Visions

Question 1

What is a vision?

Answer 1

A vision may be seen as a form of private revelation.

Question 2

When does the Catholic Church accept visions?

Answer 2

Only when these private revelations do not contradict anything taught by the Church

Question 3

What are some visions the Catholic Church accepted?

Answer 3

Those from St Bernadette and Joan or Arc

Question 4

What are the two main forms of visions?

Answer 4

Corporeal and Imaginative visions

Question 5

What is a corporeal vision?

Answer 5

Where people physically see something

Question 6

What is a imaginative vision?

Answer 6

Where people see something in their imagination or dreams

Question 7

Why are visions important?

Answer 7

-prompt action or greater faith from those that experience it
-suggest a direct calling from God or possible vocation
- Loving nature of God/offering guidance through visions
- test of faith/prompt action = great change to their life
- demonstrate the mystery of God

Question 8

What is an example of old testament vision?

Answer 8

One of earliest vision = Abraham/visited by God/promises to protect and reward him for devout obedience

Question 9

Sowa for old testament vision

Answer 9

Genesis 15:1

Question 10

What is an example of a new testament vision?

Answer 10

Transfiguration of Jesus/Moses+ Elijah appear to him, Peter, James and John with the voice of God speaking.

Question 11

Why is the transfiguration of Jesus important?

Answer 11

Evidence that Jesus was the son of God and presence of OT figures confirms Jesus is the fulfilment of the OT prophesies

Question 12

Sowa for new testament vision

Answer 12

Mathew 17:1-13

Question 13

What is an example of a non-biblical vision? (Joan of Arc)

Answer 13

1424/French peasant girl called Joan had vision of St Michael , St Catherine and St Margaret who told her to force the English way.

Question 14

What is an example of a non-biblical vision? (St Bernadette)

Question 15

Why might visions lead people to believe in God?

Answer 15

• Can be powerful, personal experience giving great strength and faith
• Richard Swinburne = if God exists we would expect him to make contact on occasion
• Behaviour of those affected seem to change = must be God
• Many examples in history and bible allow people to interpret it in a religious way

Question 16

Why might visions not be proof of God’s existence?

Answer 16

• Often no lasting or physical proof that visions have taken place
• Could be explained as hallucinations , misunderstanding, or simply made up
• Even if genuine doesn’t have to be God
• Dreams could be our subconscious wanting to have a religious experience
• Visions of Mary do not match up with how a middle-eastern woman looked

Question 17

Another argument against why visions may not be proof of God’s existence

Answer 17

Visions are not accepted in isolation and are supported by evidence in SOWAs [eg Bible]