Christian Beliefs PDF

# Christian Beliefs ## 1. The Trinity **Specification:** The Trinity: the nature and significance of the Trinity as expressed in the Nicene Creed; the nature and significance of the oneness of God; the nature and significance of each of the Persons individually: including reference to Matthew 3:13...

# Christian Beliefs ## 1. The Trinity **Specification:** The Trinity: the nature and significance of the Trinity as expressed in the Nicene Creed; the nature and significance of the oneness of God; the nature and significance of each of the Persons individually: including reference to Matthew 3:13-17; how this is reflected in Christian worship and belief today. Christians believe that there is one God who has appeared to the world in three ways: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity helps Christians explain the different characteristics and qualities of God. All three 'persons' of the trinity are expressions or vehicles of God. The Trinity is not three separate Gods; three individuals who together make up one God; three qualities of God. The three parts are: * God the Father who created the heavens and the earth. * God the Son, Jesus, who is the saviour of the world. He is fully human and fully God. He is God incarnate. * God as Holy Spirit who is an invisible spiritual power which guides and inspires human beings. **Does the Trinity make sense?** 1+1+1=1. The Trinity seems to be illogical. How can three persons be not the same but also the same as each other? Christians argue that the Trinity is a mystery as it defies true human understanding. This is because God is transcendent (above and beyond anything that exists on earth). Tetullian, an early Christian theologian said: 'prorsus credibile est, quia ineptum este” which is translated to mean "it is by all means to be believed, because it is absurd". **Where does the belief in the Trinity come from?** The specific word 'Trinity' is not mentioned in the Bible. It is expressed in the Nicene Creed. This is a Christian statement of belief about God. The word 'creed' comes from the Latin 'credo' which means 'I believe'. It states: * 'We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth... * We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father... * We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets'. Eternally begotten: the Son has always existed in a relationship with the father. He was not created. **Where else is the Trinity demonstrated?** * Matthew 3:13-17 - ‘As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” * God the Father is the voice, God the Son is Jesus and God the Holy Spirit is the dove. * Matthew 28:19 – ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’. * John 14:16-18 - ‘The Helper is the Holy Spirit, The Father will send Him in my place. He will teach you everything and help you remember everything I have told you’. **How is the Trinity reflected in Christian worship and belief today?** * Churches will look grand to admire the creation of the Father. * There will be a cross to remember Jesus' death. * Churches will have stained glass windows that often show the Holy Spirit as a dove. * When one is baptised one is dipped in the water three times to represent the Trinity. The priest will say ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen’. * Roman Catholic priests swing the incense thurible three times. * Pentecostal Christians believe that the Holy Spirit visits them in worship through speaking in tongues. This is based on Pentecost in the Bible where the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in tongues of fire. ## 2. Creation **Specification:** The creation of the universe and of humanity: the biblical account of creation and divergent ways in which it may be understood by Christians, including as literal and metaphorical; the role of the Word and Spirit in creation, including John 1:1-18 and Genesis 1-3 the importance of creation for Christians today. Christians believe that God, the Father, created the universe 'ex nihilo'. This means from nothing. The Christian creation story is told in the first book of the Bible called Genesis. ### Summary of Genesis **Day 1:** God created light and separated it from darkness. God names the light 'day' and the darkness night. **Day 2:** God created the sky. God used the sky to divide the water that covered the Earth into two halves. **Day 3:** God gathered the water into one place called the 'seas' and made land appear, called 'Earth'. He also created plants and trees. **Day 4:** God created the sun, moon and stars to light up the sky. **Day 5:** God created all of the species of animals that live on Earth. **Day 6:** God created the human beings in his image and put them in charge of everything on the Earth. **Day 7:** God rested, blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The universe was complete. ### Summary of Genesis 2 * ‘The Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life... The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’ Then God told Adam to not eat from the tree of good and evil. ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky... but for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. **What are the implications of the stories being different?** It could be argued that because the stories are so different that we should not trust Biblical accounts of the creation story. Others would argue that although there are some differences in the order, this does not mean that God did not create the world but that he is transcendent (beyond human understanding) so we cannot fully understand the stories. Some would say the themes of the story are more important than the facts so it does not matter if they differ. **How do Christians interpret the creation stories?