Redemption
Which one of the following is the name Christians give to the Voice of God in a person’s heart and soul?
A Conscience B Magisterium C Redemption D Salvation
A Conscience
Which one of the following best describes the meaning of ‘the sacramental nature of reality’?
A All people are born without sin. B Christians should receive the Eucharist. C All of creation is a sign of God’s love. D Christians need to earn God’s forgiveness
C
Which one of the following is an example of spontaneous prayer? A Reciting the Our Father at Mass B Speaking in tongues C Reciting the Creed at Mass D Saying the rosary
B
Which one of the following best describes the Catholic belief in natural law? A People can break the laws. B Everyone is born knowing right from wrong. C People should protect nature. D Everyone should do what feels natural to them.
B
Give two things that Jesus’ disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4).
Wind
Tongues of fire
Speaking in tongues
Courage to share the Gospel
Give two Christian beliefs about Jesus as the ‘Word of God’ (Divine Word).
Refers to the Second Person of the Trinity (God the Son)
Became flesh in Jesus (‘the Word became flesh and lived among us’, John 1:14)
Jesus existed before all things (an eternal being)
The ‘Word’ is the expression of God’s love for humans
Humans can know God through Jesus
God expresses his power through Jesus
Give two examples of physical postures (positions) that Christians use when they pray.
Kneeling / genuflecting / prostrating / standing / walking / bowing / sitting / with joined hands / with open hands / standing with arms stretched out in front /standing with arms raised above the head, etc.
Give two Catholic teachings about the relationship between science and religion.
Science and religion need to be mutually supportive
scientists should use God-given talents to help people understand creation
science and religion may ask different questions-- science explains how and religion why
if science is conducted ethically it will not conflict with faith (Gaudium et Spes 36)
both science and religion are God-given
religious viewpoints should not be disregarded by science
all religious believers hear God’s ‘revealing voice in the discourse of creatures’ (Gaudium et Spes 36)
there is harmony between science and religion, etc.
Explain two ways in which belief in the ‘Real Presence’ of Christ influences Catholics.
Catholics believe that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist (in the consecrated bread and wine)
the Bread and Wine are not just symbols of the presence of Christ
this influences Catholics to believe that the Mass is the most important form of worship
when the Words of Institution are said, the Bread and Wine become the Body and Blood of Christ
May feel love for Christ
Remember Jesus at his Last Supper, death and resurrection
Faith is strengthened
They have an encounter with Christ because of the Real Presence, they feel Jesus is close to them
Can share in the redeeming power of Christ’s sacrifice because of the Real Presence
They are forgiven and freed from the slavery to sin
They may pray before the tabernacle because the Real Presence of Christ is in the consecrated hosts reserved there
Explain two ways in which receiving the sacraments may influence Christians.
Strengthens faith
Deepens the relationship with God
Receiving God’s grace
Reminds Christians of events in the life of Jesus (eg his baptism, the Last Supper, etc)
Forgiveness for sins (eg Baptism, Reconciliation / Eucharist / Sacrament of the Sick, etc)
A way of showing faithfulness before God to a spouse (eg Marriage)
A means of commitment to faith (eg Confirmation, Ordination)
Is a meeting point with God, etc.
Baptism brings a person into the Church
the Body of Christ removes the stain of original sin so the person can begin a new spiritual life
Confirmation --by receiving the Holy Spirit they are strengthened to become witnesses to the Gospel
the Eucharist influences Christians to grow in God’s love
Explain two contrasting ways in which music is used in Catholic worship.
Mass settings certain parts of the Mass should be sung rather than said (eg the Alleluia / Eucharistic Acclamations / Lord have mercy / Glory to God / Lamb of God) these bring out the importance of these parts of the Mass for believers / Mass settings encourage the congregation to join in the prayers of the Mass / Make them more meaningful to believers
Another way music is used is in hymns in worship traditional hymns give a sense of the long tradition of Catholic worship /have been used by many generations of Christians / often are used by other Christian denominations too / hymns increase the beauty of worship / unite people in praise of God / engage the emotions of worshippers / ‘Where words are not enough to praise God, music comes to our aid…’ (Youcat 183), etc.
Contemporary worship songs can have wider appeal, particularly to the young / they may be more upbeat / use different instruments, etc.
Another way of using music is by using plainchant to sing the Divine Office / it is usually unaccompanied, using a limited range of notes / the simple beauty of this music enhances the psalms which are part of the Divine Office, etc. Accept specific examples of the use of music, eg at Benediction, carol services, ecumenical services, in private worship, for example, to aid meditation or prayer, etc.
Explain two contrasting ways in which Christians may carry out their duty of stewardship.
They may respect God’s creation / respect other people / accept that creation is good / care for the earth / protect the earth for future generations / not misuse natural resources / protect the sanctity of life / join conservation groups / protest against misuse of the planet / campaign to change environmental policy / support sustainability / support environmental charities / recycle / cut down use of the car / cut down on flights / prayer, etc. Accept any practical ways in which Christians might show stewardship, but only two different ways should be chosen and explained. Contrasts could be drawn between attitudes (eg respect) and behaviour (eg recycling) or between different behaviours (eg protest and recycle) or between global and local responses..
Explain two reasons why Christians believe that the death of Jesus was important. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer.
