TP paper 2

Question 1

Biblical interpretation- Hermeneutics

Answer 1

1. Difference in time
2. Difference in Language
3. Difference in social convention
4. Polyphonic nature of texts

Question 2

The bible- Authority for christians

Answer 2

• gospel writers are said to have heard the heralds call (Barth)
• contains the accounts of Jesus life (Trinity)
• contains central teachings in christianity

Question 3

How Might Christians use the bible

Answer 3

• lectio Divina: where christians read the bible, meditate, oratio and then contemplate on their reading ( this aids in meditiation)
• missal: small sections of the bible are selected day by day for mass which activates on a 3 year cycle that contains extracts from the old testament, new testament, gospels and psalms ( aids in worship)

Question 4

Biblical interpretation ( Bultmann)

Answer 4

Demythologisation- what bultmann is essentially arguing is that we shouldnt take the bible literally as it is bound to an obsolete worldview, and we should instead seek to apply meaning to todays world (which has more scientific evidence)

Question 5

Biblical interpretation ( Kierkegaard)

Answer 5

Fideism, what kiekegaard is arguing is that to interpret the bible you must disregard reason and be guided by faith. You need to take a leap of faith, which provides a clear lens for interpretation as it removes historical innacuracy

Question 6

Biblical interpretation ( Barth)

Answer 6

Neo Orthodoxy, the gospel accounts in the bible are the word of God, and any inaccuracies are down to human error. He believed that the gospel writers could hear the heralds call, but however cannot literally be gods word as it goes beyond human expression

Question 7

Jesus Life (Baptism)

Answer 7

Mentioned in all four gospels and was meant to be carried out by john the baptist. It is understood as one of the 7 sacraments. In the baptist faith it marks the start of a new life; “as soon as jesus was baptised he went up, out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and he saw the spirit of God descending” Matthew
- the first time we saw the entire trinity aspect: “ this is my son with whom i am well pleased”

Question 8

Jesus Life ( Temptations)- Links to lent

Answer 8

Mentioned in 3/4 Gospels- matthew mark and luke
The temptations were
1. Make bread out of stones to relieve his own hunger
2. Jump from a high point and rely on angels to break his fall (luke and matthew had indicated that god had promised this assistance )
3. Worship satan in return for all the kingdoms in the world
After being baptised Jesus fasted for 40days and 40nights. During this time satan is meant to have come to jesus and tried to tempt him. Jesus refused each one

Question 9

Jesus life ( Crucifixion)

Answer 9

This was an act of atonement, by dying on the cross he took the punishment of the sins of the world and by this made salvation possible. He suffered full pain, and this is how christians can believe that god can understand human suffering.

Question 10

Jesus life (incarnation)

Answer 10

As god incarnate, Jesus was able to perform miracles during his time on earth. Many believed that this not only demonstrated he was god, but provided a glimpse of heaven. His incarnation meant he was not affected by original sin. He provides the perfect example of how God wants every christian to live. One of his main purposes was to die, and take the punishment for human sin, in order to restore the human relationship with God

Question 11

Jesus life (ressurection)

Answer 11

Many christians believed that Jesus did not stay dead, but 3 days after his death, rose from the dead. His resurrection demonstrates his power over death. Christians find hope in the resurrection that they too will be raised from the dead to share eternity in heaven with God.

Question 12

Jesus life (healing miracles)

Answer 12

Blind Bartimaeus- Jesus was leaving Jericho, followed by a large crowd when he came across a blind beggar called Bartimaeus, who called out “Jesus son of David. Take pity on me.” Bartimaeus asked jesus to restore his sight. Jesus healed him and says “your faith has made you well.”
Healing a leper- Jewish people believed that if you came into contact with a leper you would be ‘unclean’… to try and combat this misconception Jesus touched the man when healing him —> only in Matthews gospel that he healed him out of pity. The leper showed great faith in Jesus ability to heal him

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TOUCH: symbolic of unification, lepers may seem outcasts and jesus is aiming to combat this.

Question 13

Jesus life (ascension)

Answer 13

Could also be seen as symbolic, jesus showing triumph over evil, that he lives alongside God in heaven; “he is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew). Forty days after his resurrection, the book of acts in the new testament records that jesus returned to heaven

Question 14

Jesus life (the last supper) - links to eucharist and maundy thursday

Answer 14

Here Jesus prophesied that one of his disciples would betray him. At the end of the meal, Jesus said ‘this is my body, given for you, do this in remembrance of me’ —> basis of the eucharist, the most important part of christian worship

Question 15

Jesus life (betrayal and arrest)

Answer 15

After the last supper, Judas arrived with the chief priests and the temple guard. Jesus’ followers wanted to fight but Jesus told them to put their swords away, however one of his followers struck a servant of the high priest and cut his ear off, but Jesus healed it and ordered there be no more violence.

