Unit 1 - World Religion

Question 1

List the KEY FACTS of:

The Nature of God

Answer 1

1. God is One - MONTHEISM
2. God is described as the CREATOR
3. God is described as having the OMNI-ATTRIBUTES
   
   • Omnipotent - All-Powerful
   • Omniscient - All-Knowing
   • Omnibenevolent - All-Loving
4. God is the TRINITY
   - God the Father is the source of all life, the creator. Everything that exists has been brought into existence.
   - God the Son is Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man; God incarnate. Through his life, death and resurrection, humanity is saved from sin and the relationship between God and humanity is healed.
   - God the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. The Spirt of God is the source of wisdom, strength and creative inspiration.

Question 2

List the EVIDENCE for:

The Nature of God

Answer 2

1. MONTHESIM - “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is One.” Deuteronomy 6: 4
2. CREATOR - “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis. 1: 1
3. TRINITY - “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28: 19

Question 3

List the ANALYSIS for:

The Nature of God

Answer 3

1. MONTHEISM - Belief in one God helps people to more easily understand the nature of God because there is only one.
2. CREATOR - This helps Christians to feel that they are important and have meaning and purpose.
3. OMNI-ATTRIBUTES - God is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving. This makes Christians feel important, loved and protected be God.
4. TRINITY - Understanding God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit helps us to relate to God better because we can all relate to the different roles within a family.

Question 4

List the typical EXAM PHRASES for:

The Nature of Human Beings

Answer 4

1. Nature of Human Beings
2. Humans created in God’s likeness
3. Free will
4. Sin

Question 5

List the KEY FACTS of:

The Nature of Human Beings

Answer 5

1. Human beings are made in God’s IMAGE & LIKENESS
2. Human beings are STEWARDS of God’s CREATION
3. Human beings have FREE WILL
4. ORIGINAL SIN is part of the human condition. All human beings are affected by sin and its consequences, even before they are born.

Question 6

List the EVIDENCE for:

The Nature of Human Beings

Answer 6

1. IMAGE & LIKENESS - “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1: 27
2. STEWARDS - “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis. 1: 28
3. FREE WILL?? - “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3: 6

Question 7

List the ANALYSIS of:

The Nature of Human Beings

Answer 7

1. IMAGE & LIKENESS - This helps Christians to feel that they are important and have meaning and purpose.
2. STEWARDS of CREATION - Christians may feel that their lives meaning and purpose because they are called by God to look after creation and make a positive difference in the world.
3. FREE WILL - Christians will have a better understanding of the way in which actions have consequences that can affect them and others. This will make them act more responsibly.
4. ORIGINAL SIN - If Christians understand sin better, then they can do something about it. They are able to overcome the consequences of original sin and be better people, making responsible moral decisions.

Question 8

List the typical EXAM PHRASES for:

Beliefs about Jesus (INCARNATION)

Answer 8

1. Jesus as an incarnation of God

Question 9

List the KEY FACTS of:

Beliefs about Jesus (INCARNATION)

Answer 9

1. FLESH AND BLOOD - Incarnation means in a flesh and blood form. The idea that God enters the human realm in the form of Jesus. Jesus has a miraculous virgin birth, confirming his divine nature.
2. PARADOX - Jesus was truly human and truly God at the same time - a paradox. Jesus is part of the trinity - God the Son. God had sent prophets, but the people hadn’t listened to them, so now he was sending his Son.
3. INCARNATION - The incarnation means that God has experienced everything about being a human being, apart from sin.
4. DEATH & RESURRECTION - Only God on earth could deal with the consequences of sin by dying on the cross and then beating death.
5. ‘THE WORD’ - Jesus is ‘the Word’ - how God communicates his nature and his will to the world - if you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen God.

Question 10

List the EVIDENCE for:

Beliefs about Jesus (INCARNATION)

Answer 10

1. The Baptism of Jesus (Mk 1: 1-13). God the Father’s words about Jesus show that he is God the Son.
2. The Calming of The Storm (Mk. 4: 35-41). Jesus shows that he is God the Son by having power over sickness and death.
3. The Healing of Jairus’ Daughter (Mk. 5: 21-43). Jesus shows that he is God the Son by having the power over sickness and death.
4. Jesus Forgives & Heals a Paralysed Man. (Mk 2: 1-12). Jesus shows that he is God the Son by having the power to forgive sins and heal.

