Key Aspects Key Aspects of Christian of Christian

BeliefsBeliefs

SalvationSalvationRevelationRevelationThe BibleThe BibleThe Ten The Ten

CommandmentsCommandmentsThe BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

LoveLovePrayerPrayer

© Karen Devine 2008

RevelationRevelation Revelation is the Revelation is the

transmission of transmission of knowledge from the knowledge from the divine to humanity. divine to humanity.

It is knowledge It is knowledge given by God to given by God to humans about humans about things previously things previously hidden.hidden.

It is an invitation It is an invitation into communion into communion with God.with God.

RevelationRevelation Revelation can be seen as a Revelation can be seen as a

call to action.call to action. It is a call to belief and faith.It is a call to belief and faith. In Christianity, God’s In Christianity, God’s

revelation is focused on revelation is focused on Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

The eastern variants of The eastern variants of Christianity see revelation as Christianity see revelation as focusing on the Holy Spirit.focusing on the Holy Spirit.

Revelation speaks of all of Revelation speaks of all of human history and includes human history and includes the present.the present.

SalvationSalvation Christians believe that Christians believe that

God has the intention to God has the intention to save.save.

Sin interrupts salvation.Sin interrupts salvation. Salvation is a belief that Salvation is a belief that

humans require humans require deliverance from sin.deliverance from sin.

God’s intervention in God’s intervention in salvation history salvation history includes the incarnation includes the incarnation of Jesus and his of Jesus and his resurrection.resurrection.

Jesus’ death was Jesus’ death was salvificsalvific as it as it atonedatoned for the for the sinfulness of humanity.sinfulness of humanity.

SalvationSalvation Salvation is seen as Salvation is seen as

being delayed until the being delayed until the afterlife.afterlife.

It is through God that It is through God that humans achieve humans achieve salvation.salvation.

Some churches see that Some churches see that anyone who strives to anyone who strives to do God’s will, do God’s will, regardless of their regardless of their religious tradition, will religious tradition, will be saved. be saved.

Other faiths oppose this Other faiths oppose this notion.notion.

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

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

The BibleThe Bible The bible is a source The bible is a source

of belief for Jews and of belief for Jews and Christians.Christians.

It teaches about the It teaches about the nature of God and the nature of God and the teachings of Jesus.teachings of Jesus.

The major aspects of The major aspects of Christian belief are Christian belief are derived from the derived from the Christian Scriptures. Christian Scriptures.

Liturgical ceremonies Liturgical ceremonies also have their origins also have their origins in the Bible.in the Bible.

The BibleThe Bible The Bible is integral in the The Bible is integral in the

daily lives of believers.daily lives of believers. It assists with ethical decision It assists with ethical decision

making and can be used in all making and can be used in all daily rituals.daily rituals.

The Bible has been through The Bible has been through many translations. many translations.

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

There are many discrepancies There are many discrepancies in the translations of the in the translations of the words from the original words from the original intentions and contexts of the intentions and contexts of the authors.authors.

The BibleThe Bible

As Christianity has its roots As Christianity has its roots in Judaism, there are many in Judaism, there are many links between the Hebrew links between the Hebrew Scriptures and the Scriptures and the Christian Scriptures for Christian Scriptures for example:example:

a) Many Christian passages a) Many Christian passages uphold the prophecies of uphold the prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures. the Jewish Scriptures. (Such as the birth of Jesus (Such as the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem as told by the in Bethlehem as told by the prophet Micah)prophet Micah)

The BibleThe Bible

b) Christian ceremonies parallel b) Christian ceremonies parallel Jewish ceremonies eg: The Jewish ceremonies eg: The Jewish Festival of Weeks Jewish Festival of Weeks parallels Pentecost.parallels Pentecost.

c) There are significant c) There are significant numbernumber parallels such as the parallels such as the 12 12 ApostlesApostles parallels the parallels the 12 Tribes 12 Tribes of Israelof Israel..

d) The Beatitudes in the Christian d) The Beatitudes in the Christian Scriptures parallels some praise Scriptures parallels some praise related statements in Psalms related statements in Psalms 1:1 “Happy are those who do 1:1 “Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the not follow the advice of the wicked” and 41:1 “ Happy are wicked” and 41:1 “ Happy are those who consider the poor”.those who consider the poor”.

The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments

were given by God to were given by God to Moses as a revelation Moses as a revelation for life.for life.

