Sin and forgiveness

• Absolutism- certain actions which are always right and always wrong
• Eucharist- Meaning thanksgiving. Name rc's use to describe where bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus
• Evangelisation- Spreading good news or gospel. Sharing of Gospel and life of Jesus with others
• Forgiveness- Act of pardoning someone for the offences they have caused you
• Punishment- consequences of a wrong decision and a penalty imposed by authority on the person who has committed wrongdoing
• Relativism- no moral law. Rules that govern what are right and wrong are human interventions which changes from place to place and age to age
• Salvation- Through Jesus' death and resurrection humanity has achieved the possibility of life forever with God
• Sin- Acting against will or laws of God
• Absolute morality-

  • Person holds a principle and never alters it such as 'stealing is wrong'
  • Applies to all situations no matter what circumstance e.g. no stealing even if you are starving
• Relative morality-

  • Moral principle can be applied and adjusted to certain situations
  • Example stealing is wrong but you can steal if you are starving
• Deterrence-

  • Discourage or put someone of committing a crime
  • Seeing a criminal punished might deter someone else from doing same thing
  • Deterrence does not work, people are not discouraged to commit crime by the punishment
  • Deterrence has to be just, punishments should be no harsher than they need to be to put potential criminals off
• Retribution-

  • Idea that punishment should make criminals pay for what they have done wrong
  • Makes victim of crime feel sense of justice that offender got what they deserved
  • Supports OT ' an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth'
  • Does not reflect Jesus' teaching 'turn the other cheek' and not seek revenge
  • Victims feel criminals do not get severe enough punishment or punishment too harsh
  • For christians punishment has to be connected to justice not revenge
• Rehabilitation-

  • Punishment should help offender see what they have done wrong and want to change their behaviour so they do not repeat offence
  • Offenders provided with education, counselling, skills or training so they become productive members of community again
  • Rehabilitation support christian ideas of forgiveness
  • Some people see it as being too soft on criminal and not punishment at all
• Rc teaching about forgiveness-

  • Parable of unmerciful servant - 'Lord how many times should i forgive my brother who sins against me' Jesus basically says there is no limit to forgiveness
  • Lord's prayer - Christians ask God to 'forgive their sins as they forgive those who have sinned against them' Can't receive Gods mercy if they are not forgiving to others
  • Jesus forgives adulterous woman 'go and sin no more'
• Rc teaching on capital punishment-

  • St Augustine says we need to seek other punishments if at all possible 'we would prefer to have set them free'
  • Pope St John Paul in Evangelium Vitae said CP should be avoided unless it is the only way to defend society from offender
  • Pope Francis said he is against death penalty ' no longer justifiable and there is also possibility wrong person might be killed'
• Christian teaching for capital punishment-

  • Jesus never taught death penalty was wrong
  • OT teaches that death penalty should be used for some crimes 'he who sheds blood of man, shall have his blood shed' Gen
  • Some christians argue death penalty upholds commandment 'Do not kill' by showing seriousness of murder as crime
  • St Paul teaches Christians should accept and obey laws of their country, which might include death penalty
• Christian teaching against capital punishment-

  • Jesus came to save sinners. you cannot reform a dead person
  • 'Do not kill'
  • Jesus said revenge is wrong, Jesus said 'turn the other cheek'
  • All life is sacred. Only God has right to give and take life away
  • St Augustine says we should try and use other forms of punishment if possible
  • Message of Christianity is love and forgiveness CP goes against this
  • Innocent can be accidently punished
• Non religious views on Capital punishment-

  • For:
  • Retribution part of punishment, only retribution for murder is death penalty
  • Human life is so important
  • CP acts as good deterrent
  • Against:
  • Wrongly accused prisoners can be released, but not if they have been given CP
  • Statistics show that countries without CP have lower murder rates than those who have it
  • Murders regard life imprisonment worse than death
• Role and grace in redemption-

  • Grace is love and mercy shown by God because God wants people to have it not because they have done anything to deserve it
  • Grace is free and undeserved gift from God
  • Grace comes about in a special way 7 sacraments which Rcs believe is an encounter with God
• Life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus-

  • By sacrificing his life Jesus 'paid the price' for human sin, humans can't do this themselves as they are sinners
  • Jesus earned salvation for humans by suffering this punishment Jesus is saviour of world
  • Jesus' death sacrifice to make up for human sin
  • Jesus was divine, sacrifice restored human relationship with God for all time
• Nature of Church- one:

  • Because of its founder Jesus who came to reconcile and unite all human kind through his death, taking away their sins
  • Because of its soul holy spirit dwells in the souls of the faithful
  • Church is united in Body of Christ
• Nature of Church - Holy

