Topic 8 - The Search For Meaning

Question 1

What is meaning and purpose?

Answer 1

To have an eternal relationship with God which is achieved by loving God and others specifically living out one’s vocation.

Question 2

What are the four ways in which people can respond to meaning and purpose?

Answer 2

1) spiritual but not religious - like to experience life but doesn’t relate to a religion
2) spiritual and religious - experience life and relates to religion
3) religious but not spiritual - don’t live life with a purpose but relate to religion
4) neither religious or spiritual - do not engage with life or religion

Question 3

What are some examples of why and how people are influenced and shaped by religion?

Answer 3

1) events and experiences (eg important life events)
2) beliefs, celebrations and practices (eg camps, retreats, sacraments)

They can have a positive AND/OR negative impact

• causes them to follow their vocation
• causes them to have values and attitudes
• go to church

Question 4

What are some impacts to how people respond to religion?

Answer 4

• Context ; family, religious, friends, social trends

- the world we live in

Question 5

Explain how one person responds to the meaning and purpose offered by religion

Answer 5

• in the film For Greater Glory, St Jose Sanchez del Rio responded to the meaning and purpose offered by religion by fighting for religious freedom in his country.
• he responded to a war that divided society by dedicating his time and effort into fighting for what he truely believed in ; his faith.
• he responded positively and chose to follow Jesus’s path rather than fight against it.
• he did this by ….. etc

Question 6

Explain who one person was influenced and shaped by religion

Answer 6

• General Enrique Gostieta was influenced and shaped by religion in a positive way because he was encouraged to fight for religious freedom.
• he was not originally catholic but chose to help those who were because he understood how important the Catholic faith was to his home country.
• he was influenced to see things from a religious point of view and in the end had chosen to become Catholic due to his underlying love for God

Question 7

Explain the meaning and purpose offered by religion

Answer 7

• “the ultimate goal of human activity, which is eternal happiness” Compendium of the Catholic Church para 360
• “this promised happiness confronts us with decisive moral choices concerning earthy goods and urges us to love God above all things” para 362
• people can achieve this unconditional love and intimate relationships by doing simple tasks such as attending church, praying, living out their vocation and most importantly being stewards of all God’s creation