIN AND REDEMPTION
By rising from the dead, Jesus saved humanity from the consequences of ‘original sin’.
Eve fell to temptation according to the Bible and picked from the Tree of Knowledge of
Good and Evil which had been forbidden by God therefore introducing ‘original sin’ into
the world.
This event is known as the Fall and was when Adam and Eve were driven out of the
Garden of Eden.
The death of Jesus on the cross is seen as a substitute for the punishment that original sin
deserved and reopens the way to God.
Quotations
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in
this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22
“For 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.” (John 3:16).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF03ZxP8iwA
The problem of evil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qilO5AJjkvw
THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
Key Idea: If God is omnipotent, omniscient and omni-benevolent,
how can God allow evil to exist?
Christians say that there are two types of evil:
Moral Evil – Suffering caused by the cruel or uncaring actions of
humans. Eg. Hitler and the Holocaust.
Natural Evil – Things that cause suffering but have nothing to do
with humans. Eg. The Japanese Tsunami.
Philosophers who put forwards the probem of evil include John
Stewart Mill and David Hume. Hume said the problem of evil was
such a strong argument against the existence of God it is ‘the rock
of atheism’ (dialogues concerning natural religion) LM Mackie
explained the problem in the inconsistent triad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AzNEG1GB-k
Theodicies
Irenaean theodicy
The Christian Monk Iranaeus
(130 – 202 CE) said that people
needed to suffer to develop
qualities like generosity and
kindness. He suggested that
humans were created
immature (‘in the image of
God’-gen 1:27) rather than
perfect and to grow and
develop into perfection.
9the likeness of God- gen 1:28)
To understand and appreciate
what good was, they needed
to experience what good was
not (evil).
https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=zWcgHmXV09g
Augustinian theodicy
St. Augustine taught that evil
was a lack of good. Evil,
according to Augustine, is not
a thing in itself, but what is left
over when there is no good
present.
Augustine said that evil
entered the world as a
punishment from God because
of the sins of Adam and eve.
Natural evil is also a result of
the world changing because of
Adam and eve disobeying God.
• https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=E1ysPBjXXk4
Suffering is a test/beyond
understanding
In the Old Testament, Job is a
good man who worships God and
lives a good life. An ‘Adversary’
(Satan in some translations) tests
Job to see how devoted he is and
if he will turn away from God.
God allows Job to be tested as he
is confident of Job’s devotion. Job
loses his wife, his children, his
animals, his wealth and health,
but does not lose his faith and is
finally rewarded by God.
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• Quotation
• “After Job had prayed for his
friends, the Lord restored his
fortunes and gave him twice
as much as he had before.”
Job 42:10
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• Freewill defence
• We suffer because humans
have freewill and misuse their
control and power
• https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=NEB72UE7P2A
COPING WITH SUFFERING
God shared in human suffering- Jesus dying on the cross
Prayer
Church – community helps you get through it
Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians often pray for a saint to intercede with God on
behalf of someone who is suffering through prayers of intercession. In other
denominations such as Church of England and Methodists, prayers of intercession for
others are addressed directly to God.
Christians accept that God does not always answer prayers in the way that they would like
him to, but that God chooses the best for them.
An example of faith taking away the suffering of sin is found in Matthews’s gospel when
Jesus heals a paralysed man. He says ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ (Matthew 9:
1-8)
Quotations
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our
comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
SOURCES AND REASONS FOR MORAL BEHAVIOUR
For Christians there are three main sources and reasons for moral behaviour: the Bible,
faith in Christ and conscience. Roman Catholics would consider the teachings of the Church
and the Pope in addition to these.
Jesus set an example which they themselves should be prepared to follow.
As well as following the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the
Mount (The Beatitudes), Christians also follow the two Great Commandments (Mark 12:29
-31 Eg. Christians may read in the gospels how Jesus tried to help those who were
suffering. In order to follow his example, a Christian may take up an occupation as a doctor
or nurse to help others.
People often say that they know what to and what not to do because they are following
their conscience, which some say may have developed based on their upbringing.
Many Christians say that our ‘conscience’ is the voice of God telling us what to do.
Humanists also believe in a conscience but they do not believe that it comes from God.
Quotations
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength… love your
neighbour as yourself.” Mark 12:29 -31
Good and Evil
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
“Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through
sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” Romans 5:12
“For 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.” (John 3:16).
“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave
him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10
The story of Job
Ireaneus theodicy
Augustianian theodicy
“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through
Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
Religion and Science
The origins of the world –
Christian beliefs about the origins of the world and humanity
Scientific theories about the origins of the world and humanity
The relationship between science and religion Christian belief vs Scientific theories
Are they in conflict or harmony?