Question 16

Sources of Authority (Intermediaries)

Answer 16

Intermediaries; the magisterium- the teaching authority of the church, formed of the bishops (catholic). They teach the basics of the catholic faith.
The pope- represents a direct line for Jesus

Question 17

Sources of Authority (denominational)

Answer 17

Roman catholic- largest christian denomination. They accept papal authority and see him as the successor of saint peter. They believe there are 7 sacraments which aid humans in achieving salvation
Protestants- They don’t accept papal authority and believe the bible is the only source of authority. The sacraments do not hold the same significance, salvation is achieved by faith instead.
Orthodox- rejects papal authority. Sacraments are essential. Their origins are traced to the first church started by Jesus disciples. This leads them to believe that they have the greatest authority over all denominations

Question 18

Sources of authority (Conscience)

Answer 18

St Augustine- conscience is the ‘voice of God whispering to us inwardly about what is right and wrong
St. Thomas Aquinas- conscience is a part of our mind that tells us what is right or wrong; it is a divine gift from God
Cardinal Newman- ‘i shall drink to the pope if you please- still to conscience first and to the pope afterwards’- conscience is the aboriginal vicar of christ

Question 19

Christmas (Jesus birth)

Answer 19

“Today in the town of david a saviour has been born to you; he is the messiah, the lord”
- christians believe that before the incarnation it was only possible to have a partial relationship with God because of the effects of sin.
- through celebrating the birth of Christ, Christians feel united with all other christians when they celebrate as a worldwide community. Common faith ideas.
- nativity story - shows importance of family

Question 20

Commercialisation of Christmas

Answer 20

• Christmas has, in recent times become more about gift giving rather than the birth of Christ, this stems from the magi visit to the messiah

Question 21

Advent

Answer 21

Advent is the time when christians prepare for the coming of Jesus. During the four weeks of advent, christians remember the old testament prophecies about the coming of Jesus and think about the biblical references to the second coming of Jesus and the final judgement. They usually light a candle on an advent wreath on each of the Sundays of advent. Catholic christians are expected to free themselves of sin before Christmas by receiving the sacrament of reconciliation.

Question 22

Easter- Holy week

Answer 22

• Palm sunday: remembers the way jesus was welcomed to jerusalem by a crowd, which 5 days later denied him. Christians celebrate it by processing near the church with palm leaves
• Maundy thursday: remembers the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. Christians celebrate it with a special Eucharist ( a ceremony in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed)
• good friday: remembers the death of Jesus. Many christians have a walk of witness in the local areas carrying a cross. They then have a 3 hour afternoon service marking the time that jesus was on the cross
• holy saturday: a day of reflection and prayer. No services are held

HOLY WEEK SIGNIFICANCE
- opportunity to renew and deepen their faith in Jesus through remembrance. They need to serve one another and put themselves last
- reminds about heroism of jesus and about their roles in the world

Question 23

Easter day celebrations

Answer 23

Festival of Joy as christians celebrate the ressurection of jesus
They may partake in:
- easter vigil: ceremony of light to remember the darkness of the tomb and the light of the ressurection
- Bible readings to remember how the resurrection brought back the goodness of the world at creation
- a renewal of baptismal vows to remember the rebirth brought by easter
- the eucharist to remember that salvation now comes through the sacraments

Question 24

Pilgrimage (Bethlehem)

Answer 24

• the church of the nativity; most important site in bethlehem
  Located in manger square, which was built in the fourth century
  Birthplace of jesus
• the grotto of the nativity
  14 point star, which is considered by some christians to indicate the birthplace of Jesus christ
• the chapel of the manger
  Where some christians believe mary placed jesus once he was born
• the chapel of the milk grotto
  Mary spilled some breast milk while nursing jesus, turning the underground cave white with virgin milk. Some believe it was the site where the 3 kings visited the holy family

Question 25

Pilgrimage (Jerusalem)

Answer 25

• The garden of Gethsemane- believed to be where Jesus prayed before he was arrested by the romans and put to death. Christians visit here for contemplation and prayer
• The via dolorosa- this is a special route that christians pigrims walk from the outskirts of jerusalem to the church of the holy sepulchre, especially on good friday. It is believed to be the very path that jesus took carrying his cross on the way to his crucifixion
• The church of the ascension- said to mark the site of the ascension, when Jesus rose to heaven forty days after his resurrection. There is a stone inside the church, believed to be imprinted with his footprint

