Evil And Suffering Flashcards
1
Q
What is meant by ‘evil’?
A
The committing of harmful deeds, usually accompinied by suffering (through pain and distress).
2
Q
What are the three main qualities of God that Christians believe He has?
A
Christians believe that God has qualities that no other being has:
- Omnipotent
- Omniscient
- Omnibenevolent
3
Q
What does omnipotent mean, and how does it relate to God?
A
All Powerful
God must be able to remove evil and suffering.
4
Q
What does omniscient mean, and how does this relate to God?
A
All Knowing
God must know all the evil and suffering in the world.
5
Q
What does omnibenevolent mean, and how does this relate to God?
A
All Loving
God must want to remove all evil and suffering from His people.
6
Q
Due to the Christian belief that God has qualities of no other being, what is the problem of evil?
A
God having these qualities should mean that there should not be any evil or suffering, as all of these qualities would assist in stopping all evil and suffering.
7
Q
Which group of people have identified two types of evil?
A
Philosophers
8
Q
What are the two types of evil?
A
Moral & Natural
9
Q
What is meant by moral evil?
A
People’s deliberate cruel behaviour which is considered to be morally wrong.
10
Q
Give a major example of moral evil that has happened or may happen:
A
The Holocaust
World Wars
Civil Wars
Bombings
Murder
Theft
11
Q
What is meant by natural evil?
A
Events which harm or kill people but are not caused by humans.
12
Q
Give a major example of natural evil that has happened or may happen:
A
Natural Disasters (i.e: Tsunamis and Earthquakes)
13
Q
If God exists, why might he be allowing evil and suffering to exist and take place?
A
- Jesus suffered just like humans, which may make us feel closer to God.
- Humans need free will, but God can still acknowledge our choices.
- We need to learn from our mistakes.
- So that we may ask for the forgiveness of our sins and get rid of our temptations.
- Adam and Eve created original sin.
- So that those who are worthy can be chosen to go to heaven, and those who are unworthy can go to either purgatory or hell; in other words, it is a test of faith.
14
Q
Which Holy Book has records of many people who have demanded of God an explanation for all the suffering in the world?
A
The Bible
15
Q
Give an example of someone in the Bible who has had trouble understanding where God was in times of need.
A
King David
16
Q
What did King David cry out in one of his psalms when he was trying to find where God was in a time of despair?
A
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me?”
17
Q
Do Christians believe that God understands or doesn’t understand our suffering?
A
Christians believe that God understands our suffering.
18
Q
Who did Jesus suffer at the hands of?
Clue: They are people he may accept and not accept.
A
At the hands of both his friends and his enemies.
19
Q
What does it say in James 16 about God and free will?
A
“God created people in free will. God shares in the agony of people’s suffering like a mother watching her druggie son destroy his own life. The love of God is suffering love.”
20
Q
Why did God send his Son, Jesus to the world?
A
To rescue and help people.
21
Q
If Christians cannot always escape trouble, evil and suffering, what do they usually believe in?
A
They believe in and are confident of God’s support.
22
Q
In the short story/poem called the ‘Footprints’, what does it tell us about the Lord?
A
In this poem, the narrator looks back at his life and sees two sets of footprints in the sand, except during his most difficult times when there is only one set of footprints. The poem explains that the person was not walking alone, left by his Savior during these times. Instead, the Savior was carrying the person.
23
Q
What is the moral of the poem ‘Footprints in the Sand’?
A
You’re never alone, especially during your most trying, testing, and weariful times - God is always with you.
24
Q
Despite all the suffering in the world, Christians believe in who is in control, and what does this mean about the cause of suffering?
A
Christians believe that God is in control, and so he alone knows the reason for suffering.
25
Fill in the Blanks:
Christians believe in a ___ who understands what _________ is because he also suffered in the person of _____. However, ___ created people out of ____ and with the freedom of ______. This means that God will not intervene in every case to stop people from _________.
God, suffering, Jesus, God, love, choice, suffering
26
Who is St Maximillian Kolbe?
