Catholic Christianity

• Michelangelo's The creation of Adam


  • God: old man in the sky carried by angels
  • God reach out and touch the finger of adam who rests upon solid ground
  • Reflects catholic beliefs about God and Creation

  
• Michelangelo's The creation of Adam


  • Human beings are dependent upon god as their creator
  • The divine touch brings adam to life
  • Human beings are made in the image of God unlike other animals
  • Creation of all living things is seen as good and important by the creator
  • God is high above adam suggest greater power
  • Hint of mystery as god is surrounded by brain shaped structure (we are limited in how we understand god because we tend to picture god in human form)
  • God as old man: wisdom and age

  
• Creation in genesis 1

  • God is the creator (all things and life come from him)
  • Did not just happen by random chance
  • God creates through his word
  • God is omnipotent (無所不能) and transcendent (超越的)
• Creation in genesis 2

  • Use more symbols and myths
  • Catholics see this as not literally true but spiritually true
  • God is the creator and takes time to create Adam as a special type of being of the earth and yet different from other animals
  • God is the giver of all life and gives free will to human beings
• Human creation in genesis 1

  • Made in god's image and likeness
  • All are equal and are to be respected regardless of race, age or situation (that's why catholic support human rights)
• Human creation in genesis 2

  • Adam is made of dust of the earth and receives the breath of life from god
  • Adam is greater than animals made after him
  • Eve is created from adam to be an equal companion
  • Men and women are made of the same material so they are equal
  • Both given free will
  • Both blessed with the Garden and possibility of eating from the Tree of Life
  • Both given responsibility of looking after the earth
• Free will


  • The ability to choose our actions between right and wrong
  • No one should be forced to believe or do anything against their conscience
• Stewardship


  • Human beings have been entrusted with the care of the earth, looking after it for God
  • Given power to subdue nature
• Human rights


  • All humans are made in the image of god
  • All created equal with the same rights
• Sanctity of life


  • Each human life is special, unique and sacred
  • It is a gift from God
  • Believe that life should be valued and protected
  • Against abortion and euthanasia
• Parts of the Bible

  • Old testament
  • New testament
• Old testament


  • Torah (first five books)
  • History (stories of people of Israel)
  • Wisdom (prayers)
  • Prophecy (words of inspired men who brought messages from God)
• New testament


  • Gospels (matthew, mark, luke and john)
  • Acts of the Apostles (stories about early church)
  • Epistles (letters by st. paul peter and john)
  • Revelation (symbolic book teaching about end of time and return of christ)
• Catholic belief on the genesis stories

  • They are not to be read literally as historically or scientifically accurate accounts of creation
  • They contain truths that are morally and spiritually true for all time
  • It tell us why the world was made and not how
• Natural law


  We have an inbuilt sense of what is morally right and wrong
• Science: Big Bang theory


  Religion: God created the world and people
• Stewardship practices


  • Save energy in home
  • Use sustainable energy
  • Recycle goods and reuse
  • Support products from environmentally friendly producers
  • Support grounds e.g (CAFOD) and their environmental campaigns
  • Support wildlife charities
• Incarnation


  God becoming man in jesus
• Key christian symbols


  • ICTHUS
  • Alpha and omega
  • Chi-Rho

  
• Sacred heart


  • Statue of Jesus
  • Symbol of the eternal love of God as revealed by Jesus
  • Heart: love
  • Thorns: jesus suffered for humanity
  • Fire: everlasting love and presence of god

  
• Crucifix


  • Jesus hanging on the cross
  • Remind catholics of his death and sacrifice
  • Reminds catholics of his forgiveness of sins and love for all

  
• Ways that jesus is shown to be god incarnate

  In annunciation (when mary was told by the angel Gabriel that despite being a virgin she would give birth to a baby who would be the son of God)
• Annunciation accounts

  • St Luke (tells from mary's pov)
  • St Matthew (told from Joseph's pov)
• Son of man

  • Jesus is seen as fully human in the gospels
  • Jesus recorded in the gospels referred himself as the son of man
  • He was an ordinary human being who suffered the same suffering and joy as other human
  • He is a divine figure who had control over the whole world
• Son of God


  Gives jesus authority and proves that he is divine
• Jesus fulfilling the old testament law


  • He is god made man and the perfect human being
  • Models the christian virtues of faith, hope and love
  • Gives definitive moral teachings about how people should live (in beatitudes and parables)
• Beatitudes


  • Sum up jesus' teaching about what it means to live as a child of God's kingdom
  • Tells people to remember the weak, the poor, have mercy, make peace and bless someone if they persecute you
  • Invite his followers to seek the kingdom of God
• Magisterium


  The teaching authority of the church, formed by a group of bishops
• Vatican II


  The second vatican council where all the catholic bishops met with the Pope
• Sacraments


  • Baptism (cleanses from sin and joins person to the church)
  • Confirmation (strengthens the person by the holy spirit)
  • Eucharist (brings the presence of the risen christ in his body and blood)
  • Marriage (joins a couple as husband and wife)
  • Holy orders (makes a man a bishop, priest or deacon)
  • Confession (brings forgiveness of sins)
  • Sacrament of the sick (brings forgiveness, comfort, inner strength and sometimes physical healing)
• Imago dei


  • Human beings are made in the image of god
  • Every individual is valued and uniquely loved
• Catholic against abortion


  • Believe that every person is made in the image of god and so should be valued (including unborn children)
  • Believe in protecting the weak and innocent
  • A zygote is a potential life
• The triune god


  • Christians believe that god is made up of three person
  • Father
  • Son
  • Holy spirit
• Nicene creed


  • Father: responsible for making all things
  • Son: became human to die and be resurrected to save humankind
• Roots of trinity in scripture

  • Deuteronomy (Teaches that god is one)
  • Matthew (Describes the baptism of jesus)
  • Galatians (Teaches that god sends the spirit of his son into the hearts of believers)
• Trinity in catholic life today

  • Church should reflect love of god through mission and evangelisation
  • Mission: going out to spread the word of god + show love of god by helping with social needs
  • Evangelisation: the communication of the good news of the good news of the gospel through preaching, teaching, media, drama
• Events that trinity is present

  • Jesus' baptism by john (Heaven split open, Holy spirit came down as dove, Voice of father is heard coming from heaven)
• St Augustine's view on the trinity


  • Described the trinity as a great mystery
  • Argued for love to exist, 3 parts must exist (Lover, The beloved, The love that binds them)
• Catherine LaCugna's view on the trinity


  • The son comes from god and the holy spirit is what binds them together
  • God sent jesus to earth to die and be resurrected to restore human beings' relationship with god
  • God sent holy spirit to guide and inspire christians as an act of love
• Similarities between St Augustine and Catherine LaCugna

  Both believe that god is love and that the love is not a static thing but constantly flowing out to humanity