Unit 1 Flashcards
The Trinity quote
“The trinity is one. We do not confess three Gods but one God in three persons.” CCC 253
Nicene creed
Individual declaration of faith/shared statement uniting Catholics as one body and church.
Quote from Nicene creed
“I believe in one God, the father almighty…”
Sources of the Trinity in bible
Nicene creed
Our father prayer from Matthew w ‘the word became flesh’ in John w ‘the Holy Spirit descending like a dove’ Matthew
Revelation
Something that is revealed by God to humans
How does the Trinity reveal some of the mystery of God to Catholics
Outside (father and creator)
Beside (son and saviour)
Inside (strengthening Holy Spirit)
How is the Trinity shown in worship today
BAPTISM (performed in name of father, son and Holy Spirit)
EUCHARIST(Eucharistic prayer thanks god the father while making son present through Holy Spirit)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
What are the three parts of god?
Father (almighty creator)
Son (Jesus Christ saviour)
Holy Spirit (strengthening, omnipresence)
Ways trinity is important to understand God
Conveys unity and oneness of God, as professed in CCC, ‘we do not confess three gods but one god in three persons’.
Reveals something of the mystery of God, inside us as Holy Spirit, beside us as son and saviour and outside us as father, the creator.
Doctrine
Belief held by the church
Creed
Formal statement of belief
History of trinity doctrine
Old Testament taught of one god in The shema.
Annunciation revealed trinity present at J’s baptism.
Trinity was lived experience of Christians through apostolic tradition.
Arius claimed J wasn’t god, just prophet.
Nicene creed clarified J’s divine nature.
Council of Constantinople clarified Holy Spirit as God.
Bible reflected apostolic tradition.
J’s baptism quote
“Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “this is my beloved son.”
Matthew 3
Disagreements over trinity
Arius (Egyptian priest) believed J was just prophet. Alexander opposed this idea and excommunicated Arius from church. Constantine didn’t like division of church so commanded to sort it out, leading to formation of council of Nicaea who created Nicene creed to clear up any doubts that father and son were, ‘homoiousious’ (of similar substance).
3 catholic beliefs of the Nicene creed
3 persons make up God.
Believe in one God.
Holy Spirit is consubstantial w father and son.
2 sources of catholic teaching on trinity
Council of Nicaea> Nicene creed conveyed belief that father and son are one.
Apostolic tradition influenced scripture written at time through Holy Spirit.
2 effects of council of Nicaea on Catholic understanding of the trinity
Resolved disputes over trinity by conveying God’s unity.
Also conveys three persons within one God.
Used every mass.
‘The trinity is the most essential belief about a God.’ Evaluate
For: reveals something of mystery of God.
Represented in Matthew
Central part of worship
Emphasises God’s difference from humanity
Against:
Arianism don’t believe it
Against human nature and laws of world so is hard to understand.
Other beliefs are important, eg is benevolent.
‘Creatio ex nihilo ‘
Creation out of nothing in Hebrew
1st account of genesis
Overview of 6 days of creation. Showing god as a benevolent creator while demonstrating his goodness to give free will to all humans via Adam and Eve.
7 days of creation
1 heavens, earth, light, dark 2water and sky 3 land/plants 4 sun, moon and stars 5 fish and birds 6 land animals and humans 7 rest
2nd account of genesis
Detailed account describing original sin of Adam and Eve, showing how sin leads to suffering.
Literal interpretations of genesis
Creation is exact retelling of creation
Historical/ scientific
‘Creationism’
Metaphorical view of genesis
Creation is symbolic and sacred.
Meditation on nature and purpose of universe
Incorporates modern science
Role of the word quote
‘In the beginning was the word (…) and the word was God(…) all things were made through him.’ (John 1)
Incarnate man quote
‘The word became flesh and dwelt among us.’ John 1
4 key characteristics revealed by God through creation account
CREATOR / OMNIPOTENT (‘let there be light’genesis)
BENEVOLENT (‘god saw that the light was good.’ Genesis)
ETERNAL ‘in the beginning was the word.’ John
3 key features of the creation account for Catholic’s
On first day, God said, ‘let there be light.’
