Origins and meaning

Question 1

What two sections is the Bible divided into?

Answer 1

The Old Testament and the New Testament.

Question 2

What does the Old Testament contain?

Answer 2

Genesis (creation accounts).
Details about prophets e.g. Abraham and Moses.
Gods guidance and laws e.g. Ten Commandments like “Do not kill”.
History and wisdom books.

Question 3

What does the New Testament contain?

Answer 3

Book of Revelation.
Gospels on Jesus-detail events on Jesus’ life and teachings like “love thy neighbour”.
Letters written by Peter and Paul.
The Acts of the Apostles.

Question 4

Define Inspiration

Answer 4

“God breathed”

The belief that the Holy Spirit guides people to write what is good and true

Question 5

What do Catholics believe about the origins of the Bible?

Answer 5

The Bible came from certain events, which were interpreted then passed on verbally, then written down by humans, who were inspired by God, into different books which then became the Bible. It took thousands of years to write. They believe it is the word of God.

Question 6

What do Fundamentalist Christians/Creationists believe about the Bible?

Answer 6

They take the Bible literally and believe it word for word.

Bible should not be questioned as it is the words of God.

Question 7

How do Catholics make moral decisions?

Answer 7

1. The Bible
2. Tradition
3. Magisterium

Question 8

Define Creation ex Nihlo

Answer 8

Creation out of nothing.
Before God created the universe, nothing existed.
Only God can create out of nothing

Question 9

What do Catholics believe about Creation?

Answer 9

Believe in Genesis
Genesis symbolically tells us why the universe was created and how.
Nothing existed before God created it.
Some believe that it matches the Big Bang theory.

Question 10

What does the creation accounts show Catholics about God?

Answer 10

Omnipotent-“Let there be light’ and there was light”-G1
Omnibenevolent-“Its not good that the man should be alone, I will make a helper”-G2
Transcendent-“Gods spirit hovered over the water”-G1
Eternal-“In the beginning God…“-G1
Creator-“God created the heavens and the earth”-G1

Question 11

What does St Augustine say about creation ex nihlo?

Answer 11

“You must have created them from nothing”

Question 12

What is the Big Bang?

Answer 12

The idea that the universe began 13.7 billion years ago in an explosion where a tiny ultra fog of energy burst into existence and all matter was thrown outwards. This expanded and became the universe today.

Question 13

What does Stephen Hawking say about the Big Bang?

Answer 13

“Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing”.
Stephen Hawking doubts the existence of God completely and believes that the Big Bang is the truth.

Question 14

How do Catholics view the Big Bang?

Answer 14

They accept the idea as it supports creation ex nihlo and there is no contradiction between the two.
God said “Let there be light” in Genesis so they believe that it is a direct reference to the Big Bang symbolically.
Science explains how the universe came about and Genesis explains why the universe came about.

Question 15

What do Jews believe about creation?

Answer 15

God is the creator of all life.
Celebrate Sabbath, recalling that God made the universe in six days and rested on the seventh.
Share the same two stories of creation with Christians.

Orthodox Jews: Believe the stories are true accounts and reject modern scientific ideas like evolution and the Big Bang.

Reform Jews: Think that the creation accounts shouldn’t be taken as historical facts.

Question 16

Define evolution

Answer 16

The process of mutation and natural selection which leads to changes in species over time to suit a particular environment.

Question 17

Who came up with evolution?

Answer 17

Charles Darwin

Question 18

Who was Charles Darwin?

Answer 18

A famous scientist in the 1800’s who came up with the theory of evolution.

Question 19

Who is Richard Dawkins

Answer 19

He is a modern scientific supporter and an Athiest.

Question 20

What does Richard Dawkins say about the idea of God creating the world and souls?

Answer 20

“There is no creator God who has a purpose, a plan or a design for the universe”.
Dawkins say that there is no such thing as the soul, nor is there any evidence of one.

Question 21

How do Catholics view evolution and respond to Dawkins?

Answer 21

They do not interpret the Bible literally.
They may ask why the universe came into existence.
God created with a purpose and everything is part of his loving plan.
Science is not in a position to say anything about souls as they are spiritual.

Question 22

Define Revelation

Answer 22

How God makes himself known to human beings.

Christians believe that God does this fully through Jesus.

Question 23

What do Jews believe about the Torah?

Answer 23

Orthodox Jews: Obey every mitzvot and taken literally. Although society may change, the jewish teachings don’t.

Reform Jews: Scriptures have to be adapted to modern life.

Question 24

What do Fundamentalist Christians/Creationists believe about Genesis?

Answer 24

Literal word of God.
God created the world in a week and then everything was perfect.
Reject theory of evolution.
Genesis was written by Moses from Gods point of view.
Holy Spirit dictates Bible.

Question 25

Define Omnipotence

Answer 25

The belief that God is all powerful.

Question 26

Define Transcendence

Answer 26

Existing outside of space and time.

God exists above and beyond creation.

Question 27

Define Imago Dei

Answer 27

In the image of God. The belief that human beings are uniquely a reflection of Gods personhood.
Unlike other animals, human beings are rational, free and moral.

Question 28

What is conscience?

Answer 28

Human reason for making a moral decision. The knowledge that we have of what is right and wrong.