Module 2: Good and Evil

Trinity: 1. WHAT

The Trinity is the belief that there is one God who is three persons in one.

Trinity: 1. WHY/EVIDENCE

"in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen" - The sign of the cross

Trinity: 2.WHAT

NICENE CREED \= A creed is a statement of beliefs. This creed is said every week at Mass by Catholic Christians. It outlines the Catholic Church's official teaching on the Trinity.It makes it clear that there is only one God and that Jesus is the incarnate Son of God.

Trinity: 2. WHY/EVIDENCE

"I believe in one God, The Father almighty" - Nicene Creed.

Trinity: HOW

Catholic's will say the sign of the cross before their prayers to show their beliefs and respect for the Trinity.

the problem of evil: 1. WHAT

The problem of evil is an argument against the existence of an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful. God allowing suffering in our world.

The problem of evil: 2. WHAT

The death and resurrection of Jesus gives hope to Catholics that the suffering they may feel in this life is only temporary

The problem of evil: 1. WHY/EVIDENCE

"I am the resurrection" - The Gospels.

The incarnation & the problem of evil: HOW

Catholics will pray God to thank him for sending his Son Jesus and live in the hope that they will have an eternal life in Heaven.

The incarnation - Jesus as the son of God: 1. WHAT

KEY CONCEPT - INCARNATION = "Made flesh". The Christian belief that God became man in Jesus.

The incarnation - Jesus as the son of God: 1. WHY/EVIDENCE

"And the Word became flesh and lived among us"" - The Gospels

The incarnation - Jesus as the son of God: 2. WHAT

Jesus has all the godliness of God, for example performing miracles but he also experiences human emotions like anxiety or pain.

Jewish views on the trinity: 1. WHAT

Jewish people DO NOT believe in the idea of the Trinity. They are a monotheistic religion.

Jewish views on the trinity: 2. WHAT

The Shema prayer is a central prayer in the Jewish belief and contains their key beliefs about there being one God.

Jewish views on the trinity:WHY/EVIDENCE

“The Lord is one” - The Shema prayer.

Jewish views on the trinity: HOW

Many Orthodox Jews will say the Shema prayer every morning and night to show their belief and respect for the one God.

Evil and Suffering - Free will defence: 1. WHAT

Catholics believe that God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient. They do not agree that evil and suffering shows that God does not exist.

Evil and Suffering - Free will defence: WHY/EVIDENCE

"God is love" - The Gospels.

Evil and Suffering - Free will defence: 2. WHAT

FREE WILL DEFENCE = Natural evil is ALSO the fault of moral evil

• Adam and Eve used their free-will to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

• This then created chaos in the perfect world that God had created which causes natural evil.

Evil and Suffering - Free will defence: HOW

Catholic's will try to help those who are suffering by volunteering their time or money to charities like CAFOD.

The suffering of Jesus: 1. WHAT

Jesus suffered much during the time of his crucifixion, he was beaten, made to wear a crown of thorns, and nailed to a cross.

The suffering of Jesus: WHY/EVIDENCE

"They crucified him" - The Gospels

The suffering of Jesus: 2. WHAT

Jesus suffered on the cross when he was crucified which makes it easier for Christians to endure their own suffering as they believe Jesus understands their pain.

The suffering of Jesus: HOW

Catholics will pray God to thank him for sending his Son Jesus and live in the hope that they will have an eternal life in Heaven.

Pope John Paul - Salvifici Doloris letter: 1. WHAT

POPE JOHN PAUL \= Pope John Paul's early life had been filled with sadness and suffering. After he was shot, his first words were of forgiveness for the man who shot him.

Pope John Paul - Salvifici Doloris letter: 2. WHAT

SALVIFICI DOLORIS = Meaning 'the saving power of suffering'.

• A letter written by Pope John Paul which talks about offering your suffering in prayer to God, they will not only get support from God but will also suffer for the sake of others just like Jesus did

Pope John Paul - Salvifici Doloris letter: WHY/EVIDENCE

“Those who share in Christ’s suffering have before their eyes the Paschal Mystery of the Cross and Resurrection”

Pope John Paul - Salvifici Doloris letter: HOW

Catholics will trust in God's plan for them when they experience suffering in their lives, offering up their suffering in prayer to God.

Jewish views on suffering: 1. WHAT

Jews believe that some suffering can come from God as a test or punishment but often the existence of suffering is not to be understood. In such cases, humans should not question why God has sent suffering.

Jewish views on suffering: HOW

Jewish people will try to help those who are suffering by volunteering their time or money to charities.

Jesus - Moral authority: 1. WHAT

Christians believe that Jesus is the ultimate source of moral authority and role model as they believe that he is the Son of God.

Jesus - Moral authority: 2. WHAT

Jesus has the authority of God as he is part of the Trinity and can communicate God's teachings to humans.

Jesus - Moral authority: WHY/EVIDENCE

- "Love thy neighbour" - The Gospels.

Jesus - Moral authority: HOW

Catholics will try to follow the teachings of Jesus in their everyday lives when making a moral decision.

