Creation and Christian Understandings of God

Creation

Thinking about the Christian Creation story found in Genesis, reflect on the following questions:

• What do you know about the Christian Creation story?
• Do all Christians have the same beliefs about the Creation story? What are their differences?
• What questions do you have about the Christian Creation story?
• Is the Christian Creation story different to your own? If so, how?
• What does the Christian Creation story say about what God is like? What can you infer?
• What does the word ‘creator’ mean to you?

Watch the video below of an Imam, a Rabbi and a Pastor talking about their interpretations of Creation:

In the video above, there is discussion of the story of creation being celebrated in making connection to the earth. There is a belief within Christianity that humans were created to be stewards of the earth, to look after the earth God created.

What might celebrating a connection to the earth look like?

In this next video, from Green Christian, there is discussion here about Forest Church. Watch the video to find out more:

What thoughts and feelings come up for you about the idea of Forest Church?

What does it suggest about where people can experience the divine?

God

Some christians believe in God as the Trinity. Christians are monotheists, meaning they believe in one God, but some believe that God appears in three forms: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Research 

Not all Christians hold the same beliefs about the Trinity, and not all Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity at all. For example, Catholics and Protestants have different views, as do Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Research the differing beliefs about the Trinity.

Reflection

What does ‘creator’ mean to you?

How can one thing also be three?

How would you describe the Trinity in your own words?

In your view, what ways might the divine presence be experience on earth?

Incarnation:

The incarnation, or birth of Jesus, is celebrated through the Christian festival of Christmas. There are many traditions around this time of year, some that may have come from earth based traditions, but for Christians, Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus.

Watch the video below, put together by the Church of England, where Reverend Kate Bottley shares her Christmas joy.

Crucifixion and Resurrection:

The crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus is marked through the Christian festival of Easter.

Atonement and Love:

For many Christians, it is believed that Jesus’ death atoned for human sins. Humanity’s sins had created a barrier between God and humans, Jesus’ death is thought of as the final sacrifice needed to heal the broken relationship between humans and God.

The video below, filmed by a Christian and therefore talks from a Christian point of view, illustrates the role Jesus has for Christians in restoring their relationship with God.

As a result of Jesus’ death as an atonement for human sin, allowing Jesus to enter the heart allows for grace of God to remove human sin, offering humanity salvation.

In this video, Cynthia Bourgeault, who is explored in the OneSpirit training, explains God’s love for the world.

Research

Research how different Christian denominations celebrate Easter.

Maybe you could visit your local Church, or carry out some internet research.

Reflection

What does the word ‘grace’ mean to you?

How about the words ‘atonement’ and ‘sin’ – how do these words sit with you?

Can you describe what love means to you, and how you show it in today’s world?

Who is Jesus?

Was Jesus a healer, a teacher, or both?

Read the Biblical passage below, following this framework to guide your reading. This framework is an introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina:

• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?

Research

Research some more biblical passages where Jesus could be described as healer and as teacher.
When reading the biblical passages, follow this same structure:
• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?

You can use the following website at this link to support you with this:https://www.biblegateway.com/

Listen to the talk from Richard Rohr in the video below. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar and founder of the Centre for Action and Contemplation, which you can find our more about at the link here:https://cac.org/about/richard-rohr/

In this video, he discusses the emphasis he feels should be placed on Jesus as healer and transformer.
The video itself is a little grainy, but the speech is audible.

Reflection

Who is Jesus to you? Healer, teacher, or maybe something different?

Belief in Jesus

Read the Biblical passage below, following the same framework:

• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?

Reflection 

What feelings arise for you from the second commandment?

What does it mean to you to love your neighbour?

There are many ways that Christians live their lives following in the footsteps of Jesus. Some may give to charity, or work for a charity or choose to become a doctor. Others may become ordained to continue to spread Jesus’ message. Another way some Christians express their belief in Jesus is through the idea of street ministry.

Watch the video below to see Canterbury Street Pastors in Action:

Another example of street ministry and community based ministry can be seen through the work of OneSpirit ordained Minister, Andrew Ramage. You can find out more about the work Andrew and his community church in Brighton do at the link here: https://www.mccbrighton.org.uk/

Here is a video of Andrew talking about Justice and Jesus at his community Church:

You can read more about Andrew’s journey on our blog at the link here:https://www.interfaithfoundation.org/news/2022/2/23/street-ministry-showing-up-with-faith

Reflection

When you think of Jesus, what characteristics do you associate with the figure of Jesus?

Is he a positive figure for you, or not?

Introduction 

Christian Scripture

The Bible is the Christian Holy book, and is divided into two; the Old Testament and the New Testament. Christianity draws on Jewish Scriptures, the Tenakh, which Christians refer to as the Old Testament. As Jesus was a Jewish man, the teachings of the ‘Old Testament’ are still important to many Christians. The life of Jesus is detailed in the four Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament.

