Creed II

January 13 & 27, 2007

Before Class

• Read Dei Verbum (“Word of God”), Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Vatican II – come prepared to discuss at next class
• Read Chapters 4 and 5 in the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults
• Fill out Catechist Profile and return at January class.
• Read all handouts - optional

Homework

• Read Chapters 6-8 in U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults
• Read all handouts listed below:
  • The Blessed Trinity
  • God the Father
  • Sign of the Cross
  • Male and Female He Made Them
  • The Incarnation
  • True God and True Man
  • The Paschal Mystery
  • Did Jesus Always Know He Was God?

To Make Up an Absence

If you are unable to attend this class, please submit to the instructor at the February class written responses to two questions for each chapter and three questions from Dei Verbum (for a total of seven questions) from below. Each response should be 2-3 paragraphs in length and address the question completely.

Chapter 4: Bring about the Obedience of Faith

1. How can faith be both a gift from God and a free, human act?
2. What is often meant by the phrase “blind faith”? Is faith “blind”? (see CCC ¶156, 158)
3. How is faith a pilgrimage? Why must we be pilgrims in this life? What are some consequences for us of being always “on the way”?
4. How is faith similar to and different from reason? Is one superior to the other? Explain.
5. Why are creeds called “symbols of faith”?

Chapter 5: I Believe in God (Trinity and Creation)

1. Why do we call the first Person of the Trinity “Father”? Independently from his creation, how is God “Father”?
2. How did God progressively reveal his mystery as a unity of three Persons? How would you teach this doctrine about God to others?
3. What is the difference between physical evil and moral evil? How is this difference relevant to a discussion of the theory of evolution?
4. Gaudium et Spes teaches that “methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith...” Give an example of such research. What is an example of research that does conflict with the faith?
5. How are some theories of evolution incompatible with Divine Revelation? Describe a theory of evolution that is compatible with Revelation.

Dei Verbum: Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Vatican II)

1. How is the authorship of Sacred Scripture both human and divine? Why is it important to read and interpret Scripture with this in mind? What does it mean to say that Scripture is “inerrant”?
2. St. Augustine says that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New. Explain with examples.
3. “…Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others” (¶10). Why not? Can you describe historical examples when Christians have abandoned one or more of these, and to what results?
4. How does ¶19 explain some apparent inconsistencies among the four Gospels?
5. Why does study of the Church Fathers and sacred liturgies lead to a deeper understanding of Sacred Scripture (¶23)?
6. Explain the importance of the Church providing and approving translations of Sacred Scripture.