CHRISTIANITYCHRISTIANITY

Principal BeliefsPrincipal Beliefs

There is one God. There is one God. “God the Father” – Michelangelo. Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican 1509.

ANTONIAZZO ROMANO, God the Father, detail. c. 1489.

Fisher, Sally. The Square Halo. NY: Abrams, 1995. p. 93

God is a Trinity (‘tri-unity’), one being of God is a Trinity (‘tri-unity’), one being of three co-equal persons: the Father (the three co-equal persons: the Father (the

Creator), the Son (the Redeemer) and the Creator), the Son (the Redeemer) and the Holy Spirit (the Sanctifier). Ultimately the Holy Spirit (the Sanctifier). Ultimately the

Trinity is a mystery beyond human Trinity is a mystery beyond human comprehension.comprehension.

There is one essence of God;There is one essence of God;the emphasis is on oneness, the emphasis is on oneness,

not three-ness.not three-ness.The Father is God,The Father is God,

the Son is God,the Son is God,and the Holy Spirit is God--and the Holy Spirit is God--

but they are one God.but they are one God.

PEREDA, Antonio deSpanish painter, Madrid school (b. 1611, Valladolid, d. 1678, Madrid)

God created the world and it is goodGod created the world and it is good

Michelangelo, Creation of Adam, Michelangelo, Creation of Adam, Sistine ChapelSistine Chapel

Humanity is created in the image of God.Humanity is created in the image of God.

People have a People have a tendency to do tendency to do good and evil. good and evil.

Through the misuse Through the misuse of freedom — the of freedom — the Fall — sin came Fall — sin came

into the world. Sin is into the world. Sin is the opposite of the opposite of

God’s will.God’s will.

Gustave Dore`, 2003

“Israeli Dispossesion of Palestinians”.

http://www.al-awda.org/media/pictures.html

God’s only son, Jesus Christ became God’s only son, Jesus Christ became human and was born of the Virgin Maryhuman and was born of the Virgin Mary

He is both human and divine. He is both human and divine.

Jesus was crucified, Jesus was crucified,

Rose from the dead…Rose from the dead…

and ascended into heaven.and ascended into heaven.

Through his Through his death and death and resurrection resurrection Jesus Jesus conquered sin conquered sin and death and and death and won salvation won salvation by reconciling by reconciling humanity with humanity with God.God.

Salvation (or justification) begins with faith Salvation (or justification) begins with faith in Christ, the gift of God’s grace and its in Christ, the gift of God’s grace and its sign is baptism.sign is baptism.

There is no ready answer to why God, There is no ready answer to why God, who is total goodness, allows evil and who is total goodness, allows evil and

suffering to exist. suffering to exist.

The suffering, death The suffering, death and resurrection of and resurrection of Jesus shows that Jesus shows that followers of Jesus followers of Jesus can find meaning can find meaning in their response in their response

to evil and to evil and suffering.suffering.

The Holy Spirit directs the Church, the The Holy Spirit directs the Church, the assembly of Christian believers. The main assembly of Christian believers. The main task of the Church is to preach the gospel. task of the Church is to preach the gospel.

God’s grace leads people to faith God’s grace leads people to faith and responsibility for their actions. and responsibility for their actions.

Human destiny is eternal life with Human destiny is eternal life with God in heaven. God in heaven.

Hell or exclusion from God’s Hell or exclusion from God’s presence is the consequence of a presence is the consequence of a

life of evil. life of evil.

At the end of At the end of time Christ will time Christ will

come again and come again and in final judgment in final judgment and the Reign (or and the Reign (or Kingdom) of God Kingdom) of God will exist in all its will exist in all its

fullness.fullness.Michelangelo “The Last Judgement”.

Christians generally agree on the principal Christians generally agree on the principal beliefs outlined. However, across the beliefs outlined. However, across the

variants of Christianity there are variants of Christianity there are differences in understandings on some differences in understandings on some matters, e.g. how living the life of faith is matters, e.g. how living the life of faith is related to one’s salvation, the meaning of related to one’s salvation, the meaning of the Eucharist, and the place of Mary, the the Eucharist, and the place of Mary, the

mother of Jesus.mother of Jesus.