There are many different translations of the Bible available, the one that is generally used in Theological study is the NRSV translation. You can find an online version of the Bible at the link here:https://www.biblegateway.com/

You are also able to explore some of the different translations available at the link above, and you can see that the same scripture may be written differently depending on the translation you are referring to. During OneSpirit’s Ministry Training, the practice of Lectio Divina is explored in relation to reading Biblical Scriptures. This is a meditative way of reading scripture, encouraging you to read, reflect, respond and rest as you read. There will be an introduction to this in the Who Is Jesus lesson of the module.

The Bible is interpreted in many different ways. Some Christians take a literal understanding from the Bible, believing it to be the absolute word of God written down by humans. Others believe that the Bible is inspired by God, written by humans. Some Christians believe the Bible is written by humans and contains a spiritual message of the authors interpreting the world around them through their belief in God.

Watch the video below to further explore Christian sacred texts and how they are used by different Christian denominations:

Nag Hammadi 

The Nag Hammadi is a collection of over 50 texts including different Gospels that we find in the common Bible today. This collection was found in Egypt and are often called the Gnostic Gospels, associated with an early Christian movement that was deemed heresy. You can find out more about the Nag Hammadi collection and the Gnostic Gospels at the link here: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/the-nag-hammadi-codices/

Watch the video below of Dr Roberta Mazza talking about the Gospel of Mary, a text found in the Nag Hammadi collection.

Meggan Watterson, theologian and author, has spent much of her life searching for the divine feminine. Through her work, Watterson says there is a ‘red thread’ that can be seen through many religions, that to really find the divine you have to go within. https://www.megganwatterson.com/about-meggan

Watterson’s book, Mary Magdalene Revealed explores this feminine divine, taking the Gnostic Gospel of Mary to show the love that is at the very heart of Christianity, emphasising the importance of going inward in search of the divine. In this video, Meggan Watterson talks to Michelle Pilley about her book.

This video is 38 minutes long, you may choose to only watch the opening minutes where Meggan discusses the inspiration behind her work and the book. 

Reflection

You may wish to research and reflect upon the different translations of the Bible.

Do you have any preconceptions about Christian Scripture?

Are any of these challenging to you in any way?

Creation and Christian Understandings of God

Creation

Thinking about the Christian Creation story found in Genesis, reflect on the following questions:

• What do you know about the Christian Creation story?
• Do all Christians have the same beliefs about the Creation story? What are their differences?
• What questions do you have about the Christian Creation story?
• Is the Christian Creation story different to your own? If so, how?
• What does the Christian Creation story say about what God is like? What can you infer?
• What does the word ‘creator’ mean to you?

Watch the video below of an Imam, a Rabbi and a Pastor talking about their interpretations of Creation:

In the video above, there is discussion of the story of creation being celebrated in making connection to the earth. There is a belief within Christianity that humans were created to be stewards of the earth, to look after the earth God created.

What might celebrating a connection to the earth look like?

In this next video, from Green Christian, there is discussion here about Forest Church. Watch the video to find out more:

What thoughts and feelings come up for you about the idea of Forest Church?

What does it suggest about where people can experience the divine?

God

Some christians believe in God as the Trinity. Christians are monotheists, meaning they believe in one God, but some believe that God appears in three forms: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Research 

Not all Christians hold the same beliefs about the Trinity, and not all Christians believe in the doctrine of the Trinity at all. For example, Catholics and Protestants have different views, as do Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Research the differing beliefs about the Trinity.

Reflection

What does ‘creator’ mean to you?

How can one thing also be three?

How would you describe the Trinity in your own words?

In your view, what ways might the divine presence be experience on earth?

Incarnation:

The incarnation, or birth of Jesus, is celebrated through the Christian festival of Christmas. There are many traditions around this time of year, some that may have come from earth based traditions, but for Christians, Christmas is a time to remember the birth of Jesus.

Watch the video below, put together by the Church of England, where Reverend Kate Bottley shares her Christmas joy.

Crucifixion and Resurrection:

The crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus is marked through the Christian festival of Easter.

Atonement and Love:

For many Christians, it is believed that Jesus’ death atoned for human sins. Humanity’s sins had created a barrier between God and humans, Jesus’ death is thought of as the final sacrifice needed to heal the broken relationship between humans and God.

The video below, filmed by a Christian and therefore talks from a Christian point of view, illustrates the role Jesus has for Christians in restoring their relationship with God.

As a result of Jesus’ death as an atonement for human sin, allowing Jesus to enter the heart allows for grace of God to remove human sin, offering humanity salvation.

In this video, Cynthia Bourgeault, who is explored in the OneSpirit training, explains God’s love for the world.

Research

Research how different Christian denominations celebrate Easter.

