Module 3 - The Influence of Religion

Question 1

Name a religious belief in Catholicism

Answer 1

Revelation

Question 2

What is revelation?

Answer 2

When something has been uncovered that has previously been hidden
- When God reveals himself to humans

Question 3

What are the key features of revelation?

Answer 3

1. Natural
2. Divine
3. Jesus as the Fullness of Revelation

Question 4

Why does NR and DR come up in the Living in Christ series?

Answer 4

This is because, accepting that God reveals himself to us means accepting a truth that is fundamental to all catechesis and theology

Question 5

What would happen if God didn’t reveal himself?

Answer 5

If God did not choose to reveal himself, there would be no theology and no religion

God must first reach out and embrace us before we can know and embrace God.

Question 6

Why is the study of revelation important?

Answer 6

Helps us to avoid false understandings of God.

Helps us understand between competing claims about who God is and what He wills.

Beliefs about revelation will lead to different understandings of God.

Question 7

What is the Catholic teaching of revelation?

Answer 7

That God reveals himself both through the created order (NR) and through unique, divinely inspired modalities (DR).

Question 8

How is natural revelation experienced?

Answer 8

• NR is ongoing and available to all
• Experienced through gifts of creation and intellect
• Can provide personal encounters with God.
• Can be misleading/misused

Question 9

Where is DR found?

Answer 9

In salvation history - fulfilled or completed in Jesus Christ

Authentically communicated only through Scripture & Tradition.

Question 10

How is DR safeguarded?

Answer 10

By the magisterium, and all Christians have the responsibility to share it with others by our words and actions.

Question 11

What is Divine Revelation?

Answer 11

God’s definitive self-communication, through which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan of salvation.

Question 12

How is DR communicated?

Answer 12

Through scripture and tradition for all humanity to know and understand

Question 13

How does original NR continue today?

Answer 13

Through creation, intellect, and relationships which are scarred by human sin.

We know and understand god in less intimate and immediate ways than he originally intended.

Question 14

What did God do after the Fall?

Answer 14

Enacted his plan of salvation, his plan to bring humanity back into full communion with him

Question 15

What was the situation of DR in the old testament?

Answer 15

In the OT, God intentionally revealed himself and his plan for salvation through the covenants he made with his Chosen People and through the prophets he sent to them.

Question 16

What did the Chosen People receive in turn?

Answer 16

They were to be a light to the world, proclaiming God’s truth to all nations.

Question 17

How were God’s plans of salvation affected?

Answer 17

Thwarted repeatedly by human sin until it was perfectly fulfilled when he walked among us once again as the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ.

Question 18

What was the purpose of the OT and NT?

Answer 18

So they communicate in human words all that God wanted to reveal for the sake of our salvation?

Question 19

Why are Scripture and Tradition important?

Answer 19

Scripture flows from apostolic Tradition because the NT is based on witness of Apostles and OT books were approved/used by Jesus/Apostles.

S/T are guided by the same spirit and have same source

Two authentic modes of transmitting the unity of DR - referred to as the Deposit of Faith

Question 20

How is inward NR experienced?

Answer 20

The inward dimension of NR is experienced primarily through human reflection.

Question 21

What do we recognised in ourselves?

Answer 21

We recognised in ourselves various hungers: The hunger for knowledge, intimacy, beauty, and so one.

Question 22

What is found in the pursuit of this hunger?

Answer 22

In our pursuit of these things, we often realise we are never quite satisfied - there is something more, some perfect expression of knowledge, beauty, and intimacy just out of our grasp.

Question 23

What do we understand in our hearts?

Answer 23

In our hearts, we understand that these things only reflect the absolute truth, beauty, and love that is God.

Question 24

What can we learn from this experience (IDR)?

Answer 24

We learn some great truth, create some object of great beauty, or experience deep intimacy in a relationship and in our hearts, we know these things are gifts. We recognise the giver of those gifts is God.

Question 25

How is outward NR experienced?

Answer 25

In the things and creatures that make up creation.

Question 26

What does our intellect allow us to see?

Answer 26

The order in creation and recognise that this order was created by God. We see tenderness/compassion/heroic, sacrifice in human relationships, and we know these things are possible only because human beings are channelling the love of God.

Question 27

What is natural revelation?

Answer 27

Knowing God in our daily lives, in the faith of others, through the natural world, and through human intellect.

Question 28

What is the climax of God's revelation?

Answer 28

Jesus Christ, the true son of God and the true son of Man. There could be no better or more complete way for God to reveal himself than by becoming a human being.

Question 29

How did Jesus' presence help people?

Answer 29

This enabled people to know him, and relate with him personally, as they listened to what he said, and observed what he did.

Question 30

What did God tell people before Jesus?

Answer 30

Before Jesus, God had made the people of Israel aware that he would send one, whom they came to refer to as the Messiah.

