NOSTRA AETATE - CH. 1

Question 1

religion

Answer 1

one’s connection to a faith, living a moral life, belief system

Question 2

myth

Answer 2

not true stories but stories that tell truth

Question 3

belief

Answer 3

one’s connection to everything, system of practice. related to behavior

Question 4

practice

Answer 4

can be personal or communal

Question 5

sacred time

Answer 5

calendar times. prayer, meditation, contemplation, chants, rituals

Question 6

sacred place

Answer 6

history attached to religion, places of worship/honor

Question 7

nostra aetate

Answer 7

an agreement proclaimed by pope paul VI that all religions should be respected and also be apologized to for being criticized

Question 8

vatican II

Answer 8

council opened up by pope john XXIII after holocaust to reaffirm stance

Question 9

interreligious dialogue

Answer 9

communicating with other religions in order to understand and respect each other’s similarities/differences

Question 10

What is the etymology of the word, religion? *

Answer 10

religare meaning to “to bind,” connects people to other things

Question 11

How has other historical scholars (like Eliade and Durkheim) helped shape the definition of
religion?

Answer 11

helped shape the definition of religion by giving the representation of religion being a sacred space separate from our profane world and that we need community for it to work

Question 12

What are the elements of religion according to Clemmons?

Answer 12

sacred stories/scripture, beliefs and practices, sacred spaces, sacred time

Question 13

How have women theologians added to the definition of religion? *

Answer 13

women theologians have added to the definition of religion by saying that spirituality lies in seeing the divine in everyone (hinduism)

Question 14

When studying other religions, what is our responsibility as theologians and researchers?

Answer 14

our responsibility is to be respectful and try to understand another perspective even while we may disagree

Question 15

What should we not do when studying other religions? (Think Nacirema)

Answer 15

we should not disrespect another culture and make it seem less than and ours superior

Question 16

What was the Church’s relationship with non-Christian traditions before Vatican II?

Answer 16

before vatican II, the church was suspicious of other religious movements because they were seen as man-made and not authentic

Question 17

What historical moments propelled the writing of Nostra Aetate?

Answer 17

the holocaust

Question 18

Who was Nostra Aetate written by and for whom?

Answer 18

written by catholics for catholics

Question 19

What theological questions were important to the development of Nostra Aetate?

Answer 19

how do catholics preserve faith while dialogung with non-christian religions? does religious traditions play a role in christian salvation? are religions seeking christ in a different path?

Question 20

What did theologians, Danielou and Rahner, contribute to Nostra Aetate?

Answer 20

contributed to it by saying that other religions are natural/man-made but true because they reflect god. religion is only about morality

Question 21

How can Nostra Aetate be expanded and/or improved today?

Answer 21

can be improved by including differences