On the sixth day, he created all humans/land animals w free will.
Rested on 7th day.
Explain 2 characteristics of God revealed in the accounts of creation.
Eternal as was present from beginning, ‘in the beginning was the word’ John 1.
Benevolent as gave us free will and produced goodness, ‘and God saw that the light was good’ genesis.
‘The creation story is a metaphor.’evaluate
For: general Catholics believe it’s a meditation on nature/purpose of universe.
Science contradicts it.
Catechism says, ‘all scripture is inspired by God.’
Against:
Fundamentalists believe bible is inerrant.
Catholics believe god has power to create universe.
Any contradictions are done deliberately, therefore science is wrong.
scripture which is inerrant.
Imago Dei
Image of God
Creation and nature of humanity quote
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion” genesis 1:26
Ways that Catholics are made in God’s image
RATIONAL (intelligent to find way to god> can engage in debates about faith)
FREE WILL and CONSCIENCE (distinguish/choose between right and wrong w conscience > can make moral choices to uphold moral values)
RELATION TO GOD (ente into relationship w God> pray and go to weekly mass)
GIVE/RECEIVE LOVE (happiness within community of love> why should accept vocation of marriage)
ANSWERABLE TO GOD (accountable via actions> receive punishment in next life)
dominion
God-given authority to rule.
Stewardship
Dominion expressed in a loving care and cultivation of creation.
Results of only focusing on dominion
Over-farming to feed humans.
Deforestation for our needs.
Use of fossil fuels.
Conservative evangelical Christians belief over stewardship
Don’t need to worry about environment as J will soon return at end of world.
Results of also focusing on stewardship
Balancing nature through management of farming and fishing.
Recycling
‘Green energy’
Christian majority’s views on stewardship
Pope Francis wrote of environmental care in Laudato Si (2015)
Humanist view on stewardship
Don’t agree in dominion/stewardship however argue we have a moral responsibility to care for the planet.
3 ways Catholic’s are made in God’s image.
Rational so can distinguish between right and wrong.
Secondly, made to give and receive God’s love.
Answerable to God via wrongdoings.
2 ways Catholics believe humans bear image of God.
Imago Dei, ‘let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’ so can relate to God w masses.
Made rational so can distinguish between right and wrong w free will.
‘Christians should make the care of creation a priority.’ Evaluate
For: humanists are against dominion and feel are obligated to have environmental care.
Pope Francis wrote in 2015 in Laudato Si encyclical.
God created it so we should hold sacred.
Against: conservative evangelical disagree as rapture is coming anyway.
Focus more on imago Dei as dominion.
Still are many humans under threat, bigger threats.
‘The nature of humanity makes humans superior in creation.’ Evaluate.
For: rationality
‘Let us create man in our image, and our likeness; and let them have dominion.’ Genesis
Ability to give and receive love (vocation of marriage)
Against:
Humanists believe all are equal
God gave life to all animals so should be treated equally
Could argue all animals have free will
Some humans may not be trusted to look after creation.
Incarnation quote
“The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14
The incarnation
Referral to god becoming human via Jesus. As J is fully God and fully human. Madame clear in scripture and Church life.
‘Enfleshment’ of God
How is J human?
Born of Mary (Luke 2:7)
Died on cross (Matthew)
Got tired (John)
Cried at friend’s death (John)
How is J God?
Mary was a virgin after annunciation (Matthew)
Miracles
Baptism of J caused dove to appear.
Issues w sabbath and law
J was accused of blasphemy by Jewish community as falsely claimed to be God.
Forgave paralysed man - only god can forgive sins
Allowed disciples to pick corn on Sabbath.
Why’s the incarnation important?
Incarnation continues through history as receive grace through sacraments.
Allows us to relate to God more.
Allows us to see how we can be transformed by grace in church.
2 reasons why Christians believe J is fully human but fully divine.
Mary gave birth to him (annunciation Luke) however was a virgin still after birth.