A Catholic Priest and Conventual Franciscan Friar.
27
What does 'conventual' mean?
Living under Monastic Vows
28
When and where was St Max Kolbe born?
8th Jan 1894, in Zdunska Wola, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
29
What was St Max Kolb's birth name?
Raymund Kolbe
30
Who did St Max Kolbe voluntarily die in place of and where?
He volunteered to die in place of a man named Francisek Gajowinczek, in the German Death Camp of Auschwitz.
31
Who did St Max Kolbe and his other friary members provide shelter to?
He and other friars in his friary provided shelter to refugees from Greater Poland, including 2000 Jews who were hiding from German persecution.
32
Why, when and where was St Jax Kolbe arrested?
He was arrested for providing shelter for refugees and Jews on the 17th Feb 1941 at the Pawiak Prison in Poland.
33
What were Kolbe and the remaining prisoners at Ausxhwitz told to do when the guards wanted the cell emptied?
They were executed with an acid injection, and Kolbe calmly volunteered to do so.
34
Why did Kolbe become a priest in the first place?
He had a vision with/from Mary.
35
At what age did Kolbe have a vision from Mary?
At age 10
36
What did Kolbe's vision of Mary consist of?
She offered him a white crown and a red crown, representing purity and martyrdom respectively. He chose both, a foreshadowing of his life to come.
37
What is St Max Kolbe a patron saint of?
He is the patron saint of amateur radio operators, drug addicts, political prisoners, families, journalists, prisoners, and the pro-life movement.
38
When St Kolbe was canonised, what did Pope John Paul II declare him as?
10 October 1982, John Paul II declared him “The Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century”.
39
What is St Kolbe known as a martyr of?
A martyr of Charity
40
What is a sacrament?
A movement of God's love and grace being poured into a person.
41
What is meant by 'spiritual'?
Non-Physical; to do with the Soul
42
What is meant by the word 'anoint'?
To rub with oil.
43
Give the Bible reference for the origins of the Sacrament of the Sick:
James 5:14
44
True or False:
The Sacrament of the Sick can only be celebrated by the dead.
False:
The Sacrament of the Sick can only be celebrated by living people.
45
True or False:
The Sacrament of the Sick should only be given to the dying.
False:
This Sacrament can be given to any baptised Christian member.
46
What are the two sacraments of healing?
Reconciliation
Anointing of the Sick
47
What was the Sacrament of the Sick previously known as and why?
It was known as 'the Last Rites' because at that time it was normally administered only when a patient was in extremis (near death).
48
Fill in the blanks:
The Sacrament of the Sick is given by God for our _________ health and __________.
spiritual, well-being
49
List the 3 repeatable sacraments
Eucharist (Holy Communion)
Reconciliation
Anointing of the Sick
50
Name 4 occasions on which we can receive the Sacrament of the Sick:
- Before Surgery or Operation
- Old Age
- In danger of death
- Long Term Illness
51
List the 4 effects of the Sacrament of the Sick:
- It unites the sick person with Jesus and his sacrifices.
- It forgives sin.
- It gives strength to the person.
- It prepares the person for their upcoming death.
52
What is euthanasia?
Euthanasia is gentle and usually easy ending the life of one who is suffering, intending to prevent more suffering, especially in cases of incurable and painful disease or distress.
53
List two other names for euthanasia.
Mercy Killing
Assisted Dying
54
What is voluntary euthanasia?
Where a person requests to do, and therefore makes it assisted suicide.
55
What is involuntary euthanasia?
A decision to die is given by another person, and not by yourself.
56
What is passive euthanasia?
The removal of medical equipment intending to end life.
57
What is active euthanasia?
Taking action that brings about death.
58
Under current UK laws, if anyone, including doctors, helps the sufferer to end their life, do they have the possibility of being charged with murder or manslaughter?
Yes.
59
What does society today aim to bring about a change when looking at laws regarding euthanasia?
- An adult person suffering from a severe illness, for which no relief is known, should be entitled by law to the mercy of painless death/euthanasia, if and only if that is what they desire.
