Catholicism: Beliefs and Teachings Flashcards
(58 cards)
Describe three beliefs about the trinity.
- there is only one god
- the father is god
- the son is god
- the holy spirit is god
- the three persons of the trinity are different
State one quote from the CCC that proves the trinity.
“The Trinity is One. We do not confess three gods but one God in three persons.” - CCC 253
Quote the part of the Nicene Creed which proves the belief in the Trinity.
“I believe in one God, the Father almighty… I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages… I believe in the Holy Spirit… who proceeds from the Father and the Son”
List 4 places from the Bible where God’s nature as a Trinity is taught.
- in the Shema prayer (“Hear O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord”)
- Lord’s prayer (“Our Father who art in heaven”)
- “the Word was God… the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
- Jesus’ baptism (“spirit of God descending like a dove”)
- the creation accounts
Why is understanding God as a Trinity important for Catholics today ?
- reveals some of mystery of God
- allows understand how God connects to humans in different ways (outside them, beside them and inside them)
- each person of the Trinity’s different love for humans teaches Catholics about love in their own lives
How is belief in the Trinity demonstrated in worship ?
- baptism in the name of the Trinity
- Eucharist
- Eucharistic prayer
- doxology (glory given to Father through the Son with the Son and in the Son in the unity of the Holy Spirit after the Eucharistic Prayer)
- mass
What is a doctrine ?
teachings about God approved by the Church
Why was Arius of Egypt excommunicated by the Bishop of Alexandria and his successor ?
believed in the heresy that Jesus was not truly God
What is an ecumenical council ?
A council containing all the bishops around the world and the Pope (or with his approval).
What did the first council of Nicaea do ?
- produced the Creed of Nicaea
- decided definitively that the Father and Son are consubstantial, not just of similar substance
What did the first council of Constantinople do ?
- produced Nicene Creed
- reaffirmed Creed of Nicaea
- affirmed that the Holy Spirit is God
- taught that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine
Outline 3 Catholic beliefs found in the Nicene Creed.
- God is the Father
- Jesus is consubstantial with the Father
- the Holy Trinity is three persons in one God
What is the difference between creating and making in the eyes of Catholics ?
- creating = giving existence to a new thing
- making = giving new form to a thing already in existence
Which chapters of Genesis detail the creation accounts ?
chapters 1-3
- 1 = creation of universe (7 days)
- 2 = detailed account of 6th day (creation of humans)
- 3 = account of Adam and Eve’s disobedience
What is God’s nature shown to be in the Creation accounts (with quotes) ?
- Creator (“Let there be light; and there was light”)
- benevolent/loving (“God saw that the light was good” + creates humans as free)
- omnipotent (“God… can do everything” - CCC)
- eternal (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”)
Explain the Catholic Church’s interpretation of Creation.
- the Creation accounts are myths which contain sacred symbolic meanings and metaphors to help humans understand God as the Creator
- religion goes hand in hand with scientific principles such as the Big Bang Theory
- science explains how creation unfolded whilst religion explains why
What is a Creationist ?
a Christian who interprets the Creation accounts as literally true.
Why are the Creation accounts significant in understanding the nature of humanity ?
they set out God’s intentions for the human race.
What does it mean for humans to be created in Imago Dei ?
- human beings have certain characteristics of God and have a special relationship with God unlike the rest of Creation
- human beings are rational
- humans have free will and conscience (to follow God)
- humans yearn for God (and often mistake this feeling for yearning for something material or an idol)
- humans can give and receive love
- humans are answerable to God
- humans have dominion
- humans have stewardship
Give a quote that describes humans as rational.
“By his reason [a person] is capable of understanding the order of things established by the Creator.” - CCC
Give a quote that describes humans as having dominion over Creation.
“let them have dominion over the… sea and over… all the earth.”
Give a quote that describes humans as in God’s image.
“let us make man in our image”
Give a quote that describes humans as having free will.
“By free will, [a person] is capable of directing himself towards his true good.” - CCC
Give a quote that describes humans as having a conscience.
“His conscience is man’s most secret core” - Gaudium et Spes 16