Although did die on cross, did resurrect.
‘The incarnation makes it clear that Jesus is fully human and fully divine’ Evaluate
For : Born to human yet mother was virgin. Died on cross but resurrected. Got tired but performed miracles. Against: Blasphemy from Jewish authorities as forgave sins and only God can forgive sins. Isn’t logically correct. Is God’s son.
Where’s the Paschal mystery located?
Luke 23-24
4 paschal mysteries
Passion (arrest, trial and suffering)
Death (on cross)
Resurrection (rising from dead in transformed body)
Ascension (resurrected J went up to heaven)
‘Paschal’
Hebrew for Passover which is Jewish celebration of Israelites freedom.
Redemptive efficacy
Jesus’ passion/death allowed redemption of humanity.
Why did Jesus come to earth?
To ‘save’ CCC
To know God’s love (CCC)
To model holiness
To share God’s grace
Why did Jesus die?
To show how to respond to cruelty ‘father, forgive them’ Luke
To erase sins of world
Redemptive efficacy
To open gates of heaven
Why’s the resurrection important?
Foundation of church
Proves J is God
Present event (Matthew> ‘I’m w you always’
Why’s the ascension important
Prepares way for human’s to follow to heaven
Paved way for holy spirit’s arrival at Pentecost.
‘The resurrection is the most important part of the Paschal mystery’ Evaluate
For: present event ‘I’m w u always’ Luke
Proved J is God
Foundation of Church
Against: ascension paved way for kingdom of heaven.
Death showed us how to respond to cruelty (father forgive them, Matthew)
All equally important
Significance of Paschal mystery quote
“For God sent the son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17
Grace involved at baptism
Free from sin and becomes child of God.
God’s grace involved at confirmation
Receive outpouring grace through HS to strengthen.
Grace involved at Eucharist
Receive J’s body and blood like last supper.
Most important expression of Paschal mystery as shows acceptance of salvation, offering strength in life.
Grace involved in matrimony
Graces given for loving relationship and procreation.
Grace involved at Holy orders
Graces given for ordained minister.
Grace involved at reconciliation
Repentance restores relationship w God.
Anointing of sick grace
Healing grace unites sufferer w J’s passion.
3 ways HS works in church
Sacraments
Spread via charity
Counsellor in times of need
‘The HS was needed to bring about salvation in the church.’
For:empowered apostles to start church.
Enabled further understanding of Paschal mystery.
Inspired scripture.
Against:
Apostles were instrumental to spreading word of God on salvation (although inspired by HS)
Jesus ultimately died for our sins
Eschatology
Christian study of last things in human life: death, judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory.
Eschatology quote
“He who believes in me shall never die.” John 11
“For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 5:10
Particular judgement
After one’s death, in which they shall go to heaven, purgatory or hell.
General/last judgement
The end of time in which everyone (living and dead) will be resurrected and a final/eternal judgement will occur.
Divergent beliefs on resurrection
Some believe is soul that’s resurrected while some believe that it’s the physical body.
Catholics believe that it’s when a person’s soul is reunited with their, ‘glorified’ body > J’s familiarity/unfamiliarity.
Church says only God knows nature of the resurrection.
Heaven
Eternal life with God w ‘love and indescribable joy’ CCC
Purgatory
State of purification enabling one to reach required holiness to enter heaven.
Hell
Absence of love, generosity and community w God.
2 Catholic beliefs about life after death
One belief is that we will all be resurrected in final judgement. ‘He who believes in me shall never die.’ John
Another belief is we will all face particular judgement, ‘for we must all face the judgement seat of Christ.’ Corinthians
‘Belief in purgatory is very important.’ Evaluate
For:
Enables us to reach required holiness to get to heaven.
What happens while you face particular judgement.
Mentioned in scripture, ‘for we must all face the judgement seat of Christ.’ Corinthians
Against:
Will all face last judgement anyway.
Some Christians don’t believe in purgatory, merciful God.
Belief in heaven is essential as motivates to follow God’s will.
