Chapter 5 Christianity Beliefs and Teachings sample material

DRAFT 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings ■ The nature of God ‘What is God like?’ When Christians talk and write about the nature of God they are essentially trying to answer this question. Christians believe there is only one God, this belief in one God is known as monotheism, so Christianity is a monotheistic religion. Christians use a variety of words to describe the nature of God. ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ omnipotent (all powerful) omnipresent (everywhere) omniscient (all knowing) omnibenevolent (all loving) transcendent (outside of this world). Christians also believe that God is timeless and eternal. All of these ideas are found in the Christian Bible, which is made up of the Old and New Testaments believed to be part of God’s revelation to humanity. God is the creator and the giver of all life: ‘In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.’ Genesis 1:1 All Christians believe that God created everything and is still involved with the world in a mysterious way. In the Genesis text God is clearly seen as the creator of the universe and all that it contains. Humankind is made in a special way in the image of God. ‘Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness . . .’ Genesis 1:26 This spiritual likeness enables all human beings to have some understanding of God’s nature. Christians believe all we know about God is through God showing or revealing himself to people and this process is known as ‘revelation’. What is God like? © Hodder Education 169 DRAFT ▶ God is omnipotent Key Concept Omnipotent The all-powerful, almighty and unlimited nature of God. Read the detailed account found in Exodus 7:11. The story describes how God is able to shows his power over nature and ultimately over human life. Many of the stories in the Old Testament are a revelation about the power of God. In the Book of Exodus, which tells the story of God’s relationship with the Jews, one of the most well-known stories is the story of the ten plagues. God instructed Moses, who was a Jew living in Egypt, to lead all the other Jews (who were slaves in Egypt) out of the country. The Egyptian pharaoh refused to let them go and God sent a series of plagues down on the Egyptian people. When the pharaoh sent his army to stop the Jews leaving Egypt, God parted the Red Sea to let the Jews cross, but brought it crashing down on the Egyptian army. The account shows that the Jews believed God was all powerful and in control of nature. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided . . .’ Exodus 14:21 Christians today may debate whether the plagues were miraculous events or a sequence of natural disasters but what all Christians agree upon is that the story is a demonstration of God’s power in the freeing of the Jews from slavery. The immensity of God’s power is also shown in the creation story (see page xxx). ▶ God is omnibenevolent Key Concept 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings Omnibenevolent The state of being all-loving and infinitely good – a characteristic often attributed to God. 170 Christians believe that God is all loving. Here are three texts about the importance of God’s love. ‘But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.’ Psalm 86:15 Psalms 86 was attributed to King David and in the quotation the writer expresses the idea that God is merciful and is rich in love. ‘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 Task 1 Create a mind map to outline and explain how Christians describe God. Add each of God’s characteristics with a definition and a reason why Christians think this. 2 Explain why Christians believe that God is omnipotent, making reference to the Bible. Include the following terms; Exodus, Slavery, Jews, control. 3 Choose one of the Biblical quotes demonstrating God’s omni-benevolence. Explain how it proves God’s love for humanity. © Hodder Education DRAFT Romans 8:37–39 In this passage St Paul writes of how God’s love is more powerful than anything else. Why is there evil and suffering? The Gospel of John expresses the fundamental belief that because God loved humanity he sent Jesus to earth so that people could have eternal life. ‘No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ ▶ Why is there evil and suffering? Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher (341–270 BCE), wrote the following about God and the idea of evil and suffering. ‘Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?’ Epicurus lived at a time when the Greeks believed in many gods but the question about the relationship of God and suffering is very well expressed in this quotation. Task 1 Closely read the quote from Epicurus. As a paragraph, explain why suffering causes a problem for believing in God. 2 As a sentence, outline what is meant by the term ‘theodicy’. 3 Create a mind map identifying the different explanations for why there is suffering in the world. For many people, the idea that God allows evil and suffering in the world is one of the reasons why they find it difficult to believe in God. Such people will often describe themselves as atheist (believing in no god) or agnostic (unsure whether there is a god). It appears difficult to believe in any god who allows evil and suffering in the world. If God is all powerful or omnipotent, then why does he not stop evil and suffering? If God is all good or omnibenevolent, then why would a god who is kind and a god of love allow evil or suffering to be created in the first place? Or allow suffering to continue? These are difficult questions for all people of faith. For Christians, suffering is seen as an essential part of human life and there are a number of arguments about why evil and suffering exist in the world. The arguments known as ‘theodicies’. It is a complex topic and in very simple terms some of the reasons given for the existence of evil and suffering are: ▶ God has given each person free will and people must make their ▶ Why a loving God would allow innocent people to suffer is a major issue for religious people. ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ own choices. Some of the choices people make cause evil events and suffering. There is a force for evil in the world, sometimes characterised as the devil/satan. Traditionally the devil was believed to be a fallen angel, thrown out of heaven when he disobeyed God. God shares in our suffering. Suffering is a test. Suffering is a result of sin. How we deal with suffering gives us the opportunity to become better people – it is soul-shaping. © Hodder Education 171 DRAFT ▶ The story of Job Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?” Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. ‘You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.’ ’Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord’ 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings Job 42:1–6 172 Book of Job 1:8–12 In the Old Testament there is a ‘case study’ of a man called Job. In the Book of Job we read of a wealthy man who lives in a land called Uz, with his large family and flocks. He is described as a blameless Task and upright man who is always careful to avoid doing evil. In the story Satan appears before God in heaven. Satan argues that Job is 1 Briefly retell the Story of only good because God has blessed him. Satan challenges God. He Job. Ensure that you identify claims that if he is given permission to punish Job, Job will turn who he is and the order of and curse God. God allows Satan to torment Job to test him and the suffering he encounters see if he turns from God. and the advice he receives. The two questions, ‘Why do we suffer?’ and ‘Why do Tip: This can be done as a good and innocent people suffer so much?’ are part of this timeline or flow chart. story considers the universal theme of the good person 2 Explain what the Story of Job who suffers. teaches Christians about In the story, Job receives the news that his flocks, servants suffering. and ten children have all died. Job still blesses God in his prayers. Satan appears in heaven again and God allows Satan to test Job again. Job is afflicted with terrible sores and his wife encourages him to curse God, but Job refuses. Three of his friends visit him and they discuss why Job is suffering. Job questions humankind’s relationship with God. He laments the injustice of God 05_37 NEW IMAGE allowing wicked people to prosper while he and other innocent people suffer so much. However, in Job 42:1–6 (above) Job shows that though God’s ways are beyond human understanding, he has faith in God and understands his own Job is reduced to sitting on a dung heap while his friends look on after God allows Satan to take away his wealth and family. place in the world. FPO © Hodder Education DRAFT In beliefs about the nature of God, Christians speak of the Trinity. This is the belief that God is one but is made up of three persons: Key Concept Trinity The three persons of God: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity ▶ The Trinity ▶ God the Father ▶ the Son Jesus Christ ▶ the Holy Spirit (or Paraclete). Christians are often blessed in church services by a minister with a reference to this belief. Catholics will often bless themselves by making the sign of the cross and reciting this prayer. ‘In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.’ God the father Jesus Christ Incarnation the way in which God becomes ‘flesh’ or human in the form of Jesus. God the father Jesus taught his followers to refer to God as the Father. This refers to the all-powerful, all-knowing part of God, who created the world. Christians also believe that it shows the caring, personal relationship between humans and God, like that between a child and their father. Jesus Christ Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God. For Christians, he is God. This belief is known as the incarnation. Christians believe that through becoming human as Jesus, God revealed something of himself to the world. God the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit represented as a dove in a stained glass window in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Christians believe that after his resurrection (see page xxx) Jesus rose up to heaven. They believe that God then sent the Holy Spirit or ‘Paraclete’ into the world. Christians believe the Holy Spirit guides Christians to live their lives in the best way possible. The Holy Spirit is able to give comfort, courage, inspiration and guidance to all Christians, and helps people to believe in Jesus and strengthen their faith. It also helps Christians to understand and interpret the Bible © Hodder Education 173 DRAFT as the word of God. Christians believe the Holy Spirit intervenes in the world in a miraculous way and is present during worship. In special church services, such as baptism and marriage, Christians believe they are really in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Charismatic Christians, such as Pentecostals, believe the Holy Spirit empowers people to speak ‘in tongues’. This type of worship may be very lively as people feel they are directly moved by the spirit of God. ▶ Why do Christians believe in the Trinity The belief in the Trinity is based, on passages from the New Testament and, in the two examples which follow, on the words of Jesus himself. ‘I and the Father are one.’ John 10:30 ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Charismatic Christians Christians who emphasise the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts and miracles. Speaking in tongues most often found in Charismatic and Pentecostal churches where the belief is that someone is filled with the Holy Spirit during worship and is able to talk in an unknown language. Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.’” John 14:6–11 Both of these passages are taken from the Gospel of John. In the first passage Jesus clearly s ays that he is one with God. In the second, Jesus talks about his special and unique relationship with God. Task 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings 1 Create a key word table for the following terms: Key term Incarnation Charismatic Christians Speaking in tongues Definition 2 Copy and complete the diagram below, using it to explain the different parts of the trinity. God the Father Jesus Christ Description The Holy Spirit guides Christians to live their lives in the best way possible. It gives comfort, support, inspiration and guidance. God the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit can intervene in the world in a miraculous way. Christians can rely on the Holy Spirit This means that… to be a feature of their lives and strengthen their faith. 