The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments are understood to be the are understood to be the direct direct word of God given word of God given to the people of Israel.to the people of Israel.

They are said to be They are said to be written in God’s own written in God’s own hand onto tablets of hand onto tablets of stone.stone.

The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments The Ten The Ten

Commandments are a Commandments are a summation of the summation of the relationship between relationship between humanity and God.humanity and God.

Christians see the Christians see the Ten Commandments Ten Commandments as rules to be as rules to be practiced out of love practiced out of love for God, not out of for God, not out of fear of fear of damnationdamnation..

Outside the Ten Outside the Ten Commandments is a Commandments is a life of sin, alienation life of sin, alienation and unhappiness.and unhappiness.

The BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

The Beatitudes is the The Beatitudes is the name given to the 9 name given to the 9 sayings of Jesus Christ sayings of Jesus Christ which are expressed in which are expressed in Matthew’s “Sermon on Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” and Luke’s the Mount” and Luke’s “Sermon on the Plain”.“Sermon on the Plain”.

Beatitude is Latin for Beatitude is Latin for “blessed” hence all “blessed” hence all Jesus’ sayings begin Jesus’ sayings begin “Blessed are………”“Blessed are………”

The BeatitudesThe Beatitudes

The Beatitudes have their The Beatitudes have their origin in the Jewish Scriptures origin in the Jewish Scriptures such as in:such as in:

a)a) Psalms: 41:1 “ Happy are those Psalms: 41:1 “ Happy are those who consider the poor”who consider the poor”

b)b) Psalms 106:3 “Happy are those Psalms 106:3 “Happy are those who observe justice, who do who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times”.righteousness at all times”.

The intention of the Beatitudes The intention of the Beatitudes is encouraging humans to is encouraging humans to aspire to certain aspire to certain virtues.virtues.

Jesus’ Commandment of Jesus’ Commandment of LoveLove

Christian ethics generally Christian ethics generally include repentance and love.include repentance and love.

Christians see that their God Christians see that their God is a God of love and this is is a God of love and this is expressed through Jesus.expressed through Jesus.

Jesus’ discussion of love has Jesus’ discussion of love has a Jewish context. a Jewish context.

This is a love with qualities This is a love with qualities of personal attachment. of personal attachment.

This is a love between God This is a love between God and humanity as expressed and humanity as expressed through the covenant through the covenant between God and Israel.between God and Israel.

Jesus’ Commandment of Jesus’ Commandment of LoveLove

Jesus’ commandment Jesus’ commandment of love is really about of love is really about a longing for God and a longing for God and the constant seeking the constant seeking of good in one’s of good in one’s neighbour.neighbour.

Love involves Love involves suffering yet, in suffering yet, in following Jesus’ path following Jesus’ path there is victory over there is victory over that suffering and that suffering and victory over sin and victory over sin and death.death.

PrayerPrayer Prayer may be public or private.Prayer may be public or private. Christian Churches generally Christian Churches generally

favour prayer and worship favour prayer and worship which is:which is:

a)a) PrivatePrivateb)b) CommunalCommunalc)c) LiturgicalLiturgical Prayer is a way for believers to Prayer is a way for believers to

have a relationship with the have a relationship with the divine.divine.

Some Christian variants also Some Christian variants also pray to intermediaries such as pray to intermediaries such as Mary, who they believe will act Mary, who they believe will act as a link to God.as a link to God.

PrayerPrayer Throughout history prayer has Throughout history prayer has

been described in many ways:been described in many ways:a)a) Raising the heart and mind to Raising the heart and mind to

GodGodb)b) Communion with GodCommunion with Godc)c) Attentiveness to GodAttentiveness to Godd)d) Attunement to the divineAttunement to the divine

Jesus is described as praying Jesus is described as praying privately, or in solitude. privately, or in solitude.

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

Prayer can be:Prayer can be:a)a) VocalVocalb)b) MentalMentalc)c) ContemplativeContemplatived)d) MeditativeMeditative

PrayerPrayerIn addition to connecting with God, the aims of prayer In addition to connecting with God, the aims of prayer

are often to:are often to:a) Celebrate one’s lifea) Celebrate one’s lifeb) Reflect on life and Godb) Reflect on life and Godc) Empty the selfc) Empty the selfd) Recollect Godd) Recollect Gode) Achieve inner stillnesse) Achieve inner stillness

Question TimeQuestion Time

What elements What elements of Judaism did of Judaism did Christianity Christianity assume?assume?