The place of humanity in relation to animals Attitudes to animals and their treatment
Christians and their responses to environmental issues
Christian ideas about stewardship
Key texts
On the Origin of Species by Means of
Natural Selection or the Preservation of
Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life
Charles Darwin’s 1859 book in which he
developed the theory of evolution
Genesis 1-2
the two Genesis creation stories
Genesis 6:9-8:22
The story of Noah and the Ark
Psalm 24
The glory of God’s creation
Key People:
Charles Darwin – (1809-82) developed the
theory of natural selection
Philip Gosse – (1809-82) argued that God had
places fossils in rocks to test the faith of
Christians
St Augustine – (354-430) said that in the
beginning God only created germs or causes
of the forms of life – and that creation took
place outside of time as we understand it
Noah – rescued the animals in the ark
Sollicitudo Rei Socialis
Papal encyclical which considers the
environment
Adam and Even – the first humans according
to the Bible
Nicene Creed
‘God is the maker of heaven and earth...’
James Ussher – (1581-1656) calculated the
actual time of creation as being at 9am on
26th October 4004BCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
BbRjwRpwQT8
• Big bang- a scientific theory that a cosmic explosion caused
the world to exist.
• Creation – the act of creating something, In the Bible the
creation of the world by God.
• Creationists/ literalists- A name given to Christians who
interpret the Bible literally and accept every word of the
creation story as factually true.
• Dominion – the idea that humans have control over and
responsibility for the world
• Evolution- the way in which animals
and plants adapt to their surroundings, survival of the fittest.
• ex nihilo – a Latin term meaning to be created out of
nothing.
• Genesis- the first book of the bible
• Humanity- a word that means all humans, also
means showing caring and kindness to each
other.
• Non literalist- a Christian who interprets the
bible as symbolic stories rather than a factual
account.
• Stewardship- God has given us the world to
look after for him and protest for future
generations.
• Big bang theory
• Alexander Friedman, a Russian mathematician in
1922 and expanded upon in 1927 by GeorgesHenri Lemaitre. He was a Belgian physicist, who
was also a Roman Catholic priest.
• Scientists believe the Universe began in a hot
‘big bang’ about 13,600 million years ago. The
Universe continues to expand today. The
evidence for the Big Bang theory includes the
existence of a microwave background radiation,
and red-shift. Stars do not remain the same, but
change as they age.
Evolution
• Darwin's theory of evolution explains how
species of living things have changed over time.
• supported by evidence from fossils, and by the
rapid changes in microorganisms such as
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Darwin’s book- On the Origin of Species 1859.
The theory of evolution states that evolution
happens by natural selection and survival of the
fittest
• https://youtu.be/tb_dTJ-nEcM
Christian views on the origin of the world
God created the universe. stories -the book of Genesis in the Bible. Some Christians regard
Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 as two totally separate myths that have a similar meaning. Others
see the two chapters as part of one continuous story.
Summary of Genesis 1:
in the beginning - God started creation
the first day - light was created
the second day - the sky was created
the third day - dry land, seas, plants and trees were created
the fourth day - the Sun, Moon and stars were created
the fifth day - creatures that live in the sea and creatures that fly were created
the sixth day - animals that live on the land and finally humans, made in the image of God
were created
by day seven, God finished his work of creation and rested, making the seventh day a
special holy day.
In Genesis 2, some people think that the story goes on to give more detail about the
creation of humans, seen as two individuals, Adam and Eve. Adam was made from 'the dust
of the ground' when God breathed life into him. Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs
to provide company and help for Adam. They lived in a special place called the Garden of
Eden. Both of them were given the task and responsibility to look after the place that God
had created for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=lM_Kpg_Xr60
Literalist Christian view on origin
• Literalist or Fundamentalist Christians believe that as
the Bible comes directly from God, everything in it
must be the exact truth. the Big Bang theory is not
correct and the world is only 7000 years old. Dinosaur
bones and fossils are put there to test out faith in God.
(Gosse)
• Case study example : The fundamentalist Christians
who lived there believed in the literal truth of the
Bible, and didn’t agree with the ideas of Charles
Darwin being taught in schools.. John Scopes
challenged them by teaching his pupils about Darwin
and evolution. The court case that followed received
lots of publicity. William Jennings Bryan acted as
solicitor for the fundamentalists. John Scopes was
found guilty of teaching the theory of evolution to his
pupils and was fined $100.
Non literalist view of creation
Many Christians think the creation story is more symbolic .
