Christian beliefs and teachings

Christianity is the world's largest religion, with about 2.4 billion followers. AQA expects detailed knowledge of Christian beliefs about God, Jesus and salvation, with the ability to compare Catholic and Protestant viewpoints.

The nature of God

Christians believe in one God (monotheism) who is:

• Omnipotent — all-powerful (Genesis 1: God spoke creation into being).
• Omniscient — all-knowing.
• Omnibenevolent — all-loving (1 John 4:8 — "God is love").
• Just — fair, holds people accountable.
• Merciful — willing to forgive.

These attributes can seem contradictory — the problem of evil asks how a loving, all-powerful God allows suffering. Christian responses include free will (God allows freedom even though it produces evil), the Augustinian theodicy (suffering is the consequence of human sin) and the Irenaean theodicy (suffering helps souls develop).

The Trinity

A central but mysterious Christian belief: God exists as three persons in one substance — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each is fully God; together they are one God.

• Father — creator and sustainer.
• Son — Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God on Earth.
• Holy Spirit — God active in the world today, especially in believers.

The doctrine was formalised at the Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and is summarised in the Nicene Creed: "We believe in one God… and in one Lord Jesus Christ… and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life." All mainstream denominations (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) accept the Trinity.

Creation

The book of Genesis begins: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Christians broadly agree God is the Creator, but interpret Genesis differently:

• Literalist (creationist) — God created the universe in six 24-hour days, ~6 000 years ago.
• Theistic evolutionists — accept the Big Bang and evolution as how God created; Genesis is a theological, not scientific, account.

Most mainstream Christians today hold the second view. The Catholic Church explicitly accepts the Big Bang and evolution.

The creation story shapes Christian environmental ethics. Two interpretations:

• Dominion (Genesis 1:28 — "fill the earth and subdue it") — humans rule over creation.
• Stewardship — humans care for the earth on God's behalf; favoured today.

Jesus Christ

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity and central to Christianity. Key beliefs:

• Incarnation — God became fully human in Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1–2).
• Crucifixion — Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, around 30 CE. Christians see this as a sacrificial act for humanity's sins (atonement).
• Resurrection — Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Foundational; without it, "our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (1 Corinthians 15:14).
• Ascension — 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven; he is now "seated at the right hand of the Father".

Salvation

Salvation = being saved from sin and given eternal life with God. Key concepts:

• Sin — originally human disobedience to God (Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit). All humans inherit this original sin.
• Grace — God's unearned love and forgiveness, freely given.
• Atonement — reconciliation with God; Christians believe Jesus' death "paid the price" for sin.
• Faith vs works — Protestants emphasise faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9). Catholics also emphasise good works and the sacraments.

Afterlife

Christians believe in life after death. Key beliefs:

• Resurrection of the body at the end of time.
• Judgement — God judges every person (Matthew 25:31–46).
• Heaven — eternal life with God for the saved.
• Hell — separation from God for those who reject him. Some Christians see it as literal punishment; others as the absence of God's presence.
• Purgatory (Catholic only) — a state of cleansing for those destined for heaven.

Comparing Catholic and Protestant beliefs

Topic	Catholic	Protestant
Authority	Bible + Tradition + Pope	Bible alone (sola scriptura)
Salvation	Faith + works + sacraments	Faith alone (sola fide)
Sacraments	Seven	Two (baptism + Eucharist)
Mary	Strong devotion (Immaculate Conception, Assumption)	Honoured but not worshipped
Purgatory	Yes	No
Eucharist	Transubstantiation (bread/wine become body/blood)	Symbolic or 'real presence' depending on tradition

Examiner tips

For 12-mark "evaluate" questions, you must give two contrasting Christian views (often Catholic vs Protestant), supported by scripture or church teaching. Always cite a Bible quote where possible — even paraphrased counts. Show agreement and disagreement within Christianity, not just between Christians and atheists.