key aspects of christian beliefs

8/6/2019 Key Aspects of Christian Beliefs

1/20

Key Aspects ofKey Aspects of

Christian BeliefsChristian Beliefs

SalvationSalvation

RevelationRevelation

The BibleThe Bible

The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments

The BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

LoveLove

PrayerPrayer

Karen Devine 2008


2/20


Revelation is theRevelation is thetransmission oftransmission ofknowledge from theknowledge from the

divine to humanity.divine to humanity.

It is knowledge given byIt is knowledge given byGod to humans aboutGod to humans about

things previouslythings previouslyhidden.hidden.

It is an invitation intoIt is an invitation intocommunion with God.communion with God.


3/20


Revelation can be seen as a call toRevelation can be seen as a call toaction.action.

It is a call to belief and faith.It is a call to belief and faith.

In Christianity, Gods revelation isIn Christianity, Gods revelation isfocused on Jesus Christ.focused on Jesus Christ.

The eastern variants of ChristianityThe eastern variants of Christianity

see revelation as focusing on thesee revelation as focusing on theHoly Spirit.Holy Spirit.

Revelation speaks of all of humanRevelation speaks of all of humanhistory and includes the present.history and includes the present.


4/20

SalvationSalvation

Christians believe that GodChristians believe that Godhas the intention to save.has the intention to save.

Sin interrupts salvation.Sin interrupts salvation.

Salvation is a belief thatSalvation is a belief thathumans require deliverancehumans require deliverancefrom sin.from sin.

Gods intervention inGods intervention insalvation history includes thesalvation history includes the

incarnation of Jesus and hisincarnation of Jesus and hisresurrection.resurrection.

Jesus death wasJesus death was salvificsalvificas itas itatonedatonedfor the sinfulness offor the sinfulness ofhumanity.humanity.


5/20

SalvationSalvation

Salvation is seen as beingSalvation is seen as beingdelayed until the afterlife.delayed until the afterlife.

It is through God thatIt is through God that

humans achieve salvation.humans achieve salvation. Some churches see thatSome churches see that

anyone who strives to doanyone who strives to doGods will, regardless ofGods will, regardless of

their religious tradition, willtheir religious tradition, willbe saved.be saved.

Other faiths oppose thisOther faiths oppose thisnotion.notion.


6/20

The BibleThe Bible

The bible is divided into:The bible is divided into:

a) The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)a) The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)b) The Christian Scriptures (New Testament)b) The Christian Scriptures (New Testament)

The Christian Scriptures are a collection of stories about the lifeThe Christian Scriptures are a collection of stories about the lifeand deeds of Jesus.and deeds of Jesus.

The writings are seen to be divinely inspired yet of human origin.The writings are seen to be divinely inspired yet of human origin.


7/20


8/20

The BibleThe Bible

The Bible is integral in the daily lives ofThe Bible is integral in the daily lives ofbelievers.believers.

It assists with ethical decision makingIt assists with ethical decision makingand can be used in all daily rituals.and can be used in all daily rituals.

The Bible has been through manyThe Bible has been through manytranslations.translations.

Originally written in Greek, it has sinceOriginally written in Greek, it has sincebeen translated into every language.been translated into every language.

There are many discrepancies in theThere are many discrepancies in thetranslations of the words from thetranslations of the words from theoriginal intentions and contexts of theoriginal intentions and contexts of theauthors.authors.


9/20

The BibleThe Bible

As Christianity has its roots inAs Christianity has its roots in

Judaism, there are many linksJudaism, there are many links

between the Hebrewbetween the Hebrew

Scriptures and the ChristianScriptures and the Christian

Scriptures for example:Scriptures for example:

a) Many Christian passagesa) Many Christian passages

uphold the prophecies of theuphold the prophecies of the

Jewish Scriptures. (Such as theJewish Scriptures. (Such as the

birth of Jesus in Bethlehem asbirth of Jesus in Bethlehem as

told by the prophet Micah)told by the prophet Micah)


10/20

The BibleThe Bible

b) Christian ceremonies parallel Jewishb) Christian ceremonies parallel Jewishceremonies eg: The Jewish Festivalceremonies eg: The Jewish Festivalof Weeks parallels Pentecost.of Weeks parallels Pentecost.

c) There are significantc) There are significant numbernumberparallels such as theparallels such as the 12 Apostles12 Apostlesparallels theparallels the 12 TribesofIsrael12 TribesofIsrael..

d) The Beatitudes in the Christiand) The Beatitudes in the ChristianScriptures parallels some praiseScriptures parallels some praise

related statements in Psalms 1:1related statements in Psalms 1:1Happy are those who do not followHappy are those who do not followthe advice of the wicked and 41:1 the advice of the wicked and 41:1 Happy are those who consider theHappy are those who consider thepoor.poor.