Question 26

Pilgrimage rome (vatican city)

Answer 26

Home of the pope, who represents a direct line to Jesus (successor to St Peter) who jesus appointed as the first head of his church. Only significant to catholics, who see the vatican city as the home of the catholic church

Question 27

Pilgrimage rome (Holy stairs)

Answer 27

Court room steps that jesus was said to walk up for the trial of pontius pilate. Christians may walk up the stairs on their knees

Question 28

Arguments against pilgrimage (Martin Luther)

Answer 28

Martin Luther:
“These pilgrimages ase the reason for there being so many beggars who commit numberless villainies, learn to beg without need and get accustomed to it.” he is arguing that all pilgrimage should be stopped, and that there is no good in them

Question 29

Arguments against pilgrimage (G of N)

Answer 29

Gregory of Nysa:
‘even y you were on Golotha, even if you were on mount olives, even if you stood on the memorial rock of the ressurection, you will be as far away from receiving Christ into yourself, as the one who has not even begun to confess him,” Gregory of Nyssa is suggesting that going on a pilgrmage brings you no closer to god or salvation, and so is deemed insignificant

Question 30

Private worship

Answer 30

• Jesus in Gethsemane- sit here while i go over there and pray
• sermon on the mount discipleship- be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them
• meditational prayer/ rosary beads- which help them count their prayers

Question 31

Public worship (litergical)

Answer 31

Anglican worship
- generally use the book of common prayer which sets out the words of the service and gives directions to worshippers and ministers
- the gathering- the minister greets the people
- the litergy of the word- bible readings and a sermon. They might pray to god about their concerns . They may shake or hold hands to show that they are one community.

Question 32

Public worship (non litergical)

Answer 32

Quakers
- they call their worship services a ‘meeting for worship’ they sit in a room in silence, where they can reflect, think and listen. There are no songs, set prayers, readings or talks. In this silence they believe that they are able to come closer to god. And they speak when they feel the holy spirit within them

Question 33

Internal features of a church

Answer 33

The tabernacle
- catholics believe that christ is really present in the bread, so it cannot be thrown away
Crucifixes
- a cross with jesus on it, you might find the shape of the church or a necklace with a cross on it, symbolising closeness with christ
Stations of the cross
- the objective of the stations is to help the christian faith make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the passion of christ

A font
- used for baptism
A stoup
- used to renew baptism
Pulpit
- where the priest delivers sermons

Question 34

External features of a church

Answer 34

Stained glass windows
- often depict biblical stories
- spire- to increase closeness to god

Question 35

Marriage

Answer 35

A catholic sacrament- the institution of marriage is therefore the outward and visible contract, which reveals the inward and spiritual power of love to transform humans from selfish to loving. Marriage is therefore an unbreakable bond between a man and a woman
Catholics see marriage as a good springboard to family life- Augustine outlined marriage as the primary purpose of life in natural moral law
- exchange of rings- shows their eternal bond in front of God, as the rings are symbolic of eternity
- exchange of vows- by repeating vows, the persons involved enter a covenant relationship that embodies all that god intended for marriage

Arguments against marriage
- St Paul argued that we should focus on devotion to god as we would soon face parousia and that family life was a distraction from this

Question 36

Funerals

Answer 36

A catholic sacrament
Reading of the Eulogy- this is to remember and celebrate their life
Committal- the returning of the physical body to the ground.
Significance- returning of the body to the ground and the soul to God for eternity with them:
“The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being”
- celebration of someones life and remembrance allows the family to move on and progress with their greif

Question 37

The sermon on the mount

Answer 37

The narrow gateway- “ enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad which leads to destruction.” Suggests salvation is difficult, and only a select few can go to heaven
The beatitudes- people in poor spirit and those who are humble will achieve salvation, and only those few ( eschatological) “blessed are the meek for those will inherit the earth
Solid foundations - therefore everyone who hears the words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on solid foundations

Question 38

Arguments against catholic baptism

Answer 38

Catholic or Protestant baptism: “Quakers believe that water baptisms occurred during the time of Christ, but that they were not intended to be practiced continually. They believe the rite fails to hold the meaning for believers today that it did when it was initially practiced. In the Quakers’ view, this makes baptism unnecessary. To make this point, Quakers often point to John the Baptist’s claim that “I baptize you with water, but after me comes One who is greater than I…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Question 39

Situation ethics

Answer 39

Agape love :) most moral=most loving
What would jesus do
The morality of an action depends on the situation (fletcher)