Natural moral law: 1. WHAT

KEY CONCEPT - NATURAL MORAL LAW - The laws of right and wrong are the same for all people, in all places, at all times.

Natural moral law: 2. WHAT

God created humans in his image (imago dei) so humans have an in-built knowledge of what it is to be good.

Natural moral law: WHY/EVIDENCE -

"Do good and avoid evil" - Aquinas/Catechism

Natural moral law: 1. HOW

Catholics will use the principles of Natural Law to decide what the best course of action in a particular situation.

Conscience: 1. WHAT

KEY CONCEPT - CONSCIENCE - Human reason making moral decisions. The knowledge we have of what is right and wrong given by God

Conscience: 2. WHAT

Aquinas argues that everyone can use their reasons and conscience in a difficult situation to work out what the right thing to do is.

Conscience: WHY/EVIDENCE -

"He who acts aguinst his conscience, always sins"

Conscience: HOW

Catholic Christians will try to use their conscience moral decision as it can give a personal response to the particular situation they find themselves in

Privation: What

PRIVATION = The loss of a quality or something that is normally present. St Augustine said that evil is a privation of good.

Privation: Why

"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" - Genesis.

Privation: How

Catholics would try to use the gift of free-will from God to make good decisions, using the teachings of Jesus like 'love thy neighbour' to help to inform their choices.

God’s Goodness: What

Christians believe that God is omnibenevolent (all-loving and all-good).

God’s Goodness: Why

"God is love" - The Gospels.

God’s Goodness: How

Catholics will pray God to thank him for sending his Son Jesus and try to follow the example of Jesus through applying his teachings like 'love thy neighbour' in their lives today.

Philosophers: What

THE INCONSISTENT TRIAD = An argument that concludes it is logically impossible for evil to exist and for God to be omnibenevolent and omnipotent e.g. if God was all-powerful he can prevent evil but does not want to, therefore he is not all-loving.

Philosophers: Why

"A good, omnipotent being would remove evil completely" -J. L. Mackie

Philosophers: How

Humanist and Atheist people may question why they should worship a God who is not all-loving and may even enjoy seeing humans suffer. They would instead look to science and the laws of their country for guidance, instead of religion.

Natural Moral Law: What

KEY CONCEPT - NATURAL MORAL LAW - The laws of right and wrong are the same for all people, in all places, at all times.

Natural Moral Law: Why

"Do good and avoid evil" - Aquinas

Natural Moral Law: How

Catholics will use Natural Law as it allows everyone to work out what the right thing to do is in any given situation, including the modern-day dilemmas that Jesus never had the opportunity to speak about.

Virtues: What

VIRTUES - Latin word meaning 'perfection'. Moral habits which human beings need to practice in order to become good people.

Virtues: Why

"Happiness is secured through virtue" - Aquinas.

Virtues: How

Catholics will try to develop their virtues throughout their lives by practicing their virtues such as faith and charity through supporting CAFOD.

Catholic Pilgrimage - Lourdes: 1. What

PILGRIMAGE = A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy site for religious reasons. Many Catholics go on pilgrimages today to feel closer to God or to seek healing.

Catholic Pilgrimage - Lourdes: 2. What

LOURDES = A popular Catholic pilgrimage site in the south of France. It became famous after Bernadette had visions of the Mary. In these visions, Mary told Bernadette to dig for water and when she did, a spring appeared. <any people have bathed in the waters of the spring, which is believed to have miraculous powers.

Catholic Pilgrimage - Lourdes: Why

"Pray for sinners" - Hail Mary prayer.

Catholic Pilgrimage - Lourdes: How

Catholic's will try to visit Lourdes on pilgrimage, taking the sick and elderly from their church on the journey with them so they can take some of the holy water.

The Rosary - Prayer Beads: What

The rosary is a set of prayer beads used by Catholic Christians. They help the person praying to focus on God and the words they are saying.

The Rosary - Hail Mary: What

A Catholic Christian prayer to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is said as part of the rosary.

The Rosary - Prayer Beads: Why

"Pray for sinners" - Hail Mary prayer.

The Rosary - Prayer Beads: How

Catholics will pray the rosary during important events in their life, such as upcoming exams as the rosary helps Catholics to remember Mary, in the hope that she will intercede, or pass on, their prayers to her son, Jesus.

The Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries: Crown of Thorns - What

To mock or make fun of Jesus, the soldiers created a crown of thorns for him to wear. This was to mock his title as 'King of the Jews'.

The Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries: Crucifixion - What

Jesus was nailed to the cross and left To die. he spoke to his mother Mary as he was dying.

The Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries: Crucifixion - Why

“They crucified him” - The Gospels

The Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries: How

Catholics pray the rosary to reflect and give thanks to God for all he has done for them and can bring the comfort and hope.

Jewish Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: What

They believe that the presence of God, the Shekhinah, reside within the last standing wall of the Temple. They write prayers and intentions onto slips of paper and place them into the cracks of the wall.

Jewish Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: Why

"Next year in Jerusalem" - a popular saying on Passover.

Jewish Pilgrimage to Jerusalem: How

Jewish people will try to visit Jerusalem where they will pray and worship God, building a closer relationship with him and their community.