[GCSE] Catholic Christianity - Sources of wisdom and authority

Question 1

What are the origins of the Bible?

Answer 1

• Catholics believe the Bible was inspired by God; many ordinaries wrote different books at different times and places.
• There are 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

Question 2

What are the different literary forms of the Old Testament?

Answer 2

• Laws
• History
• Prophets
• Writings

Question 3

Explain the origins of the different literary forms of the Old Testament.

Answer 3

• Laws: the first 5 books which include the Decalogue. Jews follow 613 laws taken from laws but Christians believe they don’t need to as Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, so daily sacrifices are now unnecessary.
• History: Mainly in Deuteronomic history, they show the consequences of what happens when kings and others follow other gods. It also recounts the ancestors of Jews and Israelite history.
• Prophets: Collections of oracles, prophecies about forthtelling; essentially telling people about God’s likeness and how they should behave. These words can still ring true today.
• Writings: Psalms, wisdom literature and highly symbolic works a.k.a. apocalyptic writings.

Question 4

What are the different literary forms within the New Testament?

Answer 4

• Gospels
• Letters

Question 5

Explain the New Testament different literary forms.

Answer 5

• Gospels: They are a proclamation that announce who Jesus was and what he taught. They announce good news about Jesus.
• Epistles/letters: Written to encourage and instruct early groups of Christians.

Question 6

Explain different understandings of which books should be in the Bible.

Answer 6

• Jewish council agreed upon the Hebrew Old Testament at the end of the first century.
• The Christian Churches agreed on using the Septuagint for the Old Testament
• The Churches agreed on which books were going to be in the New Testament in the Council of Carthage in 397ɶ
• The books that were approved by the Christian Church were confirmed as the Catholic Bible by the Council of Trent in 1546.

Question 7

Explain the Catholic Interpretation of the Bible.

Answer 7

Catholics believe the Bible was inspired by God. God spoke through the writers of the Bible and so contains God’s Word. It has authority because it reveals God, contains God’s laws and the teachings of Jesus.

The Bible is Sacred Scripture writtten down under inpiration of the Holy Spirit.

Question 8

Give 2 SOWA which explain the Catholic interpreation of the Bible.

Answer 8

“The inspired books teach the truth…which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures.” (CCC 105-108)

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Question 9

Give some divergent interpretations of the authority of the Bible.

Answer 9

• Fundamentalists see the Bible as the literal Word of God. Every word is the indesputable truth.
• Liberals see most of the Bible as human words, that contain some teachings and ideas that echo the truth. Also; some events/teachings in the Bible will be seen as outdated.

Question 10

How is the Bible used by Catholics today?

Answer 10

• Lectio - reading
• Meditatio - meditation
• Oratio - praying
• Contemplatio - contemplation

This is all in line with Lectio Divina a.k.a. Divine Reading.

Question 11

How does the current interpretation of the Bible affect Catholics today?

Answer 11

• Protestant Christians use the Bible alone to wrok out what they believe
• Catholics have tradition; oral teaching from the apostles
• The Catholic Church is also guided by the Pope and the bishops.

Question 12

What is the ordinary magisterium?

Answer 12

Where all the bishops teach what has always been taught.

Question 13

What is the conciliar magisterium?

Answer 13

Pople calls a General Council of bishops to discuss current issues; e.g. the Second Vatican Council.

Question 14

What is the pontifical magisterium?

Answer 14

• The Pope has papal infallibility which he uses if all bishops disagree on something; he can make the final statement on it.
• The Pope is a keeper of faith, not its inventor, and so will leave questions open that he doesn’t know the answer to.

Question 15

What is the task of the Pope according to CCC?

Answer 15

“The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.”

Question 16

How is the magisterium the living teaching office of the Church?

Answer 16

• The magisterium aid with the intepretation of doctrines that are specical to Catholics but contested by Protestants. Protestants often challenge Catholics by asking “Where is it in the Bible?”.
• This is seen for example with the immaculate conception of Mary (it doesn’t actually say she’s immaculate).
• To solve this, doctrines musn’t contradict anything in the Bible, but develop things within it.

Question 17

Why is the magisterium important for Catholics today?

Answer 17

• It guides people today on how to understand scripture and to evaluate modern debates and issues in the light of the faith.
• For example: women priests. Catholics disallow it as Christ was male and priests represent Christ. Anglicans don’t mind.

Question 18

What was the Second Vatican Council?