Question 11

List the ANALYSIS of:

Beliefs about Jesus (Incarnation is IMPORTANT for Christians)

Answer 11

1. It helps us to understand that Jesus wasn’t just a human being but is actually God the Son. This helps us to understand the nature of God better. By knowing Jesus, we know God.
2. The incarnation helps us to see Jesus as the perfect example of a human being. If we follow Jesus’ words and actions, then we can be the best people we can possibly be.
3. The incarnation gives us hope because God loves humanity so much that he is willing to become one of us to show the depth of that love.
4. The incarnation is important because it shows us the way to overcome sin. Jesus lives a perfect life. This gives us hope that sin and death aren’t the end and that we too can share in eternal life through God.

Question 12

List the ANALYSIS of:

Beliefs about Jesus (Incarnation might AFFECT Christians)

Answer 12

1. They would worship Jesus as God, asking for his help and guidance in their lives.
2. Some Christians use image of Jesus as a focus for prayer and devotion.
3. In communion, they would remember how Jesus died for their sins.
4. They would look to Jesus’ words and actions as the best source of guidance for living as they have tremendous authority.
5. They would feel that God must truly care about people if he went to the lengths of coming to earth as a person.
6. They may feel compelled to spread the good news about Jesus through mission or evangelism.
7. Celebrate Christmas, God coming into the world.
8. Christians would feel closer to God because he knows what it’s like to be fully human.

Question 13

List the KEY FACTS of:

Beliefs about Jesus (DEATH & RESURRECTION)

Answer 13

1. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, and condemned to death by the Sanhedrin and by Pontius Pilate. Jesus is crucified between two thieves at 9am. He asks God to forgive his executioners. He is offered wine mixed with gall, but refuses it. Passers-by and one of the thieves mock him (both thieves mock him in some versions). The other thief asks him to remember him when he comes into his kingdom. there is a period of darkness (3 hours).

Jesus cries out, ‘My God, my god, why have you abandoned me’. Jesus says, ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit’ and breathes his last. He dies at 3pm. The Temple curtain is torn in two, from top to bottom. There is an earthquake and dead saints are resurrected. The centurion/spectators at the cross say, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God.’

2. Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin and secret follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. He had the body placed in a tomb nearby before nightfall on the Friday evening, so as to avoid working on the Sabbath. On the third day (Sunday), Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb and was told that Jesus had risen from the dead.
3. Christians describe Jesus as the Redeemer. This is because his death and resurrection free humanity from slavery to sin and death.

Question 14

List the EVIDENCE for:

Beliefs about Jesus (DEATH & RESURRECTION)

Answer 14

1. The Last Supper (Mk 14: 22-31).
   Jesus establishes the Eucharist and makes the symbolism of the Passover & Exodus story about himself. He is the lamb, whose sacrifice will save humanity from sin and death.
2. The Betrayal & Arrest (Mk14: 43-52)
   Jesus is betrayed by one of his closest friends.
3. The Crucifixion. (Mk 15: 21-41)
   Jesus is crucified between two thieves.
4. The Resurrection. (Mk 16: 1 - 8)
   Jesus rises from the dead on Sunday
5. The Ascension. (Lk 24: 44-53)
   Jesus ascends into heaven.

Question 15

List the ANALYSIS of:

Beliefs about Jesus (DEATH & RESURRECTION)

Answer 15

1. Christians today believe that Jesus dies to overcome sin which separates men and women from God. The love and obedience Jesus had in dying can still somehow make up for everything that men and women do wrong. This process is described as atonement (making things one).
2. Humanity is moved to repentance and asking for forgiveness in response to God’s love demonstrated by the sacrifice made by Jesus.
3. Many modern theologians talk about God entering into the suffering of the world on the cross and offering people a way out of it; that evil does its worse to Jesus and death is shown not to be the end. There is hope and a new way to live with God and one another.
4. Christian martyrs today are people who are willing to die for their faith, following the example of Christ and bearing witness to the Truth, even at the price of the life itself.
5. The Resurrection of Jesus (the event at which Jesus was raised from the dead by God) is at the heart of the Christian faith. It is important because it showed God the Father’s approval of Jesus.
6. It proved that Jesus ws who he said he was - the Messiah and the Son of God - and that what he had said was true.
7. It was God’s new saving act - like the Exodus in the past, but much greater, because it was for all people everywhere. Jesus had atoned for the sins of the world. Through his death, Jesus bridged the separation between God and humanity that is created by sin.
8. As God raised Jesus to life, so too he would raise his people to life. Jesus’ resurrection shows that there is life after death. Death is not the end.