  • Believe Jesus is source of all holiness
  • Jesus makes Church holy, church makes people holy
  • Done through Jesus' teaching, prayer and worship
• Nature of church- catholic

  • Church is catholic universal or whole
  • Church has task of delivering message of Jesus to the whole world
  • Church is for everyone
• Nature of Church- apostolic

  • Jesus founded the Church and gave authority to his disciples
  • Jesus entrusted a special authority to St Peter the 1st Pope
• Mary-

  • True disciple of Jesus
  • Spent entire life dedicated to Jesus
  • When she was told she was going to be mother of Christ accepted joyfully and willingly
  • Makes her a role model and a guide to way Christians should serve God
  • Without Mary there would be no Jesus
• Mary- Faith

  • Total faith in God and her Son
  • Did not question god when she was told she was going to have a child even though she was a virgin
  • At end did not desert her son but was one of few followers that followed him to foot of the cross
• Mary- Charity

  • Gave her entire life to God and showed kindness and compassion
  • This is how Christians should live their lives
• Church as Body of Christ-

  • Rcs consider themselves physical form of Jesus on earth
  • Shows Jesus is still active in the world and it did not end with his death
  • Rcs believe Jesus lives on through his followers and the Church
  • United with one another at baptism, they become part of his body
  • Eucharist central to RC faith
  • When receiving body and blood of christ this gives strength to be followers of Christ in the world
• Architectural features of Rc churches-

  • Towers and steeples represent prayer and worship rising to heaven, sign of what takes place inside building
  • Churches often tall with domes, creates space which is pointing up showing connection with God and heaven
  • Common for Churches to be cruciform signifies importance of death of Jesus
  • Stained glass windows depict stories from Bible and Saints
• Sacred objects in church represent salvation- altar:

  • Liturgy of Eucharist takes place here
  • Priest consecrate the bread and wine at altar
  • Congregation receive body and blood of Christ at the altar
  • Altar reminds Rcs of sacrifice and death of Jesus on the cross
  • Altar candles represent belief Jesus is light of world
• Sacred objects in church represent salvation- Baptismal font:

  • Where baptisms performed
  • First sacrament by which person becomes a Christian
  • Font linked to salvation because its a sign of cleansing original sin and promising to live life that is faithful to Jesus
• Sacred objects in church represent salvation- crucifix:

  • Reminder of suffering and death of Jesus
  • Rcs believe death of Jesus was the price he paid for their salvation
  • Rcs believe Jesus died for them to pay for their sins so they can have eternal life
• Sacrament-

  • It is 'an outward sign of an inward grace'
  • Recieving sacraments build relationship with Gid
• Baptism- sacrament

  • First step into lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship
  • At service water poured on baby's head while priest says 'I baptise you in the name of the Father, Son and holy spirit'
  • Meaning- person being baptised becomes part of family of God
  • Takes away original sin and gives new birth in holy spirit
  • Sign is pouring of the water
• Confirmation- sacrament

  • Usually performed by Bishop
  • Signs are laying on of hands on a person's head and anointing oil
  • Meaning:
  • Completes sacrament of baptism
  • Gives strength to follow Jesus and become involved in mission left to the Church
• Eucharist- sacrament

  • At last supper Jesus took bread and wine and asked his followers 'do this in memory of me'
  • Sign are bread and wine received at Mass- body and blood of Christ
  • Meaning:
  • Believe eucharist is both sacrifice and a meal
  • Believe in real presence of Jesus who died for humanity's sins
  • As they receive body and blood they are fed spiritually
• Penance- sacrament

  • Signs are confession of sins and priest's words of absolution
  • Meaning:
  • Expressing sorrow for sins, Rcs experience God's forgiveness and healing
  • Relationship with God and unity as a Church is made whole again
• Anointing of the sick- sacrament

  • Individual is anointed with oil and receives laying of the hands from a priest
  • Meaning:
  • Unites sick person's suffering with that of Jesus and brings forgiveness of sins
  • Brings strength in illness, comfort from suffering and prepares those close to death to meet God
• Holy Orders- sacrament

  • Sign are laying on of hands and anointing oil by bishop
  • Meaning:
  • Priest serves as spiritual leaders of their community
  • When ordained people follow Christ in their ministry of service they act in place of Christ
  • One way Gods presence is known
• Marriage- sacrament

  • Couple give the sacrament to each other
  • Wedding ring and vows are signs
  • Meaning:
  • Baptised man and women are united as a sign of unity between Jesus and his Church
  • God is present through the couple's lifelong love and commitment to each other