- Doctors should be allowed to help incurable patients to die peacefully at their request, and the patient must have signed, at least 30 days before, a declaration that makes their request known.
59
What are some Christian teachings that may influence a decision of euthanasia?
• 'God made man in his own image' (Genesis 1: 27). Human life is a gift from God. It is sacred and has dignity.
• Death is an event in life, not the end of life.
• Jesus in the New Testament heals the sick and the dying.
• God gave man 'dominion over every living thing' (Genesis 1: 28). Humans have a responsibility to use God's gifts to the full.
• The body and spirit of the patient need care and love.
60
What is the Hospice movement, and how did it come about?
The hospice movement tries to help those who are soon to die spend their last few days in a loving and synoathetic environment so that they can die in dignity.
61
What did one of the Hospice movement's leaders, Dame Cicely Saunders, state about euthanasia?
"We have to concern ourselves with the quality of life as well as with its length."
62
Give some arguments for voluntary euthanasia:
• It can quickly and humanely end a patient's suffering.
• It can help to shorten the grief and suffering of the patient's loved ones.
• Everyone has the right to decide how they should die.
• If the law in the UK was changed, doctors could legally act on a patient's desire to die without further suffering.
• It would help others to face death if they realized they could die with dignity.
• It would help doctors if they knew of their patient's intentions.
• The initial decision about euthanasia could be made when the individual was not under the stress of immediate suffering or anxiety.
63
Give some arguments against euthanasia:
• There are many pain-killing drugs which can help the patient die naturally with dignity.
• A patient might not be able to make a rational decision or might change their mind but be incapable of telling the doctors.
• Many people recover after being 'written off' by doctors.
• Old people might feel they are a nuisance to others and opt for euthanasia when in their hearts they want to continue living.
• Life is a gift from God and only God can take it away.
• Euthanasia devalues life by making it disposable
- it could be the first step on to a slippery slope.
• The relationship of trust between doctors and patients could be destroyed. Under the Hippocratic Oath doctors must try to preserve life.
• If there were better facilities for caring for the dying, there would be less need for euthanasia.
64
What is a hospice?
A place where terminally ill people can go to receive palliative care.
65
What is palliative care?
Pain-relieving and comforting care without curing the cause of the illness.
66
What is a terminal illness?
An incurable illness is expected to result in the death of the patient.
67
What is the general objective of a hospice?
To offer care and support to dying people and their families.
68
What are the three main aims of a hospice?
1. To relieve pain. Doctors and nurses have perfected pain control through the use of drugs (thus hopefully removing the main fear that people have about dying).
2. To enable patients and their families to face up to death and talk about their anxieties and fears in an open, relaxed atmosphere. Hospice staff are trained to help people come to terms with their feelings, but only if asked; it is an important principle of hospice care that people are free to deal with death in their own way.
3. To care for the emotional needs of relatives, before, during and after a loved one’s death. Relatives may suffer from all kinds of emotions, whether guilt, anxiety or grief. This is particularly true when parents are losing a child.
69
What do hospice doctors and nurses do to spend a lot of time with each patient?
They sit with them; all staff are open and honest about death, so they talk, listen and pray with patients if they would like to.
70
A homely atmosphere is important in hospice care, and so what do hospices do to achieve this?
The walls are usually painted in bright colours with cheerful
pictures hanging on the walls and patients make their rooms homely too, with their duvet covers, rugs, photographs, pictures and so on. Visitors are welcome at any time of day. Patients have the opportunity to take part in activities like bingo, painting, seeing a loved pet, receiving a massage, going on a shopping trip, going to church, going for a walk, listening to music and so on. Every effort is made to cater for each patient’s needs.
71
Most hospices offer how many weeks of care if it is for a short term?
The average stay is 3 weeks.
72
Is it common for patients to have several short periods in a hospice before going home for a while, depending on their condition and their wishes?
Yes.
73
Why is the ability to choose where a patient would like to stay an important element of the hospice approach?