** Some Christians believe the Genesis story is historically true and that God created the world in six days as it is explained in the Old Testament. They believe in a literal reading of the text. These people are called Creationists. However, many Christians believe in a metaphorical reading of Genesis. They believe that it has meaning and truths contained within it, but it is not literally true. Importantly, it teaches Christians about relationships between God, people, animals and the world. Some believe in the Day Age theory which states that God created the world exactly as described in Genesis 1 but each day represents a period of time (which could be billions of years), rather than 24 hours. ### The Role of the Word in Creation * John 1:13 - ‘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’ The Word is referring to the person of Jesus. Jesus was with God from the beginning as he was God and was with God. Through Jesus all things were made. ### The Role of the Spirit in Creation * Genesis 1:1-3 - ‘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.’ * Genesis 2:7 ‘Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.’ * Psalm 33:6 ‘By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.’ The Spirit is referring to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, as well as Jesus, was present from the start of creation. This reinforces the Trinity. ### The importance of creation for Christians today * John 1 tells us that Jesus was present from the start as the ‘Word’. The Holy Spirit was also shown to present from the beginning. This shows that the Trinity has always existed. * It helps Christians understand why there is sin in the world due to the doctrine of original sin. * Genesis 3 - 6 ‘When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.’ This is how many Christians believe evil entered the world. Eve eating the apple and sin entering the world is called ‘The Fall’. * The creation story gives Christians a reason to take care of the environment. * Genesis 2:15 – ‘The Lord God took man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’ Many Christians use this passage to argue that humans have responsibility over creation known as stewardship. Christians look after God’s creation on behalf of God as he has given it to them. ## 3. The Incarnation **Specification:** The Incarnation: the nature and importance of the person of Jesus Christ as the incarnate Son of God; the biblical basis of this teaching, including John 1:1-18 and 1 Timothy 3:16 and its significance for Christians today. Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah and the second ‘person’ of the Trinity. The believe Jesus is the ‘Word of God’ who became human and lived on Earth. The belief in God taking human form is known as the incarnation. The term incarnation comes from a Latin word meaning ‘the act of being made flesh’. ### Biblical basis for this teaching * John 1:1-18 – ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 22 All who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God...the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us... No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and has made him known.’ This passage clearly shows that Jesus is God in human form. The Word (Jesus) became flesh (human). This also shows that Jesus was eternal but was incarnated (made flesh) at one point in time; in God becoming man, He gave power for man to be with God; Jesus is separate from the father but integral (very important) to God; God has no image, Christ is the image of God in human form. * 1 Timothy 3:16 – ‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: He was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.’ This passage also shows Jesus' incarnation. ‘Manifest’ means that Jesus existed before because he was not created but has always existed; ‘preached unto’ means that his life's work was about teaching people; ‘received up into glory’ demonstrates that Jesus ascended (rose up) into heaven after his crucifixion. This also demonstrates that he was God in human form. * John 3:16 – ‘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’ This shows that God has given him only Son. This demonstrates that Jesus is God incarnate because he will have eternal life meaning he cannot just be a human. It also demonstrates God’s love for us. ### Jesus as human In the Bible, Jesus is shown as both human and divine as he is God in human form. * Jesus was born a baby to a human mother (Luke 7). * He expressed human emotions like anger. * Jesus died on the cross as a human. * He worshipped and prayed to God in the Garden of Gethsemane. * He cried out to God saying ‘Eli Eli Lama Sabachthaniʼ ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me’. * He had a human body that God tired, thirsty and hungry, for example, Matthew 4:2. ### Jesus as Divine * The Virgin Birth - Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. * The miracles of Jesus such as healings (such as raising Lazarus from the dead), exorcisms, controlling the weather. * He has extraordinary knowledge from a young age. * Although he died he was resurrected and came back from the dead. * He appeared to the disciples after death and ascended (rose up) into heaven. ### The significance of the Incarnation for Christians today * It shows God’s omnipotence (power) * God took on a human body to experience what it is to be human. This means he can identify fully with us as humans. * The incarnation allowed Jesus to have a physical body so that he could die on the cross as a sacrifice for sin. * It enables Christians to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus. This shows God’s love (John 3:16). * Jesus as a source of revelation which helps them understand what God is like and how God wants them to live. ## 4. The Last Days of Jesus’ Life **Specification:** The last days of Jesus’ life: the Last Supper, betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; the accounts of these within the Bible, including Luke 22-24 and the significance of these events to understanding the person of Jesus Christ. **Events - Luke 22-24** The events in Jesus Christ's arrest trial and suffering are often called the Passion of Christ. This ends with his crucifixion. * **The Last Supper.** This is where Jesus predicted that someone would betray him and he taught the disciples how to give bread and wine to remember his body and blood after he dies. This could show that he is divine as he makes predictions that come true. * **Jesus prays to God in the Garden of Gethsemane.