P1- Trinity exam questions Flashcards
Explain two contrasting ways in which music is used in Catholic worship (4 marks)
1) Unite the community together= This is why traditional hymns are sung as they have been used by many generations of Christians therefore, they’re familiar, and people join in.
2) To provoke emotion, such as joy= This is why contemporary worship songs are used as they are more upbeat and use modern instruments
Explain two ways in which spending time in prayer influences the lives of Christians (4 marks)
1) Spontaneous prayer allows Christians to ‘raise their heart and mind to God’.= Helps to develop a personal relationship with God as the individual has taken time to speak to God in own words.
2) Traditional prayer helps communities join their prayers to prayers of the Church= This is important as this unites them with others and strengthens the sense of Christian community.
Explain two ways in which belief in the Trinity influences the way Christians understand Genesis 1:1–3 (the Creation) (4 marks)
1) Christians believe God the Father is creator who created heavens and earth through the power of Holy Spirit= Influences understanding of Genesis as it refers to the ‘wind’ from God which can also mean ‘spirit’ showing the Holy Spirit was involved in the act of creation.
2) Christians believe God the Son is the Word of God= Influences an understanding of Genesis as God creates through his ‘word’ when he says ‘let there be light’ so the Father, through his Word (which is the Son) creates the universe.
Explain two ways in which belief in the Trinity influences Catholic understandings of the relevance of God to their lives. (4 marks)
1) Christians believe the Trinity is relevant in their lives as inspiration to go into the world and spread God’s word through their actions e.g doing charity work (mission)= the love of the Trinity pours out into the hearts of Christians and this love is meaningless if it is not shared.
2)Christians believe that the Trinity is relevant in their lives as inspiration to spread the word of God through their words e.g. street preaching (evangelism). Christians are inspired by the Holy Spirit to share their knowledge and experience of God with others to experience God’s love.
Explain how two different positions that Christians use when praying show contrasting Christian beliefs about prayer (4 marks)
1) Prostrating which is when Christians lie flat on the ground while praying= A sign of total humility and submission to God showing the person has given themselves completely to God
2) Standing with arms raised up is a sign of praise for God’s greatness and glory= Shows the person is totally open to God.
Explain two contrasting ways in which traditional (set) prayers are different from spontaneous prayers (4 marks)
1) Traditional prayers are prayers with set words passed down over generations= These are important for Christians because people don’t need to think of the words to say and are comforted by the familiarity of the words.
2) Spontaneous prayers are prayers made up by the believer= These are important because they are personal as they reflect how that person feels in that moment and can be about any issues they might be facing in their life.
Explain two ways in which the Creation story (Genesis 1:1–3) may show the presence of the Trinity. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer. (5 marks)
1) Christians believe God the Father is creator who created heavens and earth through the power of the Holy Spirit= Genesis states, ‘In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth … while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters”= This influences an understanding of Genesis as it refers to the ‘wind’ from God which can also mean ‘spirit’ showing the Holy Spirit was involved in the act of creation.
2) Christians also believe God the Son is the Word of God= This influences an understanding of Genesis as God creates through his ‘word’ when he says ‘let there be light’ so the Father, through his Word (which is the Son) creates the universe.
Explain two ways in which the baptism of Jesus helps Christians to understand the Trinity. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer (5 marks)
1) When God reveals himself as a Trinity of Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)= Bible states “This is my Son the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased”= Teaches God is three Persons who all co-exist at the same time but the three Persons are also distinct
2) Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove= Reminds Christians that the Spirit, which is the love of God, is still active and present in the world today.
Explain two beliefs about the Trinity found in Galatians. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer (5 marks)
1) There is a loving relationship between Trinity and Christians= This is because Christians are God’s children and they call God ‘Abba’ (‘Father’).
2) God sends the Holy Spirit into the hearts of Christians as grace= Bible says, ‘God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts’.= Holy Spirit gives believers strength to accept their relationship with the Father.
Explain two beliefs about the Trinity found in the Nicene Creed. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer (5 marks)
1) Father and Son are equal= Son is ‘consubstantial with the Father’= There is no distinction between Father and Son, they coexist and are of the same nature
2) Holy Spirit is Third Person of Trinity and therefore fully God= states the Spirit ‘who proceeds from the Father and Son’= Holy Spirit is equal in power and majesty to the Father and the Son.
Explain two ways in which music expresses beliefs about God. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer (5 marks)
1) Reflects the greatness of God= Youcat states “where words are not enough to praise God, music comes to our aid”= e.g Gloria is sung during Mass as recognition of the majesty and glory of God.
