1. Theme 2 – Christianity - Atonement
By the end of this lesson you will:
Know the basic premises of the atonement
Be taught the underlying assumptions about the need for Divine Atonement
Considered the conflict between God’s love and wrath in the atonement

2. Spec Check AO1 AO2 C) The Atonement
The three theories of atonement. The underlying assumptions about the need for Divine forgiveness and the conflict between the wrath and love of God in theories of atonement
The extent to which the three theories of atonement are contradictory
The extent to which the three theories suggest that the Christian God is cruel

3. Atonement Definition:
i) the action of making amends for a wrong or injury.
"he submitted his resignation as an act of atonement"
ii) (in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin.
"an annual ceremony of confession and atonement for sin"
TASK: Discuss with your partner times that you have atoned for your wrongdoings
Consider the extent to which humans need atonement for their actions
Re-cap – Christian belief of the wrongdoing of humanity

4. Reciprocal Reading
As a group, read ‘atonement in Christianity’ in your pink booklets and answer the questions on the following sheet.
Make notes on atonement in your booklets as you go along

5. Three views of Atonement
In Christianity, atonement is the idea that God purifies individual sin and reconciles the world to himself. The instrument of this atonement is Jesus’ death on the cross.
There are 3 views of the Atonement that you must speak about in an essay:
1. The atonement as a victory (Christus Victor)
2. Atonement as Satisfaction and Penal Substitution
3. Atonement as a moral example
TASK: Get into groups of 3. Decide which of the three ‘views’ you want to read in your pink booklet
Read your view individually
Make notes on your view
Share with the other people in your group

6. View 1: Atonement as Victory
The idea that Jesus won victory over evil
He was the ultimate sacrifice to restore the relationship between God and the people
The concept of sacrifice was prevalent in the Old Testament – so this theme makes sense
This is why Jesus is also known as the Lamb of God
Christus Victor – Gustaf Aulen repopularised Christus victor in 20th century – Christ won the ultimate victory

7. View 2: Atonement as satisfaction and penal substitution
The idea that Jesus repaired our sins.
The sin of humans was too great to be repaired by human alone. Required Jesus to repair the relationship for us.
Anselm proposed the idea that humanity owed a debt
God had to ‘repay his own debt’ by killing himself
Penal Substitution: Based on the idea of a Just god that would WANT to repair our sins

8. View 3: Atonement as a moral example
First formulated by Augustine
The idea that Jesus killed himself to show how much he loves humans
Modern liberal theologians uphold this view
Jesus didn’t die because of a ‘debt’ or a ‘victory’ over sin

9. Underlying Assumptions about the need for Atonement
On your whiteboards, write down as many assumptions as you can think of for the need for atonement
Did you get:
The assumption that humans are sinful
The assumption that original sin exists
The assumption that humans needed saving

10. The Conflict Between the Wrath and Love of God in Atonement
The atonement presents Christians with a conflict about the nature of God
On the one hand (particularly the God of the Old Testament) we see wrath, vengeance and anger
On the other hand (Jesus in the New Testament) we see a God who is meek, a sacrifice and a saviour for our sins
This creates a conflict and presents us with many questions: Why would God create original sin in order for Jesus to just save us anyway? Why create a heaven AND a hell if Jesus atones for sins to send us all to heaven?

11. Recap plenary- pick at least 4 words from the selection below & explain them! Blue = 1 point each Red = 2 points each Black = 3 points each
Atonement
Victor
The cross
Adam and Eve
Exodus 12
John 1
Augustine
Gustaf Aulen
Penal Substitution

12. Theme 2 – Christianity – Atonement AO2
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Consider the extent to which the three theories of the atonement are compatible
Consider the extent to which atonement makes the Christian God appear cruel
Formulate your own conclusions

13. Spec Check AO1 AO2 C) The Atonement
The three theories of atonement. The underlying assumptions about the need for Divine forgiveness and the conflict between the wrath and love of God in theories of atonement
The extent to which the three theories of atonement are contradictory
The extent to which the three theories suggest that the Christian God is cruel

14. Recap starter- pick at least 4 words from the selection below & explain them! Blue = 1 point each Red = 2 points each Black = 3 points each
Atonement
Victor
The cross
Adam and Eve
Exodus 12
John 1
Augustine
Gustaf Aulen
Penal Substitution

15. Are the three images of the atonement contradictory?
This question essentially asks us whether we can harmonise the three images of atonement OR whether they remain contradictory.
REMAIN CONTRADICTORY:
The theories arose at different times making them incompatible. The moral example theory was 3rd century a.d and the penal substitution didn't appear until 16th Century a.d.
Proponents of both the moral example theory and the penal substitution theory believe that only their views are supported by the New Testament
Liberal Christians tend to prefer the moral example view, whereas conservative Christians tend to prefer the penal substitution theory

16. Are the three images of the atonement contradictory?
CAN BE HARMONISED:
John Stott suggested that the moral example modwel can be seen as part of the penal substitution model. He states that the penal substitution focuses entirely on the death of Jesus whereas the moral example looks at the wider context of Jesus’ life
Maybe the new testament doesn’t contradict itself. It could be argued that when James says ‘you foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?’ – he is claiming that salvation by faith and salvation by personal moral effort are not separate theories

17. Do the images of atonement suggest that the Christian God is Cruel?
Some could argue that God is a vengeful God who perpetrates a cosmic form of child abuse – why on earth would he want his own son to die for him?
CRUEL

18. Do the images of atonement suggest that the Christian God is Cruel?
NOT CRUEL
Others may say the fact that Jesus resurrected from the dead suggests God isn’t cruel. Jesus death wasn’t the end – he overcame death – the most powerful concept

19. Do the images of atonement suggest that the Christian God is Cruel?
NOT CRUEL
It could be argued that Jesus went willingly into his own death. Therefore, God wasn’t being cruel. Jesus had free choice over his own death to atone for human sins

20. Do the images of atonement suggest that the Christian God is Cruel?
It could be suggested that the satisfaction model, based on medieval concepts, portrays God as some sort of feudal overlord who is more concerned with his own hurt pride than with the hurt experienced by his son
CRUEL

21. Do the images of atonement suggest that the Christian God is Cruel?
The idea that Jesus was some mere sacrificial lamb seems to make God look cruel. Jesus is just an Old Testament scapegoat. God looks like an angry tyrant
CRUEL

22. Do the images of atonement suggest that the Christian God is Cruel?
NOT CRUEL
The very word ‘atonement’ expresses the idea that there was a NEED for sinful humans to be reconciled. Jesus’ death was just a means to a perfect end.

23. Conclusions Write a conclusion for the following questions:
‘The three images of atonement can’t be harmonised’. Discuss this view
‘The Christian God’s cruelty is evident in the view of atonement’. Discuss this view

24. Theme 2 – Christianity – Atonement AO2
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
Consider the extent to which the three theories of the atonement are compatible
Consider the extent to which atonement makes the Christian God appear cruel
Formulate your own conclusions