** * **Jesus is betrayed by Judas.** Judas betrays Jesus by identifying him with a kiss - the signal he had arranged beforehand. * **Jesus is arrested.** * **Peter denies Jesus three times.** * **Jesus is tried by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, on a charge of treason.** Pilate is not convinced that Jesus is guilty. The crowd objects and demands that Jesus be killed. * **Jesus is whipped and his claim that he is ‘King of the Jews’ is mocked; he is given a crown of thorns and a purple robe to mock him further.** * **Jesus is crucified and buried.** * **Three days later Jesus is resurrected (comes back to life).** ### Jesus appears to his disciples * John 20:19-22 - ‘On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 2º After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 22 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”’ This passage shows that Jesus is divine as he has been resurrected and is appearing to his disciples. It also shows that he is God incarnate as He states ‘as the Father has sent me’. This reinforces the belief in the Trinity as it shows Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit. * John 20:24-29 – ‘Doubting Thomas – ‘Now Thomas (also known as Didymusa), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”’ ‘Doubting Thomas’ teaches us that we should have faith in God without having to see him as Jesus says those that believe but have not seen are blessed by Him. Christians commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion and death on Good Friday, the Friday of Holy week. It is called Good Friday as Christians believe that Jesus’ death, ultimately, had good consequences for human beings. They believe Jesus’ suffering and death were part of God’s plan. Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. ### The Ascension into heaven * Acts 1:6-11 - ‘Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1º They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” ’ This passage teaches us about how Jesus rose to heaven before as the disciples gathered around him. It also tells us that Jesus will return one day on the Day of Judgement (see Eschatology section for more detail). ### The significance of the resurrection for Christians today * Jesus’ ability to overcome death proved he was the Son of God and God incarnate (God in human form) as he had a divine nature. * It confirms the Christian belief in the Trinity and shows God’s omnipotence (power) as only a powerful and creator God could resurrect life after death. * Shows that Jesus is the saviour. Christians believe he died to forgive their sins so that they can have eternal life with God (see later section on atonement and salvation for more detail on this point). * The resurrection proves that God did not abandon Jesus when Jesus called ‘Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani’ as he raised him from the dead. ## 5. Salvation **Specification:** The nature and significance of salvation and the role of Christ within salvation: law, sin, grace and Spirit, the role of Christ in salvation including John 3:10-21 and Acts 4:8-12; the nature and significance of atonement within Christianity and its link to salvation. Salvation = To be saved from sin and its consequences by God. **Atonement = The restoring of humanity's broken relationship with God through Jesus' death.** ### Why do we need salvation? #### The Fall Christianity teaches that all human beings are born imperfect and sinful and that this separates them from God. This is the doctrine of original sin. This idea was introduced by St Augustine in the 4th century who taught that original sin came from the first human beings. The doctrine of the Fall teaches that Adam and Eve were created perfect. They disobeyed God, they fell from the perfect state and separated themselves from God. This is how evil was introduced in the world. * Genesis 3 - When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.’ It is because of this original sin that many Christians believe that we need salvation. Our sin is a barrier between us and God and it is only through God saving us that we can have a relationship with him. ### The role of Christ within salvation * John 3:10-21 - ‘24 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 25 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’ * John 3:16- ‘For God so loved the world that he sent his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ * Acts 4:8-12 - ‘It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed. 12 Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."’ These verses tell us that Jesus was sent to the earth so that he could save humans from their sin so they could have eternal life (go to heaven) and be with God. This shows God’s love. They also tell us that it is only through Jesus that we can be saved and He has become the ‘cornerstone’ (the most important part) of the Christian faith as it is the way to have a relationship with God. ### Answers to sin * **The law** - God started off by giving humans Law but all that God’s law produces is sinners, people who deserve judgement. The law is insufficient for redemption, for original sin taints human beings in a manner that prevents them from redeeming themselves. Human beings, therefore, cannot be justified by their works/actions alone - but by faith and grace. * **GRACE** = God acting in love towards humans even when they do not deserve it. * Romans 5:20 - ‘All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace’ * **The spirit** - The incarnation is essential to the doctrine of atonement, because Christ’s perfection was a necessary sacrifice to death and sin. Therefore, conceived by the spirit, his death is the ultimate sacrifice for human sin. ### Why did Jesus have to die? There are three main theories for why Jesus had to die so that we could have a relationship with God. Christians believe in different theories but they all agree that Jesus died so that we could have a relationship with God and have eternal life. 1. **Penal substitution/Sacrifice** - Jesus had to die to take the punishment for sin so that humans can have a relationship with God and have eternal life. Jesus’ death is a sacrifice. He is often referred to as the Lamb of God. This refers to when lambs were used in temple sacrifices for forgiveness for sins. * John 1:29 - ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.’ 