Theistic evolutionists point out the creation story fits in with the
big
• bang
. theory and evolution if each ‘day’ is actually an age or
period of time. Period of time is actually more correct with the
original Hebrew translation.
Many Christians point to intelligent design and the teleological
argument as evidence that God created the world. The world looks
like it has been designed by an intelligent designer therefore
someone must have designed and created it – God. William Paley
Watch analogy and St Thomas Aquinas.
A few Christians believe in process theology ( put forward by A.N
Whitehead and David Griffin) which states God started the big bang
and evolution when he created the world but did not interfere once
he had started the process.
Intelligent design
• put forward by many fundamentalists in America
as an alternative to evolution.
• It argues that certain features of the universe
and of living things are best explained by an
intelligent cause, not an undirected process such
as natural selection.
• Michael Behe argues the flagella of certain
bacteria is a prime example of an irreducibly
complex structure defined as "a single system
composed of several well-matched, interacting
parts ‘- it could not have evolved gradually
through natural selection.
•
People
and
animals
The book of Genesis sets humans as being quite separate from the
rest of the animal kingdom. Adam is told to: “Rule over the fish of
the sea and birds of the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28
Many Christians are beginning to think again about their responsibility
towards the rest of creation.
• Some Christians choose to be vegetarians pointing to God’s original
instructions to the first humans: “I give you every seed-bearing
plant on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with
seed in it. They will be yours for food.” Genesis 1:29
• It is only after the flood that God commands Noah: “Everything that
lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green
plants, I now give you everything.” Genesis 9:3
The environment
• Christians believe they have a responsibility
towards the environment as ‘stewards’ of
creation.
• St Francis of Assisi saw himself as part of God’s
creation and talked about ‘brother sun and sister
moon’.
• In 1979 Pope John Paul II made Francis the patron
saint of ecology.
• Some Christians have chosen to join organisations
such as Greenpeace or WWF.
• Traditionally Christians have thanked God for
creation in Harvest Thanksgiving festivals.
Key quotes
• "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."(Genesis
1:1)
• "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock
according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the
ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was
good."(Genesis 1:25)
• Religious and scientific conflict "In the absence of any other proof,
the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence."Sir Isaac
newton
• Christians and animals "So God created man in his own image, in
the image of God he created him."(Genesis 1:27)
• "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a
living being." (Genesis 2:7)
• "Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every
living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:28)
• "He brought them to the man to see what he would name them;
and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its
name." (Genesis 2:19)
• Environmental issues "... take care of it ..."(Genesis 2:15)
• "fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea
and the birds of the air and over every living creature that
moves on the ground."(Genesis 1:28)
• "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the
face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with
seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts
of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures
that move on the ground everything that has the breath of
life in it - I give every green plant for food.' And it was
so."(Genesis 1:30)
• "You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put
everything under his feet."(Psalm 8:6)
• "do not worry about what you will eat; or about what you
will wear… your Father knows that you need them. Seek his
kingdom, and these things will be given to you."(Luke
12:22&31)
End of Life
Body and soul –
Christian beliefs
Heaven, Hell and Purgatory
Christian beliefs about what happens when we die
Salvation, redemption and the suffering of Christ
God as Judge –
relationship between life on earth and the afterlife
Funeral rites –
how what happens at a Christian funeral reflects
beliefs about the afterlife and supports the bereaved
ANNIHILATION - complete destruction
ASCENSION - rising to a higher level or position
CONFESSION - an admission of one’s sins with repentance
and desire to absolve it, done privately to a priest as a religious duty or directly to
God through prayer
DELIVERANCE - to be rescued or set free
DIVINE EXCHANGE - Christian concept of redemption, that Jesus gave up his life in
order to take away the sin of humanity
ETERNAL LIFE - spiritual existence after the death of the body
EULOGY - a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly,
especially a tribute to someone who has just died
FREE WILL - acting according to one's own free choice
FUNERAL - a ceremony or service held shortly after a person’s death, usually
including the person’s burial or cremation
HEAVEN - a place regarded as the abode of God, the good afterlife, often traditionally
depicted as being above the sky
HELL - a place regarded as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally
depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished
after death
IMMORTAL - living forever, never dying or decaying
JUDGE - someone qualified to decide whether someone is guilty or innocent
MORTAL - a living being who will eventually die
PETITIONARY PRAYERS - special prayers that ask God to take away the sin of a soul that
has moved into the afterlife
PURGATORY - a Catholic concept, a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of
sinners who are ridding themselves of their sins before going to heaven
REDEMPTION - the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil
RESURRECTION - Jesus rising from the dead
RITES - a religious ceremony or act
SALVATION - deliverance from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be
brought about by faith in Christ
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE - a principle of implied protection for human life which is said
to be holy, sacred, or otherwise of such value that it is not to be violated
SOUL - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, regarded as immortal
SUFFERING - undergoing pain, distress or hardship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7C5iY
G4GxI
Key texts
John 11:25b-26a
‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in me will live, even though he
dies, and whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.’