2) Reminds Christians God is three Persons in one= e.g the Sanctus is sung to praise the holiness of the three Persons of the Trinity; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Explain two ways in which Christians share the love of God with others. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer (5 marks)
1) Mission (duty of Christians to spread the good news about Jesus) through actions= Bible teaches “those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also” meaning the love God shares with us we should share with others= Christians believe they’re inspired by Holy Spirit to share love of God with others through good deeds
2) Evangelism (preaching the good news about Jesus) through words= Christians believe they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to share their knowledge and experience of Jesus with others to convert people to the Christian faith.
Explain two Christian beliefs about the Trinity. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer (5 marks)
1) When Jesus is baptised and God reveals himself as a Trinity of Persons (Father as voice, Son as Jesus and Holy Spirit as the dove)= This teaches that God is three Persons who all co-exist at the same time but are also distinct
2) Another belief comes from Galatians 4:6 which teaches about the loving relationship between Trinity and Christians= “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts”= God the Father pours out the Holy Spirit into the hearts of Christians
‘The most important Catholic teaching about the Trinity comes from the Nicene Creed.’ (12 marks)
1) FOR- The Son was eternally begotten from the Father (eternal) / the Father and Son have always existed together: co-eternal and co-equal
AGAINST- Catholic Church believes Tradition is useful in helping us understand the Trinity e.g Augustine and Catherine LaCugna
2) FOR- The Holy Spirit is the Lord and giver of life who proceeds from the Father and Son and is worshipped and glorified with the Father and Son speaking through the prophets
AGAINST- The Bible teaches Christians about the Trinity and the teachings of the Nicene Creed are based on the Bible: Baptism of Jesus (Matthew)
‘Christians should use contemporary worship songs rather than traditional hymns in worship.’ (12 Marks)
1) FOR-Contemporary worship songs are more appealing to modern congregations
AGAINST- Traditional hymns have been used by generations of believers
2) FOR- The music is more up to date / the words are easier to understand / the lyrics are in English rather than, e.g. Latin
AGAINST- They maintain the traditions and customs of Catholics / their ability to inspire is not limited to one time “sacred music…adds delight to prayer”
‘The best way for Christians to show their belief in the Trinity is by preaching the gospel (evangelism).’ (12 marks)
1) FOR- Love of the Trinity flows outwards to all believers / Christians believe that they must pass this love on to others / evangelism (preaching the gospel to others) is the best way to pass on this love
AGAINST- Mission is practical action to help others makes a concrete improvement to lives / actions speak louder than words St Francis: ‘Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if you have to.’
2) FOR- Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, (Matthew 28:18-20) / Christians have a duty to spread the word of God
AGAINST- Mission follows the teachings of Christ, like in Parable of S+G/ ‘those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also’ Bible
‘Baptism is all a person needs to be a Christian.’ (12 marks)
1) FOR- Through baptism, a person becomes a member of the Church and a child of God
AGAINST- Baptism is just a beginning of Christian life, more is needed to be a Christian (must receive all the sacraments)
2) FOR- Baptism is in the name of the Trinity / therefore the person shares in the life of the Trinity
AGAINST- Eucharist is just as important as through receiving B + B, the person’s soul is nourished/ cannot live the full life that Christ wants/ Eucharist is “the source and summit of Christian life” Youcat
‘Christians should use only traditional prayers, not spontaneous prayers.’ (12 marks)
1) FOR- Traditional prayers mean all Christians worship together to strengthen the Christian community (Body of Christ)
AGAINST- Spontaneous prayers reflect immediate needs of the individual and are personal to strengthen individual relationship with God
2) FOR- If Christians don’t use traditional prayers (prayers of the saints) they may not pray correctly and could neglect prayer for others or for the whole of humanity.
AGAINST- Spontaneous prayers allow the Holy Spirit to pray in them “the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Bible
‘The Bible tells Christians all they need to know about the Trinity.’ (12 marks)
1) FOR- Mark 1 / Matthew 3: Trinity is all present and the three Persons of the Trinity all co-exist at the same time. The presence of the Trinity shows the importance of the Trinity in all of Jesus’ work and teachings.
AGAINST- Church Councils (Nicaea and Constantinople) interpret the Bible to express beliefs that they have found in texts, but which are not obvious to the ordinary reader
2) FOR- Genesis 1: God the Father, through God the Son (the Word of God), created the universe with the power of the Holy Spirit.
AGAINST- Traditional teachings are also needed to interpret the Trinity including St Augustine and Catherine LaCugna
‘For a Christian, Baptism is the most important sacrament.’ (12 marks)
1) FOR- Through Baptism, a person becomes a child of God and it cleanses a person of og sin/ strength of Holy Spirit to defeat evil in future
AGAINST- Confirmation is arguably more important because a person is now mature enough to renew their faith and are again filled with the Holy Spirit
2) FOR- Baptism is in the name of the Trinity / person shares in the life of the Trinity / to join in Christ’s redeeming death
AGAINST- Eucharist is receiving B + B ‘source and summit of Christian life’ Youcat, without the Eucharist a Catholic cannot live the full life that Christ wants
