Religion - Viva Voche Questions

Question 1

Define Christian discipleship.

Answer 1

• Somebody who makes a conscious decision to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and carry out his mission, while keeping in mind and applying his values to life and others.
• Called to spread the word and messages of Jesus and God in order to give rise to the Kingdom of God.
• Spread news of God and Jesus to everybody including non-believers.
• Called in fellowship, beside other Catholics to not just spread the word of God, but to also better the world and to provide aid and help to those who need it.

Question 2

What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God?

Answer 2

It is essentially the ideal world that God wants for humanity and one that Christians aim to achieve by aiding others and spreading peace.

Question 3

What parable relates to the Kingdom of God? Explain this.

Answer 3

There are multiple parables:

• the Parable of the Mustard Seed
• the Parable of the Sower
• The Parable of the Sower concerns a sower who scatters seed, which falls on four different types of ground.
• The parable reflects the different reactions to the Gospel and how they interact with it, either denying the existence of the Kingdom of God, or assisting in allowing it to flourish. God is the sower and the seeds are his message.
• Some of the seeds land on the hard ground, which represent people who choose to deny the word of God, even after hearing it.
• Then the seeds which fall on stony ground. They accept the word with joy, but don’t have any roots to sustain it which therefore kills it.
• Other seeds fall within the weeds and are killed by them, representing those who are too materialistic and don’t care about God.
• The final seeds are those that fall on good soil and grow.

Question 4

How are disciples called to be servant leaders? Give examples.

Answer 4

It calls upon the leader of the group to be selfless (putting the needs of others first), and nurturing towards their followers, helping them to grow and flourish as a community.

• By urging a spiritual connections to the divine and willingness to listen to guidance from above, inclusiveness, kindness and empathy.
• By asking followers to treat others, those even outside of the community, with respect and acceptance.
• Not not believing that they are above their followers, but rather there lead them to becoming more like them and to treat others in the same way.

Question 5

Explain how the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.

Answer 5

• Source because it is where the faith essentially comes from. It is spiritual sustenance and the culmination and a symbol and physical representation of God’s saving grace in Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Where the Christian faith begins and gives meaning to everything Christians do.
• Where the faith comes from.
• Summit because the Eucharist is ultimately what we want to achieve in life and where these actions should be directed.
• Everything Christians are and want to do with their lives finds ultimate meaning.

Question 6

How can Christians bring about the Kingdom of God through social justice?

Answer 6

• They can do it by supporting charities or becoming a part of them, eg. Caritas, St Vinnies, etc.
• Simply by helping their neighbours, being kind, talking with them, etc.
• By physically making a difference, going to a country and helping.
• Sacrificing spare change or donations.
• These acts would improve the world and scoiety, therefore bringing about the Kingdom of God.

Question 7

What issue have you selected? Why is this issue important?

Answer 7

• Human trafficking
• Violation of human rights, God’s laws and Jesus’ teachings.
• Is essentially modern day slavery.
• Shows society’s regression and perpetuation of harm, rather than progression.

Question 8

What links relate to human trafficking and the work of Jesus Christ?

Answer 8

• Breaks the guidelines and rules such as the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments.
• Catholic organisations
• Eg. Caritas has a special branch for human trafficking and modern slavery, and CoatNet.
• (Christian Organisations Against Trafficking in Human Beings)
• They help to fight poverty and lack of opportunities, advocate laws in order to protect victims, provide counselling, and punish perpetrators and secure decent working conditions.
• Caritas advocates and educates human rights to those vulnerable to human trafficking.
• Through aiding other people, the Christians who assist in abolishing human trafficking reflect Jesus’ teachings.

Question 9

What is a teaching found within the Bible which explains a disciples’ actions with this issue?

Answer 9

• ‘Treat others the way you would like to be treated.’

- If you were suffering, you’d want to be helped.

Question 10

How are Christian disciples called to be leaders in today’s community and world?

Answer 10

• Christians are called to be leaders by standing up for what is right.
• They are called to ensure that everybody is treated with dignity, equality and respect in all aspects, including education, gender, status, etc.
• They are called by God and Jesus and their rules and regulations (10 Commandments and the Golden Rule).
• This directs them to mission and physically doing something for a certain cause -> in the names of God and Jesus.
• Being taught that it will bring about peace and the Kingdom of God will make them more inclined to assist others.