Key Beliefs (Junior Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes
📚Revision Notes
Key Beliefs
Foundation of Christian life
Christians aim to live according to Jesus' teachings, focusing on faith and love. Their daily lives are guided by the values that Jesus demonstrated and taught during his time on Earth.
Core Christian beliefs
The Trinity
Christians hold the fundamental belief that God exists as three persons: the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This concept is known as the Trinity.
Important
Each person of the Trinity is fully God, yet they remain one God. This can be visualised as three interconnected circles representing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with God at the centre where they all meet.
Death and resurrection of Jesus
A central Christian belief concerns Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on a cross, dying for humanity's sins, and after his death, Jesus rose from the dead (resurrection).
Note
This event demonstrates God's power over death and offers hope of eternal life. This belief is often represented through images showing Jesus' crucifixion, his burial, and his emergence from the tomb.
God the creator
Christians view God as the creator of all existence. They believe God's creative power extends to every aspect of reality.
Note
God's Creation Encompasses:
- All humanity
- Planet Earth and the natural world
- The entire universe
- Everything both visible and invisible
This belief emphasises God's power and authority over all creation, making humans part of a larger divine plan.
Summary
Key Points to Remember:
- Trinity - Christians believe God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Crucifixion and resurrection - Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead
- God as creator - Christians believe God made everything in existence
- Faith and love - Christian life is based on following Jesus' values
- Churches - Different denominations worship in buildings with unique features reflecting their beliefs