Restoration by sacrifice
Christians believe that the relationship between God and humanity was broken by sin, God made everything perfect but Adam and Eve disobeyed God
Human weakness means humans cannot restore that relationship alone
God the Son took on the full human condition to enable the perfect relationship with God to be restored
Jesus lived his life in perfect obedience to the Father’s will which restored the broken relationship caused by disobedience
The sacrifice of his whole life restored humanity by breaking the power of sin and death over humans
Harmony with creation
It is through Jesus’ death that Christians gain eternal life
Sky turned black, curtain torn, showing barrier between God and humans removed (Gospels)
“You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat" (Genesis 3)
"[Jesus] humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross" (Philippians 2)
Explain two teachings of Jesus from the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats about how Christians should respond to people in need. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer.
Feed the hungry
give drink to the thirsty
welcome the stranger
clothe the naked
care for the sick
visit those in prison
Jesus identifies himself with the people who are in need
whatever a person does to help people in need, it is as if they are doing it to help Jesus himself
Christians will be judged on whether they have been generous to the poor and needy
if people claim to be Christians but do not help those in need, they will be damned
those who do help will be rewarded and welcomed into heaven
Scripture: "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25).
Explain two ways in which the Creation story (Genesis 1:1–3) may show the presence of the Trinity. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer.
God the Father is the creator of the heavens and earth
a ‘wind from God’ (‘ruach’ / ‘spirit’) swept over the waters / the wind can be seen to be the Holy Spirit
God created by his Word / eg ‘Let there be light’ / God the Son is the Word of God
God the Father, through his Word (the Son) created the universe through the power of the Holy Spirit, etc.
"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth...Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light…’ (Genesis 1:1–3)
Nicene Creed
Explain two Catholic beliefs about God shown in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief and teaching in your answer.
God is the creator of human life (the universe / the world, etc) / God made (Adam) humans perfect / God created everything ‘very good’ / God is omnipotent / humans (Adam) depend on God for everything / humans are made in the image of God (imago dei) / God is pictured as powerful / God is pictured as ancient, therefore eternal / God desires a close relationship with humans (Adam) / God reaches out to Adam to give him life / God is transcendent / transcendence is shown by God being carried by angels / Adam is on the ground so lower in status to God / God’s majesty and greatness are shown / nothing comes into being without God / humans are unique in God’s creation, etc.
‘So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ (Genesis 1: 27)
‘God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good.’ (Genesis 1: 31)
‘I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.’ (Nicene Creed)
‘The architecture of a Catholic church (its design and decoration) is the most important influence on Catholic worship.’ Evaluate this statement.
Agree--inspires reverence. Quiet prayer. Side chapels. Examples of art. Circle/cross-shaped design. Altar placement.
Vat II
Disagree--music. Different types of music. Liturgy itself is all you need. Prayer more important than the decor. Focus on God instead.
2nd Commandment
Opinion
‘Christians should not show Jesus in art - for example, in statues or paintings.’ Evaluate this statement.
Intro--define art and how Jesus is commonly seen in art
Agree--no one really knows what he looks like
Often pictures of Jesus are misleading
Jesus is often portrayed inaccurately as a white man
It is wrong to portray the Infinite God
Some Christians believe it is against the second commandment (‘You shall not make for yourself an idol…You shall not bow down to them or worship them.’ Exodus 20:4–5)
Praying before an image of Jesus could lead people to think the person was worshipping the image
Disagree--The Incarnation means that God has taken human form to reveal God to people therefore it is acceptable to use human images to portray God
Jesus was fully human, with human qualities which can be shown in art
since Jesus came for the salvation of all people, he can be portrayed as any ethnicity
art can help people focus on spiritual ideas
pictures can convey Biblical stories
images of Jesus are an important focus for prayer and inspiration / eg prayer before a crucifix can help a Christian feel deeply for the suffering Jesus went through
different statues or images of Jesus may help to show different aspects of his life and purpose, etc.
Opinion
‘The most important Catholic teaching about the Trinity comes from the Nicene Creed.’ Evaluate.
Intro-Define Trinity and Define Nicene Creed
Agree--2 examples of beliefs about the Trinity from the Nicene Creed.
Disagree--2 examples of beliefs about the Trinity from the Bible (Matthew, Genesis, Galatians)
Opinion
‘It is impossible to believe that humans are made in the image of God.’ Evaluate this statement.
Intro--Define image of God. Define Creation.
Agree--Humans are not like God / humans die, God is eternal / humans sin, God is perfect / humans are not omnipotent / transcendent like God / God is far beyond human understanding / God is all-loving / people hurt each other / humans are not all-knowing, like God / humans are selfish, God redeems humans out of love for them / atheists do not believe in God, so humans are not made in God’s image / scientific beliefs do not support creation in the image of God, etc.
Disagree--The belief that humans are made in God’s image is in the Bible (Genesis 1:26) / in Paul’s letters / it is a belief that has been held by the Christian Church from its beginnings / ‘Made in God’s image’ does not mean humans are equal to God / it means that all humans are holy / should be respected (sanctity of life) / the laws of the land support this idea by protecting human life and dignity / in the creation God breathes life into a human, so Christians believe humans share God’s Spirit (breath) / God gave humans responsibility for creation, so humans are acting as God’s stewards / humans share some of God’s qualities, eg love / compassion / mercy / a desire for truth / justice / humans were given dominion over creation so act in a God-like capacity over nature / human intelligence is superior to that of the animals, showing a likeness to God / the doctrine of Natural Law suggests people are born instinctively to know right from wrong because they are created in God’s image / while it is true that humans do not always act as though they are made in God’s image, they should live up to that ideal, etc.
Opinion