2. **Moral Example** - Jesus demonstrated through word and example how to live according to God’s way. The New Testament describes Jesus’ death as an example of love in action as an example for Christians to follow. * 1 Peter 2:21 - ‘because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps’ 3. **As Victory** – Some parts of the New Testament describe Jesus’ death and resurrection as a victory over the battle of evil and sin. Jesus’ apparent defeat at the crucifixion is turned into a victory over death at the resurrection. * Colossians 8:15 – ‘With the Cross, he won a victory’ ## 6. Christian Eschatology **Specification:** Christian eschatology: divergent Christian teachings about life after death, including the nature and significance of resurrection, judgement, heaven, and hell and purgatory, with reference to the 39 Articles of Religion and Catholic teachings; how beliefs about life after death are shown in the Bible, including reference to 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 and divergent understandings as to why they are important for Christians today. **Eschatology = the branch of theology which looks at death, judgement, heaven and hell.** ### Central belief Most Christians believe in the final judgement. This means that there is a heaven (a place of reward and eternal life with God) and hell (a place of punishment and eternal life without God). * Matthew 25:31-46 – The parable of the Sheep and the Goats "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 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. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 "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. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink... ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?... "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.’ 42 “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. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink……. 4 “They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes ... ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." This parable tells us that God will judge us based on our actions. If we do good deeds then we will be judged and go to heaven to have eternal life and if we do bad deeds we will be sent to hell which is eternal punishment. The weeping and gnashing of teeth is a phrase used eight times to describe the eternal torment. It is also referred to as an everlasting fire or an exterior darkness and it is widely agreed to be a place separate to God. ### Roman Catholic beliefs about eschatology Catholics take their beliefs from the Bible and the teaching of the Church contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Catholics believe in both the immortality of the soul (soul never dies) and the resurrection of the body. They believe in Purgatory. This is a place where the believer’s soul can be purified/cleansed ready for heaven. If the believer has not been to confession since their last sin their soul will go to purgatory. Non believers’ souls will go straight to hell, Believers that have been to confession since their last sin and have done good deeds will go to heaven. At the Final Judgement (Parousia) the body and soul will be reunited. * The Roman Catholic Catechism 1030 - ‘All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.’ * The Roman Catholic Catechism 1031 - ‘The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.’ * The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats - This tells us that we are judged based on our actions. * 1 Corinthians 5:10-110 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad’ ### Evangelical Protestant beliefs about eschatology Protestants take their beliefs from the Bible and teaching of the Church contained in the 39 articles of Religion. Evangelical Protestants believe in the resurrection of the body on the day of Judgement. They believe that we will be judged on Christian faith and behaviour: Good Christians will go to heaven. If you have sinned and not repented then you go to hell. They do not believe in Purgatory. * 22th of 39 articles of religion - ‘THE Romish Doctrine concerning Purgatory, Pardons, Worshipping, and Adoration, as well of Images as of Reliques, and also invocation of Saints, is a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God’ * The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats - This tells us that we are judged based on our actions. * 1 Corinthians 5:10-110 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad’ This states that the Catholic belief in worship is completely false as it has been ‘invented’ and is not based on any scripture at all. Liberal Protestants would also agree that there is no purgatory. ### Liberal Protestant beliefs about eschatology Liberal Protestants believe in the immortality of the soul. They believe you are judged as soon as you die. Some Liberal Protestants do not believe that there is a hell. Some believe that it is a place just for non-Christians. They generally believe that faith in Jesus Christ is all that is required for salvation (to have eternal life with God and go to heaven). They do not believe in Purgatory. * John 3:16-'For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ * Revelation 21 - ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man... He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more’ Liberal Protestants use this to show that faith alone is all that is required for salvation. Humans are fallible (make mistakes) and so we will sin but we will not go to hell as long as we believe and trust that Jesus died to save our sins. ### Literal or Metaphorical The interpretation of these ideas depends very