Genesis 3:19
‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust’
Matthew 25:31-46
The parable of the sheep and the goats
1 Corinthians 15:51-51
Teaching about the day of Judgement
Revelation 4:1-8
Description of God’s throne in Heaven
Apostles’ Creed
‘I believe in the resurrection of the body...’
Key People:
Jesus– Christians believe that one day he will
return to earth. Christian teaching about the
importance of the crucifixion of Jesus is that
Jesus, as part of the Trinity, was the Son of
God – God in human form. When he was
resurrected three days after his death he
atoned for the ‘original sin’ of Adam and Eve
and overcame the power of death.
Adam and Eve – The first man and woman
who introduced original sin into the world.
St Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) –
A Christian saint who gained a reputation of
being the friend of animals. Most Christians
do not believe that animals have a soul as it
was only Adam that God gave ‘the breath of
life’ to. St Francis of Assisi however,
disagreed with this view.
Purgatory is a
belief of Roman
Catholic Christians
but many other
Christians do not
believe in it as
there is nothing in
the Bible about it.
Although black is a
traditional colour
for mourning.
Christians do not
see funerals as sad
events as they
celebrate the new
life with God
which the dead
person is now
entering.
The crucifixion and
resurrection of
Jesus is central to
all Christian beliefs
about salvation,
redemption and
judgement
Most non-believers are
not afraid of death in the
way in which some
believers are. For people
with a religious belief
there can be a fear that,
however hard they may
try, they will not be
judged good enough to
go to heaven after death.
If someone does not
believe in any afterlife
then this fear is removed.
Christians do not believe
in reincarnation.
Christianity teaches that
people have
‘one soul and one life to
save it in’.
• Christians believe that there is life after death:
If they are good they will go to heaven when they die but if
they are bad they will go to hell (parable of sheep and
goats/parable of rich man and Lazarus)
They have these beliefs because:
• the death and resurrection of Jesus was a sign from God
saying that man’s sins were forgiven – Jesus’ death
conquered evil
• the resurrection of Jesus (the empty tomb) showed that if
men repent and follow God they can go to heaven
• The Bibles tells them that death and sin entered the world
because Adam & Eve disobeyed God – yet the death of Jesus
re-opened the door to heaven
Judgement Day – Jesus will return (Parousia) and will judge
people on how they have lived their lives to determine whether
they go to heaven or hell
The soul
• Is the “breath of life” which God gave • What goes to heaven?
Adam when he created Adam from
• Some Christians believe the
dust to make him a “living being”.
whole body & soul goes up to
• The soul is what makes human beings
heaven (so cremation is not
special/separate from all the rest of
allowed)
creation. Some believe the soul makes
people moral beings (it is their
• Some Christians believe it is only
conscience)
the soul which goes up to heaven
(so cremation is allowed)
• It returns to heaven/God after death.
• Some Christians believe in the
• The soul is eternal (it never dies)
teachings of St. Paul that they will
get a new spiritual body when
they get to heaven
• Some Christians believe a new soul is
created for each new life which God
creates
• While other Christians believe that the
soul is a part of the original soul which
God gave Adam.
• Body & Soul
• "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became
a living being."(Genesis 2:7)
• "So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is
sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable……it is sown a natural
body, it is raised a spiritual body."(1 Corinthians 15:42 and 44)
• "Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that
God’s spirit lives in you?... for God’s temple is sacred, and you are
that temple."(1 Corinthians 3: 16-17)
• "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my
inner being I delight in God’s law ..."(Romans 7:21 – 22)
• "Behold I will create new heavens and a new earth…….the wolf
and the lamb will feed together ..."(Isaiah 65: 17 and 25)
The Suffering of Christ
• Christians believe that God came down in human form (the
incarnation) as his only son Jesus Christ in order to redeem (save
people) from sin and evil. The only way Jesus could do that was to
suffer and die on the cross:
• Once Adam and Eve had let sin into the world mankind needed
someone to redeem them – someone to save them – to take on their
sins to free them from evil and death – this could only be Jesus
• The events of Jesus’ suffering were prophesised by the prophet Isaiah
(in the Old Testament)
• Jesus’ suffering shows people just how much God loves them – “for
God so loved the world he gave his only son…”(John 3:6)
• Jesus’ voluntary suffering shows that he is the son of God – the
Centurion said when Jesus died “surely this man was the son of
God” (Matthew 27:54).