Question 16

List the KEY FACTS of:

JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN & HELL

Answer 16

1. JUDGEMENT - Scripture speaks of two kinds of judgement: INDIVIDUAL / PARTICULAR JUDGEMENT and FINAL JUDGEMENT. Individual judgement occurs at the end of our life here on earth and will be followed either by eternal union or eternal separation from God. Final judgement occurs at the end of the world and will mark the culmination of God’s re-creation of ourselves and our world. The final or last judgement is associated with the Perousia, the second coming of Christ which will usher in the full establishment of God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
2. HEAVEN involves vision, union and life with God. It is experiencing God and other people fully. It is being at peace with yourself and with others. It is receiving everything that God is from Him, and giving unconditionally to Him and others.
3. HELL is rejecting everything that God is - Unity, Truth, Goodness, Beauty. It is being truly alone. God respects the decision of some people not wanting to be with Him.

Question 17

List the EVIDENCE of:

JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN & HELL

Answer 17

1. PARTICULAR JUDGEMENT - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
   Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgement that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven through purification or immediately - or immediate and everylasting damnation. CCC 1022
2. LAST / FINAL JUDGEMENT - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
   In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man’s relationship with God will be laid bare. The Last Judgement will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life. CCC 1039
3. HEAVEN - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
   Those who die in God’s grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they “see him as he is” face to face. CCC 1023
4. HELL - Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
   We cannot by united with god unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbour or against ourselves: … This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell”. CCC 1033

Question 18

List the ANALYSIS of:

JUDGEMENT, HEAVEN & HELL

Answer 18

1. JUDGEMENT - Helps Christians to understand that the way in which we live our lives in this world will impact on our life in the after-life. This might encourage Christians to act responsibly and strive to make the love and goodness of God present in the lives of others in this world and the next.
2. HEAVEN - Beliefs in Heaven will give Christians hope in a better existence beyond death. For many people who suffer in this life, the belief in Heaven will spur them on to live with the challenges they face in the hope of being united fully with God in Heaven.
3. HELL - The existence of Hell helps us to understand that God respects human free will. In other words, God will respect the decision of humans who do not want to be with Him in Heaven.

Question 19

List the KEY FACTS of:

JESUS’ TEACHING & EXAMPLE

Answer 19

1. GOLDEN RULE - Jesus says that the basis of all human conduct should be treating others the way that we would like to be treated. Jesus points to the dignity of each person, regardless of their status in society, race, religion, nationality or even whether we personally like them or not. Christian love means respecting and having the good of the other in our thoughts and actions, even when we don’t like the other person.
2. GOOD SAMARITAN - Jesus uses this parable to point out clearly what he means by loving your neighbour. Historically, there was sectarianism between Jews and Samaritans. Jesus makes the Samaritan the central character in his parable because he would be the last person the Jewish people would expect to help the man who had been robbed. Of course, the ones whom you would have expected to help, walk on by.
3. PRODIGAL SON - The parable of the return of the Prodigal Son is all about forgiveness and centres around three important figures: the Father, the dutiful son and the prodigal son. Forgiveness is key to the nature of God and is unconditional. The Father does not bring up the issues of the past but is just happy that his son has returned, for in his eyes he has been dead, and now is alive again. In addition, the elder son must learn to forgive just as the Father does. The message is that we must be unconditional in our forgiveness just as our Heavenly Father is.
4. PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS - In this parable, Jesus uses an image that would have been common to his listeners of separating out sheep and goals. He uses this image to get them to think about how people should take care of others. Christians refer to these as CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY. The Christian cannot just talk a good game. It is about how we act. If God is our Father then EVERYONE is a brother and sister. We are called upon to care for them just as if they are Jesus!

Question 20

List the EVIDENCE for:

JESUS’ TEACHING & EXAMPLE

Answer 20

1. GOLDEN RULE - Luke 6: 31
2. GOOD SAMARITAN - Luke 10: 25-37
3. PRODIGAL SON - Luke 15: 11-32
4. PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS - Matthew 25: 31-46

Question 21

List the ANALYSIS for:

JESUS’ TEACHING & EXAMPLE

Answer 21

1. GOLDEN RULE - Following Jesus’ teaching and example will make the world a better place. This is because if everyone followed the Golden Rule, then people would be treated better, and happiness would generally increase.
2. GOOD SAMARITAN - If all people followed the teaching of the Good Samaritan, then there would be no more rivalry and animosity among peoples or nations as all people would see one another as neighbours, and even family. This would lead to peace in the home, in society and in the world.
3. PRODIGAL SON - Following the teaching given us in the Prodigal Sonwould lead to greater forgiveness and reconciliation at all levels in society. Revenge and anger would be replaced by people moving forward together; learning from mistakes and improving.
4. PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS - Christians are encouraged to serve God by serving others, especially those who are most in need. Catholics can put this teaching into practice through participating in the work of local charities, such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or internationally, by supporting charities such as Mary’s Meals.