11/20


The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandmentswere given by God to Moseswere given by God to Mosesas a revelation for life.as a revelation for life.

The Ten Commandments areThe Ten Commandments areunderstood to be theunderstood to be the directdirect

word of God given to theword of God given to the

people of Israel.people of Israel.They are said to be written inThey are said to be written in

Gods own hand onto tabletsGods own hand onto tabletsof stone.of stone.


12/20


The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandmentsare a summation of theare a summation of therelationship betweenrelationship betweenhumanity and God.humanity and God.

Christians see the TenChristians see the TenCommandments as rules toCommandments as rules tobe practiced out of love forbe practiced out of love forGod, not out of fear ofGod, not out of fear of

damnationdamnation.. Outside the TenOutside the Ten

Commandments is a life ofCommandments is a life ofsin, alienation andsin, alienation andunhappiness.unhappiness.


13/20

The BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

The Beatitudes is the nameThe Beatitudes is the name

given to the 9 sayings ofgiven to the 9 sayings of

Jesus Christ which areJesus Christ which are

expressed in Matthewsexpressed in MatthewsSermon on the MountSermon on the Mount

and Lukes Sermon on theand Lukes Sermon on the

Plain.Plain.

Beatitude is Latin forBeatitude is Latin for

blessed hence all Jesusblessed hence all Jesus

sayings begin Blessedsayings begin Blessed

areare


14/20


15/20

Jesus Commandment of LoveJesus Commandment of Love

Christian ethics generally includeChristian ethics generally includerepentance and love.repentance and love.

Christians see that their God is aChristians see that their God is a

God of love and this is expressedGod of love and this is expressedthrough Jesus.through Jesus.

Jesus discussion of love has aJesus discussion of love has aJewish context.Jewish context.

This is a love with qualities ofThis is a love with qualities of

personal attachment.personal attachment. This is a love between God andThis is a love between God and

humanity as expressed through thehumanity as expressed through thecovenant between God and Israel.covenant between God and Israel.


16/20

Jesus Commandment of LoveJesus Commandment of Love

Jesus commandment ofJesus commandment oflove is really about alove is really about alonging for God and thelonging for God and the

constant seeking ofconstant seeking ofgood in ones neighbour.good in ones neighbour.

Love involves sufferingLove involves suffering

yet, in following Jesusyet, in following Jesuspath there is victorypath there is victoryover that suffering andover that suffering and

victory over sin andvictory over sin and

death.death.


17/20

PrayerPrayer

Prayer may be public or private.Prayer may be public or private.

Christian Churches generally favourChristian Churches generally favourprayer and worship which is:prayer and worship which is:

a)a) PrivatePrivate

b)b) CommunalCommunal

c)c) LiturgicalLiturgical

Prayer is a way for believers to have aPrayer is a way for believers to have arelationship with the divine.relationship with the divine.

Some Christian variants also pray toSome Christian variants also pray tointermediaries such as Mary, who theyintermediaries such as Mary, who theybelieve will act as a link to God.believe will act as a link to God.


18/20

PrayerPrayer Throughout history prayer has beenThroughout history prayer has been

described in many ways:described in many ways:

a)a) Raising the heart and mind to GodRaising the heart and mind to God

b)b) Communion with GodCommunion with God

c)c) Attentiveness to GodAttentiveness to God

d)d) Attunement to the divineAttunement to the divine

Jesus is described as praying privately, or inJesus is described as praying privately, or insolitude.solitude.

He used prayer to alleviate his distress andHe used prayer to alleviate his distress andas a guide in decision making.as a guide in decision making.

Prayer can be:Prayer can be:

a)a) VocalVocal

b)b) MentalMental

c)c) ContemplativeContemplative

d)d) MeditativeMeditative


19/20

PrayerPrayer

In addition to connecting with God, the aims of prayer are often to:In addition to connecting with God, the aims of prayer are often to:

a) Celebrate ones lifea) Celebrate ones life

b) Reflect on life and Godb) Reflect on life and God

c) Empty the selfc) Empty the self

d) Recollect Godd) Recollect God

e) Achieve inner stillnesse) Achieve inner stillness


20/20

Question TimeQuestion Time

What elements ofWhat elements of

Judaism didJudaism did

Christianity assume?Christianity assume?

key aspects of christian beliefs

Documents