Unit 3: Outcome 1, search for human meaning - Part 2

Question 1

What do Christians believe about evil and suffering in our world?

Answer 1

• some say being punished and that God has deserted us.
• bad luck and bad people who misuse their free will and go against natural law cause evil.
• God gave us natural law and free will can’t interfere because he would take those freedoms away.
• when we suffer God suffers with us, footprints in the sand.

Some claim that when suffering occurs through evil we are being punished for our bad deeds, some claim God has desereted us. Christians believe that is is bad luck and sometimes bad people that cause suffering and that due to natural law and free will, two gifts and abilities that God blessed us with he simply can’t interfere even if he wanted to because he would take those freedoms and abilities away. During hard times our relationship grows stronger through our questioning of God when we eventually realise that we can look to God because when we suffer God suffers with us.
See the good through the evil and see the immanent and personal nature of God that Jesus spoke of. The story of the footprints in the sand greatly summarises the role of God in evil and the role of God in human suffering………..

Question 2

Explain resurrection in death and afterlife?

Answer 2

• each gospel different account.
• marks doesn’t mention in original ending.
• Johns gospel has 4 different references.
• can be touched, eat and has whole new existence.
• paschal mystery promises faith in God.
• Jewish sacrifice a lamb in Passover celebrations.
• Jesus is the paschal lamb, he suffered so we can have opportunity for new life.

Each gospel has a slightly different interpretation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Mark’s gospel did not actually mention resurrection in original ending.
John’s gospel has four separate accounts of Jesus appearing to different people through resurrection.
As Christians we understand that a ressurexted body can be touched, can eat and has a whole new existence.
When his apostles see Jesus it gives peace and hope.
The Pascal mystery promises faith in God and means life giving from pain and loss.
It was customary for Jewish people to sacrifice a lamb to God during the Passover celebrations. This represents the original lamb sacrifice that occurred to save the Israelites from Egypt.
Jesus, for Christians is the Paschal Lamb – the one who suffered so that he can save us from death in the new Passover. Jesus was arrested during Passover.

Question 3

Explain death and resurrection in death and afterlife.

Answer 3

• Jesus’ death gives us eternal life.
• death reminds us we are mortal.
• death was not gods original plan it is a result of our bodily sin.
• death separates are soul from our body, raised to new incorruptible bodies.
• God sacrificed his only son so we have opportunity for eternal life.

Jesus’ death gives us eternal life.
One thing that is guaranteed is that death is a certainty in life.
Catholic Church believes in a close link between life and death.
Death reminds us:
•We are mortal
•Completion of actions and the choices we make

Death still involves grief and loss – also brings a new beginning. It is not the final ending
Death was not God’s original plan – our bodily death is the result of original sin.
His greater act of love - he allowed his son to incarnate, suffer and die so we have the opportunity for eternal life
Death separates our soul from our body – raised to new incorruptible bodies
Free from illness, disease and death.

Question 4

Explain catholic funeral ritual in death and afterlife.

Answer 4

THREE STEPS

1. PREYER.
   - vigil/rosary prior at a church,
   - wake, watch over the body.
   - prior to funeral.
2. MASS.
   - coffin in front of the alter.
   - holy water is used, linking with baptism.
   - thanks and remembrance.
3. GRAVESIDE/ CREMATORIUM.
   - Catholic Church doesn’t have a preference between the two.
   - final prayers are made.

Question 5

Explain after life in death and after life.

Answer 5

How you live determines how and where you spend afterlife.
There are three possible destinations.
HEAVEN:
- no suffering.
- eternal presence and love of God.
- must have a pure soul to enter.
HELL:
- here if you reject God
- have broken relationship with God and seeking no redemption.
- suffering and pain of the absence of God’s love.
PURGATORY:
- purification and cleansing occurs here.
- step before heaven.
- cleansing can be speed up by good acts, reconciliation and prayers from others.

Question 6

Explain judgement in death and afterlife.

Answer 6

Judgement is particular of general.
PARTICULAR:
- occurs straight after death.
- locates your afterlife.
GENERAL:
- the second coming.

Question 7

Where do believers in catholic tradition find purpose in life?

Answer 7

• have life and have it more abundantly.
• faith.
• faith and belief in an ultimate reality gives purpose.
• Incarnation, God showed us how to act and by acting in the image of Jesus we have purpose.

Catholics believe the purpose of life is to have life and have it more abundantly. Catholics find purpose in life by having such an incredible amount of faith that you commit your whole life and soul to the belief in an ultimate reality, in the case of catholics, God. Faith is a gift from God and a human act, it allows to discover purpose by first allowing us to discover God. Trust and confidence in God leads Catholics to commit themselves to God.
It is through understanding Jesus who was God fully human and fully divine through incarnation that we as Catholics begin to understand human dignity, how we act and thus we begin to comprehend our reason for being, our purpose.
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28.