Kingdom Of God Flashcards
What is kingdom of God
The idea of God’s authority and rule. It is seen among Jesus’ followers
Began when Jesus was born, established through his resurrection and holy spirit through christians and completed at the end of time
Explain ways which the Lords prayer influences catholics
• it assures Christians that God is a loving Father with whom they can have a relationship but who at the same time is transcendent, beyond their understanding
• it reminds Christians that through forgiveness of their sins they are part of God’s Kingdom/but this entails willingness to forgive the sins of their fellow humans etc.
How is kingdom values shown in Christian vocations
• by becoming a priest, a man commits himself totally to the work of God on earth by taking vows of poverty and obedience to show that he is obedient from the normal values of human life. He is a sign to other people of how to follow Jesus’ example of service/just as Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, so the priest is called to serve other people with his whole life
Being a Member of a religious order means that a person has got to ‘take up his cross’ and follow Christ by being obedient to God. This has to be done without any questions asked. A vow of poverty shows that the monk or nun does not want to be tied to material objects but is following the command of Jesus ‘seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be given to you’.
Family: Love unites a family, parents teach values that spread the Kingdom
Signs of kingdom values and how can christians follow this?
Justice: Christians should live in a way that respects the rights of others. They should also take action to help change the systems in the world that allow injustice to continue. Helping to uphold justice will help to spread the Kingdom of God on earth.
Peace: establish peace and harmony in the world this includes supporting organisations that work for justice and unity. Christians believe that this will lead to the peace of God’s kingdom being experienced on earth.
Reconciliation: breaks down the barriers that exist between people. This helps peace and justice to spread which helps the kingdom of God to grow.
Kingdom values shown by a key christian figure
Justice: he encourages people to live more simply- and stands for equality (‘if a person is gay and seeks God who am I to judge)
Peace: he brings together leaders of countries at war (e.g. Israel/Palestine)
Reconciliation: every Maundy Thursday he washes the feet of 12 prisoners, including those of other religions
What is a pilgrimage and examples
A journey with a spiritual purpose - often to a religious
place
Jerusalem
Rome
Lourdes (France)
Walsingham (Norfolk, U.K)
How do catholic believe life is a pilgrimage to heaven
• We will meet God when we die
• Our daily actions should help us progress on our journey
• The Catholic Church is called the ‘pilgrim people of God’
How do people feel closer to Jesus when on a pilgrimage
• During Lent, in Jersuald, Catholics take a token pilgrimage through hid stations of the cross and walk between the stations, stop at each station, listen to a reading and say a prayer
• This is dramatized prayer
• It helps the person feel closer to Jesus
How is mission and evengelism shown in Les Miserables and The Mission what can this do
Les Miserables:
Shows God’s love through doing good actions will help influence others to do good things in turn.
Jesus taught having the right attitude (love, kindness, forgiveness) is more important than simply following the law/rules.
The mission:
Mission and Evangelism require total commitment to God
May face hardships (ridicule etc.) but this should not lessen commitment. European priests doing missionary work with native people in South America convert the people. They become committed Christians.
Doing the right thing might involve ignoring the demands of Church law - but following your conscience.
How does the hierarchy of the church bring unity within it
The Catholic hierarchy recognises authority and responsibility
The Pope leads the Church… all authority lies with him as he is infalliable (can’t be wrong)
But, he sometimes calls a Council (with bishops) to discuss
issues that affect the whole Church This brings unity to the Church
What are the 4 major documents produced by the second vatican council and how are they relevant to the modern world
Dei Verbum:
• The Word of God
• Bible is the word of God but should not be read in a literal way
Sacrosanctum concilium:
On the sacred liturgy
Catholics can take a full part in worship and can hear Mass in their own language
Lumen Gentium:
On the Church
All members of the Church have important roles
The Church is a pilgrim Church moving forwards with modern society
Gaudium et Spes:
The Church in the modern world
Stresses that the Church should guide people on how to live in the modern world
Why is Mary important
The Immaculate Conception: Catholic belief that Mary was free from original sin from the moment of her conception
Magnificat: The prayer said by Mary when she was greeted by Elizabeth at the Visitation
Magnificat shows what four qualities of Mary and how
Accepting: God’s will- Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed
Humility: ‘favour on the lowliness of his servant.’
Praising God- : ‘Mighty One has done great things for me’
‘He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
And lifted up the lowly’
Trusting God: ‘According to the promise he made to our ancestors, To Abraham and his descendants for ever’
Controversial aspects of the Magnificat
‘He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly’- Some Christians think this encourages the weak/poor to rebel against the government
Four qualities of a catholic church
One: The Church is one united body ( individual Churches are part of the one) - ‘May they all be one Father’
Holy: Christians and the Church are
guided by the Holy Spirit
Catholic: (universal) - beliefs of the
Church are held by Catholics worldwide
Apostolic: Church’s teachings are built on
the teachings of the 12 apostles
- Their successors guide the Church
today
