Good And Evil Flashcards
Catholic response to evil
Free will
-gift from god
-god created humans with ability to choose between good and evil
-wrong leads to suffering
- humans are to blame and not god
-moral evil- free will
Original sin
- story of genesis tells how world was created
-Adam and eve decided to eat the forbidden fruit going against god
-all have original sin
-we all share same responsibility
St Augustine and evil
- evil is the privation of good
- existence of evil helps people to appreciate the good in the world. Being unwell helps us appreciate when we are healthy
- god allows suffering because he is omnipotent
- goodness and power is able to be brought out of suffering
Suffering
-when Christians suffering its a way to bring closer to jesus and a way of the greater good
- they believe it’s all a mystery but suffering is beneficial
-catholics share their suffering with god in prayer
-catholics help by giving to charity
-in a world with no suffering there are no moral virtues
Jews
-god cares for the world he has created and wouldn’t bring suffering about
Views on nature and origin of evil
Hick and Iraneus
-humans made in imago dei but are not perfect they need to grow to become spiritually perfect through suffering humans develop.
Jews
-don’t believe people are born with evil
-it’s a consequence of doing wrong
Non religious
-evil is a consequence of free will
-evil helps us become better people
-evil is necessary and it’s what shapes us
Incarnation
-god became visible in flesh
-reason why people call jesus the son of god
-Christian belied is that jesus is fully god and fully human
-he is one person with 2 natures
-we are shaped by god
-we are made to do good which is why there’s imago dei
-jesus is able to identify with human beings
-it’s a demonstration of gods immense love
-Christians should trust god
Jewish belief
-don’t accept jesus was good
-this challenges the beliefs that god is one
-this is stated in the Sheena and 10 commandments
Trinity and nicene creed
- simplest of catholic prayer is Trinitarian
- many prayers said in the name of trinity
- belief that there’s only one god
- god exists as three
- each are distinct from each other
- all fully god but there are not 3 gods
- doctrine if the trinity is set out in the nicene creed
- god the father created heaven and earth
- god the son is saviour
- the spirit guides and inspires
Jesus examples of moral behaviour
Sermon on the mount
-jesus told his disciples to love
-jesus have ya the golden rule
-jesus showed this in the way that he healed the sick
-he welcomed sinners
-jesus showed forgiveness to those who crucified him
Sermon on the mount
-jesus says the requirements of being a follower of Jesus goes further and deeper than the law of Moses
-key message- those who are closest to god are often those who the world does not recognise
Salvifici Doloris
- John Paul second
- document written
- said that the problem of evil is not easy to understand
- only way to understand is the gods love and sacrifice
- if we bear our suffering patiently then god will bring about good
Natural law
- idea that there is a discoverable moral law which applies to all humans
- put forward by Thomas Aquinas who said that all human beings have a purpose
- catholics would say that it’s the moral laws of right and wrong which are universal and not dependent on human laws.
Conscience
- st Thomas aquinas defined conscience as the mind of human beings making moral decisions
- catholics would have an obligation to follow their conscience
- must make sure their conscience is informed by the bible as interpreted
- belief that if people followed their conscience there would be less suffering
- existence of conscience is a proof of goodness of god
Michaelangelo’s pieta
- Mary is depicted as youthful and peaceful
- Mary seems at peace
- marys left hand is positioned with an open palm which is a sign of acceptance
- shows her as a mother as she is cradling Jesus
- marys right hand is covered by cloth which represents the sacredness
- Christ is presented almost as if he’s in peaceful sleep and not as if he is been bloodied and bruised
- wounds are hardly visible
Pilgrimage
Journey to a holy place Why? -helps strengthen their faith -shares their experience -pray for something special -pray for the sick -way of thanking god -seeking emotional healing -closer to god -part of church community Lourdes -young girl had a vision of Mary -Mary told bernadette to dig -it was said to have healing qualities -now thousands go to pray there
Rosary
Series of beads used to to concentrate during prayer
- most Catholics recite these from memory
- the fact they don’t need to concentrate allows them to think more deeply and connect with god
- catholics reflect on important events in their life of jesus and Mary
- it’s a form of meditation
- allows them to have free time and concentrate purely on god
- catholics can reflect on the different mysteries to find the problem to evil
- it allows them to be just like god