Answer 18

• Council opened in Oct 1962 by Pope John the 23rd and closed Nov 1965 by Pope Paul the 6th.
• It included philosophical experts and 100 bishops.
• It was called to discuss a ‘New Pentecost’, have Churches have open windows, etc. Pope John desired for a change in how things were expressed.
• This made the council a pastoral one.
• It produced 4 important documents.

Question 19

What were the 4 key documents produced by the Second Vatican Council?

Answer 19

• Dei Verbum
• Lumen Gentium
• Sacrosanctum Concilium
• Gaudium et Spes

Question 20

Explain Dei Verbum.

Answer 20

The Church believes Scripture and Tradition can guide, teach and inspire Catholics today and having the Bible in the language of the people in the Mass helps people to understand how to apply the teachings in their lives.

Question 20

Explain Lumen Gentium.

Answer 20

The Church is linked to all people. Everyone is involved, but there is clear leadership; seeking to move closer to God and to constantly learn and serve one another.

Question 21

Explain Sacrosanctum Concilium.

Answer 21

Christ is present in Mass not only in the consecrated bread and wine but also in the Word of God that is read out in the person of the priest and in the assembled people. The mass is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows.”

Question 22

Explain Gaudium et Spes.

Answer 22

It explained to people that the incarnation of Christ was key to life and human fulfilment and through it, God touched the whole of humanity. It claimed that peace and justice are necessary for all; and dialogue with athetists and secular groups for social action and change was encouraged.

Question 23

Give some divergent understandings of the importance of the council.

Answer 23

• Many Catholics saw it as a great relief and encouragement.
• Some thought the reforms went too far; Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre led a breakway group of priests who rejected the reforms of Vatican 2 (SSPX)
• Some thought the changes didn’t go far enough and there should be married priests, etc.

Question 24

How is the Church the Body of Christ?

Answer 24

- "We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us." - The people are the Body - The consecrated bread of the Eucharist is the Body - The people are the Body as the assembly of the faithful because they are baptised into Christ - "For in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or freee - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit"

Question 25

How are the Church the People of God?

Answer 25

Everyone in Church is a person of God due to baptism which brings them into a knowledge of Christ and all his blessings he is believed ot have revealed to humanity and thereby they belong to one Body, one People of faith.

Question 26

Why is the Church as the Body of Christ and the People of God important for Catholics today?

Answer 26

- Christ didn't leave the arth at his ascension, his body remained - The Church is carrying on the work of Christ in the world - Christians are baptised into the body of Christ - Eucharist: Christians share in the Body of Christ - Body of Christ shows how Christians can persform different tasks and yet be unified.

Question 27

Give some divergent understandings of the Church as the BoC and PoG.

Answer 27

- Catholics accept the authority of the Pope: the Pope is the head of the Church and so his role is to rule and guide and pass on the true teachings of Christ. - Orthodoxes believe they follow the right beliefs and teachings and reject the authority of the Pope. Authority comes from councils. - Protestants believe the Bible is sole authority and salvation comes from faith, not sacraments.

Question 28

What are the four marks of the Church?

Answer 28

- One - Holy - Catholic - Apostolic

Question 29

Explain how/why the Church is One.

Answer 29

- God is a unity, so his Church must be One - The Church is based on one Lord, Jesus Christ - Church has one baptism for the forgiveness of sins - Church is inspired by one Spirit - Church has one faith as agreed in the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds ## Footnote Because of this Catholics are encouraged to pray with other Christians and work ecumenically.

Question 30

How/why is the Church holy?

Answer 30

- God made it, so the Church is holy - Christ gave his life to make his Church holy, his Church is devoted to God - The Church is the source of the sacraments which bring God's grace to humanity. Therefore it's empowered by God and is holy. - Church has been given true faith and is guided by the Holy Spirit.

Question 31

How/why is the Church Catholic?

Answer 31

- Wheras Judaism was for one race, Christianity is for the whole world - There are Christians everywhere | For a Church to be Catholic it must be universal.

Question 32

How/why is the Church Apostolic?

Answer 32

- It was founded by the apostles - Teaches what the apostles taught - Bishops are the successors of the apostles who maintain and proclaim the message of Jesus - The authority of St Peter has been passed down by the Apostolic Succession to the current Pope

Question 33

Give the divergent understandings of the four marks of the Church.