This is an important element in the hospice approach because it allows patients to retain a sense of independence while enabling them to also develop a relationship with hospice staff.
74
Is hospice care free, and does the NHS contribute to the hospice's costs?
Hospice care is free. The NHS contributes a portion of a hospice’s costs but most of its income comes from public donations.
75
For hospices to gain income from public donations, what do they frequently organise?
Hospices therefore frequently organise many fundraising activities and rely heavily on the kindness of volunteers to offer well-being services such as hairdressing and massage.
76
What is our local hospice?
St Raphael's in Sutton
77
How much money does St Raphael's need to raise to keep the hospice going?
£6.5M every year, and of that, the NHS gives only £1.7M each year.
78
As a local charity, 1 in how many people in Merton and Sutton does St Raphael's take care of?
1 in 4 people
79
When did St Raphael's open?
April 1987
80
What is a genocide?
The deliberate killing of a large group of people of a particular nation, religion, culture, tradition or ethnic group.
81
In Rwanda during the time of the Genocide, what percentage of people were Hutu, Tutsi, and Twi?
*(approximate values)*
Hutu - 85%
Tutsi = 15%
Twi - less than 1%
82
Who held power and occupied higher social positions in Rwanda?
The Tutsis held positions of power and tended to occupy higher social positions (as cattle herders, soldiers and administrators).
83
What were Hutus historically working as?
Farmers
84
Who created and formalised the three Rwandan groups?
They were formed under Belgian colonial rule.
85
Did the Belgians force citizens to carry ID cards?
Yes
86
When had the Hutus overthrown the Tutsi government?
1959
87
After the Hutu overthrow, who did they begin to massacre, and where did most people flee to?
They massacred Tutsis and moderate Hutus (ones who accepted/respected Tutsis), and they caused tens of thousands of Tutsis to flee to neighbouring Uganda.
88
Whilst in Uganda, what rebel group was formed by the Tutsis?
The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RDF).
89
How many years before the Rwandan genocide had the RDF invaded Rwanda, and what did this spark?
Four years before the genocide, the RDF had invaded Rwanda, sparking a civil war from 1990-1993.
90
Which year did the Rwandan genocide happen?
1994
91
To stop the fighting, what did the two groups sign?
To stop the fighting, the (Hutu) government had signed a compromise peace deal with the Tutsi rebels, which involved sharing power with them. This had infuriated Hutu extremists.
92
Which year is the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide?
2024
93
Is the Rwandan genocide part of one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century?
Yes
94
When was did a plane carrying Rwanda's president shot down when it prepared to land in Kigali, the capital?
6th April 1994
95
Within 30 minutes of the Rwandan plane crash, what was set up to check IDs, and what happened to a person if they were a Tusti?
Within 30 minutes of the crash, roadblocks had been set up around the city to check identity cards (which listed people’s ethnicity) and to kill those of Tutsi ethnicity on the spot.
96
To this day, has it been discovered as to who shot down the Rwandan plane?
No
97
While many accused Tutsi rebels of killing the president, what does some evidence suggest?
While many accused Tutsi rebels of killing the president, some evidence suggests that Hutu extremists planned the attack as a catalyst for a genocide that had been planned for a long time.
98
For how many days where how many people on estimate were killed during the Genocide?
In 100 days, from 6th April, an estimated 800,000 people were killed, mostly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus and Twa.
99
One in how many Rwandans, and what percentage of the Tutsi population had died?
One in ten Rwandans – and 70% of the Tutsi population – died.
100
What did the government (Hutu) controlled radios spread out?
Government-controlled radio stations spewed out propaganda, calling on Rwandans to kill the ‘cockroaches’ as well as the Hutus who gave them safety. The names of prominent people to be killed were also read out on the radio.
101
What happened to the leaders in South Rwanda, which had a large Tutsi population, who initially resisted the government's orders?
Leaders in the south, which had a large Tutsi population, initially resisted but were either killed or forced to comply.
102
True or False:
Hutu husbands murdered their own Tutsi wives; teachers killed pupils; priests and nuns killed those who came to churches to take
shelter.