much on whether one is a literalist and one understands the text to be exactly true (there is a physical place called hell; resurrection happens by the raising of bodies from graves) or whether one is a liberal reader understanding the text as metaphorical, pointing to an underlying truth. For example, one might understand resurrection as being God’s commitment to the value of all human beings, but not a physical activity. Hell might be a place devoid of (without) love, but not a burning pit with fire and weeping etc. ### The significance of these beliefs on Christians today * Christians will try and live a good Christian life following the teachings of the Bible and not sinning to avoid going to hell. * They might be less fearful about death because they know their soul will live on/ they will be resurrected. * They might feel relieved that they can be forgiven for their sins by repenting. * They will feel comforted if they have lost a loved one recently. * They might try and convert others to save them from hell/purgatory. * Many Christians will aim to do charity work for organisations like CAFOD and Christian Aid. * Many Christians will pray every day and worship God every Sunday. Catholics will regularly attend confession. ## 7. The problem of evil/suffering **Specification:** The problem of evil/suffering and a loving and righteous God: the problems it raises for Christians about the nature of God, including reference to omnipotence and benevolence, including Psalm 103; how the problem may cause believers to question their faith or the existence of God; the nature and examples of natural suffering, moral suffering. ### Two types of suffering: * **Moral suffering:** Suffering caused by humans, such as theft, bullying, terrorism. * **Natural suffering:** Suffering caused by nature, such as earthquakes, hurricanes. Some believe that it is difficult to categorise evil/ suffering into these categories as many can be a combination of both. For example, environmental natural disasters are made worse by human responses and by global warming. ### The problem of evil This relates to the qualities of God. Many people believe that there is incompatibility between the fact that God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omni-benevolent (all-loving) and that evil still exists. If God was omni-benevolent then he would love us too much to allow us to suffer; If God was omnipotent he would be powerful enough to stop suffering. If God has these characteristics then there should be no evil in the world, but there is.... * Psalm 103-'The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits-3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, ‘who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion’ ### Mackie’s inconsistent triad The problem of evil is explained in Mackie’s inconsistent triad (triangle). | Evil exists | God is omnipotent | God is omnibenevolent | |---|---|---| | Inconsistent Triad | | | This triad demonstrates that these three parts of the Triangle are inconsistent – they cannot all be true. Evil does exist, we cannot question this. So either God is not omnibenevolent, he is not omnipotent or God does not exist (according to Mackie). ### Why does evil and suffering cause believers to question their faith? * Those who are confronted by suffering cannot understand why God would permit suffering to happen. * Those who experience suffering themselves consider God to have forgotten them. They may pray to God but feel that their prayers are not being answered. * Those who meet perpetrators of evil may feel that their wickedness goes unpunished; that cruelty to on others is allowed the flourish while good people suffer. This may cause them to believe that God has failed to create a world in which justice and truth prevails. ## 8. Solutions to the problem of evil **Specification:** Divergent solutions offered to the problem of evil/suffering and a loving and righteous God: biblical, theoretical and practical, including reference to Psalm 119, Job, free will, vale of soul-making, prayer, and charity; the success of solutions to the problem. ### Solutions from the Bible - The story of Job Job suffers drastically because he is tested by God although he is blameless. Job’s initial reaction to suffering is to worship and pray * Job 1:21 - ‘The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’ Satan then asks God (once he has killed Job’s children ruined his fortunes) whether he can harm Job directly (having not at first harmed him physically). He creates boils that Job bursts with broken pottery. At this point, Job begins to ask questions. His friends claim that he must have sinned, because Job would not be suffering if he had not sinned (though the story says this is not true). He protests his innocence. When Job asks ‘why me’, God responds out of the whirlwind, claiming that Job should not question the actions of God because he cannot understand them. * Job 39.35 - God says ‘shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?’ This story demonstrates that God transcends our understanding (beyond our understanding. We should not question him. We should not listen to friends who tell us that suffering happens because we have done something wrong. Suffering allows God to test people’s faith and he uses Satan (wickedness and evil) to test people’s hearts. Eventually Job was rewarded for his faith. We too will be rewarded if we do not question God in the face of suffering. ### Solutions from the Bible - Psalm 37 * Psalm 37 - ‘Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture... Refrain from anger and turn from wrath do not fret-it leads only to evil.9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.’ This teaches us that evil-doers will be punished in the afterlife so we should do good and trust in the Lord and we will ‘inherit the land’ (have eternal life with God in heaven). We should therefore not be jealous of those that do wrong and get away with it as they will be punished in the afterlife. ### Practical Solutions – Prayer Christians would pray in response to the problem of evil and