The teachings of Jesus encourage people to make the world better by helping and forgiving others.

Question 22

List the ANALYSIS for:

JESUS’ TEACHING & EXAMPLE - Why some people think that you CANNOT be expected to follow Jesus’ teachings today:

Answer 22

• It’s not realistic to expect ordinary people to be able to live like the Son of God
• Humans are limited in what they can do for others - we can’t make a blind man see or walk on water.
• Jesus was meant to be without sin, so wasn’t subject to the same temptations as ordinary people.
• It’s too hard to be loving and kind to people who are hateful to us - it just goes against human nature.
• Many just wouldn’t be willing or able to give their life for their beliefs or for other people because we naturally want to preserve our own lives.

Question 23

List the ANALYSIS for:

JESUS’ TEACHING & EXAMPLE: Why some people think you CAN be expected to follow Jesus’ teachings today:

Answer 23

• Even though people don’t have Jesus’ miraculous powers, they can still look for practical ways to love their neighbour, for example, by helping the needy or caring for the sick.
• People like Martin Luther King Jr. show that it is possible to love your enemies as Jesus did.
• There are many Christians who are trying to live by ‘What would Jesus do?’ in their day-to-day lives, and encouraging fellow believers to do the same.
• It’s challenging, but not impossible, and still a goal worth aiming for as it would make the world a better place.

Question 24

List the KEY FACTS of:

WORSHIP

Answer 24

1. INDIVIDUAL WORSHIP involves prayer. This could include the Lord’s Prayer / Our Father. The main types of prayer are:

• Asking: Petition (for ourselves) and Intercession (for others)
• Sorrow
• Thanksgiving
• Praise and Adoration

2. COMMUNITY WORSHIP in the Catholic Church involves the sacraments and the liturgical seasons. There are five liturgical seasons in the Catholic Church:

• Advent
• Christmas
• Lent
• Easter
• Ordinary Time

3. SEVEN SACRAMENTS - there are 7 sacraments in the Church:
   * Sacraments of HEALING - Sacraments that bring peace and wholeness in mind and body - Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick.
   * Sacrament of INITIATION - Sacraments by which a person is drawn into full membership of the Church - Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
   * Sacrament of MINISTRY - Sacraments by which a person receives grace for a special role of service - Marriage, Holy Orders.

Question 25

List the ANALYSIS of:

WORSHIP

Answer 25

1. Worship is important for Christians as it allows them to thank God both individually and as a community.
2. Worship helps to improve a person’s relationship with God and others because prayer is a form of communication.
3. Worship can help build up a person’s faith because worshipping with others can help to support a person’s faith and be a source of encouragement. Seeing other people put into practice the same beliefs as your own can strengthen your faith, particularly in times of challenge.

Question 26

List the ANALYSIS of:

WHY CHRISTIANS MAY WORSHIP

Answer 26

1. It connects followers with God and helps them to understand him better.
2. It shows appreciation to God for what he has done for them. For example, in sending Jesus, or in providing for their daily needs.
3. It acknowledges that God is greater than them and that he is the creator and sustainer.
4. It brings people together with fellow believers so they can connect as one family and encourage one another in their faith.
5. It enables them to participate in the sacraments, for example communion where they remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In the sacrament Christians feel they can experience a special connection with God (‘an outward sign of an invisible grace’).

Question 27

List the ANALYSIS of:

WHY SOME CHRISTIANS THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO WORSHIP

Answer 27

1. Going to church shows you are associating yourself with other Christians / Christianity
2. It is part of a Christian’s witness - a sign to others that your faith is real.
3. Showing love for God and each other within a Christian community is a valuable source of encouragement e.g. in the sharing of “The Peace”
4. During formal worship with others there are opportunities to strengthen your faith, e.g. in recitation of the creed, confession, prayers and hymns.
5. St Paul urged fellow believers not to give up meeting together. The church is the people that make it up, so worshipping together is vital.
6. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This shows he intended Christians to meet together to worship.
7. Communion is an especially important act of worship for many Christians, and by definition, it is done with others.

Question 28

List the ANALYSIS of:

WHY SOME CHRISTIANS DO NOT THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL TO WORSHIP

Answer 28

1. Worship is about your personal relationship with God - not about others.
2. Many very spiritual Christians have lived solitary lives in meditation and prayer.
3. The Kingdom of God happens when people show love to those outside the community of faith. this is true “spiritual worship”
4. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats suggests the true sign of real faith is love for others who are struggling.
5. Some find themselves unable to meet with others for worship due to isolation or ill health. They are no less real Christians, and no less able to worship God.