1.2 Good and Evil

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Cards (30)

what are the two Catholic reasons for evil? 
- original sin
- free will
what does St Augustine say about evil? 
- "for what is that which we call evil but the absence of good?"
- evil helps us to appreciate the good.
- evil is the absence of good.
- suffering is beneficial.
what are the two reasons from evil by Non-Christian views?
- moral evil [suffering that has resulted because of human action].
- natural evil [suffering that is not to do with human actions].
who is John Mackie and what are his beliefs on suffering?
- he is an atheist.
- there is far more suffering than good in the world, and he disagrees with the opinion that evil is necessary as an opposite to God.
- he thinks that suffering doesn't make people better.
- he asks that if there is a God, why doesn't he make people perfect to begin with?
- he asks why a powerful God wouldn't make humans always choose to do good?
- he feels that evil and suffering is too high a price to pay for freewill.
who is John Hick and what are his opinions on suffering?
- Catholic
- humans are not perfect.
- need to grow to become spiritually perfect.
- suffering and evil is the best way to learn.
- through free will they can learnt to make the correct choices.
what are the Jewish beliefs about nature and the origin of evil?
- they don't believe that people are born evil.
- don't believe in original sin.
- evil and suffering are the consequences of human's wrong choices.
- they must struggle against temptation to be evil and to obey God.
what are Catholic views on the goodness of God? 
- God is good so creation is good.
- everyone is a sinner but still does good actions.
- nature shows us the beauty of God
- "the beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator." said by the Catechism of the Catholic Church 314.
what did the Catechism of the Catholic Church 314 say about the goodness of God? 
"the beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator."
what is the Jewish belief of the goodness of God?
- very similar to Catholics.
- God is a source of life and the only creator.
- goodness of God is shown by the giving of the Torah.
what does God tell Job about questioning His actions? and what is the moral lesson?
Job is not capable of understanding why God chooses to do certain things -> so Catholics trust God to understand the reasons for suffering.
what do Christians belief they are closer to when they suffer?
an understanding of Jesus
Jewish views on One God in three persons
- disagree
- there is only one God, stated in the most important prayer for Jews: the Shema
- would view the trinity as a challenge to the oneness of God
- "the Lord our God is one Lord" - the Shema
Catholic views on One God in three persons 
- One God who exists as father, son and holy spirit
- each person is distinct from the other two but each is fully God; there is only one God
- Nicene Creed says "with the father and the son he is worshipped and glorified."
what does St Augustine say about the trinity? 
- love needs three things (the person loving, the person being loved, and love itself).
- ie, the father, son and holy spirit.
- "there are three things in love as it were a trace of the Trinity.
what did St Augustine say about the trinity and love [specific quote]?
"there are three things in love as it were a trace of the Trinity.
what is incarnation? 
means 'made in flesh' - the idea that God became man in the person of Jesus, "the word became flesh"
what is the Jewish belief on incarnation?
- they don't accept that Jesus was God as they believe that God is one.
- the belief is stated in the Shema and the 10 commandments.
why is the incarnation important to Christians? [1 point]
- it means that God, as Jesus, can relate to humans.
what do Christians belief about Jesus being a moral authority? 
- his example is followed by all Christians, eg:
- he said "do to other as you would want them to do to you."
- "love one another."
- this was shown when he healed the sick and made the outcast and sinner welcome.
are Jesus' teachings more important than the Old Testament? [answer and example]
yes, eg he overwrote "an eye for an eye" with "forgive anyone who hurts you".
what are the Beautitudes?
the teachings from Jesus of how one should live their life
Christian belief on statues
- the crucifix is a common focus for prayer.
- they do not prayer to the statues, the statues are just a reminder of Jesus and God.
- Protestants believe that statues go against the Second Commandment.
what is the Jewish belief on statues?
- the synagogues have no representations of God, he is above human understanding.
- it goes against the Ten Commandments.
describe the features of Michelangelo's Pieta? [Mary holding Jesus' crucified body]
- Mary is depicted as youthful and peaceful instead of broken-hearted and older.
- she seems at peace with what happened; her palms are open.
- he figure is larger than Jesus; like a mother cradling a child.
- she holds his body with a cloth, not touching his skin - his body is sacred.
- Jesus' wounds are hardly visible.
what are the reasons people go on pilgrimages?
- as a way of thanking God.
- strengthens their faith.
- emotional and spiritual healing.
- get closer to God by giving him time and attention.
give an example of a pilgrimage.
Lourdes - in 1800s Bernadette, a young girl, had a vision from Mary telling her to dig for a spring.
- the spring is believed to have healing qualities.
- many pilgrims bathe there.
describe two of the sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary
- fourth: Jesus carrying his own cross to the place of his crucifixion - "they brought him to the place called Golgatha [which means place of a skull]
- fifth: crucifixion and death of Jesus - "Father forgive them; for they know not what they do."
John Paul II quote on suffering
"suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope"
Philippians quote about Jesus being God
"every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord."
what is natural law?
a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct, the moral law of right and wrong that are universal and not dependent on human laws. Is known by every human and is the same for all people, in all places, at all times. "do not murder"