God and the Person

Religion and the emergence of values Religion and the emergence of values. (how does religion influence the type of values that you have?) This whole section of the course is about searching for meaning in life - looking at the big questions! An understanding of God - and God’s relationship with human beings is central to a religious response to life.

Today: We will revise how our understanding of God influences: 1. Our understanding of ourself 2. Our understanding of our World.

The Relationship between God and the Individual is crucial to all three major world religions. The Syllabus requires that you explore the relationship between God and the Person in two religions 1. Christianity 2. Islam.

God and the Person in Christianity Christians believe that they have a ‘personal’ relationship with God. They believe that God loves and cares and forgives every single person. This close relationship between God and the individual is central to Christianity. Christians believe that God wants us to reach our full potential. Christians believe that life came from God and so is sacred.

God and the Person in Christianity Christians believe in the same God as Jews and Muslims. Christians believe in the Genesis accounts of creation and they believe that God made the world. Christians believe that everything God created is good. Christians believe that they have been given the special task of caring for the earth. This is called ‘Stewardship’

God and the Person in Christianity God wants us to care for the Earth. If it matters to God how we treat the earth well then we can see failure to do so as being sinful.

God and the Person in Christianity In Christianity God is revealed in a very special way through Jesus Christ. Up to this point God was present but invisible - He became visible through Jesus Christ. The life of Jesus shows Christians how to live. He wanted a balanced world. Where there was hatred he wanted love, war - peace, evil - goodness, etc.

God and the Person in Christianity Jesus was loving, kind and this showed us that God was loving and kind and all Christians were called to live as Jesus lived. God showed us that he loved everybody through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

God and the Person in Islam Islam is one of the 3 major world religions Belief in the same God as Jews and Christians God speaks directly to Muslims through their holy book, The Qur’an. They believe this to be the exact words of God (Allah) ‘God and the Person’ in Islam is wrapped up in the 5 pillars.

God and the Person in Islam Muslims believe that God spoke directly to the prophet Muhammad. Muhammad wrote down God’s words in the Qur’an. A key belief in Islam is the first pillar - The Shahada - ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messanger’ Muslims believe in and worship this one true God. There are strict rules against polytheism.

God and the Person in Islam Allah, in the Qur’an is described most often as ‘merciful’. Muslims believe that creation is Allah’s greatest gift to humanity. Muslims believe that Allah provides for all his people... ...and in return all people should respond with reverence and gratitude. This attitude should prevail all life.

God and the Person in Islam Islam means ‘submission’ and muslims believe that they should be submitting their lives to God. An example of this submission is that they must pray 5 times a day (Salat) This is profoundly symbolic of religious belief in Islam

God and the Person in Islam The Qur’an (the word of Allah) warn people from being arrogant and selfish. The Qur’an says that all Muslims need to help the weak and the needy (Zakat) The five Pillars of Islam is Gods way of leading Muslims to live the best life that they can.

God and the Person in Islam The relationship between muslims and Allah is a loving and merciful one. Muslims believe that they cannot have the same ‘personal’ relationship that Christians have with God. The relationship between Muslims and Allah is lived out through the 5 pillars of Islam.