Answer 33

- Many Protestants believe the Church's oneness is spiritual, based on baptism and a belief in Christ, allowing anyone to receive communion - Orthodoxes also see oneness and view agreement on things such as the Creeds are a requirement of oneness, not allowing anyone to receive communion - All Christians agree Christians are part of a movement across all races and nations - Protestants believe that apostolic nature is due to the scriptures coming from the apostles - Catholics and Orthodoxes believe apostolic nature is because their teachings, scriptures and line of bishops came from the first apostles.

Question 34

Why are the four marks of the Church important for Catholics today?

Answer 34

- Church isn't a human creation but a divine gift formed and guided by Christ - Jesus did not form many different groups but one faith and the Catholic Church has preserved that unity in faith - Church is worldwide and does not belong to any one nation or cultural style - Church traces itself back to the apostles through the line of bishops and the faith that has been passed down. - Church is holy, comes from God ans so Catholics cannot remake it and make it say what they want it to. Catholics are guided and formed by the Church

Question 35

Why is Mary a model of the Church? (and why is it significant)

Answer 35

- Mary was the mother of Christ - Just as Mary was a mother to Jesus Christ the church is a mother to believers - It's important as Mary is an immaculate virgin, taken up into heaven *"the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin...was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things."*

Question 36

Why is it important that Mary is a model of Discipleship?

Answer 36

- Mary obeyed God's plan; she accepted God's will - Mary was conceived without sin (immaculate conception) and remained a pure virgin throughout her life - She showed complete devotion to Jesus even sharing in his sufferings on the cross - Even when misunderstanding what was happening, she trusted God and was always spportive and faithful to Jesus - She was always a help and support to her son (she told the people to ask Jesus and 'do whatever he tell you' at the wedding feast in Cana) - She was without sin from the moment of her immaculate conception and continued to be sinless throughout her life

Question 37

Why is it important Mary is a model of faith and charity?

Answer 37

FAITH: - She believed the message of the angel gabriel at the annuciation even without proof (*"“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”"*) - She believed Jesus was God's Son before he performed any miracles due to gabriel - She trusted God would make sure death wasn't the end for her son CHARITY: - she gave up her own life and career to bear God's son when she could've refused - she was always ready to help people - she continues to pray for those who need her help

Question 38

What are the implications of Mary being a model on Catholic life today?

Answer 38

- She is the mother of all the baptised since she is the mother of christ - Her prayers are asked for as candles are lit, 'hail mary' and the rosary is recited and her shrines are often visited - As the god bearer she encourages Catholics today to be God bearers by being open to the holy spirit - She encourages Catholics to be firm in their faith - She is a reminder of the value of women in the church and the blessedness of all mothers who give the gift of life

Question 39

How is Jesus the authoritative source for moral teaching?

Answer 39

- Jesus was the perfect human being as he was God made man. He is the example of holy life and of what God is like in human terms - He created the golden rule 'love your neighbour as you love yourself' - He also announced the rule !the Lord your God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul"

Question 40

How is Jesus the fulfilment of the Law?

Answer 40

- Before Christ, ritual laws and rules and the cult were required. They are written within the Torah (law of moses, old testament) - Now that Christ has come, these ritual laws are no longer relevant but the thical laws still stand based on natural law. ## Footnote Natural law is the inbuilt moral order to the universe.

Question 41

Give the SOWA which expresses Jesus as the fulfilment of the Law.

Answer 41

*"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."*

Question 42

Give some divergent understandings of the place and authority of natural law.

Answer 42

- Protestants reject the idea that human beings can work out from themselves the difference between right and wrong and believe all morality comes from God. - Catholics respond with the idea that sin has affected the will but not the intellect of humanity. The story of Fall makes clear what distinguishes humans from animals: it is our conscience that makes us different.

Question 43

What is virtue and the primacy of conscience?

Answer 43

- The CC believe that God placed moral law within all of humanity. This is due to us being created in 'the image of God'. - Virtues form after making habits of following the commandments of the Church. - To hear your conscience you may need to practice interiority. - Catholic Conscience must be based on 3 principles: never do evil for good, follow the golden rule and have charity towards your neighbour.

Question 44

What are the divergent implications of these sources of authority on Christians today?

Answer 44

- Abortion: Some Christians pro-life, some Christians pro-choice - Stealing: Theft may not be kind to the individual, but may be necessary - Respect: All Christians believe in respecting others - Homosexuality: Some think all gay partners should follow chastity. Others (some Catholics and Protestants) value the love of the partners more.