3 Explain why Christians believe in the Trinity. Include at least one quote in your answer. 174 © Hodder Education DRAFT The most important Christian beliefs about the nature of God are contained in a creed, which is a statement of beliefs. The Apostles’ Creed may be recited in church either on Sundays or at solemn occasions, such as a baptism. On some occasions the more detailed and longer Nicene Creed may be recited. The Apostles’ Creed ▶ The Apostles’ Creed Task Look at the bullet points below showing the beliefs show in the Apostles’ Creed. For each one identify the part of the Apostles’ Creed that expresses that belief. Resurrection has two distinct meanings: 1 It is used to refer to the Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his death and burial. 2 It is used to refer to the idea that the human soul lives on after death and in the resurrection on Judgement Day. Task 1 As a sentence, summarise what the Apostles’ Creed is. 2 Briefly explain why the Apostles’ Creed is important for Christians. 3 As a detailed paragraph (approximately 6–8 sentences) summarise the main beliefs contained within the Apostles’ Creed. Aim to include the following terms: God, Jesus, Judgement, resurrection, Creator, Holy Spirit. The creed needs is a simple statement of the most important Christian beliefs which all Christians adhere to. Whatever the Christian tradition or denomination, all Christians sign up to the beliefs stated in the creed. The most important beliefs in the Apostles’ Creed are as follows: ▶ God is an all-powerful creator. ▶ Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. ▶ Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. © Hodder Education 175 DRAFT ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ There will be a Day of Judgement. There is one holy and universal Church. God will forgive our sins. There will be resurrection of the body and an eternal afterlife. ■ Creation ‘How was the universe and earth made?’ is one of the so-called fundamental questions. Many people today look to scientific explanations, such as the Big Bang to give an answer to this question. For all Christians what is important is that God is the creator of the universe. They believe that whatever the exact process was that created the universe, God is the overall architect of that creation. It is the ‘spirit of God’ which is the source of all life and creation. There are a number of major events in the Biblical Creation accounts: ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ Creation of the universe Creation of the earth Creation of Adam and Eve (or humankind) The temptation of Adam and Eve The fall of humankind from grace. ▶ Genesis 1 The biblical account of the creation in the Book of Genesis, begins: ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’ 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings Genesis 1:1–3 176 The Big Bang is the idea that about 13,700 million years ago all the matter in the universe was concentrated at a single point. A huge explosion – a Big Bang – sent this spiralling outwards, eventually creating the universe as we know it today. Scientists believe they have found evidence for the Big Bang, including that the universe is still expanding due to the force of the explosion and that the energy from the explosion can still be detected. © Hodder Education DRAFT Genesis 1 Genesis 1 shows how God created the universe over seven days. ‘And God saw that it was good’ is a phrase used to describe each stage of Creation. Day 1 – God created night and day: God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Day 2 – God created the heavens: And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. Day 3 – God created land and plants: And God said, ‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. And God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth.’ Day 4 – God created the sun, moon and stars: And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. Day 5 – God created birds and fish: And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the firmament of the heavens.’ Day 6 – God created living creatures including man: Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ Day 7 – God rested: And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. © Hodder Education 177 DRAFT ▶ Genesis 2 In Genesis 2 Adam lives in paradise in the Garden of Eden. God creates a companion for Adam from his rib, and his companion is Eve: ‘Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man”’ Genesis 2:22–23 God gives Adam and Eve one command which is not to eat from the tree of knowledge that grows in the Garden of Eden. ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, “You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.”’ Genesis 3:2–3 The Genesis creation story is clear that humankind is unique among God’s creation as we were created in God’s image. ▶ Genesis 3: The Fall Stewardship the idea that people have a God-given duty to take care of the earth in a responsible way, looking after both the environment and animals. 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings Task 178 1 What does Genesis 2 teach Christians about humankind? 