RS

• Creation


  Catholic understanding of creation, particularly the notions of God as creator, humanity as the image of God and the role of humanity as stewards of creation
• Creation


  • Explores the basis for these beliefs in scripture and their expression both in the visual arts and in the increasing agency of the Church in tackling global concerns about the environment, as well as different Christian understandings of the account of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 and the Catholic understanding of the harmony between science and religion
• Forms of expression - art

  • The meaning and significance of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam
  • How it reflects Catholic beliefs about God as creator and the creation of humanity in the image of God
  • How its meaning and significance contrasts with one other Christian artistic expression of creation
• Beliefs and teachings


  • The nature of God expressed in Genesis 1 and 2: God as creator, God as transcendent and omnipotent; the significance of these beliefs for Catholics
  • The meaning and significance of the belief that human beings are made in the image of God
  • The influence of this on Catholic views about: free will, stewardship, the dignity of human beings and the sanctity of life
• Sources of authority


  • Scripture: The origin of the Bible, its structure and key literary forms, including law, history and prophecy
  • The meaning and significance of Catholic understanding of inspiration and of the Bible as the revealed Word of God
  • Issues concerning the literary type of the Genesis creation accounts and different Christian understandings of their significance
  • Tradition: Natural law, including how belief in the goodness of creation leads to Catholic understanding of natural law and how belief in natural law influences Catholic views about the sanctity of life
  • Magisterium: The influence of the Second Vatican Council on Catholic views of the harmony between science and religion, eg Gaudium et Spes 36
• Practices


  • Care for the environment as an expression of the requirement to 'love our neighbour' in concrete terms
  • The meaning of stewardship and of different ways in which Catholics might carry out their duty to be stewards at a local, national and global level
  • The meaning and significance of CAFOD's work on sustainability as an expression of Catholic beliefs about the goodness of creation
• Incarnation


  Catholic understanding of incarnation as the revelation of God in the image of humanity
• Forms of expression - symbol and incarnation

  • The religious significance and relevance of the following Christian symbols: Ichthus (fish), Alpha and Omega, Chi-Rho
  • How belief in the incarnation has influenced Catholic views about religious art and imagery
  • The meaning and significance for Catholics of one sculpture or statue of Jesus and different Christian views about sculptures, statues or images of Jesus
• Beliefs and teachings


  • The meaning and scriptural origins of the belief in Jesus as the incarnate Son (Luke 1:26–38 and Matthew 1:18–24) and divine Word (John 1:1–4 and 1:14)
  • Jesus as both fully human and fully God, including the meaning and significance of: Jesus as 'Son of Man' (Mark 8:31), Jesus as 'Son of God' (Mark 14:61–62)
• Sources of authority


  • Scripture: Jesus as the fulfilment of the law, a model of virtues and authoritative source for moral teaching as exemplified in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7)
• Ichthus (fish)


  Christian symbol
• Alpha and Omega


  Christian symbol
• Chi-Rho


  Christian symbol
• Incarnation


  Belief that has influenced Catholic views about religious art and imagery
• Sculpture or statue of Jesus


  Meaning and significance for Catholics, different Christian views
• Jesus as the incarnate Son


  Meaning and scriptural origins (Luke 1:26–38, Matthew 1:18–24)
• Jesus as the divine Word


  Meaning and scriptural origins (John 1:1–4, 1:14)
• Jesus as fully human and fully God


  Meaning and significance of Jesus as 'Son of Man' (Mark 8:31), Jesus as 'Son of God' (Mark 14:61–62)
• Jesus as the fulfilment of the law, a model of virtues and authoritative source for moral teaching as exemplified in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12) and in his teaching on how Christians should respond to those in need (Matthew 25:31–46)
• 'The glory of God is a human being, fully alive'


  Meaning and significance from the writings of Irenaeus (Adversus Haereses, 4,20,7)
• Dei Verbum 4 and Verbum Domini 12


  Similarities and differences in the understanding of the incarnation
• Grace


  Meaning and significance, sacramental nature of reality, how belief in incarnation leads to these beliefs
• Seven sacraments


  • Catholic beliefs about their effects on the sanctification of life
• Imago dei


  Meaning and significance, influence on Catholic practice in terms of protection of the unborn, with reference to Luke 1:44
• Styles of music in worship

  • Psalms
  • Plainchant
  • Traditional hymns
  • Contemporary worship songs
  • Their influence
• Mass settings


  Significance and influence
• Eucharistic acclamations


  • Gloria
  • Alleluia
  • Sanctus
  • Mystery of Faith
• Trinity


  One God as a Trinity of persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit as expressed in the Nicene Creed
• Scriptural origins of belief in the Trinity: Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16–17, Galatians 4:6
• Belief in the Trinity

  Influence on Christian interpretations of Genesis 1:1–3, significance and influence in Catholic life today, including an understanding of mission and evangelism as a work of the Spirit presented in Benedict XVI's Deus Caritas Est 19
• Christian understanding of God as a Trinity of persons with reference to Mark 1:9–11 and Galatians 4:6–7
• St Augustine and Catherine LaCugna on the intimacy of God's love

  Similarities and differences
• Conciliar magisterial authority


  Meaning and significance, influence on Catholic doctrine of the Trinity with reference to the Councils of Nicaea (AD 325) and Constantinople (AD 381)
• Baptism


  Meaning and significance as a sign of initiation and participation in the life of God, Father, Son and Spirit
• Prayer


  Meaning and significance as a 'raising of the heart and mind to God', contrasting features of traditional and spontaneous prayers
• Prayer and posture


  How they are linked in Christian worship
• Death of Jesus


  Understood as restoration through sacrifice
• Resurrection of Jesus


  Understood as restoration through recreation
• Ascension of Jesus


  Understood as restoration of the cosmic order
• Contrasting Christian views on 'salvation'

  • Past
  • Present
  • Future