Churches Architecture and Beliefs

- Churches provide a place for individual and communal worship by creating a decorative design which reflects devotion to God,
Images which inspire Christians to focus on Jesus’ suffering, side chapels for private worship and statues of saints to inspire
Christians to follow their examples.
- Before 1965: Build facing towards Jerusalem, In the shape of a cross, with an alter against the east wall because the priest would
speak in Latin quietly not facing the audience.
- After 1965: Built to ensure as many people can attend the mass, the altar nearer to the center with some seats around the altar.

Main Parts of the Church

- Lectern: Reading stand. Old Testament which reminds how God guided his people and New Testament which shows how to act in
Jesus’ teachings. Needs to be in a prominent place so people can hear the word of God.
- Crucifix: Cross with Jesus, reminds us of the suffering Jesus went to and inspires gratitude.
- Alter: Place of sacrifice where we join Christ’s offering of himself to the father.
- Tabernacle: Box of consecrated bread, the Real presence of Christ which inspires a deep sense of peace. It is saved for those who
cannot attend mass such as the sick.

Contrasting Artifacts in Christianity

- An Alter is a place of sacrifice whereas a table is where people eat from. The most important Alter is Jesus Cross and Christians join
with him to give gratitude. Whereas the table reenacts the last supper and by Jesus giving disciples bread he gives them a share of
the effect of sacrifice. An alter reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice made repeatedly.
- A crucifix shows Christ crucified on the cross and reminds us of the suffering he went through and helps us feel grateful. A cross is a
symbol of Christ’s victory as he has risen from the cross, it also does not portray Jesus and emphasizes a new life as Christians. The
risen Christ focuses on Jesus as a Saviour and reminds that in holy communion we receive the body and blood of the Saviour. It also
emphasizes how important the resurrection was.

The role of Jesus in restoration

- God made all of creation perfect and gave them free will, but they used their free win to sin because they were born with a tendency
to sin – original sin, this broke the relationship between humanity and creation
- Jesus’ death: through Jesus showing total obedience to God, he sacrificed his life to help restore the relationship broken by sin.
- Jesus’ resurrection: When we were raised back, he broke the power of sin and death which restored the harmony of Creation.
- Jesus’ ascension: Helped restore the cosmic order by making the whole of creation perfect as intended to be.

Significance of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension

- Death and burial: Jesus redeemed humanity through his obedience to God and when he was suffering, he showed love, and even
after death he stayed with Christians by joining everyone who died before him.
- Resurrection: Made life after death possible as when Jesus was resurrected everyone before him rose to heaven with him
- Ascension: Jesus is with the Father and promised to send his Spirit down to people so that he can continue his work among the
people. It also gives hope that they will be raised up to heaven by following Jesus.
Salvation

- In the past Jesus’ death was essential to humanity salvation because he made it possible to go to heaven, in the present Salvation is
ongoing because the Holy spirit guides people and in the Future Salvation will be completed when the Kingdom of God will fully be
established, and people can experience the joy of heaven.
- In mass a reenactment of Christ offering himself up to the Father is performed and we receive the eucharist which gives us grace and
helps us become close to salvation. Mass is a chance to experience the heavenly banquet when salvation is complete.

St Irenaeus’ and St Anselm’s thoughts on Salvation

- St Anslem: Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating fruit from the tree and Jesus obeyed God by dying on the tree. Jesus restored the
relationship between humanity and God because of Adam and Eve’s rejection of God. The tree of knowledge brought death and evil
and the tree of the cross brought life offering eternal life in heaven. - Helps show parallel between the fall and Jesus but not all
Christians agree.
- St Anslem: The idea that Jesus’ death was paying a ransom for the broken relationship by Eve and Adam, this was done by showing
total obedience to God, and it allowed us to be freed from the effects of Sin. - Reflects the idea we are servants to Christ, not clear
who the ransom is played to – implies someone greater than God.

Importance of Conscience

- The voice of God in their hearts to guide to do what is right and everyone is born with it so that they instinctively do good and avoid
evil. Conscience needs to be developed by church teachings.
- The church teaches you should not ignore your conscience, but church teachings should not be ignored unless the conscience tells
you otherwise because it is the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Redemption during mass

- At the start the congregation represents the body of Christ on Earth and Christ is among them when they gather. Also, all sins
forgiven when you apologies to God – strengthens relationship with God.
- The readings remind Catholics that God has guided his people and it shows God as forgiving loving etc.
- The offertory shows thanksgiving as we bring the hosts to God as a sacrifice.
- The consecration: words of the last supper are repeated, and Jesus is present, which renews the new covalent and the relationship
between God and Humanity.
- Communion: Catholics are bound to Christ as they receive God’s grace, to help them resist sin.
- The end of mass everyone is blessed, and Catholics leave to share the presence of Christ with everyone they meet.

Mass as the source and Summit

- Mass is the summit of Christian life because the offering of Christ is the highest form of prayer to God because it reenacts Jesus’
sacrifice and celebrated the most important event in Christianity.
- Mass is the source of life because Body and blood of Christ gives life to the should and it keeps the Sabath day holy by celebrating
Jesus’ resurrection every Sunday.

Views of the Eucharist.

 - Orthodox: A priest can say mass on his own, Consecration takes place behind the iconostasis which is a screen which divides the
church because the consecration is too holy to be seen.
- Anglican: The bread and Wine do not become the body and blood.
- Christ is present in the community that receives Eucharist not the body or blood.
- Quakers and Salvation Army: Do not celebrate and Eucharist, they believe Jesus is present through the Holy spirit.
- Nonconformists: They believe the Eucharist is the memorial of the Last supper, and its purpose is to commemorate. Christ enters
peoples’ lives when they receive communion

Prayers in adoration

- Words of Institution: When the bread and wine become Christ, but it still looks the same. Shown in the words “this is my body”
- Agnus Dei: Last supper was a Passover meal celebrated by Jes. Which remembered events where Jews had to smear the blood of a
Lamb on their door. It reminds us that Jesus is the Lamb of God because his sacrifice saved Humanity from Death.
- Benediction: Eucharist adoration, which honours the presence of Christ in the Consecrated Bread and Wine.

Redemption in the Bible

- Mark tells how Jesus knew how much suffering Jesus will go through, but he was still obedient to God. In mark 15 Jesus died and veil
that separated the holy part of the temple was split in two, which shows that Jesus broke the barrier between God and humanity.
Mark 15 shows how Jesus experienced pain as a human, but by bringing God in this experience he was victorious, he made it
possible for all people to share in the defeat of suffering and death.
- In John when Jesus appeared to Mary after death, she did not recognize him immediately. Shows that Jesus restored creation by
making it more perfect.
- In acts 1 Jesus told his disciples they would be witnesses to his redemption, and he expected them to continue the spread of his
redemption after he was gone. He also said he would return – when redemption will be completed, and sin and death is defeated.
- In act 2 on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the courage to spread and instruct people so they could accept Jesus’
redemption.