2 When Christians refer to ‘The Fall’, what event from the Bible are they referring to? 3 Explain two reasons why ‘The Fall’ is significant for Christians. The nature of humankind is that people are made in the image of God but sinful and in need of God’s forgiveness. Humankind has a clear purpose in the creation account. People have ‘dominion’ or power over the earth but this must be exercised through stewardship on God’s behalf. Genesis 3 describes an event which Christians call the ‘Fall’, when Adam and Eve are tempted by the devil, in the form of a serpent, to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge against God’s will. The devil or serpent claims that the only reason God doesn’t want Adam and Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge is because it would make them as knowledgeable as God. Although Eve first resists the serpent, eventually she gives in to temptation and eats the fruit and then gives some to Adam. They confess to God what they have done and as punishment he sends them out of the Garden of Eden to live somewhere else on the earth. They are no longer allowed to eat from the tree of life so death enters the world. This is very significant for Christians as it represents the point when the perfect relationship between humans and God was broken. Because of this event most Christians believe all humans are born with ‘original sin’. It is the reason why it was necessary for Jesus to die on the cross, as his death paid for human sin and restored the broken relationship with God. This will be covered in more detail on page xxx. ▶ Interpretations of the Genesis creation story Christians have a wide range of different views on how the Genesis account should be interpreted: ▶ Some fundamentalist Christians believe the story to be absolutely true in every detail. They are said to have a literal interpretation of the creation story. ▶ Other Christians believe the story is more symbolic (metaphorical) and myth-like in nature and that the account needs to be interpreted. They do not believe every detail of the story to be literally accurate or true. © Hodder Education DRAFT The role of the Word and the Spirit in creation These different understandings of the creation story are due to diverse opinions between Christian denominations about how the Bible should be read and interpreted. For example, there are diverse views on how the word ‘day’ in the Genesis creation story should be interpreted. A literal Christian may accept the term ‘day’ in the literal sense so that a day becomes 24 hours. They would therefore reject any scientific theory that said the universe has developed over millions of years. Many Christians, however, may see the term ‘day’ as representing a longer period of time, so the six ‘days’ of creation could actually represent millions of years. This means they can believe in both the creation story and the scientific theory that the Big Bang started the development of the universe. Regardless of whether Christians believe in the Big Bang theory, all Christians believe that God was the ultimate creator of the universe. Tasks 1 Reproduce the table below, explaining the different interpretations of creation in Genesis. Christian Group Fundamental Other Interpretation They believe that...... ‘Day’ means ........... They believe that...... ‘Day’ means ........... 2 Why are there differing interpretations of the Genesis account of Creation? 3 Explain the four key beliefs about creation that most Christians would agree to. ▶ The role of the Word and the Spirit in creation There is also an account of the creation in the Gospel of John: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ John 1:1–5 You will see the repeated use of ‘Word’ in the text of John. There are different views within Christianity as to what is meant by it. Some people believe that ‘Word’ refers to God’s creative self-expression and the purpose and plans that he put in place as he created the universe. However, most Christians understand the ‘Word’ to be a reference to Jesus, the second part of the Trinity. For the majority of Christians, John 1:1, and the belief that the ‘Word’ is Jesus, are central to the belief that Jesus is God as part of the Holy Trinity. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ This line clearly states that Jesus (the Word) was present at the beginning of creation and that he is God. © Hodder Education 179 DRAFT ■ Jesus Christ Christians believe there are a number of important events in the life of Jesus. Four of the most important events are: ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ Atonement the belief that Jesus’ death on the cross healed the rift between humans and God. the Incarnation (God becomes Man) the crucifixion and death of Jesus resurrection ascension to heaven. Some Christians believe Jesus’ life and death is an act of atonement for the sins of the world and that salvation is offered to all those who believe this. All of these events are recorded in the gospels. ▶ Incarnation Key Concept Incarnation God becoming human in the form of Jesus. Task 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings 1 Write the sub-heading ‘Key events in the Life of Jesus’. As a bullet-pointed list, identify the four key events that you will be examining. 2 Explain why Christians believe that Jesus was divine. Include four different examples in your answer. 180 Christians believe that Jesus was God incarnated. This means ‘God made flesh’ or God in human form. Jesus was not conceived in the same way as other humans, through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was told by an angel that she would give birth to a child named Jesus. She was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. This passage from the Gospel of Luke describes Mary being told that she will give birth to Jesus: ‘The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”’ Luke1:28–33 Jesus is often referred to as the Son of God, as in this passage from the Gospel of John: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14 For many Christians there are many events or miracles from the life of Jesus which provide evidence that he was divine, such as: The miracle of the Virgin birth The voice of God at the baptism of Jesus Jesus’ ability to perform miracles The transfiguration of Jesus, when he was transformed in front of some of his apostles and shone with glorious light ▶ The resurrection of Jesus (see page xxx). ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ © Hodder Education DRAFT Blasphemy showing a lack of respect to God or other holy things. Messiah or ‘Anointed One’, a title given to Jesus by the early Christians who believed Jesus was the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. Jesus’ teachings brought him into confl ict with the Jewish authorities. The Jewish authorities viewed Jesus with suspicion and accused him of blasphemy because he claimed to be able to forgive sin. His followers believed he was the Messiah and this was seen as a challenge to the authorities, this led to his eventual arrest and execution. The Jewish authorities used the argument that in claiming to be the Messiah, Jesus was in fact claiming to be a king and this was treason. The Roman form of execution was crucifixion. This was a common form of the death penalty used throughout the Roman Empire. Its purpose was to ensure a criminal died in agony and was a powerful way to intimidate the civilian population. In the gospel account Jesus is one of a number of men crucified in Jerusalem on Good Friday. An unusual feature in the account of Jesus’ crucifixion is when the soldiers plait a crown of thorns and place it on Jesus’ head. Crucifixion ▶ Crucifixion Task 1 Read the full gospel account of Jesus’ execution in Matthew 27:28–50 2 Create a timeline of events for the crucifixion of Jesus. Start with ‘Jesus is sentenced to execution by the Romans’ and finish with ‘Jesus dies on the cross’. 3 Explain why the crucifixion of Jesus is important for Christians. Because Christians believe Jesus was both truly God and truly human, they believe that when he died on the cross he suffered like any other human being. Jesus participates in the suffering of humanity and this is important to Christians because it means that God understands human suffering. A summary of the main points of the crucifixion story are: ▶ Jesus is executed by the Romans. ▶ The soldiers mock Jesus and put a crown of ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ thorns on him. He is crucified at a place called Golgotha. Two criminals are crucified with him. Jesus is mocked by people in the crowd. Jesus prays while on the cross. Jesus dies on the cross. ‘From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? ” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).’ Matthew 27:45–46 © Hodder Education 181 DRAFT ▶ Salvation and atonement Key Concept Atonement The belief that Jesus’ death on the cross healed the rift between humans and God. Task 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings 1 Explain why Jesus’ life and death on Earth is so significant for Christians. Aim to include the following terms in your answer: The Fall, sin, atone, repair, broken relationship. 2 Give two reasons why Christians would identify the Last Supper as being an important event in the life of Jesus. 182 For Christians, Jesus’ death on the cross is an act of atonement. The Fall, when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden destroyed the perfect relationship between humans and God and introduced sin in to the world. Some Christians believe that because of this all people are born with sin, which they call ‘original sin’. The sins which people commit in their daily lives take them further away from God. Christians believe that God sent Jesus to earth to repair the broken relationship and that through his death Jesus paid the price, ‘atoned’, for human sin. This offers humankind salvation, which means they can live on for eternity with God in heaven after death. Before Jesus, the Jews often used animal sacrifices to ‘atone’ or make up for the sins they had committed. This is shown in passages of the Old Testament. ‘And when he has made an end of atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat; and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities upon him to a solitary land; and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness.’ Leviticus 16:20–22 However, Christians believe that the sacrifice Jesus made by dying on the cross meant he became the sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. Jesus became a ‘sacrificial lamb’ to take upon himself the sins of the world. His sacrifice meant that there was no longer any need to sacrifice animals as he paid the price for sins once and for all. The Last Supper ‘While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”’ Matthew 26:26–29 This passage from the Gospel of Matthew refers to the last supper Jesus shared with his disciples before his death. Jesus is celebrating the Jewish festival of the Passover with his disciples but he gives the shared meal a new significance. He tells the disciples that the bread they are eating represents his body and the wine they are drinking represents his blood. He predicts his death on the cross and says © Hodder Education DRAFT Resurrection that by sacrificing his body and blood, human sins will be forgiven. This quotation forms the basis of the Eucharist, in which Christians share bread and wine in worship today (see page xxx). The passage also contains the promise to Christians of eternal life in heaven the suffering and death of Jesus was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, who is writing about the Messiah or ‘Chosen One’ of God. For Christians, Jesus is the Messiah or the ‘Christ’. ‘He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgement he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.’ Isaiah 53:3–9 ▶ Resurrection Key Concept Resurrection The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, conquering death. For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus is fundamental to the Christian faith. It is when Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion. The belief that Jesus rose from the dead is the greatest miracle recorded in the New Testament and is evidence that Jesus was God. Task Reproduce the table below, analysing the four key events in the life of Jesus. Complete it by giving a definition for each key term linked to the event, an explanation of what happened, an outline of why it is significant for Christians, and a quote linked to the event. (You will need plenty of space!). Event Incarnation Crucifixion Salvation and atonement Resurrection Definition Explanation Significance © Hodder Education Quote 183 DRAFT The different Gospels disagree slightly on the exact events of the resurrection, but they agree that on the Sunday following Jesus’ crucifixion, some of Jesus followers went to his tomb. They found that the stone covering the mouth of the tomb rolled away and Jesus’ body was not inside. The following passage outlines some of the events that happened after the resurrection: Jesus appears to the eleven disciples. Paul, an apostle, also claims Jesus has appeared to him. Jesus appears to many other people. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings ▶ Ascension 184 After Jesus rose from the dead there are few references in the gospels to what Jesus did. He appeared to the disciples and groups of other people but the account is very short and vague. After a period of time the gospels record that Jesus ascended (rose up) to his father in heaven. There are different understandings of what this actually means. Some Christians believe that Jesus physically ascended to heaven in a literal sense. For Christians, it is a very significant event. It marks an end to the presence of Jesus on earth in a physical way but includes an acceptance of Jesus’ spirit at work in the world. In Christianity a minister sometimes blesses an individual or a group of Christians. This follows from the example of Jesus blessing his followers before ascending to heaven as described in this passage from the Gospel of Luke: ‘When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.’ Luke 24:50–53 It is important to understand that all of the accounts in the different gospels record these significant events in the life of Jesus in very similar, but not identical, ways. Task 1 Which part of the Bible teaches us about the life of Jesus? 2 Why do you think that the accounts of Jesus’ life differ slightly within the Bible? Give two different suggestions. © Hodder Education DRAFT Law Task 1 As a short paragraph of roughly 3 sentences, explain what the Bible is. 2 Copy and complete the mind map below, exploring the different ways in which the Bible is interpreted. This means that… This means that… The Bible requires interpretation The Bible is symbolic Interpretations of the Bible The Bible is literally true This means that… 3 As a sentence, state what is meant by Divine Law. ■ Salvation ▶ Law The Bible is the sacred text, or ‘scripture’, for Christians. It is made up of 66 ‘books’ and wash written by a number of authors over a long period of time. The authors write in different styles, but all were inspired by their experience of God. The Bible is split in to two sections: the Old Testament, written before Jesus’ birth and the New Testament. The New Testament begins with the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These gospels tell the story of Jesus’ life and death. For all Christians the Bible is a book of revelation. This is because they believe that through the Bible, God is revealed and they can know more about him. Christians also believe that the Bible is a record of divine Law – the rules and law Christians have different beliefs about how the Bible should be interpreted. Does it need to be adapted to apply to modern society or is it the direct word of God by which Christians choose to live. So the Bible is a source of authority for all of God that should always be followed? © Hodder Education 185 DRAFT Christians that they turn to for advice about how to live their lives. It has a major role in worship in all denominations. There is a reading from the Bible in every Christian service and many Christians read the Bible on a daily basis. However, there are different views on how biblical writings should be interpreted. ▶ Some Christians believe the Bible is the directly inspired ‘Word of God’ and they take all of the Bible content as literally true because it is a divine revelation. This means that when science seems to contradict some of stories that appear in the Bible, for example the Genesis creation story, these Christians will believe the biblical account over the scientific one. For these Christians, it is the most important source of authority. ▶ Other Christians may take the view that the Bible is a book which requires interpretation. They believe that the Bible was written in a specific time and culture, and so some teachings may need to be adapted to apply in modern society. ▶ Some Christians take a more liberal view of the Bible, that is, they don’t believe that all of the events it talks about actually happened, but that they are symbolic stories that show us how God would want us to live our lives. Of course, Christians will draw on other sources of wisdom and authority to make life decisions. They may seek advice from a minister of religion or other Christians. A person may pray and ask for guidance. Some Christians will follow their conscience. ▶ Sin A sin is an immoral act the goes against God’s law. The Bible contains ideas about human sinfulness and its link with salvation. 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings ▶ Original sin 186 One of these ideas is that Christians are born with Original sin – the tendency to disobey God. Original sin came in to the world as a result of the Fall (see page XXX) when Adam and Even disobeyed God and were sent out of the Garden of Eden. Adam’s sin has been passed down from generation to generation. It is original sin that causes humans to do things in their lives that go against God’s law and this sin separates humans from God. However, there are some problems with original sin. Many modern Christians object to traditional ideas about original sin as they believe it would be unfair for God to punish all humanity for an act committed by one man. Also, many Christians take a non-literal interpretation of the Bible and don’t believe the events of the Fall actually happened. Even if they did happen as stated in the Bible, it’s hard to explain biologically how original sin actually passed from one generation to the next. Many modern Christians now understand original sin to be a useful way of understanding that humans are prone to doing bad things and acting in a way that’s against God’s law. © Hodder Education DRAFT Human sinfulness separates humans from God. However, Christians believe that Jesus’ death on the cross atoned for human sin and allowed them the hope of salvation, that is the chance to live with God for eternity after death. There are different views on exactly how Jesus’ death achieved this: That Jesus was a sacrifice that paid for human sin. Just as the Jews that had come before Jesus sacrificed an animal once a year to pay for their sins, Jesus’ death did the same thing but once and for all. That Jesus paid the ransom for human sin, which released humans from captivity and allowed them to be saved. Grace and the spirit ▶ Sin and salvation ▶ How do Christians achieve salvation? Jesus’s death allowed humans the chance of salvation, but different Christian denominations have different ideas about how they should act to receive that salvation. Catholics believe that by taking part in the sacraments they will be able to achieve salvation and go to heaven. They believe that baptism washes them clean of sin, and that by confessing (the sacrament of penance) the sins they commit in their life they are absolved (or freed) from them. Many Protestants believe that they must have faith in Jesus and repent their sins to achieve salvation. ▶ Grace and the spirit Task 1 How are Grace and The Holy Spirit linked? 