Maybe you could visit your local Church, or carry out some internet research.

Reflection

What does the word ‘grace’ mean to you?

How about the words ‘atonement’ and ‘sin’ – how do these words sit with you?

Can you describe what love means to you, and how you show it in today’s world?

Who is Jesus?

Was Jesus a healer, a teacher, or both?

Read the Biblical passage below, following this framework to guide your reading. This framework is an introduction to the practice of Lectio Divina:

• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?

Research

Research some more biblical passages where Jesus could be described as healer and as teacher.
When reading the biblical passages, follow this same structure:
• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?

You can use the following website at this link to support you with this:https://www.biblegateway.com/

Listen to the talk from Richard Rohr in the video below. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan friar and founder of the Centre for Action and Contemplation, which you can find our more about at the link here:https://cac.org/about/richard-rohr/

In this video, he discusses the emphasis he feels should be placed on Jesus as healer and transformer.
The video itself is a little grainy, but the speech is audible.

Reflection

Who is Jesus to you? Healer, teacher, or maybe something different?

Belief in Jesus

Read the Biblical passage below, following the same framework:

• Read more than once
• Read aloud if you can
• What words and/or phrases jump out to you?
• What feelings arise as you read this passage?

Reflection 

What feelings arise for you from the second commandment?

What does it mean to you to love your neighbour?

There are many ways that Christians live their lives following in the footsteps of Jesus. Some may give to charity, or work for a charity or choose to become a doctor. Others may become ordained to continue to spread Jesus’ message. Another way some Christians express their belief in Jesus is through the idea of street ministry.

Watch the video below to see Canterbury Street Pastors in Action:

Another example of street ministry and community based ministry can be seen through the work of OneSpirit ordained Minister, Andrew Ramage. You can find out more about the work Andrew and his community church in Brighton do at the link here: https://www.mccbrighton.org.uk/

Here is a video of Andrew talking about Justice and Jesus at his community Church:

You can read more about Andrew’s journey on our blog at the link here:https://www.interfaithfoundation.org/news/2022/2/23/street-ministry-showing-up-with-faith

Reflection

When you think of Jesus, what characteristics do you associate with the figure of Jesus?

Is he a positive figure for you, or not?

Introduction 

Christian Scripture

The Bible is the Christian Holy book, and is divided into two; the Old Testament and the New Testament. Christianity draws on Jewish Scriptures, the Tenakh, which Christians refer to as the Old Testament. As Jesus was a Jewish man, the teachings of the ‘Old Testament’ are still important to many Christians. The life of Jesus is detailed in the four Gospels, the first four books of the New Testament.

There are many different translations of the Bible available, the one that is generally used in Theological study is the NRSV translation. You can find an online version of the Bible at the link here:https://www.biblegateway.com/

You are also able to explore some of the different translations available at the link above, and you can see that the same scripture may be written differently depending on the translation you are referring to. During OneSpirit’s Ministry Training, the practice of Lectio Divina is explored in relation to reading Biblical Scriptures. This is a meditative way of reading scripture, encouraging you to read, reflect, respond and rest as you read. There will be an introduction to this in the Who Is Jesus lesson of the module.

The Bible is interpreted in many different ways. Some Christians take a literal understanding from the Bible, believing it to be the absolute word of God written down by humans. Others believe that the Bible is inspired by God, written by humans. Some Christians believe the Bible is written by humans and contains a spiritual message of the authors interpreting the world around them through their belief in God.

Watch the video below to further explore Christian sacred texts and how they are used by different Christian denominations:

Nag Hammadi 

The Nag Hammadi is a collection of over 50 texts including different Gospels that we find in the common Bible today. This collection was found in Egypt and are often called the Gnostic Gospels, associated with an early Christian movement that was deemed heresy. You can find out more about the Nag Hammadi collection and the Gnostic Gospels at the link here: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-artifacts/the-nag-hammadi-codices/

Watch the video below of Dr Roberta Mazza talking about the Gospel of Mary, a text found in the Nag Hammadi collection.

Meggan Watterson, theologian and author, has spent much of her life searching for the divine feminine. Through her work, Watterson says there is a ‘red thread’ that can be seen through many religions, that to really find the divine you have to go within. https://www.megganwatterson.com/about-meggan

Watterson’s book, Mary Magdalene Revealed explores this feminine divine, taking the Gnostic Gospel of Mary to show the love that is at the very heart of Christianity, emphasising the importance of going inward in search of the divine. In this video, Meggan Watterson talks to Michelle Pilley about her book.

This video is 38 minutes long, you may choose to only watch the opening minutes where Meggan discusses the inspiration behind her work and the book. 

Reflection

You may wish to research and reflect upon the different translations of the Bible.

Do you have any preconceptions about Christian Scripture?

Are any of these challenging to you in any way?