True
103
What were the killers incentivised (motivated) by?
The killers were incentivised with the promise of food, livestock, money and rape, often told they could keep the land or property of those they killed.
104
How were most victims hacked to death?
With Machetes
105
What was used by HIV+ men as a tool of slow death during the genocide?
Women and girls were violently raped, often by HIV+ men, as a tool of slow death (including the babies born as a result of the rape).
106
How did the UN respond, but what happened to some of their peace-keeping forces' members?
The UN had a peacekeeping force in Rwanda, but on 7th April, one day after the plane crash and genocide, ten Belgian soldiers were murdered.
107
What happened when the leader of the UN in Rwanda asked for extra troops to cease the killings?
The UN refused. Instead, UN troop numbers were reduced from 2,548 to 270.
108
Five years after the genocide, what did a UN report find out?
Five years after the genocide, a UN report found that the UN and its member states had failed Rwanda deplorably. It ignored evidence that a genocide was planned and refused to act once it was underway.
109
Which European country was a close ally of the Hutu government, and what were they accused of doing to help them mass-kill more Tutsis?
France (a close ally of the Hutu government) was accused of actively supporting, and providing weapons for, the Hutus, and helping them escape Rwanda after the genocide.
110
Who led the RPF rebel army?
Paul Kagame
111
How did the RPF bring the genocide to an end?
The RPF rebel army, led by Paul Kagame, was well-organised and backed by Uganda. It launched an attack against the Hutus, very quickly taking control of Kigali and ending the genocide.
112
A few weeks after the genocide had ended, a president and vice-president were chosen - of what ethnic group were they?
A few weeks later, a Hutu was appointed president, and Kagame (a Tutsi), was appointed
vice-president.
113
How many Hutus fled to neighbouring countries in fear of retaliatory attacks by Tutsis?
Over two million Hutus fled to neighbouring countries – mostly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then called Zaire), Tanzania and Burundi – for fear of retaliatory attacks. Many such attacks did take place.
114
Soon after the genocide, what did the UN establish to bring the perpetrators (those who carry out harmful, illegal or immoral crimes) to justice?
the International Criminal Tribunal in Rwanda
115
How many of those in power at the time of the genocide were convicted/condemned?
62 of those in power at the time of the genocide were convicted, including the officer regarded as the architect of the genocide.
116
In many Rwandan courts, what had happened to some people who were involved with the massacre?
Rwanda’s national courts tried many other key figures, with 22 shot by firing squad, but the vast majority of alleged killers were tried in a form of local justice designed to encourage reconciliation.
117
How many genocide cases were tried in Rwandan courts?
1.9 Million Cases
118
Who is still ruling Rwanda today?
Paul Kagame
119
In which election did Kagame win by 98.8% of the votes?
2017
120
What happens today to those who oppose Kagame?
Opponents are often imprisoned, and some meet unexplained deaths.
121
Has the RPF made Rwanda one of the most stable and safe countries in Africa, with economic growth, despite it being a one-party state?
Yes
122
What are some of the impacts of the Rwandan genocide?
Many children were orphaned, the severe depopulation and destruction of the country crippled the economy, survivors live with injuries, disfigurement, and trauma and large numbers still live as refugees.
123
What happened to the terms Hutu, Tutsi and Twi?
They are now banned; people simply consider themselves as Rwandans.
124
Is the genocide still spoken about?
The genocide is not often spoken about, apart from during official remembrance ceremonies.
125
When was a new Rwandan flag adopted, and what do the colours and symbols represent?
The flag below was adopted in 2001. The blue band represents happiness and peace. The yellow band symbolizes economic development, the green band symbolizes the hope of prosperity and the sun represents enlightenment.
126
What is the name of the memorial to those who were murdered, as well as a museum to promote
reconciliation and awareness of genocide, and when was it opened?
In 2004, the Kigali Genocide Centre opened.
127
What is one objection to the film 'Shooting Dogs'?
The main characters are all white, whereas, in reality, they should have been Rwandans.
