Christianity Flashcards

Question

Significant person - St Francis of Assisi Impact St Francis had on Christianity Canticle of creation (Re - shaped the view of God's creation_

Answer 1

Francis demonstrates his personal spiritual relationship with God and creation. The words that he uses to address the world, such as ‘Brother,’ ‘Sister,’ or ‘Mother’, are not purely personifications with poetical relevance, but signify the spiritual relationship that Francis could enter into because he respected the sanctity of all created things. When considering the Canticle of the Sun in the wider context of Francis’s life, it is important to note that Francis is regarded as the patron saint of ecology in the modern world. Francis is concerned with the conviction that God is reflected in all created entities. Amongst the prevailing figures of spirituality in Francis’s time, he was commonly considered to be the saint who venerated the beauty of God’s creation and enforced the sanctity of life and the glory of existence, despite even the most severe suffering. Francis regards the world as sacred and created by God. In the Canticle of the Sun, Francis praises nature, as through the elements of the world, human hearts and minds can be raised to God.

Answer 2

First order The Lesser Brothers emerged from the "form of Gospel life" chosen by Francis and his first companions in Assisi. Their call to " follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ '' led Francis and his brothers "to leave the world" by rejecting the structures of Assisi's communal life to live at the margins of society among the poor and the outcasts. Second order (Poor Clares) The Order of Saint Clare, the Poor Clares, is part of the Franciscan family. It was founded in 1212 by St Francis and St Clare, to follow Christ in Gospel living with an apostolate of prayer. The Gospel life was the centre and heart of Clare’s spirituality and she lived this life within a specifically contemplative setting, in the little monastery of San Damiano outside the walls of Assisi. For Clare, to follow Christ meant to contemplate Christ and to imitate him. Other women, inspired by the same Spirit, soon joined her. Today there are Poor Clares in most countries of the world seeking to live the same Gospel life in the footsteps of Francis and Clare.

Answer 3

The Catechism contains the essential and fundamental content of the Catholic faith in a complete and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. It presents these truths in a way that facilitates understanding. Catechism of the Catholic Church 2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity. Use of the mineral, vegetable, and animal resources of the universe cannot be divorced from respect for moral imperatives. Man’s dominion over inanimate and other living beings granted by the Creator is not absolute; it is limited by concern for the quality of life of his neighbour, including generations to come; it requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation. 2416 Animals are Gods creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals. 2417 God entrusted animals to the stewardship of those whom he created in his own image. Hence it is legitimate to use animals for food and clothing. They may be domesticated to help man in his work and leisure. Medical and scientific experimentation on animals is a morally acceptable practice if it remains within reasonable limits and contributes to caring for or saving human lives. 2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to people.

Answer 4

How did Francis of Assisi inspire Laudato Si? (praise be to you) - The man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation - We don’t have a good relationship with creation these days - The beauty of the created world as the Book of Genesis tells us - Respecting God’s creatures - Radical poverty What does the encyclical call on Christians to do? - To protect all creation and to care for Mother Earth’s wounds - Pollution, global warming, drinkable water, disappearance of crops and animals - Ethical issue Companies that increase pollution in third world countries - Calls on Christians to embrace Ecological conversion protectors of God’s creation - Challenges everyday Christians to care and admire nature - Be responsible with the mission God entrusted to mankind with Creation - Cultivate and care for the garden in which he has placed us - Recycle, separate garbage and put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat

Answer 5

The Christian understanding of stewardship guards against selfish or careless exploitation of the world’s resources. · Sustainability - sustaining to keep and project the natural environments’ wellbeing · Responsibility - being responsible for creations nd taking care of all living things Outline the environmental issue of the loss of biodiversity - Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat. The main cause of the loss of biodiversity can be attributed to the influence of human beings on the world’s ecosystem. Describe a Christian Organisation that promotes stewardship as a response to the loss of biodiversity - Catholic Earthcare Australia is an ecological program first established in 2002 by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Its mission is to help promote understanding among people that creation is sacred and endangered, and must be protected and preserved for present and future generations What do they do? Catholic Earthcare Australia invites all people of good faith to journey with it and work on the urgent and critical tasks of safeguarding the integrity of creation, protecting Earth’s fragile ecosystems and providing a voice for communities and victims of environmental degradation, injustice and pollution.

Answer 6

Global justice and equity: environmental degradation is falling disproportionately on the poorer nations of the world. There is inherent injustice Climate change refugees “people who have been forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of a marked environmental disruption (natural and/or triggered by people) that jeopardises their existence and/or seriously affects the quality of their life” e.g. Kiribati has a population of 112,000 people. The Kiribati people will likely need to migrate from Kiribati because the recent changes to their environment (including - lack of rain, rising sea levels, salinity of water supply, stronger storm surges etc) means the country is becoming less sustainable and viable for living. Describe a Christian Organisation that promotes justice as a response to climate change refugees The Edmund Rice Centre is committed to the promotion of human rights, social justice and eco-justice through research, community education, advocacy and networking. Their priority areas are Indigenous People and Reconciliation, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and Pacific Island people affected by climate change. The Edmund Rice Centre has identified the impact of climate change, especially on our neighbours in the Pacific as a priority area. They strive to - Raise awareness about the causes of poverty and injustice and the need for human rights to be respected and advanced Advocate for the needs of groups who are systematically excluded locally and globally Promote social action that engages people in the work for social change

Answer 7

· Co-Creation is an interactive process by which the wisdom of God finds its expression through human beings, both individually and collectively Overconsumption is a situation where resource use has outpaced the sustainable capacity of the ecosystem. A prolonged pattern of overconsumption leads to environmental degradation and the eventual loss of resource bases A Rocha is a Christian nature conservation organisation, our name coming from the Portuguese for ‘the Rock’, as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal. A Rocha projects are frequently cross-cultural in character, and share a community emphasis, with a focus on science and research, practical conservation and environmental education. A Rocha supports biodiversity conservation projects that are managed by local members and associates, as well as develop networks around this vast country to encourage Creation care. A Rocha hosts annual national conferences with Bible colleges, mission agencies and churches.

Answer 8

Mission To bring about the reign To be a disciple Pollution is the introduction of contaminants such as foreign substances, energies, and humane activity into the natural environment that cause adverse change and damage. Hope For Creation is a movement of Australian Christians committing to prayer and action on pollution and climate change. Raise awareness about pollution and climate change Work with others to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions Advocate to politicians for stronger action on pollution and climate change Join with others in prayer and worship for creation