2 Explain, as a paragraph, what happens during Evangelical worship and the role of the Holy Spirit within it. Use the structure below to help you: Evangelical Christians encourage members of the congregation to be moved by the Holy Spirit during worship. This can take several forms. Firstly . . . Secondly . . . Finally . . . In order to help them live a good life, Christians believe God sends the Holy Spirit to bring grace. This supernatural gift of grace means that Christians are able to pray for help from God, to turn away from sin and live good lives. This gift from God of the Holy Spirit is recorded in the Book of Acts, when the Holy Spirit appears to the disciples after Jesus’ ascension to heaven: ‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.’ Acts 2:1–6 Many Christians believe in special ‘rites’ called sacraments (for example, baptism and the Eucharist, see page xxx) and that the Holy Spirit comes down upon them as the sacraments are performed. All Christians believe the Holy Spirit is at work in the world today. The role of the Holy Spirit is particularly important in evangelical worship. Evangelical Christians use a form of worship © Hodder Education 187 DRAFT where worshippers are encouraged to be moved by the spirit. This means they believe the Holy Spirit is present and influences them in their prayers; they often shout out and praise God. Some Christians feel they are moved to speak in tongues, which they consider a gift from the Holy Spirit. Preaching from the Bible is an essential part of this type of worship and some Christians believe acts of ‘faith healing’ may take place within such services, where the Holy Spirit works in miraculous way to heal people. This may be a physical or spiritual healing. ■ Eschatological beliefs Eschatology refers to beliefs about the ‘last things’: death, judgement, heaven and hell. Christians believe in life after death. Indeed, this belief that there is life beyond death is at the very centre of Christianity. Christians believe that three days after Jesus was crucified and died, he rose from the dead and came back to life. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, summed up the importance of this to the Christian faith when he wrote: ‘If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.’ The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian faith from 325 CE. Task 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings 1 What is ‘eschatology’? 2 Where do Christians find the main references to eschatology in the Bible? Corinthians 1:15–17 There are a number of references in the New Testament concerning eschatological beliefs and the afterlife, and belief in an afterlife is stated in both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. Christians believe this life is a preparation for an afterlife to be with God in heaven. The Nicene Creed ends with a reference to resurrection: ‘I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.’ This explains why the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is so important to Christians because provides them with evidence that death is not the end and although physical bodies die, the immortal souls live on. The cross is so important in Christianity because it is symbolic both of death and resurrection. The Gospel of John The Gospel of John was the last gospel to be written and is often referred to as the ‘eschatological gospel’. In the gospel there are frequent references to the afterlife. In one account, Jesus raises a man called Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus performs this miracle it is a sign of his power and it has a profound effect on the faith of the people who witness the miracle. Jesus says that anyone who believes in him will never die. ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”’ The cross is an important symbol for Christians because it represents Jesus’ death and resurrection. 188 © Hodder Education John 11:25–26 DRAFT Judgement The words of Jesus offer an insight into heaven and explain that the way to heaven is through faith in Jesus. ‘“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”’ John 14:2–7 ▶ Judgement Christians believe that there will be a Judgement Day when people will be judged by God for the quality of their lives. Christians believe that on this day Jesus will return to earth in a ‘second coming’. This will mark the end of human existence on the earth. This belief is known as the ‘Parousia’. The quotation below from Matthew describes how Jesus will separate the people who will go to heaven from those who will go to hell, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Jesus will separate those who are going to heaven from those who are going to hell, just like the shepherd in the parable separates the sheep from the goats. Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” © Hodder Education 189 DRAFT They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’ Matthew 25:31–46 Essentially Christians believe that the quality and goodness of our lives will be judged by God. The Apostles’ Creed states quite explicitly that God ‘shall come to judge the living and the dead’. People will be bodily resurrected on this day but they will be transformed into some glorified state. Illness, pain and death will no longer exist and the world will be purified of sin. Parable of the rich and poor man a Parable a short, often simple story which contains a deeper meaning. 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings Task 1 Summarise the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in no more than 4 sentences. 2 Explain what Christians learn about judgement and the afterlife from this parable. 