• Redemption and the suffering of Christ
• "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."(Mark 10:45)
• "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed
for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was
upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."(Isaiah 53: 5)
• "In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s
grace."(Ephesians 1:7)
• "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who
redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and
compassion."(Psalm 103: 2-4)
• Parables which show Christian beliefs about life after death:
• The parable of the Sheep and the goats show that Jesus will
judge people on Judgement Day and those who have looked
after the poor etc. will go to heaven & those who have not will
be separated from God forever
• The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus shows that the bad
will be punished and will be separated from God forever
• The parables of the Lost Son & the Lost Sheep shows that God
is forgiving if someone truly repents
• The Miracle when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead is when
Jesus tells people that “"I am the resurrection and the life. He
who believes in me will live, even though he dies”
• ‘In my fathers house there are many rooms’
• The Funeral service shows Christian beliefs of life after death through:
• Flowers – which show the beauty of heaven/after-life
• The words “I am the resurrection and the life” showing those who follow Jesus
will live again in heaven after death. These are said at the beginning of the
ceremony. Jesus said them when he raised Lazarus from the dead.
• The words “dust to dust” show that the earthly body returns to dust – God
created Adam from dust. Sometimes people throw handfuls of dust onto the
coffin as it is lowered into the ground.
• The symbol of the empty Cross, which shows that Jesus has risen
• The Eulogy is when people give speeches to celebrate the person’s life
• Prayers are said to ask God to look after the person in heaven and to thank
God for that person’s life. The smoke from the candles takes these prayers to
heaven.
• Readings from the Bible such as Revelation (the new heaven and earth) or the
raising of Lazarus show the bereaved that their loved one is with God.
• Balloons are sometimes released to show that the soul is going to heaven
• They believe that to get to heaven they must:
• Follow the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus; do good deeds
• “Love Thy Neighbour” – look after the poor (Parable of the Sheep and the
Goats)
• Confess their sins and forgive others (the Lord’s Prayer).
• Become a witness to Christianity – be baptised/confirmed.
• Judgement
• The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats(Matthew 25)
• Repentance and Forgiveness
• "As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed our
transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his
children, so the Lord has compassion ..."(Psalm 103: 12-13)
• "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."1 John 1:9)
• "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life."(Romans 6:23)
• "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit
of life set me free from the law of sin and death."(Romans 8: 12)
Evidence
Ghosts
(Paranormal
Activities)
Evidence of an after life
Description of Evidence
People see the deceased, normally in a form, which
allows the ghost to go against the rules of physics.
The ghost can tell us things beyond the grave. Very
often, the ghosts talk to their loved ones to talk
about what happened and the afterlife.
Past life
Appeared to have knowledge from past lives, which
memories/ is hard to explain. Very often this can be in the form
Reincarnation of ‘Déjà Vu’. With reincarnation, you can sense the
same character or personality a deceased being had,
and you link it often with an animal or other object.
Mediums
Ouija boards give some people reasons to believe
that the spirits, or souls, of the dead live on.
(Séances)
Mediums claim evidence for life after death by
contacting people’s dead relatives and telling them
things only their relatives could know.
Give some people reasons to believe that the spirits,
or souls, of the dead live on.
Near Death When people claim to have near-death experiences
Experiences when they are classed as clinically dead for a short
period then revived. They often describe feelings of
(NDEs)
peace; out of body experiences; seeing a bright light;
and even meeting deceased relatives.
Flaws
Witness is unreliable as they let their
superstitions and imagination rule.
Coincidence. People rarely claim to be
an insignificant person.
Mediums are con artists on the
gullible who wish to believe they are
in a ‘better place’.
It is simply a creation of the mind
‘shutting down’ based on desire.
Can be analysed to be hallucinations,
and accounts of bright lights/tunnels
= body closing down or effect of
drugs.
Belief in an afterlife
• https://www.youtube.c • https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=CltMPfC_F
om/watch?v=sbRX43mr
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• The parable of the sheep and Goats
• God made Humans in his own image – Genesis 1:26
• St Paul indicates that, upon death, the physical body is
“perishable” and dies, whilst the spiritual body is
“imperishable” and will live on. - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
• “"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will
live, even though he dies”
• In my fathers house there are many rooms
• The boy who lived before- extraordinary people series channel
4
• Ghost Adventures