2.2_Sin and Forgiveness

• what is a sin?

  an action which goes against the will or laws of God
• what is absolute morality?

  - when morals apply in all situations, no matter the circumstances or context.

  - eg stealing is wrong even if your family is starving and needs food
• what is relative morality?

  - morals can be adapted or adjusted in certain situations

  - eg killing is wrong, except in self defence.
• Describe Jesus' teaching about forgiveness in Matthew's Gospel.

  - Jesus teaches there should be no limits to how often a Christian forgives others.

  - God will forgive those who forgive others.

  - Jesus teaches his followers to ask God for forgiveness whenever they pray.

  - the parable of the unforgiving servant.

  - "if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." BIBLE
• what does the Lord's prayer say about forgivness?

  "forgive their sins, as they forgive those who have sinned against you."
• Describe Catholic teachings on capital punishment. [8 points, inc 4 quotes and 2 sources]

  - allowed capital punishment in extreme cases for the protection of society.

  - seen as a last resort

  - St Augustine said it better to try and reform a person

  - John Paul II said it is only justified when no other means of protecting society exists.

  - AGAINST: "thou shalt not kill." BIBLE

  - FOR: "you shall give life for life, eye for eye" BIBLE

  - FOR: "whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person's blood be shed." BIBLE

  - FOR: "perhaps extreme necessity would demand the killing of such people." ST AUGUSTINE
• describe Pope Francis' teachings on capital punishment

  - The purpose of capital punishment is to restore balance in society by punishing those who have disrupted it.

  - It also exists to protect society from the threat of crime and violence

  - Capital Punishment also acts as an incentive to prevent people from committing crimes in the first place or from repeating them in the future.

  - Capital Punishment is only permissible when there is no other way of achieving the purposes of protecting society.

  - Cases where capital punishment is the only possible response to crime are rare, if not non-existent.
• what parable is in Matthew?

  the parable of the unforgiving servant
• what does Matthew say about forgiveness? [2 quotes]


  "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

  'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.
• what is salvation?


  through Jesus' death and resurrection, humanity has achieved the possibility of life with God forever.
• describe the LIFE of Jesus [what he taught: 4 points]

  - he taught that:

  - God is loving

  - love is at the heart of the gospel

  - God has a special place for the poor and needy - "the first will be last and the last will be first."
• describe the DEATH of Jesus

  - Jesus' total obedience to God was so powerful it made up for the sin of human beings in a way that other sacrifices could not.
• describe the RESURRECTION of Jesus

  - Catholics believe Jesus overcoming death proves he was the son of God.

  - shows Jesus is their saviour.
• describe the ASCENSION of Jesus

  - Jesus' mission on the earth was completed, as God had intended him to do.

  - he returns to heaven to prepare a place for his followers.
• what is the significance of buildings in Catholicism?

  - for first Christians, it was customary to pray towards the Holy Lands

  - towers and steeples represent prayer and worship rising up to heaven.
• describe two sacraments.


  - matrimony

  - baptism
• describe mission and evangelisation in Britain and elsewhere.

  - in 2013, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the word saying:

  - Catholics must care for the "homeless, addicted, refugees, indigenous, elderly, abandoned and many others."

  - parishes should be welcoming.
• what does evangelisation mean?

  spreading the gospel and life of Jesus with others - the "good news"
• Explain how Catholics see Mary as a model of the Church. [7 points]

  - example of:

  a) how human beings should respond to God

  b) faith - she believed the angel

  c) commitment - she didn't abandon Jesus at the end of his life - "but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother."

  d) courage - unmarried pregnant woman in first century could get a severe punishment possibly the death sentence.

  - she was a perfect disciple, following the way of Jesus

  - she was obedient to God- she was a prophet of the kingdom