3 In what was are the messages or morals contained within the parables of the Sheep and the Goats and the Rich and Poor Man similar? Jesus frequently used parables to explain a teaching. The parable of the rich and poor man shows there is a clear divide between those who will be rewarded in heaven and those punished in hell, and the afterlife is only achieved by faith and good actions, regardless of success or wealth in an earthly life. ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” But Abraham replied, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” He answered, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” Good deeds Bad deeds No, father Abraham, he said, “but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’ Luke 16:19–31 190 © Hodder Education DRAFT Christians believe that the spiritual part of a person, their soul, is able to join God in heaven when they die. However, they believe that at the end of time there will also be a physical resurrection. This means that people will be brought back to life with physical bodies, just as Jesus was. This belief is stated in the Creeds. Jesus himself did not teach a great deal about the nature of the afterlife but the teaching of Jesus and St Paul refers to a physical resurrection. This quote from Corinthians describes that at the end of time a trumpet will sound and the dead will rise up. ‘So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. Heaven and hell ▶ Resurrection If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.” The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”’ 1 Corinthians 15:42–55 ▶ Heaven and hell Although there are numerous references in the Bible to heaven, there are not many descriptions of it, which explains why Christians believe different things about it. Most Christians believe that it is where people go in the afterlife if they have the right to go there and that is where God and angels are located. However, Christians have different views on what it is: some believe that heaven is an actual, physical place whereas others believe it exists in a more spiritual dimension, more of a state or condition. Christians have different opinions, too, about what hell is although most believe that, whatever it is, it is undoubtedly a place of suffering. Again some Christians believe that it is a physical place where people burn eternally; others believe that it exists in a more spiritual dimension. Most Christians believe that the real torment of hell resides in absolute separation from God as he is not present in hell. To be in hell is not to be in the presence of God. © Hodder Education 191 DRAFT Traditional and contemporary beliefs about heaven and hell Traditionally heaven and hell were thought of as real places. It was believed that hell was underground and heaven in the sky. Modern understandings of heaven and hell are more likely to see heaven as a place where God is and hell is a place where God is not. Contemporary beliefs about heaven and hell raise important questions. If God is a God of love and a God of forgiveness then would God not ultimately forgive everyone, which means nobody goes to hell forever? This is the sort of question modern Christian thinkers debate. In reality there is very little teaching about the nature of these places. Both heaven and hell are connected to an idea of reward and punishment at the end of an earthly life and are an important basis for the Christian belief in an afterlife. 5 Christianity: Beliefs and teachings Task 192 1 Why do Christians have differing beliefs about hell? 2 Copy and complete the table below, exploring the different features of the afterlife in Christianity. Place Nature: Permanent or Temporary Purpose Description Purgatory In addition to heaven and hell, Catholic Christians believe in purgatory. They believe that many people who die cannot gain immediate entry into heaven because they are stained by their sins. These people go to purgatory, a sort of waiting room for heaven, where they undergo a process of cleansing and purification before eventually securing entry to heaven. It is a temporary state of being. On Judgement Day all of those held in purgatory will go to heaven. Catholics believe it is important to pray for the souls of the dead and those in purgatory. © Hodder Education DRAFT Knowledge check 1 In a short paragraph (roughly three sentences) explain what Christians believe about the nature of God. 2 in a long paragraph (roughly eight to ten sentences) explain how Christians believe the incarnation and the resurrection are linked. Stickability Key concepts: • Atonement • Incarnation • Omnibenevolent • Omnipotent • Resurrection • Trinity Key teachings about: • the nature of God • evil and suffering • the creation • the Trinity • salvation • the afterlife End of section review ▶ End of section review The Big Question ‘The Christian Church is no longer important in Britain today.’ Your task Respond to the statement above, referring to both sides of the argument. Aim for at least one paragraph for each side of the debate. Conclude your answer with a justification of your own viewpoint. Agree (. . . it isn’t important) Disagree (. . . it is important) Task Skills Link 1 State two Christian beliefs about God. [2] 2 Explain Christian teaching about the resurrection of Jesus. [5] 3 Explain the different reasons why Christians believe that there is suffering. [8] You need to explain in detail religious teachings about Creation. Use the guidance below to help you to write a developed explanation for Christianity. Ensure that you use key terms fluently and frequently. All/many/most Christians believe that ....................... This comes from the teaching/Bible quote ....................... This means that/Because of this they ....................... Some/other Christians such as ....................... believe that ....................... This comes from the teaching/Bible quote....................... This means that/ Because of this they ....................... Finally, Christians such as ....................... believe that ....................... This means that/Because of this they....................... Beliefs do/do not differ because ............ © Hodder Education 193