Question 31

What was the role of the Messiah to the Jews?

Answer 31

To the Jews, the Messiah would have the task of restoring God’s kingdom. In OT times, there were different opinions about what ‘restoring God’s kingdom’ meant. Some were politically oriented, while others were more spiritual.

Question 32

What did Jesus become?

Answer 32

Jesus became known as the Messiah, the Christ. He proclaimed and restored the kingdom of God.

Question 33

What is meant by Jesus restored God's kingdom?

Answer 33

He made it possible for every human being to be freed from limitations which frustrate the yearning for a close union with God, as well as for full personal development.

Question 34

What did Jesus reveal?

Answer 34

As Jesus established that he is the Son of God, he revealed also the Father. Further, he revealed the Holy Spirit, who, he promised, would remain in the world after him.

Question 35

What does natural revelation mean?

Answer 35

Can be both inward and outward - Inward is based on human reflection and the unsatisfied hungers within - Outward is the creation, beauty, diversity and relationships humans can observe and through our intellect we conclude that there is a creator

Question 36

What does inward revelation reveal about God?

Answer 36

Humans are never fully satisfied of their hunger for knowledge, intimacy, and beauty it is concluded that what we are missing is the absolute truth of God's knowledge, intimacy and beauty.

Question 37

What does outward revelation reveal about God?

Answer 37

The beauty and diversity in creation reveals a creator who is in love with beauty and diversity The tenderness, compassion and sacrifice in relationships is being channelled from God and therefore reveals God's capacity of these things.

Question 38

What is the main basis for the belief of NR?

Answer 38

The Catechism. It is split into two different parts.

Question 39

What does (CCC#27-30) mean?

Answer 39

"desire for God" The longing for God because humans are created by God and created for God.

Question 40

What does (CCC#27) mean?

Answer 40

"the desire for God is written in the human heart" Meaning that revelation is how humans are created to want to know.

Question 41

What does (Psalms 105:3) mean?

Answer 41

"let the hearts of those who seek the lord rejoice" Meaning that people who have that deeper want for God are rewarded with his presence

Question 42

What does DR reveal about God?

Answer 42

Reveals God's plan for salvation - his plan to bring humanity into full communion with him after the Fall. His need to communicate in human words through the Apostles and their followers with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Question 43

How did God reveal himself to us?

Answer 43

Intimately, immediately, and completely as Christ exposing us to the fullness of God's love.

Question 44

Where does the understanding of DR come from?

Answer 44

The Garden of Eden accounts.

Question 45

What type of relationship did Adam and Eve experience?

Answer 45

A loving relationship with God, fully and naturally. Catechistic - experienced a full and perfect "communion" with God which changed after the Fall.

Question 46

How did "the Fall" affect us?

Answer 46

We continue to enjoy the original and natural revelation today through creation, intellect, and relationship," but will forever remain scarred by human sin. We know and understand God in less intimate and immediate ways than he intended

Question 47

What is (1Timothy 2:4)

Answer 47

God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" - DR

Question 48

What is (CCC#385-389)

Answer 48

"The reality of sin can be understood only in the light of divine revelation." - DR

Question 49

What does Jesus as the fullness of revelation mean?

Answer 49

Jesus is the climax of God's revelation; there could be no better or more complete way for God to reveal himself than by becoming a human being, allowing people to know and observe him

Question 50

What does Jesus as the fullness of revelation reveal about God?

Answer 50

- God loves us and the world so much that he sent his only begotten son - Whoever believes and follows him shall be saved, have eternal life, and be welcomed into his kingdom. - Jesus, the Messiah, restored the kingdom, giving us freedom from sin and close union with God, which is what he wants for us.

Question 51

How does incarnation help the understanding of J.F.R

Answer 51

Christians believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully human. By becoming human, God revealed himself completely

Question 52

How does Church Teachings help the understanding of J.F.R

Answer 52

The idea that Jesus is the fullness of God's revelation is reinforced by Church teachings e.g. Catechism

Question 53

How does Doctrine of Trinity help the understanding of J.F.R

Answer 53

Jesus reveals the Father, and after ends the Holy Spirit, revealing all three persons of the trinity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Question 54

What is John 14:9

Answer 54

"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father"

Question 55

What is Hebrews 1:1-2

Answer 55

"In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through prophets... but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son."

Question 56

What is private revelation?

Answer 56

All forms of revelation after Jesus through various visions. It doesn't improve or complete public revelation It is heavily church approved through a long method. Catholics are not expected to believe in any of these "private" revelations.

Question 57

What is public revelation?

Answer 57

What we have in scripture and tradition. It was finished when the last apostle died and the New Testament was finished. Catholics must believe in all forms of PR. - e.g. Bible, Church Tradition (Seven Sacraments)